Iris releases its newest poster
Upcoming spy drama Iris has had the same poster forever (you know, this one) so it’s nice to see them come out with a new look, just a month before its October premiere on KBS. This image is a little more active than the first one (which was fairly static) and shows a little more personality for each cast member. They are, from left to right: Jung Jun-ho, Kim Tae-hee, Lee Byung-heon, Kim So-yeon, Kim Seung-woo, and TOP.
The action-, betrayal- and romance-packed new drama is set in the world of the NSS, or Korea’s national security agency, and the agents who work within it. With a lot of hype and a production budget of 20 billion won, hopefully this’ll be a better expression of the spy drama genre than, say, 2007′s tepid Air City, in which Lee Jung-jae played an NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent. (Hopefully Korea has learned their lesson about producing dramas around buildings.)
The 20-episode Iris takes the Wednesday-Thursday slot over from My Fair Lady beginning October 14.
Via Arts News
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- Iris gets a slot on the KBS schedule
- New posters for Iris
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- Iris gets a drama and a movie
Tags: IRIS, Jung Jun-ho, Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon, Kim Tae-hee, Lee Byung-heon, TOP
I am extremely excited for this. I hope this drama doesn’t disappoint! (All the hype with the all-star cast may be a bad thing..? Hmmm reminds me of East of Eden.. but I actually enjoyed that drama for the most part.)
It seems to me that for every picture that TOP is in for Iris, he’s holding a gun pointed toward something in the distance. I hope his character is actually more exciting than that…
i’m not trying to be mean but..
o well, hopes she acts better in the drama than how she looks oh so pretty & poised here in the poster with the message of “i’m a pretty girl with a gun, and that’s that, nothing more, nothing less.”
oh come on kim tae hee! you look out of place among the bad-@ss looking cast you have with you! and how come you have the same pose as your last one? where’s the intensity of your stare and the secret agent/cop/spy stance or confidence that should be radiating from you? i had the same impression of her from the last poster too
Better poster… but looks a little 007ish…
Looking forward to it.. hopefully it won’t disappoint.
yay!!!! I am hoping this drama will be worth the hype and wait!! i love to see TOP being more badass!!!!
I’m excited about this action drama series…I miss kim tae hee very much!! this will premiere after the end of lady castle…:)
This makes the drama more promising and is finally different from that same ole poster.
All I gotta say is that the cast looks hot especially TOP.
OHMYGOSHERS!!!!
T.O.P.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He’s so damn fine. I’m so excited for IRIS, I’m actually starting to disgust myself. Since My Fair Lady is obviously less than stellar (at this point, anyways), I really hope IRIS doesn’t disappoint, I’ve been horribly disappointed by like the last four dramas I anticipated, I really hope IRIS breaks that streak!!
“where’s the intensity of your stare and the secret agent/cop/spy stance or confidence that should be radiating from you? ”
There’s nothing wrong with the Natural Beauty (copyright: Tae Hee Commercial Queen Enterprises) gun pose, per se. The key thing is that, when you put the handgun in front of your face, it should hide it. 12cm face is pretty, but a 5mm face is hood. Natural Beauty Futha Mucka!!
“he’s holding a gun pointed toward something in the distance.”
Yeah, he’s doing it all wrong. He should be holding the gun sideways and above his head. What would his father Zachard Spock Quinto say? Oh I know — “WESTSIDE!!!”
Sorry. I’m so excited for Iris youz peoples don’t understand! Though I’m still a little worried that, with the kerazy star power attached to this project, there would be nothing left for an actual movie. Then again, I’d watch Lee Byung Hee doing shadowpuppets. So.
Gosh, I guess I am the only one but I liked the Airport in Air City it was a character in the story line but not handled well . . . the problem was the story line the wierd ending and the boring lead actress with only one facial expression, like she just sucked on a lemon ? or too much botox ? I know every one in Korea loves her but for me not so much.
I am very excited about this drama. I like action/spy drama.
There is some sexy stuff going on in that poster!
Oh, wow! On second glance, there are other people in that poster besides Lee Byung-heon! How did I miss that?
Is it October yet??
