Nice Guy gets its revenge on
by girlfriday
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on upcoming melodrama Nice Guy (full title: There’s No Such Thing as Nice Guys), the last of this season’s dramas to premiere because of Gaksital’s extension. Perhaps it’ll benefit from having more lead-in time than its competition, and it certainly won’t hurt to follow the time slot’s ratings king. Here’s a slew of stills, a teaser, and some intriguing character information that makes this… one very complicated love triangle, even for an I’m-gonna-get-revenge-on-my-girlfriend kind of show.
So Song Joong-ki stars as the once-nice-guy Kang Maru, who in present drama time will be 30 years old. He was a med student — smart, popular, hopeful. He only ever had eyes for one girl his entire life, the noona next door, Han Jae-hee (Park Shi-yeon). He was an adoring boyfriend and she always considered Maru her home. So, as first loves go, so far, so good.
But just when her family situation takes a turn for the worse and Jae-hee becomes desperate to escape poverty, she meets a man who changes everything–a rich CEO who introduces her to a life of comfort. So she turns her back on Maru and leaves him high and dry, choosing money over love. There’s something bigger there though, because whatever the betrayal itself is, it leaves Maru fractured — not just like angry at his ex, but a completely changed man.
By the time he’s 30, he’s a bartender and gigolo (how’s that for a 180-turn?) and then he meets Seo Eun-ki (Moon Chae-won), a young chaebol heiress who’s being groomed to take over her father’s conglomerate. She’s cold and calculating, business-savvy, and raised by her father to never show emotion to anyone. But Maru intrigues her, and she becomes curious, and then interested, and then she can’t stop thinking about him.
Okay, but here’s the twist: Jae-hee… is Eun-ki’s stepmom. WUT. They’re only six years apart in drama time! Holy scandal, batman!
So now I finally get the point of the revenge scheme. Well yunno, other than the satisfaction of revenge. Eun-ki is the ticket to stealing Jae-hee’s life of comfort out from under her. And it probably doesn’t hurt that the two women aren’t exactly friendly–Eun-ki’s icy to begin with, but doesn’t care much for her young golddigging stepmother. The complication, of course, is that Eun-ki falls in love with Maru, not knowing that he’s using her to get back at his ex.
Suffice it to say, they don’t sound like pleasant folk, but writer Lee Kyung-hee (Will It Snow For Christmas, I’m Sorry, I Love You) is famous for layered characterization and wringing the tears and sympathy for the unlikeliest of heroes. I’d say this one’s an uphill battle where sympathy is concerned, but Dark Joong-ki is pretty much reason enough to tune in for me.
Nice Guy premieres Wednesday September 12 on KBS.
Via KBS
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Tags: Lee Kwang-soo, Moon Chae-won, Nice Guy, Park Shi-yeon, Song Joong-ki
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51 Moonie
September 2, 2012 at 2:11 AM
I am Team Eun-gi all the way. I mean she's going to have it the worst...the guy she loves is using her..her memory is gone..and her stepmother is trying to steal her family business. And I'm sure her father is not that lovable
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Moonie
September 2, 2012 at 2:12 AM
Btw I find it kind of confusing how Lee Sang Yeob's name is not really attached this drama, because if I was correct he fits the second lead male character perfectly. Why is he not being included in the promotions?
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Jushi
September 2, 2012 at 5:36 AM
Probably because they do not intend to highlight the relationship he has with Eun Gi. NG is about Maru in the first place. It is about his struggles and LKS character has more to do with Maru's character development than any other male characters in the series.
Just my two cents.
Or because he is more popular. But I think it's because of what I stated above.
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CL
September 2, 2012 at 5:50 AM
Lee Sang-Yeob isn't the second male lead, not in the conventional sense. If they'd wanted a proper second male lead, who could be a threat to Maru & Eun-Gi, they'd have cast a more famous actor. Gwang-Soo's 4th in the credits, which is why he gets the most promotion after SJK, MCW and PSY, but even then his screentime won't be anywhere near that of the main three. His character's not attached romantically to the two leading ladies either, so he doesn't really fit the profile of a "second male lead" or what's referred as 서브남 in k-dramas.
