MBC released another trailer for the upcoming Hero this week, so there are now two separate preview videos for the comedy-action series. The good news is, despite the numerous problems plaguing the production, I think the footage looks pretty smooth, and the newest cast member, Yoon So-yi, seems to be fine in her role even though she had about a year less preparation time than its star, Lee Junki. If I’d seen the trailers not knowing of the backstory with its leading actress(es), I wouldn’t think it was of any lesser quality than normal.

The bad news is… I think the drama itself looks kinda awful, actually. But you be the judge.

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I wonder if this is something new, because I can’t quite picture Kim Min-jung’s tough, bowl-cut-wearing female cop character in quite the same light as her replacement, Yoon So-yi. In these latest stills from Hero, Yoon shows off girl group KARA’s “Booty Dance” [엉덩이춤] as her cop character poses as a backup dancer.

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After only being selected this week to replace the lead actress of Hero, actress Yoon So-yi jumped into filming for the drama the very next day (the 5th), shooting her first action scene on the 6th.

In the scene shown in the stills below, Yoon’s character (Joo Jae-in) jumps in to save the nephews of Lee Junki’s reporter character when they are nearly kidnapped by private loan sharks — they’d borrowed money but their sister had failed to make the repayment. Yoon shows off a variety of action moves and kicks; bystanders who stopped to watch the filming gave her a round of applause.

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Innnteresting…?

MBC has tapped Yoon So-yi to be the last-minute replacement for Kim Min-jung in Hero after the latter was forced to drop out a week before the drama’s scheduled premiere. This has thrown the Hero production for a loop, since all previously shot scenes will have to be redone, and they have so little time remaining in which to throw everything together. (Kim Min-jung had filmed the first two episodes before she had to take a break to heal. Overall filming slowed while waiting for her recovery, but Lee Junki has filmed Episodes 3 and 4.)

With Yoon So-yi coming onboard so late, she quickly wrapped new Hero poster shoots on November 4 and began filming for the drama. According to her management, she is currently wrapping up a movie shoot, but as the filming is 90% complete, she is able to begin work on Hero right away.

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Did you like SBS’s ratings monster of a drama, the quintessential “makjang” series Wife’s Temptation? Because coming soon to SBS Mondays and Tuesdays is a drama by the same writer, Kim Soon-ok, called Angel’s Temptation [천사의 유혹], and it sounds like the (narrative) craziness is back in full force.

Furthermore, directing is First Wives’ Club’s PD Sohn Jung-hyun. Both First Wives’ Club and Wife’s Temptation were two very popular series that aired in 2008 and 2009 that broke the 40% ratings mark and were often buzzed about (and criticized) for their “makjang” plots — outrageous storylines involving adultery, revenge, rape, deception and the like, designed to keep viewers hooked no matter how ridiculous the stories became.

Angel’s Temptation has cast Yoon Soyi (Goodbye Solo, City of Glass) as its lead — I presume she’s the “angel” of the title, but the word sounds like it’s applied ironically, because she’s described as a femme fatale on a revenge mission. After her parents are killed and her family ruined, Yoon’s character vows to punish the ones responsible, and therefore seduces and marries the son of her enemy. This will be a complete change for Yoon, who has hitherto played mostly good, innocent characters.

Currently, Angel’s Temptation has completed the first four scripts. It will air after Dream and premieres October 12.

I’ve seen dramas with makjang elements (Boys Before Flowers and East of Eden are examples), but I’ve never been drawn to the genre itself. But as this is a Monday-Tuesday series and not a daily (like Wife’s Temptation) or long-running weekend (First Wives Club), I might check it out.

Via Hankyung

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