I am so excited about IRIS that I hope My Fair Lady gets shortened by a few episodes. No chance of that happening I know, but hey, I have a glass half full perspective!
I thought this drama was going to be airing around the same time as YunHo’s drama ??.. Maybe I got it mixed up but I’m really excited for this drama.. I’m kind of sick of the same old love story and want something new with more impact, I’m hoping this drama will be that something new that I’m looking for !.. Action, Betrayal + Love are good ingredients for a drama ! Also one more thing I love seeing TOP alongside these great actors !
“I am so excited about IRIS that I hope My Fair Lady gets shortened by a few episodes. ”
Actually with the way MFL is going, I think it should be extended to a full 20 episodes. When she chooses the butler, I’m sure Dad ain’t going to like that!
I’m also hoping that Iris is at least 75% finished at this point. I’d hate for the show to go into live-shoot hell, especially with the film-level production attached to this.
“’m kind of sick of the same old love story and want something new with more impact,”
There’s only way this love triangle is going to end . . . with everybody pointing a gun at Lee Byung Hun a la John Woo, and a dove flying in slow motion past Kim Tae Hee’s weeping 12cm face to promote the newest Dove soap bar. It just gives me the warm fuzzies, you know?
I’m so excited!!!! I love watching shows with a lot of action. Hopefully, the romance part won’t be too sappy. The romance part was what I hated most in All In. I just want to see LBH be a badass and beat everyone up…..hehe,
ahh check out the Guns on LBH! thats all i’ll say
“…a dove flying in slow motion past Kim Tae Hee’s weeping 12cm face to promote the newest Dove soap bar. It just gives me the warm fuzzies, you know?
”
HahahhahahaAa, ur sooO funny!
#3, no ur not being mean, u’hm..ur just being honest.
Yah, im dissapointed not seeing any transformation in KTH . Look at Kim So yeon, she looks badassSSS.
The only thing i see changed in KTH is, this time she aint holding no Samsung phone advertising. She’s holding a gun. ughg, finally, something for a change.
when I saw the post’s title I was so sure to see belleza’s comment(s) here!
it’s good to have you back!
Finally! it’s getting near! OMG OMG OMG. I definitely look forward to Iris, LBH, JJH, TOP,and Kim So Yeon.
“Then again, I’d watch Lee Byung Hun doing shadowpuppets” then you have to ask me to go with you. I’d even watch LBH standing and doing nothing!
No, I don’t want My Fair Lady gets shortened. I just found Jung Il Woo.
This will be one of You’re Beautiful’s rivals, right?
@9 dramafreak19
If I may ask, what were the 4 disappointing dramas you refer to?
Seeing the comments about TOP, could anyone comment on the drama ‘I am Sam’ that he was in. Is this drama worth watching?
Lee Byung-heon and TOP are looking so badass
This drama was promoting for such a long period. My excitement is almost over.
I just wonder whether the storyline will not up-to-date or not because it’s been like 6 months agos since this drama started filming.
About shorten My Fair Lady, I agreed with belleza here. At this point it might get extended not shorten. haha
Just wish that this drama will come up as good as its anticipation.
can’t wait for this drama =D
@ #3 din
“…where’s the intensity of your stare and the secret agent/cop/spy stance or confidence that should be radiating from you?”
When you read the synopsis of “Iris” in dramawiki (which by the way, may not be completely right) Its said that Kim Tae-hee is a psychological analyst. With this thought in mind, I would say that the least badass looking person in the whole drama should be her. Why? Because a psychologist looks sexy, pretty, but not necessarily badass.
The other girl is supposed to look sexier, and meaner, given the origins of her character. So I wouldn’t compare how simple Kim Tae-hee looks with how sexy and badass Kim Soe-Yeon looks, just because of the fact that their characters are completely different.
While all the other characters are supposed to look badass because they are agents, Kim Tae-hee’s character doesn’t have to look badass.
If the synopsis given in dramawiki is wrong, and Kim Tae-hee is in fact a secret agent, then I would actually wait and see why she is the only one looking more innocent, aside from the fact that the actress’s looks are innocent to begin with. We all know what casting means right? If she was cast with her innocent looks to do the role (whether she can deliver a good act or not) must be because her role is supposed to look innocent. Hence, why she is looking simple.