NG is really about the main three, with Maru (the titular "Nice Guy") at the heart of the drama.
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52 skinnymocha
September 2, 2012 at 2:56 AM
I want Joong Ki to be FULL ON evil and dark, but still maintaining his love for MCW; not the wishy-washy kind who's supposedly "evil" but too scared to hurt the one he loves. The "betrayal" better be good and cut him deep, because getting revenge on your ex still doesn't sound that enticing to me...
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SP
September 2, 2012 at 3:09 AM
From what I know Maru got the blame for Jae Hee and went to jail instead of her.
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53 cHRi5
September 2, 2012 at 3:01 AM
looking at the popularity of this drama..,I think NG deserve to got the fastest recap from dramabeans..I think every WED-Thu night.,Dramabeans should make NG as Their main drama for recapping!!
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Moonie
September 2, 2012 at 5:51 PM
I agree! The cast is very promising and although I tend to avoid weepy melodramas...I'm going to give this one a chance.
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Bakachild
September 5, 2012 at 12:23 AM
Dramabeans isn't one sentient being. It's a bunch of different bloggers, some making more contributions than others. Girlfriday and javabeans are at the forefront of it from what I can tell. They alternate days of recapping dramas and do different ones during the week(not just them). There are other good dramas in the Wed-Thurs slot and none of them are going to be "a main drama" and have the other dramas shoved to the back. Never works that way.
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54 Susy
September 2, 2012 at 4:16 AM
Definitely excited to see SJK in a lead role! AJA FIGHTING!!
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55 Lilian
September 2, 2012 at 5:44 AM
Ooh....Song Joong Ki in a lead role. Finally!!! I have waited so long since sungkwunkwan scandal. And I love the two female leads too. Hope there is still some humour included.despite the fact that it sounds very makjang....
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56 Cynthia
September 2, 2012 at 6:39 AM
thanks gf !
what sort of diet is moon chae won on ?. scarry !
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57 malta
September 2, 2012 at 6:51 AM
So who plays Moon Chae Won's Dad?
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Chanel
September 2, 2012 at 7:14 AM
The same actor who played her dad in the Princess' Man.
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jasmin
September 2, 2012 at 7:34 AM
His name is Kim Young Chul. :-)
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58 kdramapedia
September 2, 2012 at 7:12 AM
Song Joong-Ki resembles Justin Timberlake in the poster.
(I hope it's not just me who sees that, lol)
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59 meanrice
September 2, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Lee Kwang Soo! The rest of the plot looks interesting and everything, but is something so dark, what is Lee Kwang Soo up to? Comedic sidekick, or will he get to be dark and swaggy and swarthy too?
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60 lilly
September 2, 2012 at 1:38 PM
hi, everybody watch teaser 2 and listen to maru's voice. it's very scary and lonely
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61 InSu
September 2, 2012 at 1:40 PM
I love Lee Kyung-hee for the deep and complex relationships she creates. Hope this one doesn't drag like WISFC but with 20 eps :(
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62 MEalways
September 2, 2012 at 9:26 PM
I think I will skip all dramas this season... I love 'The Chaser', 'Ghost' and 'Gaksital' too much (they're the cup of my tea kind of drama's genre). I miss intense plot + great actors/actress and twisted themes... The darker the better.
All the villains on those dramas are great, so their counterpart are also great as well.
Why they don't follow up with any of this genre?
Well, the Equator Man was replaced by Gaksital.
So, where's the same replacement for these?
Haugh.... :)
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63 'dalia
September 3, 2012 at 12:46 AM
i'm gonna wait on this one. i've already got way too many dramas on my plate.
and it's a melodrama which doesn't make me excited.
if i hear good things i may have to go for it though. plus it's Joong-ki and uh...yeah, i may not be able to stay away...
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64 Waca
September 3, 2012 at 1:29 AM
I really hate chaebol heir/heiress stories... I mean, I don't hate them, but they are everywhere in dramaland so I'm really tired of it! It's what made me skip most scenes in Protect the Boss and only read Rooftop Prince's recaps instead of watching the episodes...
