Premiere Watch: Penthouse 2, Beyond Evil, Times, Vincenzo

54 February 16, 2021June 6, 2021

Premiere Watch: Penthouse 2, Beyond Evil, Times, Vincenzo

by missvictrix

We weren’t joking when we said there were more dramas coming this week! Here’s the rest of the premieres that are joining the party in our weekend slots. These dramas are all pretty different in tone and genre, but each one seems to be coming in with a bang. A really loud bang. Makjang, mafia, murder, and mayhem — take your pick, or take ’em, all!

Penthouse 2

Time slot: Friday & Saturday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Suspense, revenge, thriller
Episode count: 12

Reasons to watch: Straight off the heels of the ginormous success of its first season, Penthouse is back with more of what it does best: makjang crazy! I didn’t last long watching Season 1, but genuine props to these actors, and this no-holds-barred approach to high drama. With some of our craziest characters back for more (and some not back, I’m guessing?), I can only imagine how Season 2 will continue its tale, and one-up the madness. I’m sure it will be as successful as the first season. Also, it’s an interesting experiment in taking a drama that doesn’t exactly scream “primetime slot”… but then takes over said primetime slot. Will this start a new trend, or maybe a little more fluidity in the sorts of dramas we see in our primetime slots? Time will tell.

Beyond Evil

Time slot: Friday & Saturday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Thriller
Episode count: 16

Reasons to watch: In our next premiere, there’s a return to dramaland to get excited about — and I’m talking about the talented Yeo Jin-gu. The more intense and emotionally layered, the better I think Yeo Jin-gu performs, so seeing him in a psychological thriller-mystery joining forces with Shin Ha-kyun ought to be exciting. Beyond Evil seems to promise eerie twists and turns as much as it does a deep-dark look at the human condition. While I’m not in the market for something quite this dark right now, if it’s your thing, it might be working checking out even for the performances alone. Also, it’s a big tonal change for the PD, who most recently gave us A Moment at Eighteen, so that piques my curiosity for sure.

Times

Time slot: Saturday & Sunday
Broadcaster: OCN
Genre: Crime, science fiction
Episode count: 12

Reasons to watch: Another premiere, another return to dramaland to get excited about. In OCN’s latest, it’s Lee Seo-jin that’s back, and he’s opposite Lee Joo-young in a drama that sounds like pieces of Signal and Kairos sandwiched into something new. In the drama, Lee Seo-jin is a reporter from 2015, and he connects with Lee Joo-young, a reporter for 2020, via a phone call. Together they have to join forces, share intel, and stop a huge political crime. Of course, because we have two parallel timelines, I’m expecting a lot of interconnectedness, shared fates, and small actions with huge ripple effects. Good luck, reporters! You’re gonna need it.

Vincenzo

Time slot: Saturday & Sunday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Black comedy, crime, noir
Episode count: 20

Reasons to watch: I’m just going to go ahead and say it: of all of our weekend premieres, this is the one that I’m most looking forward to. I’m not exactly expecting it to be good good, but I’m expecting it to be fun. Song Joong-ki returns to dramaland as the eponymous hero, raised in Italy in the mafia, and fleeing to South Korea where the bulk of the drama will take place. Rounding out the cast is Jeon Yeo-bin as a powerful attorney (hello, love line!) and Ok Taecyeon as a law intern. (I’m confused by his addition here, as it seems a bit out of place, but I have an inexplicable soft spot for Taecie, so I’m ready to see what they have planned). The biggest reason to expect fun from this drama, though, is because my favorite Song Joong-ki is the dark and morally ambiguous kind (a la Nice Guy) — so bring on the not-so-nice hero, Show!

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1 💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜

February 16, 2021 at 5:22 PM

Completely forgot Beyond Evil was coming out till like, yesterday; I'm banking on the writer and pd for this one and not the complete and utter train-wreck of a doomed relationship I have with every Jin Goo drama to ever exist. (just... don't ask)

And then there's Vincenzo which like... KDY, SJK and the Chief Kim writer... so, please be fun.

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Ally

February 17, 2021 at 9:55 AM

Beyond Evil, Written by Kim Soo-jin (Mad Dog) and directed by PD Shim Na-yeon (A Moment at Eighteen), I’ll definitely be checking out. Always start dramas fir Yoo Jin Goo. Have only finished Jackpot and Circle though.