These are all assumptions, of course, because truth is; we haven’t watch the drama yet. However, the synopsis tells you a little bit about the characters. Therefore, its safe to assume that a psychologist does not have to look badass, which takes me to my point; kim Tae-hee might actually be looking how she is supposed to look.
In any case… I wonder why she is holding a gun at all? I mean, if she is a psychologist.
BELLEZAAAAA!!!!!
“Though I’m still a little worried that, with the kerazy star power attached to this project, there would be nothing left for an actual movie. Then again, I’d watch Lee Byung Hee doing shadowpuppets. So.”
you are wicked funny my friend.
By your comments I can see we are on the same track once again. Im so glad!
I just hope it lives up to the hype….and budget.
heh. west-sa-ee-duh. < . <
I am VERY excited for this.
Hopefully I won’t be using my fast forward button like I’ve been doing recently.
Last time I didnt use my fast forward was with “Time Between Dog & Wolf”… ah! That was a good drama.
I trust LBH.
All I see is Lee Byung Heon’s arms! Yeh, and Kim Tae Hee’s look is too “nice”. I’m really excited about this. I hope it doesn’t disappoint, but I’m preparing to be disappointed just in case. Aside from Brilliant Legacy and Glory of Family, I just haven’t been excited by kdramas as of late.
It’s been a while since I last posted. So hello!!! (^_^)
I’ve started to watch some korean spy dramas and the only one that I’ve liked is the one with Eric. I hope this one wont dissapoint.
LBH and TOP! TOP! TOP!
Let’s face it, even if it was sooo bad that it sucked all the oxygen right out of my soul, i would still watch the whole dang thang because of the beautiful men. I just hope it’ll be one to watch and not just fast-forward to the hot men parts AND here’s praying that Top’s part has more depth than at first glance seems…
great. kim tae hee just gotta ruin it.
Kim Tae Hee… smilin’ with yo eyez. Makin Tyra proud.
I guess it’s better than her eye bulging skills.
@Laura,
“With this thought in mind, I would say that the least badass looking person in the whole drama should be her. Why? Because a psychologist looks sexy, pretty, but not necessarily badass.”
I’m actually betting that Kim Tae Hee pulls out her best performance as this character. At first, I thought she was to be written like Soo Yeon from “All In”, kind of the innocent, “good” character who loves him from afar. But from the trailer, she talks as if she’s right there in the same mess that he’s in. Maybe no a femme fatale, but complicated in her own right.
“how sexy and badass Kim Soe-Yeon looks, just because of the fact that their characters are completely different. ”
In an ideal world, I would have cast her as the female lead. I think she’ll be similar to Lee Bang-hee from Shiri, a female sniper who struggles to move on and falls in love with the wrong man. And in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Iris plays like the last half of Shiri with a new story regarding how the main character tries to move on after the ending of Shiri. Thus, Kim Tae Hee’s character.
I’m also really psyched that Kim Kyu Tae is directing Iris. However you may think of A Love to Kill, I think you’d agree that it’s one of the most stylishly shot dramas of its time. You could tell he was really going for something with each scene. And the dreamy scenes in the snow and the grass plains were all absolutely beautifully done.
Seriously people . . Iris is full of win!! WIN!!!
din@ kim tae hee does look out of place something tells me she going to be the weak link in IRIS meaning she she wont be as good as everyone else.
LBH…LBH…LBH…OMG I want that poster with him only…
I’m loving his post here more than the sexy poster from GI Joe. This one take my breath away.
@ Jadielaw, I was disappointed by Boys Before Flowers (by mostly everything except Lee Min Ho and SoEul), Beethoven Virus (WHY can’t Jang Geun Suk EVER get the girl?!?! Kim Myung Min was awesome, though.), Partner (not enough oomph to keep me interested, still watched for LDW), TRIPLE (what a crying shame and a waste of Yoon Kye Sang.), Worlds Within (HOW a drama with Hyun Bin and Song Hye Gyo could suck so bad is beyond me) and I think a few others.
