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Beans of Wisdom soup

This week in Beans of Wisdom… where do we even begin?

It all started in “Kim So-hyun headlines tvN’s Bring It On, Ghost,” a casting that had girlfriday particularly excited (“YESSSSSSSS. I’m doing an embarrassing happy dance right now”). A whole seven minutes later, javabeans had to burst that bubble with “Taecyeon in talks to romance Kim So-hyun in Bring It On, Ghost,” with eight crushing words (“Ohhhhh. Oh no. Oh dear. Nobody tell girlfriday!”).

A chorus of readers had helpful suggestions for how to soften girlfriday’s heartache:

Alinka at comment #2:

*putting ninja moves and cutting the internet line in GF’s abode

pastmidnite:

*steals GF’s phone & every other phone around her

haruka:

*lures GF with Ji-soo’s pic to internet-less locked room

What did Taecyeon ever do besides being the most eyebrows??!!???!!!!!!??!

 

mary weighed in at comment #5:

Here’s an original idea: get Kim Jae-wook as a ghost who cannot talk but pops up to stare soulfully at the girl.

Too soon, mary. Too soon.

 

On a more serious note about the growing concern over age-realistic casting in the same post, here’s genki-escapist in comment #8.1.1.2.2:

Hollywood’s age-gap casting is problematic as well. It’s not as creepy as this Korean trend involving underage actresses, but there’s something very wrong with casting very young women into 30/40 year old roles and passing over extremely capable actresses of the actual age while men get to take age-appropriate roles–or play younger! It’s also not cool that female actors are only considered love interest material up to a certain age, adding insult to the fact that they’re sexualized way too early.

It’s not caused by a lack of young male actors or mature female actors (there are plenty!), there’s some twisted, ageist male fantasy with a side helping of unrealistic standards of female beauty here. Female actors are given an extremely short shelf life while male actors are considered viable until well past the point that they have literally turned gray. (I’m not even getting into how Hollywood has a lack of substantial female roles to begin with.)

(I know I went off-tangent the drama casting issue here, but they’re interlinked, so please bear with me. The mindset responsible for Hollywood age-gap casting is related to the Korean underage casting–there’s double-standard at work.)

Ultimately, it would be nice to see actors age gracefully. By that, not just let the female actors take the roles for their ages, rather than shunting them aside for ever younger girls (and have the male actors do the same, rather than take younger roles), but let the teen actresses stay young. Don’t have them grow up too fast! Don’t be so excited to push them into adult roles. (Looking at Yoojung and Saeron especially!) And keep them with age-appropriate actors, for Pete’s sake! Let the teen actors age into their craft and get their roles, than pass them over for these grown men! Let male actors grow–don’t give us 30 year-old high schoolers or 30 year-old grandfathers! P.S. I’m actually a Clintasha fan, but Steve-Natasha was the best alternative, IMHO–visually and plot-wise.

 

A curious reader wondered at the reason for the reaction to Taecyeon’s casting.

javabeans, at #24.1:

We both like Taec a lot, except as an actor and singer.

Followed by YY in #38.2.3:

Taec’s a really versatile actor…he’s in all those hit dramas, but people tend to overlook his roles. That flagpole in DOTS? That was him. The bench in “Cheese in the Trap?” Taec again. And his latest, most awesome acting coup, in “Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho”, he plays the neighborhood.

 

And last but not least, comment #40 and the reply pretty much sum up all the differing viewpoints on this subject:

Hwari:

Yes, Taecyeon. Please take this drama… Need one more drama before his going for military service…

crazykel:

No, Taecyeon. Don’t take this drama. Go into the military, stat.

 

There were some mixed reactions in “Let’s Eat spinoff Drinking Solo comes to tvN this fall.”

BellaMafia, at comment #1:

They should just rename it to Alcoholic.

Johnnie at #12:

Let’s Smoke will be the next one.

And Itenoria, with a liver-killing idea in #7:

Oooh. I’m so looking forward to this. The premise speaks to me as a fellow lover of alcohol (the living alone and being single bit also helps further the connection). I shall be stocking my bar starting from this month so by the time the drama rolls along, I have just enough Rum, Vodka, Hennesy, Gin, Scotch Whiskey and Palmwine to help me bond with the characters. Nothing says I’m trying to understand your point of view oh amazing character than a shot for every time you down a glass. Oh the things we do for the dramas we love.

