Upcoming weekend drama Secret Garden has already been sold abroad, more than two weeks before its premiere date. Looks like the star-studded combo of Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won was enough to get it sold on name recognition alone. I know I’ll be tuning in to the first week just based on the cast. Well, that and to see what on earth a “fantasy-action-melodrama” is. Okay, and also to see Binnie acting like a girl, once he gets body-swapped with Ha Ji-won. Because that? Has potential.
It’s only been a few weeks since filming began, but Secret Garden has already been sold to Hong Kong and the Philippines, and deals are currently in the works for Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia to broadcast as well.
The writer-PD duo (Kim Eun-sook and Shin Woo-chul) is the same team behind Lovers in Paris, Lovers in Prague, and On Air. I’m sensing a pattern for the melodramatic here, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but I was sort of hoping for some action and some body-swapping comedy. Not slapstick, but just some moments of levity would be nice. How can you have a man and a woman swapping souls without some humor, right?
How awesome would it be if the drama was set up to be a rom-com, with the same premise? That would be So. Good. I’d be first in line to watch that. As it is, I’m not sure it’s going to be what I want it to be. I can’t get a grip on where the tone of this drama is going, so I guess there’s only one thing to do… wait and see. Sigh. I suppose TWO woongtastic sci-fi rom-coms in one drama season is too much to ask for. But! I’ve been so good this year!
Secret Garden premieres November 13.
Via Hankook Ilbo
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i hope they do this the more sci-fi way than the mythological way …..so far the trailers are giving me no idea as to what they intend other (maybe) a rom-comish setup…i’m neither getting the melo feel or the fantasy feel especially since they ar not showing anything (yet) that indicates the body swap…cant wait to see how this tirns out
Kim Eun Sook is probably now the most popular writer in Hallyu (Lovers trilogy, City Hall, On Air . . . all big international hits.) She’s the female Choi Wan Kyu/Jerry Bruckenheimer, a brand name that brings all the investors.
“How awesome would it be if the drama was set up to be a rom-com, with the same premise? ”
The FTW move would be to pull a Hong Sisters meta move and have each star parody the other. You know, Binnie going “o!pa!” and Ha Ji Won wear facial hair.
Oh I do hope Malaysia buys it. Lately there’ve been a string of (arguably) lousy ones like Heading To The Ground, Take Care Of Young Lady . . .
Currently airing Style. *groan*
*groan*
. . . with edge!!!
ha ha ha, edgy indeed! cant forget that word.
LOL. then Indonesia is better, we’ve got You’re Beautiful, Personal Taste, and Woman Who Still Want To Marry on air now,and Cinderella Sister, Goong, Painter of The Wind, Queen Seon Deok few months back. But they don’t mention Indonesia on the deal list *sigh*
i’;m sure Indonesia will not be left behind. considering that the kdrama you mentioned shown in Indonesia are relatively new and haven’t been shown in the Philippines except for YB, Goong and QSD.
I wonder what network bought Secret Garden. Might be TV5, wherein rumors said is partly owned by some big businessmen from Indonesia =). Network tend to buy not yet shown or currently in the making kdramas =)
Urghh! that Style. *roll eyes*
On another thought, I’m glad we’re having SBS One now. Although I seriously don’t like how they subbed MGIAG in Malay! The sub was weird, and gave different meanings to the sentences altogether. If they’re going to do it, then do it properly! They’re so different from the English sub I’ve read online.
(but i think I’m simply happy they aired MGIAG yeay!)
I’d love to watch this but i still have no idea what this drama is about. I guess i’ll have to watch it to find out.
*Woongtastic* Gaaah…I’m thinking of MGIAG right now…
And I totally agree. I’d love to see HB do some comedy, after his epic fail on “The World They Live In”. No offense, I fell asleep after the 1st 30 minutes
^then you did miss out ALLLLL the glorious binnie angst.
in WW he angst w/ his fists…not in mouth, it’s in plain sight but his angsting fist can angst.
trailer #5 gives us some HB o!pa
and MOREE
http://youtu.be/aDlt3hgEQFM
omg Binnie acting like a girl KILLS me. I went back and saw that part like 5 times in a row XD
I love the tone so far. They’re calling this one a “melodrama,” but honestly the trailers so far seem more upbeat than anything else. Or maybe it’s just the music…
I’m sorry this trailer just had me wondering, how would it be to kiss yourself? And on how many levels would this be wrong? LOL
I’m going to watch just to see how they can make a romance in this situation plausible.
I got more interested because I am watching “Who are You” at the moment.. and body switching storyline seems to be fun.. BUT since Hyun Bin was gonna be in it.. I was in long before
So excited about this! But I don’t want to get my hopes up too high since I haven’t been a fan of Kim Eun Sook’s work outside of City Hall (though I might give On Air a shot one of these days). Next week can’t come soon enough
On Air is pretty good so i’d say give it a shot.
….wait and see. Sigh!
I cant wait for this drama to start!no matter what the name of the two will make the drama onair. cross finger! lol
Looking forward to watch it here in the Philippines
I have a question, do you know what television network that got the rights?
yeah.. what network got the rights??