They weren’t excruciatingly painful to watch or anything, its just that, as a fan, you hear about an upcoming drama with awesome actors and actresses paired up (i.e. WW) or a very very popular anime being made into live action (i.e. BBF), or just dramas starring actors/actresses you really loved in their past work and you become SO excited and then like 5 episodes in, you’re just like “I can’t believe they messed THIS up. This honestly blows.” I’ve had that feeling so many times now, it just CAN’T happened with IRIS!!! I’ll die!!! T.O.P!!!!!!!!!!!
And @ Laura, I agree 10000%, Time Between Dog and Wolf has been my NO.1 since I first saw it. Pure. Awesomeness.
I really really hope IRIS is too. =D
Can’t believe there are so many Kim Tae Hee antis here at DB. It seems like every other comment there’s someone bashing KTH, and that’s just for the way she looks in the poster.
As for her acting, yeah she’s not great, but she has openly admitted in an interview she is striving hard to improve, and at one stage felt deeply embarrassed about her role in Love Story in Harvard. Embarrassed?! LSIH?! Dude, LSIH was recently voted 2nd most popular Korean drama of all time in China. I’m sure millions of viewers in China didn’t find her performance embarrassing at all.
I’m with Laura and belleza on this one, we’ll have to give KTH a chance (only a month now) and then we can start criticizing / praising her. I am sure she’ll do just great, and prove all those antis wrong!
Man, this is like an “idol drama” for the ajuhmmas, hehe.
Really cool looking poster! A month away, I hope this is good.
I didn’t even realize that Jung Joon Ho and Kim Seung Woo were in this. They’re two of my favorite actors so I’ll definitely be watching this. I hope that they don’t overdue it with special effects or anything and they instead concentrate on the story and acting. I’m loving the new poster
.
Why all the male characters are in the first row????? and girls´re behind them?
@tis1,
“I didn’t even realize that Jung Joon Ho and Kim Seung Woo were in this.”
Oh I know!! And the original rumor was to have Son Yeh Jin play KTH’s character. (If LBH and SYJ did a full length drama together, the housewives of Japan would riot. Hell, I’d riot.)
I mean, it’s crazy. To have LBH and Jung Joon Ho as rivals . . . I mean, that’s true MOVIE casting right there. Then you add in yet another movie lead Kim Seung Woo (who probably wants another shot at spy thriller glory after the not-so-great “Yesterday”) It’s mind boggling.
Iris will be glorious. Even if the story makes no sense, even if it’s a remake of GI Joe — dude, even if it’s Lobbyist the Big Bang Remix — Iris will still be glorious. I demand satisfaction!!
@ Belleza
“I’m actually betting that Kim Tae Hee pulls out her best performance as this character.”
Yeah well, I can’t agree on you for sure because, first; I haven’t watch the trailer (btw, where can I see it?) and second; I have never seen KTH’s acting skills. Everybody talks about how bad she is, and blah, blah, blah…. I can never agree on something unless I know what I’m talking about.
The thing is, and this goes for Kobe (41) as well, who wrote:
“Can’t believe there are so many Kim Tae Hee antis here at DB. It seems like every other comment there’s someone bashing KTH, and that’s just for the way she looks in the poster.”
Once somebody writes something up, the rest of the people will follow on it, most of them without even knowing what they are saying.
I think it was in another blog (the one about the last poster) where someone said something about how KTH looked dull in the pic. She/he, of course, has every right to say what they think, and that’s ok. I can’t say that I disagree, because if you look at the pic, KTH does look dull holding the gun. However, what I find annoying and sometimes even amusing, is not what that person wrote, but the fact that everybody else started ranting at how “stupid” “untalented” “dumb” KTH looked in the poster. I bet you anything, more than half of the people that said that don’t even know what they were saying. Some probably don’t even know who she is, others might, but might have not seen her acting (like me) and a very few might have seen her act, but juts for the sake of being agreeable they’ll say KTH looks dumb and can’t act.