 

Here’s Gambitfan with the one thing “Jackpot: Episode 9” has going for it in #5:

This has been one of those shows that is carried not by the strength of its story, but by the strength of its actors, and you see it in this episode here. Everyone just feels natural in their part; the King, the two Princes, our hero, even our villain has this snake-ish charm to him. Just fantastic stuff all around. Well played by our cast; well played.

It’s not that the story is BAD, its just one that has been done before in every culture in every time period. What was supposed to distinguish it in THIS iteration–gambling–has been a bit of a non-factor. I thought the scene where he had his limbs twisted would end up making it so he could never wield a sword or a bow, hence his turning to gambling to build up his own underground empire, and his ‘Master’ would just end up his bodyguard. Instead…well, he’s now a martial arts master who…MAYBE…gambles? I don’t even know.

Still, I get that delicious scene chewing from my favorites, so I’m sticking with this one.

 

Followed by Lord Cobol with a some truth on rivers in #20:

Meanwhile, any bets on whether gambler not-Daddy is alive. We have seen the grave, but we have also been told that the body hasn’t been found…

Remember, Korean rivers always magically heal anyone who is badly injured before they fall or jump in, and always drown healthy people who walk or fall in. Those are RULES.

But there is no binding precedent (that I know of) for the fate of anyone who walks in and then is badly injured. So it’s up to this show to decide what happens to them, and the decision will be binding on all future k-dramas until the end of time.

 

azzo with some thoughts in “Entertainer: Episode 3” at comment #12.1:

I’m loving this show so far and really enjoying those little moments and interactions between the characters. I loved it when Ha-neul offered to play with Chan-hee and how bright and happy he looked. His decision to quit the band and singing is heartbreaking yet understandable. He’s not yet attached to the people in his band but he started to care and later when everything becomes known not only he himself but everyone around him will be affected. It’s sad but the entertainment industry is really scary.

It reminded me of Tablo. I know those two are two different cases -way too different- but he and his whole family suffered a lot because some guy woke up one day and decided to dig up Tablo’s academic background and accuse him for lying about it! News about this was everywhere and people went all crazy calling names and demanding THE TRUTH! and this was only because of his academic record, what if it’s something bigger? sexual assault?! Even if it’s a false accusation you’re doomed!

Anyway, Kang Min Hyuk is doing an amazing job bringing so much emotions to Ha-neul, I thought Ji sung would have to carry this show but everyone is putting their share of efforts and I’m glad! Thanks for the recap.

 

Kealoha commented in “Goodbye Mr. Black: Episode 13” at #4, about Black’s comment about black swans being nonexistent and therefore symbolic of a miracle:

I’m sad the writers didn’t research the fact that black swans DO exist before they wrote the script and worse yet, actually filmed it. Lol The black swans were hunted to Extinction in New Zealand at one time but were brought back in and reintroduced later from Australia.

javabeans replied:

Lol, that kind of undermines his whole miracle argument. Maybe he meant the miracle of life?

girlfriday:

Maybe he’s color-blind!!!

javabeans:

What if BLACK is really dark blue?

girlfriday:

Mind. Blown.

 

aranea called back to that comment in “Goodbye Mr. Black: Episode 14” at #2:

This would actually make him Mr Navy Blue (i.e. Navy Blue is a deep, dark blue that’s almost black) which makes even more sense since he was also a naval officer. Then Swan would also be a Navy Blue swan. These do not even exist in downtown Orlando Florida. Which is a miracle just by itself. That would make the whole story fall back into place. It MUST be the translator’s fault. Dramaland writers would never make such a sophomoric mistake. Every person who has translated this drama thus far has miss translated Black for Navy Blue. That is the only believable explanation.

bebeswtz :

ahahahahhaahahha GOLD. THIS IS GOLD~~!!!
But if there’s Navy Blue, then what’s going to happen to Dark Blue Bear??

javabeans:

Maybe he should be green.

