JTBC's Undercover sets stage for army comebacks » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

37 March 19, 2013

JTBC’s Undercover sets stage for army comebacks

by javabeans

It is a good day when army boys are back and signing on to new dramas, so count today as one of ’em: Jung Kyung-ho (Smile, You) and Jo Han-seon (Invincible) have both been cast in a new JTBC series called Undercover.

While I particularly love both actors in funny, cute projects (Smile, You and Sweet Lie were both winners as far as Jung and Jo were concerned), I suppose I won’t balk to hear that this one is a more serious story, centering around undercover detectives who infiltrate a crime organization for a drug investigation. Especially since it’s been years since either leading man has been on television; three for Jung, but a whopping nine for Jo, whose last drama was the 2004 KBS series April Kiss.

It is an interesting shift in tone for the director, however; PD Lee Jung-hyo last worked on the rom-com series I Need Romance and its sequel, I Need Romance 2012. Maybe he’s tired of the fluffy modern love stories and wants to get into something grittier? Well, I suppose JTBC’s the place to do it.

Cast as the leading lady is Nam Gyuri (Haeundae Lovers)… which is fine, I guess. She was adequate, though not great, in 49 Days, but at least I no longer actively dislike her acting. I just don’t care much for it, either. But the boys more than make up for that, I think. I hope.

Undercover will air following medical plague drama The End of the World, which puts its premiere in late May. It’ll begin filming next month.

Via TV Report, TV Daily

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1 JO

March 19, 2013 at 6:17 PM

my main gripe with nam gyuri is that as an actress she seems unwilling to dirty herself and get down and serious for a role. She is largely...expressionless or sweet looking. It's never ...ugly aka realistic.

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Brenda

March 19, 2013 at 6:47 PM

Agreed. She reminds me of Shin Se Kyung or Park Min Young in that aspect. They always have to look presentable or pretty when they're angry, upset, crying, etc.
It makes it hard to appreciate them onscreen or. . .care if anything happens to them. =/

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Peridot

March 20, 2013 at 7:11 AM

Hopefully Nam Gyu-ri will get a role that will really challenge her. I agree with your observation on actresses like Park Min-young. PMY's face always appears immaculate. That was one of my frustrations (among many) with Dr. Jin. Park Min-young was always too beautiful looking, no matter what happened to her character. I often feel as though she is just a pretty face.

I thought that Nam Gyu-ri's performance in 49 Days was okay, and she was not bad in Life is Beautiful. I did not watch Haeundae Lovers.

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houstontwin

March 20, 2013 at 8:58 AM

She was the weakest link in Haeundae Lovers which featured some really charming performances (the supporting roles were mostly very reliable veteran actors).

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Christy

March 19, 2013 at 6:59 PM

Same here, I was so excited until I scrolled down. I don't dislike Nam Gyuri in particular, but honestly, she should really do us all a favor and take some acting classes. She's always keeping up this image of unrealistic perfection, which is good for CFs, horrible for dramas/movies.

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DeeDee

March 19, 2013 at 8:27 PM

Pretty sure she can't help being expressionless with all that plastic going on in her face.

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bd

March 19, 2013 at 8:34 PM

Well, the same can be said for Park Min-young.

As for NG, can't coment on her acting since haven't seen her in anything, but she does have a competitive streak when it comes to games on variety shows - so she doesn't do the "sweet thing" when it comes to that.

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Kiara

March 20, 2013 at 9:05 AM

That goes for me too. I like the boys till I saw the leading lady. Passsssssssssssss.

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2 audreyt80

March 19, 2013 at 6:23 PM

Oh yes to Jung Kyung-ho, whom I love and adore in Smile, You and Time Between Dog and Wolf. He has good comedic timing, and does dramatic pretty well too.
I have only seen Jo Han Seon in the movie Temptation of Wolves, and that was a while ago, so I don't remember much of him. But Yay for him too.
Now, a big NO NO to Nam Gyu Ri. Never liked her acting, and her face is like tooooooo plastic-ish for me.
But oh well, we can't get what we want, so I might tune in for Jung Kyung Ho.

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Mama J

March 20, 2013 at 3:08 AM

I just re-watched TofW, and in both I was struck by Jo Han Seon's sweet (if a bit neanderthal) attitude. I was left feeling quite fond of him, although of course Kang Don Won owns the movie. Still, I wondered what JHS was doing these days and now I guess I know!

I also like Jung Kyung-ho after seeing him in TBDaW; I didn't much like his character in MiSa, but I thought his acting was ok there, too.

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3 Ivoire

March 19, 2013 at 6:31 PM

Thank you for the news...

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4 Rashell

March 19, 2013 at 6:38 PM

Love the boys but only meh on the girl. Maybe while their getting down and gritty they'll both need to take a long hot shower. Just sayin' there better be some post army abs.

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Trina

March 19, 2013 at 11:16 PM

I agree with you...

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5 Brenda

March 19, 2013 at 6:46 PM

I am so happy Jung Kyung Ho is back. It'll be good to see him onscreen again. I hope he does another project with Jung Ryeo Won. Those are two are probably two of my favorite actors, it was just too bad that their project had to be the disastous Ja Myung Go.

On the other hand, a big No to Nam Gyuri. In my opinion, she's just another pretty face who can't act to save her life =(

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6 Annie

March 19, 2013 at 6:46 PM

Kind of makes you wonder what will happen when the 1986ers and 1987ers go to the army.

