“After hearing you discuss Rondo, and with my newfounded enjoyment of Choi Ji-woo after Beautiful Days, I’m planning to watch that soon.”

Ahhh, Choi Ji Woo wasn’t very good in Rondo. She kinda went through what I call the “Daniel Henney Experience.” You work with a foreign crew with a different workplace culture and you’re getting your direction through translation. Finally, your rehearsals and line reading sessions mainly amount to “foreign guy says lines.” You end up having to “self-direct” your own performance. Some people are better than others, but she struggled.

But I did like Yutaka here. First off, he’s . . . sigh . . . Yutaka. Second, he doesn’t try to exude tortured masculinity or Leung-esqe sadness. He’s just simply a guy in a terrifying situation. Both Shin Hyun Joon (Stairway to Heaven, Cain and Abel) and Ishibashi Ryo (Audition, heh heh) are wonderful here.

The first episode of Rondo was, at the same time, the most expensive episode ever made. It also launched singer Ayaka’s career. I think for me, for its flaws, Rondo still worked for me, because I appreciated that the show tried to have it both ways, Infernal Affairs-meets-Choi Ji Woo Melodrama. That may seem like a crazy conceit, but they went for it. And in the opening, you really do believe that this fusion could work. Here’s the opening:.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibPm6-9yB24

And….I a-gonna skip that movie then, I hate ruining my image of an actor. Just kidding, for some reason, I’ve never been interested in movie-Junki. No reason why, just haven’t had the urge to watch any of his movies, but glad that I’m missing a movie with sleazy Junki.

I liked his chemistry with NSM, but I also didn’t like her character – she was not very well-crafted or memorable, definitely the boy/mens in that drama took center stage. TBDAW is in the end a exceeding male-centric drama. After hearing you discuss Rondo, and with my newfounded enjoyment of Choi Ji-woo after Beautiful Days, I’m planning to watch that soon. I also lurve Yutaka, so bonus points.

Illjimae’s best chemistry is Junki with his like five different personalities.

Yeah, see, I didn’t like either couple that much. I thought Nam Sang Mi’s character was just dreadful in TODAW, and HHJ was, well, a beauty pageant candidate playing a noblelady. Preferred his chemistry with Lee Young Ah (aka the spunky girl from Iljimae), but then again it was easier to root for her character.

I actually don’t understand the clamoring for Han Ji Min. I think she’s a good actress, but her chemistry with her male leads is really hit-and-miss. I liked this matchup between KMJ and LJK, because Kim Min Jung herself goes OTT in a lot of her performances (though not in New Heart.)

“I agree that Junki gives off a smarmy vibe, but it’s very tongue in cheek and playful, rather than sleazy”

Lee Jung Ki was pretty sleazy in Flying Boys. Very unattractive in that movie, but that was true to the part.

LJK is a fabulous actor; he does show range and depth in all his roles. But he’s too pretty for many girls incl. me, to lust after him. We’re more the YTJ, LBH and CSW type (Star’s Lover, Beautiful Days, City Hall). If he took kissing lessons from any of the three, maybe his popularity will soar some more.

As for Lee Jia, she is better off playing evil second fiddle. The perpetual sneer on her face is a no-no for leading innocent Kr heroines. In addition, her acting chops are just B-grade when there is no screaming and screeching. When there is, she gets an F, because I need cotton wool in my ears.

I really liked her in Ireland and Fashion 70s. She and Yoon Kye Sang had good chemistry in the movie Flying Boys. A ratty, pre-K&C Lee Jung Ki was in that one too, so this drama is kind of a reunion. I know a lot of people wanted to see Han Ji Min, but I think the chemistry between LJK and KMJ could be potent.

“Would Lee Jun Ki be considered just a pretty face? I thought he was pretty good in Dog and Wolf, and, in My Girl – two… really different roles… (shows range and depth?)”

LJK’s a legitimate 20-something matinee idol along the lines of Kang Don Wan or Jo In Sung. I’m thankful that he didn’t switch over to a movie-only career (which became the case for KDW and JIS), but he’s gotten dibs on the best TV projects. Nevertheless, he’s done his best work in film, and I still associate him more as film actor than TV drama actor.

Much is made about LJK’s prettiness, but for me, his idol status better recalls the idol actor-singers of golden era HK. Outside of his actual acting, there’s something vaguely colonial about his disposition. Worldy, naturally intelligent, a little decadent but exceptionally polite.

In terms of his TV roles, the smarmier the better.

One of the many things that didn’t work for me in MG was that he was overacting there, and PSY was not struck by some lightning bolt in acting yet. Time of Dog and Wolf as well. I agree he is technically there, but his characters were not believable to me with his OTTness (esp noticeable in Ijimae). I actually prefer DH’s ‘non’-acting if I had to make a choice.

For some reason Lee JiAh reminds me of his style of acting. I can watch LJK, he can deliver, but LJA…thanks but no thanks. Again, it’s just my preference.

I would never contradict my wife in anything, but she and I really, really differ when it comes to k-drama opinions.

- I thought Lee Jia was watchable in Style, my wife… did not.
- I really like Jang Nara, and my wife can’t understand me.
- I think Sung Yuri is a pretty good actress, given Snow Queen and HGD, and my wife wonders what it is about SYR that makes me think this.

And, I liked New Heart, and I really thought Kim Min Jung did a good job (with a lot of heart!), and my wife sort of took a few looks and said, “meh.” Granted, I also said “meh” but New Heart really took off after Ep 9-ish…

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Another topic – just curious. Would Lee Jun Ki be considered just a pretty face? I thought he was pretty good in Dog and Wolf, and, in My Girl – two… really different roles… (shows range and depth?)

@ 21 Sonam “LJK ’s magic is he exudes sheer masculinity in spite of his delicate feminine face”. You nailed it perfectly for me. Despite that masculinity, I’ve never lusted after him (even after TODAW), precisely because he’s beautiful. Or maybe he needs kissing lessons from LBH or Kimura Takuya.

As for hair length, it’s more practical for active and busy professionals to have short hair. Less maintenance is needed. Long hair is okay; only it needs to be tied up while working, e.g. Kim Tae-hee in IRIS.