 

Some food for thought, courtesy of light in “Open Thread #445,” #46:

I was wondering if anyone knows someone who stopped watching kdramas because she fears that the male leads’ characters can warp her sense of reality? Do dramas give you a superficial expectation of men/partners? Has a kdrama character ruin someone’s love life before? Do you believe that men in kdramas exist? Do we want a Jane Austen hero that can never exist? Did someone find a Mr Darcy?

 

And Beanfan was one of many to share in the love in “Oh Snap! Jo Jin-woong is maybe the best thing ever” with #19.1:

“Floored” is the word I was looking for! Thanks…

I’ve been completely utterly floored by this performance in “Signal.” Heck, I’m only on episode 7 right now, but like someone above said, I can’t take my eyes off the screen when he’s on. The performances on that show are ALL like that, though.. And I believe 100% in his delivery of Lee Jae-Han; he’s utterly convincing as that earnest, dogged/determined, down-to-earth, regretful/torn, heartbroken cop.
“Chuno” and “Tree With Deep Roots” was always on my viewing list, but now that I know he’s in both, I’m definitely gonna move them forward.

Cos of his somewhat-ahjusshi looks, he might not be given the lead roles, esp. in rom-coms, but I really really really really wish that would change. For his sake. For our sake. Ok, for my sake.. From these pictures, it seems like he’d be pretty good too in a light-hearted, comic role. I loved loved loved how smitten and puppy-ish he was in “Signal” with his office worker crush. He absolutely killed the I’ll-worship-you-to-the-heavens-and-lick-your-feet kind of adoration that others have tried and only looked ridiculous in executing.

 

There were so many heartwarming and heartbreaking comments in “Marriage Contract: Episode 16 (Final)” that it’d almost be better to just link to the whole thread. But apriltenfan sums it up in #47:

I rarely post, but this is a special occasion. The cast and crew of Marriage Contract created something extraordinary — a drama that reflected our most profound hopes and captured our deepest fears. And then, they made us want to watch every week knowing that there would be painful times ahead.

I appreciate the emotional journey I was able to travel with Hye Soo, Ji Hoon, and Eun Sung. I’ll miss these characters who seem just as real as people from my real life. No doubt I will revisit them again and again when I need to be reminded of how precious it is to spend time with family and friends.

 

Kestrel adds in #68:

This drama was excellent from start to finish. It took a well worn trope and breathed new life into it with a restrained script that left so much room to breathe and never overstated anything. So much of melodrama is reduced to wailing histrionics and outright emotional manipulation as they crank up the unnatural twists and turns. Never once did anything here feel forced. It takes a lot of skill, as I said previously on one of the recaps, to let the negative spaces of a drama breathe.
Can’t say enough about UEE in this drama. I’ve seen her in 3-4 roles before and never seen her just inhabit a character like this. She was stellar start to finish. She had the big moments, like her breakdown at the bus depot, but it was in the small moments where she really thrived, when she cut her hair, when she hurt herself trying to cook, when she took her hat off at the end and danced barefoot. She hit every note perfectly without ever overdoing it. Fantastic work.
When I make my list of best dramas up to recommend to friends, I usually drop them in buckets: You want action, Healer, Comedy, try Marriage Not Dating. Now, if I want to recommend a melo to someone, it will be Marriage Contract.

 
Perhaps Snoopy and Charlie Brown said it best, via Enz in #36:

Thanks to DB for recapping this gem of a drama. Lollypip and Saya – you both did an awesome job capturing the tone and essence of the drama. It was great to have people who love it recapping coz the love is evident.
I am happy with the ending. We didn’t need to see her descend further into her illness but we needed to know that she has chosen to live well while she can. And we are comforted that good people are there for her.
It reminded me of a cartoon with Charlie Brown and snoopy ( a meme)
Charlie Brown “some day, we are all going to die, snoopy.”
Snoopy “true, but on all other days, we will not.”

A wise bean indeed.

 
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That last one.... :') Life is precious.

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IKR !
I mean I had such a busy week that I have been barely able to read one full post in DB , this beans of wisdom post makes me catch up on all things I missed ! Awesome idea !

Good job heads ! Keep doing it ! And to JB and GF as well.