That's like 50% of the leading men for trendies...

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7 danna

March 19, 2013 at 6:47 PM

I agree about Nam Gyu Ri's acting but I still have soft spot for her because she's been in two of my favorite kdramas (Life is Beautiful and 49 days) ......but on the bright side Jung Kyung Ho's back in dramaland, YAY!! In a crime drama no less

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Peridot

March 20, 2013 at 7:13 AM

You just listed two of my favorite dramas! As I wrote in a comment above, I think that Nam Gyu-ri really needs to take on a challenging role. And she needs to learn how to be more expressive with her face.

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8 Daisy

March 19, 2013 at 6:56 PM

Yay love Nam Gyuri!

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9 crazedlu

March 19, 2013 at 7:07 PM

Don't mind her acting these days, but her eyes, yes. Glad the boys are back.

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10 Addylovesbwood

March 19, 2013 at 7:29 PM

Nam Gyuri is bacck!!!! I love her!!

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Annie

March 19, 2013 at 7:37 PM

I like her too... cute and harmless even if PS ruined her looks.

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11 jomo143

March 19, 2013 at 7:32 PM

Wait, they're BOTH in it? Like a Black and White thing?

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Fairycutter

March 19, 2013 at 8:04 PM

if this is indeed had black and white tone, then i'm 1000%

hope we not jinx it...

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trixicopper

March 19, 2013 at 10:37 PM

Ooooh! If that would be the case, me likey! Me likey! :)

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12 wits

March 19, 2013 at 7:52 PM

Oh yey!!! I just happen to see this guy Jo Han-seon for the first time two days ago whan I watched Now and Forever, a 2006 movie he did opposite Choi Ji-woo. I loved him there and I was hoping I can see him again... so THIS news is so welcome.

I also enjoyed Smile You, one of my first k-dramas. I'm eager to see Jung Kyung-ho in the small screen.

This drama will be a good vehicle to carry these two worthy actors in their comeback attempt.

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13 snow_white

March 19, 2013 at 8:16 PM

hmmm.....I haven't seen any of the actors' shows before....so can't say anything regarding this...

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14 Lovebug

March 19, 2013 at 9:06 PM

Yay!! I am a serious Jung Kyung-ho fan since smile you! I am so happy to be able to watch him in another drama!! I will watch and hope for the best regarding Nam Gyuri...

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15 AB

March 19, 2013 at 9:24 PM

YAY Jung kyung-ho!! So excited he's back in dramaland. Will have to check this one out now.

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16 AnneAkemi

March 19, 2013 at 9:34 PM

Oh my goodness... Jo Han Seon! I was wondering what happened to him as haven't seen him in a drama for ages. I thought he was really cute in Temptation of Wolves too. Nice that he is making a comeback. Jung Kyung-ho is also a nice face to returning... two years went by fast it seems. For me NGR is okay... I felt her character was short-changed in 49 Days and should have ended up with Kang-ah! So it's good she has the chance to play the lead this time... hopefully her acting has leveled up and she is "lead" material.

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17 jennie

March 19, 2013 at 9:54 PM

yay!
LOVE ALL OF THEM, THIS CAST WILL BE GREAT!
super glad Jo Kyung Ho is back and Jo Han Seon too!
Love Nam Gyuri, hopefully this role she will be able to show her true acting abilities. i have hope bc i loved her in 49 days

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18 myra

March 20, 2013 at 2:15 AM

i'm happy that jTBC is doing fine recently...they have new dramas and even planning new ones...good for them
could you please add their weekend dramas to the list of dramas here? The END OF THE WORLD already premiered and this saturday it's CRUEL PALACE-WAR OF THE FLOWERS
and, well, i have a soft spot for TvN, so would you please list NINE TRAVELS IN TIME, too?

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19 shiitake

March 20, 2013 at 4:01 AM

Hmm..big difference from 'not-actively-dislike' & 'just-don't-care-much' + 'either'. Huge.

I'm both tho ;p

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20 hapacalgirl

March 20, 2013 at 8:10 AM

I was totally on board till the Nam Gyuri factor came in. I didn't really like her much as a singer (the other two were much more skilled) and like her even less as an actress one of the reasons being what you stated, she doesn't like to be dirty. Nam Gyuri seem's harmless enough and she is not an absolutely horrendous actress but she is just so wooden and stiff on screen. Additionally while I typically try to avoid judging on looks, the sheer plastic-ness of her face and makes it really hard to relate to her characters. Its not as noticeable in rom-com fare which I think she does decent in but it is really hard to relate to her in anything remotely serious. In 49 days I liked her character when it was being played by Yi-won because I could relate more to it.

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21 cimori

March 21, 2013 at 2:15 AM

WHO ARE THOSE ACTOR ? not popular in my eyes

just know Nam Gyu-ri from 49 days.

well good luck for all of them

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22 varms

March 21, 2013 at 2:55 AM

Nam Gyuri? Ack, but I do adore Jung Kyung Ho after I watched the movie My Lovely Week, where this nun had a mad crush on his popstar character. Smile You really upped his game. Jo Han Sun is a major hunk. But NGR! Too cutesi

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23 eilrig

August 2, 2013 at 12:52 AM

watch this one and you will not regret it!!! JKH at his best!

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24 mg

September 7, 2013 at 8:39 AM

Good,U have to see.

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