…and it hasn’t even aired yet!

That’s it. Triple has just shot up — over Song Hye-gyo and Hyun Bin, over the Korean Hana Yori Dango — as my new most anticipated drama. Because on top of casting Lee Seon-kyun, then following with Yoon Kye-sang, they’ve now rounded out their lead trio with…

…Kang Ji-hwan!

I don’t know if I could’ve picked a dreamier ideal dream lineup. Sure, there are a few other actors I’d put in my “top picks” bag, but these three are at the top of the list of those still doing dramas.

And lest I sound like a hormonally driven fangirl (which, hey, don’t judge), all three are actually — gasp! — good actors.

They all bring a different kind of energy, which should be interesting to see together. Kang Ji-hwan has done both slapstick and tearjerker — he can be goofy and comically spot-on, but turn on a dime into heart-wrenchingly intense. Lee Seon-kyun has spent much of his recent career playing to type as the reserved, thoughtful introvert. And Yoon Kye-sang can be both outrageous and wonderfully emotive.

Kang Ji-hwan will take on the role of a short-track speed skater (talk about upgrading, huh?), while Yoon Kye-sang and Lee Seon-kyun are ad-agency execs. With the three male stars being so much older than young newbie actress Min Hyo-rin, who barely registers a blip on the radar in comparison, I’m starting to think (hope?) that the tone of Triple won’t skew quite as young (read: green and awkward) as previously feared.

Now we can only wait to see what Coffee Prince producer/director Lee Yoon-jung whips up. For the first time, I look on Triple without dread.

Via OSEN

RELATED POSTS

• Maybe Triple will be watchable after all
• Triple-teaming the Triple team
• Trading one regret for the other
• Casting roll call: Iljimae, Triple
• Jung Il-woo scores a triple
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Tags: Kang Ji-hwan, Lee Seon-kyun, Lee Yoon-jung, sports dramas, Triple, Yoon Kye-sang

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Wait, what in the hey-what-now?

Yoon Kye-sang has been cast in the figure-skating trendy drama, helmed by the director of Coffee Prince, Triple?

First, talented director Lee Yoon-jung managed to sway Lee Seon-kyun (Coffee Prince, My Sweet Seoul) into joining her for this latest drama venture, featuring a young and inexperienced new singer in her acting debut, Min Hyo-rin of the “luxury nose.” Now she’s got Yoon Kye-sang (Who Are You?, Crazy in Love) onboard as well.

(I loved Yoon Kye-sang in Who Are You? Was it a groundbreaking or even artistically challenging drama? No. But it was poignant and often engagingly funny, and he was the best thing in it.)

Yoon Kye-sang is described as taking the lead male role, but it doesn’t sound like he’s taking Jung Il-woo’s recently vacated spot as a speed skater. Instead, he’s one of three employees in an ad agency (another being played by Lee Seon-kyun).

Huh. Triple just jumped up from being an embarrassing guilty pleasure to being a shameless guilty pleasure. Although I’m still not sold on Min Hyo-rin. Can we ditch her and just have our two lovely leading men fall in love instead? It’ll be like Coffee Prince: What Could Have Been if the Girl Who Looked Like A Dude Was Actually A Dude (on Skates).

Triple is scheduled for a January premiere on MBC.

Via DongA.com

RELATED POSTS

• Triple-teaming the Triple team
• Casting roll call: Iljimae, Triple
• Jung Il-woo scores a Triple
• From pretty boys to figure skates
• Who Are You?: Episodes 1 & 2

Tags: Lee Seon-kyun, Lee Yoon-jung, sports dramas, Triple, Yoon Kye-sang

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 31 Comments →

Before I launch into my many-word description of the finale, I have a one-word description: catharsis.

There’s something really cathartic about the way this story resolves, and I’m so pleased to report that I found the finale to be all things a finale should be — and above all, satisfying.

SONG OF THE DAY

The The Band - “우는 날” (The day I cry) [ Download ]

 
WHO ARE YOU? Final Episode >>

Tags: episode recaps, Go Ara, stuff I dig, Who Are You?, Yoon Kye-sang

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Only one more episode left. Usually by the time a finale rolls around, even if I’ve enjoyed the drama, I’m good and ready for it to finish. But I’m really going to miss this drama’s mixture of warmth and humor — and Seung Hyo! — when Who Are You? ends tomorrow.

Today’s episode wasn’t the most plot-driven we’ve had, but that’s okay with me. It was full of touching moments and bonding scenes, which is what the series has really done best, and the other stuff (the mystery, the paintings, the art gallery plot) was always secondary anyway.

SONG OF THE DAY

Kim Sarang - “하루살이” (Live a day) [ Download ]

 
WHO ARE YOU? Episode 16 >>

Tags: episode recaps, Go Ara, Who Are You?, Yoon Kye-sang

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(I just love the look on Yoon Kye Sang’s face here.)

This episode was chock-full of moving moments as things start wrapping up (or readying for the final wrap-up). I’m a little nervous that the extension could mess with the pacing of the finale, but I think the producers must have had decent notice, so I hope it won’t pose a problem.

After a somewhat dramatic episode, the ending of this episode KILLED ME, it was so unexpectedly funny (you are forewarned, in case you want to keep the surprise intact for yourself).

SONG OF THE DAY

Hwang Bora - “별이 되어” (Become a Star), the voice of indie band Adult Child (어른아이).
[ Download ]

 
WHO ARE YOU? Episode 15 >>

Tags: episode recaps, Go Ara, Who Are You?, Yoon Kye-sang

Filed under: Drama Recaps by javabeans - 43 Comments →