And to all you wonderful beanies !/

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Could someone help me further understand the controversy over Yoojung's casting opposite Park Bogum? I mean, I kind of get it, but that six year age difference is something that I've seen many commentators across the web easily ignore in the past - Yoojung-younger Lee Minho in METS, Suzy-Kim Soohyun-Taecyeon in Dream High, Sohyun-Ji Soo, etc.

If anyone could explain, I'd be really interested to hear it. Sincerely wondering about this difference in opinions.

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I thought it was the whole Secret Door issue with Yoo-jung they were talking about, not Moonlight Drawn by Clouds. I could be wrong though

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You're right, the age difference here is the same as in Dream High. In dream high, though, they were all playing characters that were Suzy's actual age - ie, the guys played/acted like 17 years olds, and the romance stayed 17 yr old appropriate. We got what, a peck on the lips?

I would find it weirder if the characters were all playing the guys' age, or if it was a drama about a 17 yr old girl and 23 yr old guy. Both of those feel more inappropriate to me, imo. So the question is - how old is PBG and YJ's characters in the drama, and how "mature" are they playing?

I think a lot of us were hoping for a normal fusion saguk drama - nice kisses and everything ;). Now we have to hope it's firmly stuck in HS appropriate territory, or it will feel icky.

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And the one that was REALLY ickying people out was Taecyeon and Kim So-hyun. Because Kim So-hyun is the age Suzy was FIVE YEARS AGO.

So, Taecyeon, at 28, is going to be romancing a 16 year old. I can deal with 16 and 23 if the drama stays in the hand-holding, cheek-pecking territory, but 28 and 16 and I lose my lunch. Sorry, not sexy. I could do 18 and 28, but not 16 and 28.

If your male lead is over 25, I don't care if this is the chastest romance in history - the female lead needs to be OF AGE.

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(also why I don't think I can check out Mirror of the Witch, as much as I love Yoon Shi Yoon. Because YUCK. I'm about his age. The thought of even pretend-romancing a 15 year old boy makes me want to throw up. Honestly, ONE of them should have turned the role down!)

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AMEN, SISTER.

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I just read on allkpop, it seems like taecyeon has confirmed for the male lead. Oh.My.God. Is allkpop a reliable source?

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oh god.

Can I please have the sick bucket now, because I really do want to vomit @the thought of this.

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Let's wait for db to confirm it. I am hanging on to a thread of hope. Seems like gf will need more remedies to soften the heartache.

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I think the reason people are upset is because she's a minor.

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my theory is that kim yoo-jung's image as a child actress is still very strong. people have been watching her since she was a baby, so for some time she'll always seem younger. suzy debuted as an idol at 15/16, but people haven't seen her since she was a baby as is the case with KYJ.

personally i don't have an issue with kim yoo-jung/park bo-gum. maybe it's because it's park bo-gum? to me, he has such a soft, baby-like, innocent image that it seems perfectly okay to pair him up with KYJ. and by all accounts, it seems like the story won't have any risque elements, which is the most important thing i think.

also, there just aren't that many relatively established male actors in KYJ's age range yet who can match her in both public recognition and acting level. not saying that she's jeon do-yeon or anything, but she's an experienced actress steadily working her way up into grown-up roles, and she's quite well known.

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She is 16 which is under aged.
He is like 22 or 23.
the fact that she is not an adult is disgusting to be cast with an adult.

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Moonlight Drawn by Clouds wasn't the KYJ drama that came under fire, it was Secret Door which cast her (at not yet 15) opposite 30-year-old Lee Je-hoon, and intended to give her a love line opposite him.

I don't think most people have a problem with Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung being paired up, considering the age gap is only 6 years and he's in his early twenties.

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I think there's only such strong reaction in this case because it's already the what... 4th drama this year with a much older male paired with a much younger female casting, see Marriage Contract, Entertainer and Mirror of the Witch, causing people to worry about the trend this is becoming.
And it's not as if dramaland lacks actors and actresses in the appropriate age range for the aforementioned dramas, just that casting directors make very questionable choices which are on top of that not even required by the script that could justify the pairings like in noona-dongsaeng romances for example.
All in all I'd say if it weren't for the previous cases there wouldn't be as much controversy over the PBG-KYJ pairing.