I think people should just shut up if they don’t have anything genuine to say. The person made a comment of how she looked in the poster; that was it. And the fact that Javabeans don’t think much of her acting (which I believe it to be because she actually knows what she is talking about) was a little push for everybody else to blow things out of proportion, saying how stupid KTH is, and how bad she is at acting, and (again) blah, blah, blah… do they even know?
What Javebeans thinks its only her opinion, and yeah, maybe she has knowledge of KTH’s ating, but can’t people just follow themselves? Can’t they just think on their own? Please!!!
I still wont say that she is good or bad until I actually watch IRIS. Everybody has the right to his/her own opinions. But when things get a little too repetitive, it looks fake to me.
@ dramafreak19 (40)
“TRIPLE (what a crying shame and a waste of Yoon Kye Sang.)”
Where are you?????? Where can I find you??? I must bow to you…
A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y true. Everything you said was just right on target. I mean, what the hell where they thinking??? ALL OF THEM.
If anybody goes and watch “Who are you?” and then “Triple”… (cough, cough)
“Time Between Dog & Wolf” is my number one drama (out of 50 something) Not even my love for LBH can beat it (my love for LBH is pretty strong, the fact that I went to see GIJoe says it all.) I was hooked from the first episode. Seriously, where can I get something as good as that?
@Laura,
“Kim Tae Hee = bad actress” is kind of a K-drama meme nowadays. (Similar one exists for Song Hye Kyo, but there’s still a lot of good will to the female audience toward SHK from her Full House days.) I actually still remember the pre-YEH, pre-SNSD days when every other actor/actress thread was “KTH vs. SHK” Ahh, such innocent times.
In regards to Iris, I don’t feel that strongly way or the other about her because the show itself is already loaded with movie actors. And it’s a thriller. I think she’s due though.
This is the Iris trailer from June:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWKm6axvq0&fmt=18
Since the Good/Bad/Weird, I think LBH has found some magic potion to look 10 years younger. He looks frigging incredible here. As for Iris . . . it’s not so much a Korean drama, as it is a “Hallyu Event”, a la BYJ’s The Legend. The PD (same one as A Love to Kill and World That They Live In) is one of the most stylish directors working in K-drama. And you can see it in the trailer.
“Seriously, where can I get something as good as that?”
East of Eden baby (hyun!! Don Ga!! HYUN!! DON-GAHHHHH!!) But seriously –> Resurrection, Mawang, Green Rose, Homicide Investigation Team, Story of a Man
@ Laura,
LOL!
I’ve never bonded with anyone over how crappy Triple was or how fantastic TBDW is! We should become best friends and make a TBDW fanclub. I haven’t really found a thriller drama as good as TBDW yet, I think it set the bar pretty high. I hope IRIS impresses us just as much!
I can’t wait!
@ Belleza
(Oh and for those who have not seen either of these dramas, warning, this has spoilers.)
nehhhhh….. “Green Rose” was a good drama, but not nearly as good as TBDW. I mean, I love the whole revenge thing, which is why I really liked “Cain & Abel” but TBDW was done in such a way that everything was saying “this is so wayyyyy possible” and there was not a chance for you to think: “Ah! That is so fake” or “What a load of B****S***” My problem with “Green Rose” was: It was too slow, and the way they presented the whole “Mafia Boss digs you all the way because you saved his life” kind of thing was too fast for me to really believe it. It was not paste in the story, it wasn’t given much background. It put me off… anyway, thats what I think.
- H.I.T. wasn’t bad, but it gave me the feeling of a CSI more than anything else. And as much as I love shows like that, I really like the whole drama and mystery of a nice, strong, and well-written story; like the one from TBDW. A lot of people were giving it bad reviews (check dramafever) because (to their understanding… cough) they were saying how LJK over-acted, and went all crazy over knowing the truth. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn’t you attempt over your life if you find out that you watched your father get kill and didn’t do anything? LJK became my number 5 favorite actor after that.
- EOE… way too long for me. That’s the only thing that’s really keeping me from watching it.
O-M-G!!!!! (time out) the trailer looks AMAZING. Frankly, from what I saw in the trailer, KTH seems OK. And LBH looks dreamy. I’ll die of a massive heart attack before I can watch IRIS. I better erase that trailer from my history.
