JTBC teases quirky mystery in Your Neighbor’s Wife
by javabeans
JTBC is readying to launch a new Monday-Tuesday show to take the place of handbag-drama-success-story-series Her Legend, and it’s lined up a rather solid cast for Your Neighbor’s Wife. Particularly with the leading ladies, played by two powerhouse actresses: Yeom Jung-ah (Royal Family) and Shin Eun-kyung (Flames of Ambition).
The drama centers around two couples living in the same apartment complex who’ve tired of their dull marriages. Then a “mysterious event” happens and sweeps up the four of them into a “secretive romance,” which is pretty vague as far as story descriptions go. Yeom Jung-ah plays the mother of two and a successful careerwoman as the manager in an ad firm.
Shin Eun-kyung is on the other end of the spectrum, playing a full-time housewife whose only skills are in managing a home. But she’s not exactly a meek wallflower, because when confronted with her disparaging husband, she spits in his food and harbors vengeful thoughts. I’m guessing those thoughts don’t actually translate into action despite being described as sometimes “murderous,” because her character is touted as offering 30- and 40-something viewers a sense of relatability and vicarious pleasure, and murder doesn’t exactly fall into that category.
The drama does, however, promote itself as a offering a provocative and new story material that will “shift the paradigm” for housewives and revitalize “jumma power” (as in, ajumma power). It’s a good thing they’re not overpromising or anything.
In the first teaser, Yeom Jung-ah asks, “My friend has a close unni whose husband… watches porn.” She must be referring to her husband played by Kim Yoo-seok. Meanwhile, Shin Eun-kyung gets belittled by husband Jung Jun-ho, who asks, “What do you DO all day hanging out at home?” A friend notes that nobody knows what really goes on between married couples, and adds meaningfully, “There’s something there.” Then the lights flicker and the couples in the elevator do a little swapping. Omo. Is that the drama’s big secret?
Your Neighbor’s Wife is directed by PD Lee Tae-gon, who led another JTBC series to success in Queen Dowager Insoo, and has a writing staff of four (which is rare in dramaland, though a trend I’d like to see more of). None of the writers has previous drama credits, so hopefully their lack of experience will be balanced out by the increased brainpower of having so many of them on staff. The drama will be a Monday-Tuesday series premiering on October 14.
Tags: cable programs, Jung Jun-ho, Shin Eun-kyung, Yeom Jung-ah
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1 NewKDramaAddict
October 8, 2013 at 2:22 PM
I think I might want to see this!! Been there, done that. So evil am I.....
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2 pabo ceo reom
October 8, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Something right up my mom's alley I would say. Scandalous is totally her thing. ;)
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3 cherkell
October 8, 2013 at 2:30 PM
OMO OMO OMO!!! After that train wreck called "The King's Dream," Kim Yoo-seok is back on our small screens again!! (I've missed you SO much, Bongi's Sahmchon!! ♥) And Jung Jun-ho, where ya been all this while?!? Haven't seen you in a drama since "Queen of Reversals" (and no offense, but your movies were kinda lame-o), so you're overdue, buddy!
I am so onboard with this one! Please please please be subbed in a decent timeframe, please?!? PLEASE?!?
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4 Quiet Thought
October 8, 2013 at 2:31 PM
My life-long crush on Diana Rigg may have finally found a new object. Has Yeom Jung-ah ever done show wearing a catsuit while karate-chopping dapper villains and speaking polite but oddly sensual English to her fellow secret agents?
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5 meg
October 8, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Isnt shin eun kyung still filming scandal ? Can she film both at once?
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reina
October 8, 2013 at 3:33 PM
yeah i think she can... the shows definitely overlaps but since she is not the main character in scandal, she has lesser scene thus she can do this drama.
love her in scandal, but im excited for this also...
i think its much like what lee taeran is doing. she is filming king's family and Goddess of marriage, both slotted as weekend dramas with different timeslot and different network...
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ahjummabunny
October 9, 2013 at 12:03 AM
doesn't shin eun kyung generally exude wonder woman? I always think of her as active, sensible and funny. I can't help thinking that she gets it right with one take each time. I don't think I've seen more than 2 of her dramas though.
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6 Athena
October 8, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Oooh, wife swapping for real or by some mysterious occurrence? If it's the former then damn, that's scandalous. Although K-dramas have the thing about making every fudging scandalous thing out there legit.
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7 howforwardsale
October 8, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Thanks for the heads up Javabeans. If they swap partners then this is vaguely like In the Mood For Love. I'm up for some mature drama. I'm sick of stories sending everyone back to high school. Let the ajummas and ajusshis have some fun.
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coffee.kdrama.repeat.
October 8, 2013 at 3:28 PM
I totally agree with you! this sounds like an interesting show.
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Soyb
October 9, 2013 at 5:49 AM
where is the like button!
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windsun33
October 9, 2013 at 10:35 AM
The high school thing is getting pretty worn out, but I am not sure about the "mature" part in this one. I suspect that they will end up acting like high schoolers :D
I doubt if it can be any worse than Her Legend, the show it replaces.
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8 wag-a-muffin
October 8, 2013 at 3:34 PM
I am so in the minority. I watch K dramas because they seem so "sweet" in comparison to my soap opera life.
I wish this drama well and hope those of you who watch will have a wicked awesome time, but a woman who gets even by spitting in her husband's food?? Just ew.
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Mommai
October 8, 2013 at 3:49 PM
I agree with you. I watch K-dramas because of their more conservative nature (for some things, though they could really use some better heroines for sure). I wonder how it will be received, but am not one myself for "scandalous" behavior. I do hope the writing team thing works out, and that it ends up really well written.