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It's actually at least 6 dramas now..add the upcoming Beast's Beauty where leading man Nam Goong Min (38) paired with Minah (22) and Descendants of the Sun had Jin Goo (35) paired with Kim Ji Won (23).

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As others have said, I believe the main objection to the Yoo Jung Bo Gum pairing is that she is an underage girl while he is an adult man. The news seems indicative of a disturbing trend of pairing underage girls with adult men, not just a one off here and there. See also Mirror of the Witch,and now apparently Bring It On Ghost. I just started watching dramas recently, so I had no idea that this sort of thing has been done in the past with both underage girls and boys being cast as romantic leads opposite adult men and women. I find it really gross. I don't understand why drama producers feel they have to take this route of casting minors opposite adults when there are lots of great adult actresses and actors.

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I lost it with Let's Smoke.

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I enjoyed these beans and the ending one was perfect.

I'd also love to see Jo Jin Woong in a romcom. Can we get some more ahjussi ahjumma romcoms please? They can't all be relegated to playing bosses, assemblymen and parents. I hope Dear My Friends does very well so the stereotype can be bent a little.

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Awww! So flattered my comment got picked! I never thought I'm wisdomatic enough to be featured here LOL!

Thank you.

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I'm humbled and a little giddy that my comment got picked ~!! Thanks for the mention, Dramabeans!!
I'd imagine that if my comments were wise enough to be included in a "Beans Of Wisdom" post, it would be one of my shorter, non-spazzing comments XD And I guessed right: the comment I made on the "Goodbye, Mr. Black" post was the shortest comment I made all week on Dramabeans. All my other comments were super long, super long-winded, and super spazz-y because I was basically pouring out my feels over "Marriage Contract" LOL
*goes back to binge-watch "Marriage Contract for the 3rd time this week*

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Some of the taecyeon post comments were gold.

And I think we might all need to be locked away somewhere without Internet for a while if this godawful casting does happen. Kim So-hyun only does one full drama as lead in a year and I will be actively resentful if Taecyeon inserts his non-acting, too-old self in a drama that she'll now have to carry all on her own.

And what genki-escapist said about the problem with age gaps in casting, was absolutely accurate. I wish it was a thing people in the industry paid attention to, because surely someone realises the problem with presenting underage girls as potential romantic partners to men over a decade older than them, right? RIGHT??

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"I will be actively resentful if Taecyeon inserts his non-acting, too-old self in a drama that she’ll now have to carry all on her own."

BRUTAL. seriously i hope for his own sake taecyeon never sees your comment! but i so feel the same.

i don't think taecyeon is ready to be a lead in anything, or even deserving of a male #2 role (there are so many other great actors to fill those). maybe if he were outstandingly handsome or had some type of charm (a la suzy), i could understand why he would be considered. but really, i think he's just suitable for recurring side characters—the goofy friend, the random doctor, etc.

or if he's gonna be a lead, pair him with a lesser actress (like jo jae-hyun's daughter). NOT kim so-hyun, who is definitely bound for leading lady status in 2-3 years. she's too young and talented for him—so lovely to watch. she deserves a partner who has more promise as an actor than taecyeon...

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Can we all collectively agree to pretend that Page Turner was Kim So-hyun's only drama this year?

I just wish Taecyeon would stay in his lane, and recognise that acting is NOT that lane. Like, a rookie cyclist has no business drifting out of a bike lane into a lane for 18-wheeler trucks, the same way someone like him has no business going anywhere near lead roles. Just stick to variety, there's no shame in that!

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*imagines white kdrama truck of doom htting rookie cyclist*

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I know who would be perfect for Taecyon..it's Go Sung Hee. Her acting in Night watchman is on par with Taec's. Then we would have two perfect poles or benchtops. Then the drama would be Bring it on...er...benchtops?

Whatever did my Kim So Hyun girl did to deserve this injustice???*goes to bang my head on the wall* :(

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I agreed with genki-escapist 3,000%! Such a cogent argument, and it perfectly encapsulated my disgust with the current age-inappropriate pairings, both in Korea and in Hollywood.