Back to our discussion, “Resurrection” is on my waiting list. I have heard great things about it, I can’t wait to watch it.
Right now I’m in the middle of “Swallow the Sun” (btw is the best drama from the director. I know he is the same from “All In” and “H.I.T” But that’s my opinion.) “Invincible Parachute Agent” (I just love Eric, he is so sexy….grrrr) and another comedy; “Dal ja’s Spring”
The thing is, I just started my Korean phase recently. It was around November or December last year when I watched my first drama; “Goong” Previous to that I was on my Japanese phase.
BTW, the terminology for westerners that like all Japanese things is: Japanophile. Now, what would be the one for those who love all things Korean? Hehehe. Perhaps: Koreanophile? Hehehe.
I’ll just say one thing; my boyfriend HATES my computer. Why? Well, for all kinds of ASOAO* reasons.
ASOAO*: All Sorts Of Asian Obsessions.
@ dramafreak19
FANCLUB, FANCLUB!!! I’m there. Lets attack whoever says anything bad about it? No? Too much?… let me know…
@Laura,
“hey were saying how LJK over-acted, and went all crazy over knowing the truth. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn’t you attempt over your life if you find out that you watched your father get kill and didn’t do anything?”
Yeah, that’s the thing. I’m in that camp. Time of Dog and Wolf would have probably been my favorite drama of 2007, but I felt all three main characters were miscast. Now, I like Lee Jung Ki (still feel very, very strongly that Lee Jung Ki would have been great playing Joo Ji Hoon’s part in Mawang — LJK’s seething, rangy anger would given that part Hamlet-like qualities) but against true sageuk heavies like Kim Gab Soo and Choi Jae Sung, just wasn’t there. I liked Lee Jung Ki’s film work more than his TV output. But I was also going to recommend Iljimae (aka Sageuk Batman) since, well, it’s kinda the same story concept.
I think part of my frustration with TDW was that, through the entire show, I kept on thinking how the cast of Air City would have killed this script. Nam Sang Mi (who I thought was . . . ughhhhh. . . ) was playing a variation of what is essentially a Choi Ji Woo part. Lee Jung Jae (aka My Man) would have played Lee Jung Ki’s part with the moral rage, self-doubt, and swagger that the part demanded. And Lee Jing Wook would have easily nailed the part of the story’s moral conscience.
Having said all that, the actual story and production work for TDW was all marvelously done. No surprise since this was the writing team (one that’s never done TV before) that made the movie Typoon. The story really used all 16 episodes with little filler.
“H.I.T. wasn’t bad, but it gave me the feeling of a CSI more than anything else. ”
I think I ended up liking HIT slightly more than TDW. HIT is more or less a 5-6 episode Manhunter show with another 10 episodes tacked on to make a proper drama. BUT, that 5-6 episode arc itself was well executed, and the acting was strong all around. Ko Hyung Jung, instead of playing her character as an idealized closer, kinda plays her with a kind of grizzled, tired impatience that actually reflects somebody who’s been in the grind of this work for years. Ha Jung Woo was good here, though he made his reputation as a character actor playing REALLY WEIRD dudes. HIT gave him some proper visibility (saw an Entertainment Relay program on Ha Jung Woo while he was filming Chaser, and they were talking about that), and then Chaser made him famous.”
2007 was a wonderful year for kiss kiss bang bang. HIT, Air City, and Time of Dog and Wolf almost aired right after each other. And because TDW and Coffee Prince aired together on MBC (this is where BTW, being able to watch dramas on TV in a proper TV schedule really enhances one’s sense of time), that summer will always be the “Season of Guns and Roses” for me.
Plus, on KBS, they were airing Capital Scandal and Conspiracy in the Court (which I think topped White Tower in the critic poll for best drama of 2007) against CP during that time.
Honestly, the one modern show (i.e. not the Sandglass, for example) that I think best matches up against Time of Dog and Wolf would probably be the J-drama Rondo. And this is considering that though the love story in it doesn’t work at all (and Choi Ji Woo looks lost in the show), the Infernal Affairs plotline and production work is AWESOME. It feels genuinely dangerous.