But I really want to see SJK as a bad guy!!! Augh, the dilemna!!! To watch or not to watch? Ah screw this, it's SJK, let's watch it!!!
I really do not understand it though...why most dramas are about chaebol people???
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CL
September 3, 2012 at 4:59 PM
The corporate stuff is not the heart of the drama, so I doubt it's going to overwhelm the storytelling.
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65 kayan20
September 3, 2012 at 8:06 AM
Lol these fangirl posts have me xcited for this drama. I am already wanting him to be with MCW since PSY left him just so she could be rich and fix her problems easily. It doesn't matter the circumstances to me that's what hardwork and perseverance is about. I truly wonder what happened that she ended up ruining Maru life too in the bargain. Who think the father is one evil man?
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66 alliswell
September 3, 2012 at 10:12 AM
WOW the title suits him(lol just see his kissing scenes...j/k)
am gonna watch this just for him...
i dont know why! but i wish him to end up with the Park Shi-yeon (though i know it wont happen :()..
it was a turn off for me when i heard it was from the director of "i'm sorry I L U" since make the leads pathetic (i know its melodrama stilll...)
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CL
September 3, 2012 at 4:56 PM
Nice Guy's director (Kim Jin-Won) didn't work on "I'm Sorry, I Love You", that's writer Lee Kyung-Hee.
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67 KimHayan
September 4, 2012 at 4:34 AM
I'm sure Maru will fall for Eun-gi eventually like the storyline from "A Love To Kill". But having seeing the comments on wanting Maru to be with Jae-hee, I've got a bad feeling about this. This is why I'm writing this comment in support of my beloved actress Moon Chae Won. I really love her overwhelmed role from "The Princess' Man". So I'm keeping my 100% hope that Maru will turn nice once he realised he is falling in love with Eun-gi.
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SP
September 4, 2012 at 5:53 AM
No worried. Maru surely forgive Jae Hee at the end but I doubt that He will love her again coz Jae Hee betray him in the worst way and she also has a child with Eun Gi's father.
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KimHayan
September 5, 2012 at 4:27 AM
But what if there's a twist? Such as the child isn't who she really is? Well kind of wondering whether we're being monitored by writer Lee Kyung-hee as she kind of want to "surprise" her viewers once for all.
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SP
September 8, 2012 at 9:06 AM
Oh that's the thing we have to wait and see then. I hope if she has a surprise it should be a good one.
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68 kokoro_chin`
September 4, 2012 at 3:33 PM
I hope this doesnt turn out like fashion king...
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69 Ciara
September 4, 2012 at 4:32 PM
OMG! I am so excited for this drama. I can't wait to see Lee Joong Ki being all moody and angst-y and wonderful, aha. You don't know how long I've been waiting for this! :D
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Jushi
September 4, 2012 at 6:35 PM
You mean SONG Joong Ki? I ain't good at remembering Korean names but I think the name you mentioned is one-half of the lead in Arang and the Magistrate which I have not started watching yet. Will wait till it's over so I won't have to wait episode per episode.
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70 Bakachild
September 5, 2012 at 12:18 AM
I'm really excited for this drama. Takes away some of the pain from my joy and sadness at Gaksitaaaaaal ending.
It's also eerie to look at Joong ki's face, which is usually so cheery, and have it look so...dark. Like you can look at him in some frames and know in an instant that there's a serious dead-inside-darkness going on. It shows that he's a good actor of course but since it's his first time doing a role like this it threw me off is all.
Seriously can't wait! Also does anyone know who's recapping this, if anyone?
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71 Viki
September 5, 2012 at 2:35 AM
A drama I've been waiting for for a while because of Joongki oppa! Def a on-going watch for me (since Reply 1997 will be over in 2 weeks) :)
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72 gfredgre
September 7, 2012 at 7:55 PM
yumeji's theme
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73 Icyvirgorox
September 9, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Thanks for revealing a more detailed plot of Nice Guy! It does sounds interesting and makes me wanna watch it. I'm excited about it since MCW from princess' man is in it.
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74 InSu
September 11, 2012 at 5:20 AM
Tomorrow Episode 1. I can't wait X]
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