It reminds me japanese drama I watched with Mai Takahashi.
GF, Does your source say which Philippines network bought the rights for the drama??
Cause there’s basically only TWO major networks there, and I am biased on which network I watch.. LOL.. So I would love to know if it was either ABS-CBN2 or GMA7 who got the rights.. would love to know.. hope you get to read this girlfriday =)
Nope. Doesn’t specify.
You are forgetting TV5, they bought Smile, YOu (Honey) and Runaway eventhough they are still showing in Korea. Plus other new Kdramas and Chinese dramas like “Black & White”.
TV5 tied up or co-produced with Runaway’s Philippines shoot. Currently, the Network has more money to spend vs. ch. 2 & 7 =)
Just saying, is MGIAG considered sci-fi rom-com? I’ll say it falls under fantasy rom-com.
the second drama I’m waiting for and
@mookie
thanx a lot for the link. I’ve only seen the first trailer and it says 5. where are the others???^^
Here are the links:
Preview 1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L9w2scuEJM
Preview 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPSbX7W69Ko
Preview 3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b6CuXEsipw
Preview 4 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaRYR6reQpM
Preview 5- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDlt3hgEQFM
Here are all the trailers so far:
1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04hFLnz4kco
2: (can’t seem to find this on YT)
3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb0oNiw5dic
4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o7igg_NHJw
5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP9bNCsGu0A (included for completeness, haha)
I’m really starting to look forward to this show, not gonna lie.
The soul-swapping hijinks (and the gender confusion entailed) promise to be fun. XD
Haha nevermind, CC beat me to it. And found the 2nd trailer! Good for her/him.
no matter which angle I look at hyun bin he’s still delicious. Life is not fair. What the heck is he wearing though?? Looks ridiculous but somehow he manages to pull it off
How do you even get sidetracked by his clothes? I didn’t even seelet alone notice them so hard I was staring at his face! XD
looking fwd to it
the storyline a bit similar like mexican drama lalola..yes wait for this drama to be air in malaysia
This drama has been reserved a space in my heart since the beginning. And after watching the trailer, it gives me more excitement to look forwards. Thanks for the links folks.
This sure is worth the wait.
Binnie’s back…no doubt I’m here for the long haul!!!
why only in asian countries ?
,i can watch dramas in my computer but i wish also a broadcast in tv because the audience will be bigger for them ,at least outside these countries ,some countries in the world get the broadcast of some dramas like iran or peru ,but in mexico i only watched jewel in the palace in the tv ,but i want more for a bigger audience
Looks like he’s wearing a tight mini-skirt.
Close to what I was thinking…
Gees, the boy has a nice arss ok, show some curves, not hide it w/ a long jersy shirt or dress shirt from a female’s walk-in closet.
You can put him in a track suit and slippers and he’ll still look hot. Why? And, is it matching shirt and eyeshadow color day? I didn’t get the memo….
did HB already switch bodies in that pic? he looks like he has on a “booty shirt”. hahaha (he’s cute though!)
for those who don’t know what, i call, a “booty shirt”. it’s a long shirt that slack at the top but tight around the hips and butt. smooches ;’)
watched the 5 previews, this is definitely a romcom. looks interesting.
A little bathroom humor would be nice. “How am I going to the bathroom-ahhh!?” While he’s doing this, the oppapoutwiggle would be… Hilarious.
Is SG turns out as City Hall (comedy at first, then romcom then epic romance with lots of drama thrown into the mix)? I’m going to hyperventilate and flail like a flaily thing because yeah, omg! \o/ I can totally get behind such kind of kdrama.
Still, I’m SO going to watch this for Binnie though I do love all the other actors. You can never go wrong with Binnie, right? ^^
Male & Female swapping bodies?
Hyun Bin? Awesome.
Sounds interesting, hopefully it’s funny.
Yup, we just have to wait and see!
When I first read about Secret Garden I thought if only the Hong Sisters were the writers of this drama, IT WOULD BE EPIC. I mean, I can already imagine the humor they’ll be giving us with this very good premise. But then. Let’s give it a chance
i am soooooo excited for this one! and im happy to know that secret garden will be shown in our country..yay!
sorry, but the hong sisters’ writing has not been epic lately. gumiho and your’re beautiful were boring. let’s hope the hong sisters come up with something epic in their next venture
May i say the previews do promise laughs, so I guess this crazy new Kdrama genre is going to charm many… cause Binnie’s girl in mans body was just hilarious in the previews..
I just have a Big H-O-P-E that this going to be as good as ” Who are you” or more. And as sweet as ‘ My girlfriend s gumiho ” I know City Hall is one of my favorite. This must be amazing rom-com with the kick of good team up. Love iitt!!! Binnie Oppa and Ha Ji-won Unnie. Hwaiting!!!
Love the casts. Not loving the writer so much. Not loving the trailers either.
But I’m keeping this drama, for Binnie.
Came here while waiting for next episode, Ep 12.
Love the photos above.
Thanks again DB for feeding my KDrama obsession.
Ha ji won looks sexy in that picture, while Hyun bin oppa .. well i first looked at his butt, then his arms and his face.. he’s such a total package.. hot hot hot!!!