I understand what you are saying.
Let me tell you one thing I learned from watching dramas in a different time. It all boils down to which drama you watch first. As they say, “First impression is what counts”
When I watched “Goong” It was my first drama, and I fell in love with it. Then I watched CP and fell more in love with it, but because of the difference in category, I kinda had them in the same place. Then I thought of how much I had like LBH in “Addicted” (which was the first Korean “anything” I had seen) and looked him up, found out he was also on TV and that’s when “Goong” lost its place to BD. Now, this is not a good example because BD keeps on being number one on my melodrama list, even after watching “Crazy for You” “Thank You” “Que Sera, Sera” (this are only the ones I consider to be very good) But had “Love Letter” been my very first drama. I would have never skipped a bunch of episodes (like I did when I watched it…. I hated that he actually became a priest) “Love Letter” could have been on my top 10 or even top 5 list had it not been for that…. Maybe, we would never know. But “Love Letter” is one of those dramas I have mixed feelings about. I loved the romance between them, but hated them at the same time… I can’t get started because all I do is contradict myself.
I absolutely agree with you. To fully compare dramas in a most fair way, its better to watch them at the time they come out, and get the feel of the times. I know that each year changes on many things.
I don’t think the characters of TBDW were miscast. I don’t think they were the best either. But, they were able to give me the feeling that I was in for a bumpy ride, and I just couldn’t get myself to stop until it ended. This was thanks to many things, not only the actors… in fact, especially not only the actors. It was more the story that was so compelling and greatly executed on the screen. The fact that romance was not the main target (like many action dramas make that mistake) music was not overly used (like in “Swallow the Sun”) the script was believable. And the acting… well, the acting may have not been first class, but it felt genuine, organic… I don’t know what else to say. I just love it.
However…. hehehe, I get the feeling that IRIS would change that. That trailer looks AWSOME.
“Iljimae” was great, but I like “Return of Iljimae” better. I think the ending was more complete. It didn’t feel like it was rushed.
Here I go again, forgetting things.
OHHHHH!!!! “The Devil” sorry I don’t know the Korean titles. I would love to watch “The Devil” yes!
I tried once, but all the files were broken. So, I just went for other dramas. But I’m still anticipating the time when I can finally watch it.
Two things that have me interested:
1. The story. (I love, revenge, mystery, crime… all you can apply to that)
2. Shin Min-ah. (she is one of my favorite)
@laura
The Devil was good. I hope you’ll be able to finish it one day.
@Laura,
“When I watched “Goong” It was my first drama, and I fell in love with it. ”
I actually like both Goong and Goong S almost equally. Neither show was about the acting or romance for me — I simply love the concept of a “modern sageuk”, especially since it naturally overlaps with the celebrity status congruent to modern day royal families. For me, the concept itself worked on all sorts of girly and sageuk-fan levels, that really I wouldn’t mind seeing an annual Goong series with different characters and storylines.
“But “Love Letter” is one of those dramas I have mixed feelings about.”
Oh I really, really like Love Letter. But, then, I have a weakness for “girl loves cute Catholic boy who has to choose between her and God. Ay dios mio!!!” telanovela storylines. Belleza REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVES “good Catholic boy tortured by fate” love stories. It’s SO not healthy lol.
The thing about Love Letter is that 60% of the storyline is kinda “ehhh”, but whenever Soo Ae and Jo Hyun Jae would have a moment with the song “Promise” playing. I would just CRY. Soo Ae is one of my favorite romantic leads, because she’s just so good at conveying what it really means to love a man so much that existence feels so deathly frightening without him. And Jo Hyun Jae kneeling, praying, begging before God to save her . . . .
LOL I’m tearing up . . .
So that’s the thing with Love Letter — even if the storyline is really messy and kinda tedious and the song selection was kinda cheewsy — it just presses buttons that few romantic shows do for me. It’s about a complex relationship over a very simple, pure love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkWTHTh-kiI
“I don’t think the characters of TBDW were miscast. I don’t think they were the best either.”
