Behavioral scientists of the world — if you’re not studying the pro-level emotional manipulation that are Kdrama plots, you need to get on that shit stat. I believe Kdrama writers developed a formula that deftly exploits a central conflict of the human experience: that we crave both comfort and stimulation, familiarity and the thrill of something new. We don’t want either/or, we want and. Kdramas satisfy this urge by utilizing a fairly formulaic general story arc spiced up by hefty doses of zany plot twists, bad behavior and the feels.

The predictable story arc, while boring in theory, is a major reason Kdramas are so addictive. I know that basically every romantic Kdrama I watch is going to follow these four basic acts, in this order, every time:

Act I: Getting to Know You

We are introduced to our major and minor characters, alliances and rivalries are established, and our protagonists lay the foundation for their relationship. For comedic shows, these are the lightest, brightest episodes. For darker shows, expect some brutal exposition and flashbacks. This will provide a baseline of Feels to prepare you for the journey ahead.

Act II: What is That Strange Feeling?

Around 25% in, people start being pulled by their attractions and the rubber hits the road when it comes to chemistry between our leads. It could be as obvious as one person confessing their love, or more of a slow burn where people are drawn towards each other even as they despise one another. A lot of first kisses — accidental or intentional — occur in this act. Enjoy these episodes, but know that they are a sign that dark skies lie ahead.

Act III: The Gauntlet

As I write this, I’m heading into this section with one of my current shows, and it’s the roughest part of the Kdrama emotional rollercoaster. About halfway through a series, our protagonists get their asses kicked by life. This is where villains, angry exes and messy secrets rule supreme. People lie to each other or themselves, they don’t explain misunderstandings, make mistakes and get disappointed— it’s just a cluster. Again, these writers are genius: just when we are feeling happy, they wrench it away from us, knowing that we are invested enough at this point that we can’t walk away. You beautiful bastards.

Act IV: Redemption/Closure

What keeps me going is the knowledge that there will be some sort of resolution in the end that will redeem our protagonists, punish the villains and allow for some sort of closure. Some endings are far less satisfying than others, but without having another season to think about (for the most part), Kdramas are required to wrap everything up. Stories aren't drawn out for too long, there aren't huge changes in writers or style, and you know exactly where the end is coming even if you don’t know how. For the most part, endings tend to be happy despite the fucked up stuff that happened during the previous act, which is also soothing.