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ahjummabunny
October 9, 2013 at 12:08 AM
I've noticed how "scandalous" a kdrama gets has to do more with it's schedule, than any other thing. I too like the tamer aspect of korean tv but I think sometimes there isn't a good balance of freedom and preaching/teaching.
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9 Cynthia
October 8, 2013 at 4:29 PM
Let's take a wild guess - the scarlet red dress in one poster and the red lipstick in the other on Yeom Jung-ah puts her smack in the middle of Floozyville - and that's a good thing because she really does that cold bitch with a warm heart character so well in previous dramas.
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10 niKai
October 8, 2013 at 5:31 PM
I always hated when in kdrama, or any drama for that matter, shows scenes with a character doing presentation and he's aaaalllll over the place covering the slides with his or her body. What was that? Do people really do that in real life? Its okay to move around, but why not let ur audience see the slides too, or maybe point out the points on the slides, especially if u have a lot of figures in it. Kinda distracting to me. Its different when you hv motivational talk or something similar to that coz the slides would be just a sentence or two and just to add flavor to the presentation, not exactly a crucial visual aids.
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hanhan
October 8, 2013 at 8:26 PM
but, the audience also have the slides in their tablet (like what we always see in dramas) or some handouts, aren't they? so they basically more focused on their tablet/handout
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11 jandoe
October 8, 2013 at 5:33 PM
Damn this sounds like makjang to the nth degree but so damn fascinating and potentially brewing with really meaty stuff if executed right. Hopeful. Might consider giving this a watch if subs are available.
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12 djeedjes
October 8, 2013 at 6:39 PM
Shin Eunkyung + makjang = LOVE. :D
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kz
October 9, 2013 at 12:53 AM
it has makjang written all over the place.. Not my cup of tea, but maybe check 1st episode since the premise is interesting
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13 DarknessEyes
October 8, 2013 at 7:15 PM
hmmm they're switching? That's an interesting premise for sure. Not sure if I want to watch yet tho.
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14 hanhan
October 8, 2013 at 8:33 PM
actually, i don't really like these kind of drama. but jTBC sometimes makes high quality dramas than other tv and shin eun kyung is one of my favorite ajumma aged actress. if a wife credentials can make an affair and makjang-ish plot become so realistic, artsy, and lovely, i hope this drama can do similar thing
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15 Idyll
October 8, 2013 at 9:10 PM
Oooh I'm big fan of Yeom Jung Ah ever since I saw her in My Love Madame Butterfly. Definitely will want to catch this :)
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16 Dramafed1782
October 8, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Jung Jun Ho and Shim Eun Kyung - together once more?
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17 annie
October 8, 2013 at 10:32 PM
I absolutely love Shin Eun-kyung, who is killing it in Scandal right now just like she does in everything - but I'm allergic to dramas that glorify cheating. So I think I'm gonna have to pass on this one.
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houstontwin
October 9, 2013 at 6:47 PM
I love her in Scandal, but she is playing so much older than her actual age . Isn't it weird? She's not even 10 years older than the actors playing her sons.
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18 informantxgirl
October 8, 2013 at 11:49 PM
Um, is it a body swap drama? Coz I thought that trend passed...LOL.
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19 Angélina Eang
October 9, 2013 at 12:26 AM
So many dramas for this fall. I'm dying ... (or my studies for instance --')
I am all in. It looks good and I hope it will and stay that way XD/
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20 El
October 9, 2013 at 5:10 AM
Hmm I'm all for it if its a body swap thing that happens (even though that's so played out by now) but if by scandalous they mean they pull a Will&Jada Smith swinging/open marriage thing, then I'll pass. I really hate those story lines all like "I'm bored with you. I'll go try out the sex and relationship over here for a while." But then when they see their spouse was best for them its all "I've realized how much I needed my water after my well ran dry...let's get back together even though I've been shacking up with another woman/man" and then the woman/man is all like (cue tears and sap music) "yeobo you didn't even have to ask!" And they just go on like nothing ever happened....nope not in the mood for that unreality. Lol
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21 Jennifer
October 9, 2013 at 6:46 AM
I hope the writers do a good job since having 4 writers doesnt sound like a good idea ( many intellectual brains means conflicts in ideas and so ) . I am so up for this drama !! However , HEIRS comes FIRST !!! LOL sorry ~~
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22 ravens_nest
October 9, 2013 at 7:14 PM
I want them to be swingers. I want that so much. I want them to meet in that elevator and Love Shuffle-style swap partners...but with a bit more bite since this is clearly more makjang.
Please lord and lady, give me that...
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23 apqaria
October 11, 2013 at 8:33 PM
I really can't understand why Shin Eun-kyung is wearing a wig in those posters and teaser shots? :(
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24 phjfever
October 15, 2013 at 4:26 PM
i like joong jeong ho (spell? sorry i'm bad with actors' names) and omo that's the actress from Scandal with Kim jae won, i wanna see this, she's good!
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25 Iris
October 17, 2013 at 11:47 AM
I want to watch it, but cannot find it subbed... Any idea where I can watch with English subs please?
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26 jeekoy
October 21, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Where can I watch these episodes with English subtitles
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27 yuseok
November 3, 2013 at 4:36 PM
Man.... I love it.... the guywatches porn!!!! Dude i Think we'll be good friends.... joke ^^ swapping!! Ooohh coolest thing on earth!! Haha fighting brother Kim too suk!! Now ajjeosi s have their time to turn back to highschool ways!!!
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28 twinkletwinklefan
January 27, 2014 at 9:42 PM
Anyone know any info. about this actor Kim Yoo-seok? I love him ever since Dong Yi, Gye Beak. It so hard to find news about him since he is not popular. Love this actor, Moahz!
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