With its ratings approaching 20%, Smile’s run has been extended by 16 episodes from its original 30. It will air 46 episodes and wrap at the end of February.

An article announcing the extension attributes the steadily increasing ratings and popularity of Smile to its ability to provide comic relief among the many “makjang” dramas that are currently on the air. Makjang dramas such as Angel’s Temptation, which is currently airing, use sensationalist, over-the-top storylines to hook viewers—a far cry from the realistic, homey charm of Smile. The burgeoning feelings between Jung-in and Hyun-soo, as well as the comic family scenes, have given viewers “wholesome” laughs.

The series’ writer Moon Hee Jung, whose last work was on Last Scandal, has done an exceptional job so far. The plot has taken longer to develop in this series than in a 16- or 20-episode series, but there have been plenty of giggle-worthy moments to keep the pacing tight.

And there are quite a few leads that have been hinted at, but have yet to be fleshed out—ownership of the Seo house; Han-se vs. Hyun-soo; Sung-joon and Ji-soo; Ji-soo’s backstory; even Jung-in’s backstory, which we still know very little about; among others. I’ve also got a soft spot for Kyung-soo and hope he gets a chance to shine. Hopefully this gives the drama plenty of material to work through in the remaining 30 episodes, without getting draggy or detracting from its main draw, the relationship between Jung-in and Hyun-soo.

Plus, I’m an optimist at heart, so I’ve got my fingers crossed that Smile will be able to keep up its momentum–the laughs, character development and romantic tension–without having to revert to maudlin/angsty plot twists. Angst has its place, but Jung-in and Hyun-soo are such refreshing characters that I’d hate to see them fall prey to cliche!

Via Nate News

RELATED POSTS

• Smile: Episodes 13-14
• Smile: Episodes 11-12
• Smile: Episodes 9-10
• Smile: Episodes 7-8

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by soyjoy - 59 Comments →

Smile is hitting exactly the right notes for me. Though not wildly innovative, there’s something organic and sweet about the pacing and tone that I really enjoy. When there’s as much chemistry & development as there is in these two episodes, reducing the repartee to a line of summary just doesn’t do it justice. So I apologize if these recaps get a bit long-winded!

The actors play off each other really well in small ways that are especially hard to capture, like the moment above when Jung-in makes an excited puppy-face at Hyun-soo. Out of context, it looks almost silly, but it’s the kind of unapologetically endearing moments that abound in this drama.

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Filed under: Drama Recaps by soyjoy - 64 Comments →

Hyun-soo and his Jung-in fantasies! So hilarious and adorable. Of course, the best part is that the dream becomes reality.

As soyjoy mentioned in her last recap, a few episodes had dragged on, but Smile has come back in full force the last few episodes. And these two take the cake! It’s fun, sweet, with a bit of surprise thrown in. Totally loved it.

SONG OF THE DAY

Smile OST – Vis a Vis by Melo’ Breeze [ Download ]

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Filed under: Drama Recaps by dw4p - 40 Comments →

Tee hee! Love the scene above. Episodes 9 & 10 are pivotal (at last!). The episodes are full of fun moments, character developments and building anticipation in the relationship between Jung-in (Lee Min-jung) and Hyun-soo (Jung Kyung-ho). There’s a lot of ground to cover in these episodes, so without further ado…

SONG OF THE DAY

Smile OST – “웃어요” (Smile) [ Download ]

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Filed under: Drama Recaps by soyjoy - 50 Comments →

How the mighty have fallen…

As soyjoy mentioned in her last recap, watching an episode twice makes the shortcomings glaringly obvious. This definitely isn’t a masterpiece that needs to be seen more than once. It’s not surprising for a 50-episode series to be drawn out, but I think some plot development/movement is in order. Fortunately, Lee Chun Hee’s entrance has infused a bit of energy and his love interest has been revealed, giving me some hope for the future. I still enjoy the goofy and sweet moments, so all is not lost.

[Just a little housekeeping note: Unfortunately, our 3rd partner in crime had to bow out, leaving 2 of us for the recaps. With the good ratings, I fully expect to see 50 episodes of Smile, leading to our decision to recap 2 episodes together going forward.]

SONG OF THE DAY

Smile OST – “안녕 내 사랑” (Goodbye, My Love) by Melo’ Breeze [ Download ]

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Filed under: Drama Recaps by dw4p - 33 Comments →