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ikr? I know there's a school of thought (usually followed by idol fans) that says get over it and evaluate the final drama but there is no way to condone this recent round of inappropriate castings involving the Kim teens. None.

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(and I'm actually ok with the Kim Yoo-jung/Park Bo-gum pairing for Moonlight Drawn by Clouds since he's only 22 himself - it's the intended gisaeng-babymama storyline with 30-year-old Lee Je-hoon in Secret Door that was the issue. You'd think the kdrama industry could get a clue when netizens protested so strongly at the time that they switched her out for an older actress)

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Down with the (creepy) status quo!

Let's hope viewers become so vocal in their protest of age-gap casting that producers/casting directors just have to listen!

Taec has apparently confirmed, so, ick.

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great, now I really want to vomit.

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The Taecyeon casting may have upset me, but the post comments kept me very very very very amused.. haha.

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Yes, there were indeed so many heartwarming and heartbreaking comments in MC Episode 16 recap. Even by reading the recap alone, I could get misty-eyed.

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My laughter turns to tears as, once again, I discover I wasn't picked...

I'm obviously not as funny as I think I am.

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I know how you feel. Would you like a hug?

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Absolutely awesome comments this week guys!

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Taecyeon will be kim so hyun's leading man..... I can't explain how much I hate that he accepted to play her male lead.

I am so angry right now that I wanna throw something,he is gonna make that young actress do all the acting.

I prayed for seven days hoping he would turn down the role and it would go to a younger and more talented actor,why must they pair kim so hyun will idols? If they are gonna pair her with idols they should pair her with talented idols like Do kyung soo and yook sung jae not taecyeon.

I'm a big fan of kim so hyun so I'm just gonna watch because of my donsaeng.

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It's typo right? I know they mean yook sung jae, not taec****.

RIGHT??!?

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genki-escapist's comment was so spot-on. It's so disgusting how these grown men seem to be trying to relegate their creepy fetishes of young women and children by pairing them with actors twice their age.

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Taecyeon confirmed as male lead. FUCKFUCKFUCK...

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Re: the unrealistic expectations...

As a single girl surrounded by happy, coupled off friends, I've often felt some sort of way after watching a really, really happy K-drama. Often, it's led to a few days' worth of a breakdown. This may sound really bad, but if you understand the fact that I have chronic depression and anxiety and sometimes worry about how lonely and isolated I currently am (lots of long distance friends and family and very little close enough to see and hang out with often), it makes a little more sense.

I remember breaking down in tears after My Princess of all things - I know, I know - because I was sure that there is no one out there for me and perhaps watching dramas is giving me a superficial expectation for men and that's why I'm still single. Add the whole half-Asian (Desi) aspect to it and aunts clucking over my still being an old maid, and it's a real hodgepodge of insecurity.

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Aww..here's a hug for you honey. Please do be happy because you are definitely not alone in this world. Even though it feels a bit late, your life partner will come along just at the right time and he will be thousand times more better than all the K-drama heroes rolled into one!

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I'm full Indian and I hear you on the aunts clucking over being an old maid!

But I think having a supportive immediate family makes all the difference, as does enjoying singledom. Being paired up for its own sake isn't going to get you the love you deserve, and there's a lot to be said for enjoying the freedoms that come with being single.

I love dramas and absolutely believe in the good drama love stories as I watch them, but in many ways it's like reading about magic in Harry Potter - I absolutely believe in the existence of the wizarding world while I read, but once the last page is turned, I know very well it's not real.

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Hi. I just wanted to say I have Bipolar ii, which for me eats mainly depression, anxiety, low self-esteem. I kinda understand what you mean.

Personally I don't envy the romance. But I envy the companionship in dramas. DotS with the bromance and sismance, BITFT with the open 5 way friendship and so on.

It makes me sad that I'm isolated because of the way I think and communicate. But the drama world that each show creates gives me a community feel.

Much support, Rina

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OMG, I saw your comment in the Beans of Wisdom this week and I thought someone had hacked into my brain lol!

I am in the same situation - Indian with parents and relatives all concentrating their matchmaking energies on me when I am not even sure if I am ready for that level of commitment.
I have been the 7th Wheel more times than I can count- and it did hurt. And then it hurt and angered me even more because I was feeling hurt over something so trivial ( i mean I still have so many things to achieve and stuff to do)

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Browngoldeyes,

One of the problems we all have is that feeling of isolation, that the angst we feel is our's alone.