I’m definitely in the minority opinion about Lee Jung Ki in TBDW. Many people LOVED LJK’s performance in the show, that it and his performance in King+Clown are the two strongest of his career. For 2007, Thank You was definitely my favorite show and over at d-addicts, I’ve gone on lengthy about that show. Really love that one.
TBDW is still up there for 2007. They reaired that a few months ago on MBC-D TV, and it still plays great even though you now know all the twist and turns. Very slick. I hope Iris’s story is close to this level.
“1. The story. (I love, revenge, mystery, crime… all you can apply to that)
2. Shin Min-ah. (she is one of my favorite)”
Honestly, I didn’t think Shin Min-ah was used well in that show. She kinda seemed like a passive pawn, and I was rather disappointed with her performance. Now, having said that, I was a fan of her performance in A Love to Kill, and many people disliked her in that.
if lead male actor was so Ji Sub, that would be wonderful!!
“Honestly, I didn’t think Shin Min-ah was used well in that show.”
Really??? Oh… NO
I love her acting in ABL and SM. Although, now that I’m saying this; it brings me to say that sometimes an actor can be soooo damn good that he would actually lead the other actors and make them reciprocate to a certain level. Don’t know if you get me. Anyway, I was referring to LBH in ABL, having such a strong performance (and the fact that they had acted together in BD before, helps a lot with the chemistry thing) that he probably led her and brought out the best in her acting.
Even thinking this, I still like her as an actress.
All this talk has made want to skip a bunch of dramas I got lined up, and go straight to “The Devil” I hope the files are not broken again…. oh, yep, I make my own list of dramas to watch. I follow the order… for the most part. lol
@ 55
So Ji-sub is one of my favorite actors. In fact, I have modeled my fictional character from So Ji-sub’s looks. I love his sad, sad eyes. (sigh)
But, sorry to say this… so sorry… Lee Byung-hun is always the best.
OK, Belleza what have you done to me tonight???? I cant stop playing that clip. The song is just too beautiful but sad…
“it brings me to say that sometimes an actor can be soooo damn good that he would actually lead the other actors and make them reciprocate to a certain level.”
To no small degree, that’s due to Lee Byung Hun. He (as does Lee Young Ae) has reputation for being very demanding and difficult, especially with his female leads. If you’re not on your game (LBH works VERY VERY hard in his preparation, and he demands the same from everybody else), he’s going to let you know. But that also makes the other lead a better actor/actress.
Having said that, you can tell that LBH and CJW are genuinely close with each other, and they really enjoy working with each other.
Yeah, true. Mr Byung-hun rocks!!!!
I’ve only just found LBH and I am finishing up the last bit of All In. Clearly, I can see why there is so much fuss about him. He’s probably one of the finest Korea has in the mould of a solid actor with good looks, even better charisma and acting chops.
I am quite glad I didnt have to wait so long (like some of his fans have) for his next drama project (2003 to 2009 a long time in TV land) although I know he took off to make movies in between then. I’m so watching IRIS, whether it tanks or not ; P
Wow, I knew Kim Tae hee had anti-fans but I didnt know there were so many of them. LOL at 12cm face comment……
Wow, Laura and belleza are my kind of fellow drama lovers. How many Korean dramas have you guys seen altogether? I have my own site that shows what my favorite dramas are >> http://goldlilys.110mb.com/drama_col.html . We should have a discussion about these shows.
Hmm, it seems both of you haven’t seen Story of a Man. Since you guys seem to love action mystery genres as well, then I highly recommend watching that drama. First 2 episodes may seem typical at first but afterwards will totally blow you away. The plot is just so awesome and non-cliche.
LBH is soooo hot!
Score 1million points to the director who conceptualized the poster. dress everybody from head to toe and put LBH in a slinky black sando shirt. oooozing with hotness. but i would have given him 1billion points if he took off the black shirt all together like the director of GI Joe.
Aja Aja LBH
I like this!!! nice nice…but i have a problem…Kim TAE HEE is in it!!!!!AWWWWWWWWWW..bummer!!
@jadielaw shutup unless youre an actor ”iamsam” was his 1st time,w/ his charisma and sexiness who wouldnt watch he van be so serious