Premiere Watch: My Ajusshi, Let's Watch the Sunset » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

96 March 19, 2018March 18, 2018

Premiere Watch: My Ajusshi, Let’s Watch the Sunset

by girlfriday

It’s melo week in dramaland, with two new romance melodramas premiering this week. Or maybe it’s more accurate to think of it as melodrama season, because between The Great Seducer, My Ajusshi, and Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food, I have a feeling my drama slate will skew pretty dark for the next few months.

My Ajusshi

Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Romance melodrama
Episode count: 16

Reasons to watch: This is the new series from PD Kim Won-seok of Signal and Misaeng and writer Park Hae-young of Oh Hae-young Again, so there’s no way my expectations aren’t sky high for their first collaboration. It’s described in very generic terms as a healing drama, about a man in his forties and a woman in her twenties, each struggling to survive in their own way.

Lee Seon-kyun plays one of three brothers from an ordinary family who is neither successful nor unsuccessful, and doesn’t seem too happy about anything in life. IU is a young woman who’s lived a much harsher life, whose days seem to be filled with tears, scars, and bruises. She’s extremely bristly towards others, probably as a protective measure; in the teasers she asks for Lee Seon-kyun to hate her so that she can hate him back, which must be how she prefers most relationships to go. This drama is definitely going for gritty realism, but I’m hoping it’ll be uplifting in the same way that Misaeng examined the harshness of ordinary life to remind us that we all share the same struggles.

Let’s Hold Hands and Watch the Sunset

Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: MBC
Genre: Romance melodrama
Episode count: 32 (half-hour episodes, 16 hours total)

Reasons to watch: This is one of those romance dramas where I don’t know which pairing I’m supposed to root for because some of them are married (probably the point). But this one is complicated by the heroine’s terminal illness, which is what propels her towards finding true happiness as she faces the end of her life. Han Hye-jin stars as a woman who gave up her dreams to become the perfect wife to her architect husband, played by Yoon Sang-hyun, but when she discovers that she doesn’t have much time left to live, she decides to start living for herself. The best/worst part is that her doctor is Kim Tae-hoon, so of course she’s going to fall in love with him, because have you seen Fantastic?

The series will be about recovering parts of yourself that you lost and the importance of family and love. It comes from the PD of Radiant Office and the writer of Cruel Palace: War of Flowers and Flames of Ambition, so I’m expecting high drama with this one. You know, in case terminal illness and extramarital affairs made you think otherwise.

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1 goldenaddiction

March 19, 2018 at 8:05 AM

Thank you @girlfriday! Now I want to them out even though I'm normally not a huge fan of melodramas haha

Just a thought: is Spring usually melodrama season in dramaworld?

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BlueSoda

March 20, 2018 at 2:54 AM

Oh, the huge age diff between IU and Lee Seon Kyun is so glaring. I don't know why IU wants to play this melo characters when she lacks acting skills. What is she trying to prove, that she can hack it? I have no doubt about Ahjussi LSK doing his job coz he can play any roles quite well, he is just reliable but I don't know how it will work with a younger actress.
On the other hand, it's another my wife is terminally ill, what to do, what to do? Then the doctor again here is that guy Kim Tae Hoon. Isn't this just Fantastic just a lil bit more melodramatic. I enjoyed Fantastic, the cast was superb and they handled the issue really well and this the only time I liked KTH's character. I don't have a thing for him so I don't understand why the wife would fall for him but am sure he would be very sympathetic and all so.. and the husband would probably be indifferent that's why his wife would fall for another guy, ok, understood. But then I really have a soft spot for Yoon Sang Hyun so I hope he would turn out a great performance here. He always play the loser type guy or husband these days so I wish he could play something like a rogue with a heart of gold or something. Just to spice things up a bit.

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greenfields

March 20, 2018 at 3:23 AM

I'm of quite the opposite view as you re IU. I'm looking forward to My Ahjusshi, particularly because of the actors as well as the age gap. So long as none of the characters/actors are kids or teens, the age gap isn't a cause for concern on my radar. Lee Seon Kyun tends to have an amazing choice of dramas, and IU - though she looks like a kid sometimes due to make and styling - comes across as a mature and likable person on screen. And hey, for once I believe the age of the actors is around the age of the characters!