We watch KD and everyone ends up happy (except for the occasional kidnapped or killed kid) and look around see only happy friends.

But the reality is different, the happy couples we see may not be so happy, etc.

I am not saying this very well, but I'm a middle-aged man, going though yet another divorce and I feel your pain. I too wonder If I get unrealistic expectations.
I too had the relatives wondering why i had no kids an now no wife!

Trust me, it's certainly not just Asians or Indians, it's pretty much the entire world.

But ultimately, I think KD's don't give us unrealistic expectations, instead they help us reflect on what we truly think is important or not as the case may be.

I think through that reflection we end up with better partners and we make better partners. We understand better than most, what we want and need, but also understand what we don't want nor need.

Good luck. The right person will show up as soon as you stop looking!

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I'm happly married (12+ years), and I get depressed, after watching Kdramas, that I will likely never know again that excitement of first love. Or that trembly feeling during a first kiss.

You have so much to look forward to.

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Whoa.. I didn't realize I got picked as one of the beans of wisdom (how did I miss my own..ehem..wisdom?). Without further ado, I'd like to thank the Academy for giving me wisdom to say random things. I'd like to thank the drama gods for sending me more handsome but alas younger guys to play decent dramas. Last but not least, I'd like to thank dramabeans for the awesome blog that I check regularly like I found my own internet religion.

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My bb Kim So Hyun will hard carry Bring It On Ghost if Taecyeon is really confirmed for the male lead role. ? Oh the stress that this almost 30 year old man will bring to this child. Wtf are these casting directors doing? There are a bunch of actors who are younger, way more talented in acting, and more visually appealing than this 2pm dude. I blame JYP. (Bring out Junior if you want to cast someone from your company, JYP. Not Taecyeon. Ugh.)

Taecyeon, it's a blessing to watch Kim So Hyun in a full length drama as the main lead and not the young ver of a character anymore so please drop out of this drama so that everything will be back to perfect. Thanks.

SAVE KIM SO HYUN FROM THIS TRADEGY ;______;

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she's going to do all the work, acting-wise, while Taecyeon is going to lumber his way through the role with his unnatural-sounding line delivery and his facial expressions that look as if he's forever searching for his next line on a mental teleprompter.

And if the drama is successful, he gets to piggyback off her talent and claim an equal share in it. #saveKimSoHyun

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Thanks to the editorial staff for stroking my ego by sharing my comment. :)

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Hey DB! Thanks for helping me draw attention to the wonderful-actor-who-should-be-more-recognized Jo Jin-Woong! WOO HOO!!!

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Come to think of it, DB can consider replacing this feature's pic. Instead of kim soo hyun, just put taec's pic (in cooking style). No need for acting... no need for singing... just serve Three Meals A Day!!
The wisest of the wise .....

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Poor Taecyeon. I feel that the Beanie community is bashing Taecyeon a little too harshly. I, for one am also in the boat of vetoeing Taecyeon's casting for the lead in Bring It On Ghost. The age difference is really too much. I personally think that as long as both guys and girls are passed that age of 20+ in real life they can pair with anyone who is double their age for dramas. I do not support this concept though when applied in real life but for the drama world I do accept. However, to be bashing Taecyeon for his growing age and terrible acting is too much. Everyone is mostly grossed out about the age difference but is there any need to talk about his acting? I've seen works of Taecyeon and I think he is alright in the roles he plays. You guys can call me blind about acting talent but I honestly don't think his acting is bad at all. Yoona was bad acting in her debut drama 9 Ends 2 Outs. Look wise, his eye brows are bit bushy but I can deal with that although he shouldn't smile. Overall I do put Taecyeon on my hottie list. Totally love his personality on Three Meals a Day. Oh and to javabeans or girlfriday: to say that you like his personality but not his acting or singing, isn't that like saying he has no talent? A bit harsh, no? I thought he would get at least some praise about his singing since he started as a singer and then ventured out to acting. Well, this is a long rant. I just think that comments regarding Taecyeon's casting opposite Kim So-Hyun have just been so mean.