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MapleSilver

March 20, 2018 at 8:50 AM

LSK does pick dramas that are outside the trend, and while most were not ratings hit, they all had meaningful stories at the core. And I agree with you that IU, though she looks younger than her age, has this mature vibe that works for this role. I just read the character descriptions, and her character is 21 and the ajussi's age is 45. The characters' age gap is 8 years more than the actors'! So the choice in casting her is totally deliberate, they want someone who looks young, but mature at the same time. I am convinced their relationship stays platonic, very affectionate, but not romantic.

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Ally

March 20, 2018 at 4:51 PM

Honestly, I did a double take at your name when I read you were actually ok with this age gap! Lol.

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greenfields

March 20, 2018 at 5:47 PM

Just to clarify because I hate being misunderstood:

This is exactly what I said during our discussion on Radio Romance as well @ally-le. It was Kim So Hyun's young age in comparison to Yoon Do Joon's, and not the age gap, that wasn't sitting right with me. She's 18 internationally?
Plus once the show handled it well, there wasn't much left to complain about - since she is legally an adult.

2 jaderjylsk

March 19, 2018 at 8:19 AM

I'm trying to tamp down my expectations for My Ahjussi despite the powerhouse production team behind it and the compelling teasers. I really hope it will be consistently good throughout. I love Lee Seon Kyun and so far, glimpses of IU's character have made me sit upright cos it's so different from what she's played before. I actually think it kinda suits her

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Kdramahiatus

March 19, 2018 at 11:20 AM

I have high expectations for My Ajusshi since it is a Kim Won Suk drama. I hope it goes well because I really enjoyed the previous drama on the same time slot which was Mother despite all the crying. Lee Jieun (IU) suited the dark undertones of the character. I will wait and see if the girl does well. But seriously all the physical beating she received from the previews was so difficult to watch:(

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jaderjylsk

March 19, 2018 at 11:34 AM

The trailers with IU's character were REALLY bleak. So far she was able to pull it off acting wise, hence I thought it suited her. I'm hoping it wouldn't be just in the trailers.

I'm a big fan of the PD and the writer and the mentioned dramas they've done are in my top drama list. I'm really hoping that the 2 combined will make a stellar drama *tries-to-control-expectations-again..lol

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mindy

March 19, 2018 at 11:54 AM

I’m a huge fan of IU as a musician but find her acting very hit-or-miss, with more misses than hits. My favorite performance of hers so far was in Producers.

I was pleasantly surprised by her in the teasers, though. You’re right that it’s very different from her usual role. I really think she will be able to pull it off, especially with the help of this director. I’m looking forward to it!

Is she really choosing to go by Lee Ji-eun for her acting projects now? If so, I will start referring to her as Lee Ji-eun out of respect. I can see why she did that if she wants to be seen as a more “serious” actress, as taking on a role like this would suggest.

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jaderjylsk

March 19, 2018 at 12:04 PM

I'm a fan of her music too! ^^ Similarly, not so much as an actress, but she's making me take notice with this drama.

Maybe she's going the DO (from EXO) route by adopting her real name in acting, to separate from the musician persona. I think it makes sense and can work to change her image

missjb

March 19, 2018 at 3:37 PM

I guess..you will be surprise at her here... it's been a long time I'm waiting her to pick project this meaty. All she need is a good project which can show her skill. She has the skill... If she can pull of this quite well, Park Hae Young will yet again get another good performances by her leading lady.

3 dramafiend

March 19, 2018 at 8:23 AM

Aaaaaa girlfriday u make me laf." Its goona be high drama in case extra marital affairs and terminal sickness put me off" lol.ur witticisms r brilliant as always

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4 Yuyuu, The Drama Queen

March 19, 2018 at 8:42 AM

I should just dub this the Year of Melo
I'm excited that My Ahjussi is already here. I love Lee Seon-kyun, and between that and the team... I really really hope it's good.

I really wanna check out the other drama as well; but my plate is so full.
I also have yet to check out Live and Children of a Lesser God; AND I'm also looking forward to watch Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food soon.
So many dramas, so little time.

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missy

March 19, 2018 at 9:01 AM

Tell me about it! I planned to watch those two dramas but no time TT_TT

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5 missy

March 19, 2018 at 8:58 AM

I'm actually not interested in either. Although I really like this new trend of older, veteran actors taking leads in dramaland. From the teasers of My ahjussi, it looks like it'll have a darker tone. Definitely not my type but good luck to both shows

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RenOIshi

March 20, 2018 at 5:11 PM

I know right? One with the huge age gap and the other with extra marital affair! Gah! I dont know even though I love LSG and think IU is quite accomplished.

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