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'Is there any need to talk about his acting?'

Yes, because it's horrible. He is not fit to be a costar to Kim So Hyun in any way and his acting is part of that reason why he's even more unfit.

If his fans don't like what we say, better pray for his acting to improve instead of crying about how we criticise too much.

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I do have to disagree with you on this.
First: Taecyon's profession is acting ad singing.So as viewers if we are not talking about his acting what are we supposed to talk about? His personal life? So he will and should get criticized on his acting if he does not improve. Also as for Yoona's acting in 9 Ends 2 Out:She was 17 at that time, and she was a singer, so it was expected that she would be very green in terms of acting . But she was NOT the main lead and therferfore had minimal effect on the main story line. .Despite Yoona's "bad " acting she has improved a lot over time (See Prime Minister and I), but Taec from the day he debuted until now has been the same. And also the reality show performance is NOT acting. He may be a sweet and lovable cutie in real life, but that is beside the point here.Sadly, his acting chops has not changed for the better . Either because he is not trying hard enough OR he is simply not cut out to be a "good" actor (I think the latter case is more likely than the former), and he is certainly not lead character material!

Second: Kim So hyun- Young as she is, she is one of the best child actresses. And this is her first full drama where she will be the main role. This is an important drama for her future career. And to have this flopped because of the sub-par performance from Taec?
So yes..we shall be mean and vindictive if Taec is in this drama ( I certainly will be very bitter).

Taec is a gorgeous looking man, so what he should do is go on being a model, where no acting is involved. Humph!

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@anugp61 I totally agree with all what you said except the kim so hyun first lead role part,this is like her third lead role in a full drama (she was the female lead in OC reset and the popular School 2015)

She also played lead in a 3 episodes drama when she was 13 (ma boy),she was also lead in KBS drama specials we all cry differently and page turner.

Her first movie has lead is pure love opposite Do kyung soo and also lead in her agency's web drama (nightmare teacher)

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@Slim..yep you are absolutely correct, thanks very much :)

Though what I tried to mean was that this will be the first time she will have a single main character on her own, central to the main story line + romance . (Hopefully that will make sense???)
Reset had Chung Myun Hyung who was sort of the anchor to main story line and I felt School 2015 was shared between the two twins (I know I know ..both KSH, but she was that good in separating the two different characters :) )

All the others were not long enough for me though I immensely enjoyed KSH's performance in them.

I feel this drama would focus even more on her (as in the ghost characters of PBY/Kim Seul Gi in "Oh my Ghostess" and Shin Min Ah in "Arang and the Magistrate") so that she will have a better chance to sharpen her skills and be more familiar with 16 episode layout of full k-drama's (hopefully in many she will act in the future).

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It sounds like the writers of Goodbye Mr Black might have been referencing black swan theory (but either not explaining it well or not getting translated well).

Black swans are often symbolic. They're used as analogy in logic about how hard it it to prove something doesn't exist (because you would have to check everywhere at all times). And before they were discovered they were used as an example of something impossible. Now that's changed to something that was thought to be impossible before it happened.

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I got picked! Yay!

For the record: I don't hate Taecyeon. I hate his acting, and I especially hate this casting when 1) It's utterly creepy to cast a 28 year old man and a 16 year old girl together, ghost-body or not, 2) I expected better of tvN when the last time he led one of their dramas, they ought to have known better this time that even ghosts will out act Taec, and 3) Poor Kim Yoo Jung will automatically have to act out two main roles instead of one in this drama.

Really, Taec should stick to modeling, go to the military, do his service, comeback with 2pm, and do variety. I have no idea why he keeps getting pushed into roles by JYP. Even Wooyoung was better at acting in Dream High than Taec was.

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Its not kim yoo jung,its kim so hyun..... Kim so hyun is good at carrying a drama all on her own and also playing two roles and characters in a drama so I'm still gonna watch even though I'm not fond of the male lead.

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My word, "forgive" me. I made a mistake. Yes, it's Kim So Hyun and I meant to type her name there. (It's hard when you have to hurry up when you have a student knocking on your office door.) Is the jumping down my throat necessary?

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