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Eazal

February 17, 2021 at 1:04 PM

My exact thoughts.

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kiara

February 17, 2021 at 1:16 PM

Jin Goo needs a pocket therapist. He's done a lot of dark roles since he was a kid. I don't know how he made it through "Hwayi."

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💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜

February 17, 2021 at 1:36 PM

And yet his darker roles are always his best ones...

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kiara

February 18, 2021 at 8:00 PM

Right.

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sal

February 17, 2021 at 3:23 PM

He stated in an interview that the condition for any actor playing Hwayi was they must have psychology counseling. The diagnoses said he his mentally strong. He also said that he could recognize that the character personality is different from himself, so he could maintain a certain distance.
Not often I hear production company did take the mental state of the actors so importantly. But glad they did.
It sound like he have a very healthy mindset that this dark roles do not affect him in his daily life.

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2 panshel

February 16, 2021 at 5:32 PM

I'm so ready for Penthouse. I've been waiting for Season 2.

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3 happiness

February 16, 2021 at 6:28 PM

My reasons for watching Vincenzo:
1. Jeon Yeo-bin
2. The writer (with credits like The Fiery Priest and Chief Kim what could go wrong?)
3. Song Joong-ki speaking Italian

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Jezz

February 16, 2021 at 6:34 PM

My only two reasons to watch Vincenzo this weekend:
1.) I'm looking for Italian (obscured and rare) actors/actresses that surprisedly join as either minor roles or extras
2.) I'm looking forward for Korean actors (like Song Joong-ki) to speak Italian or English

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Miky

February 16, 2021 at 7:46 PM

And que to has Vicenzo's CV were he says he talks,spanish,french and german so quite curious how will he speak...

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Moko

February 17, 2021 at 11:31 AM

I'm a big Song Joong Ki fan but when I heard his English speaking in Descendants of the Sun I had to read the subtitles to understand him. I am not expecting much since pronunciation doesn't seem to be his strong suit. -.- But I love his acting skills and his voice, so I think he'll be able to pull of the mafia awesomeness. ^.^

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Miky

February 17, 2021 at 12:05 PM

I think we should just pretend we won't be hearing him if he doens't pull it off...He looks great as mafia so hope he'll be just as badass!

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ElKwesi

February 17, 2021 at 9:49 AM

I truthfully had no interest in this but I didn't know that they had this writer. Two of my favorite shows.

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Eazal

February 17, 2021 at 1:06 PM

I really need SJK speaking Italian too.
And of course, Taecyon. He's not the best actor ever, but I just love the guy.

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Peridot

February 19, 2021 at 7:18 AM

The speaking Italian part scares me.

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Eazal

February 19, 2021 at 8:58 AM

He was not that bad in Space Sweepers in Spanish (which doesn’t mean he was good), so I have some hopes it’s not going to be terrible, but obviously it’s not going to fake someone who’s lived all his life in Italy. It’s going to be so funny!

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Peridot

February 19, 2021 at 12:30 PM

This drama is not actually on my watch list, but I will look at the Beanie comments.

"...someone who’s lived all his life in Italy." That's the part that gets me. I can remember all those dramas where people who supposedly grew up in another country (mostly the U.S.) spoke robotically and with no realistic intonation at all. But is Vincenzo supposed to be a comedy, or are people thinking it will be so terrible that it will be funny? LOL

YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

February 20, 2021 at 2:01 AM

I am excited about this, Eazal, for three reasons. Are you ready?

1. A cat is appearing in a very, very important role. It will be ---- hold your breath --- an Italian cat. It will walk around with its tail curved in an I. For Italy. Its name will be --- quick, hold your breath again ---- Pussenzo.

2. @bbstl's cat has this to say: "Pawssibly the meowst anticipawted drama of Furbruary."

3. I can tag @leetennant. I haven't tagged LT or spoken to the Clams for six weeks.

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Eazal

February 20, 2021 at 2:08 AM

Pussenzo may be the main reason I'm watching!
I hope his Italian meows can be up to SKJ's Italian.
I'm all ready for this!!!!

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Peridot

February 20, 2021 at 3:24 PM

But will Pussenzo be speaking a regional dialect or Italian proper? ;)

LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi

February 22, 2021 at 5:25 PM

I think db is censoring your tags, YY. I didn't get this one or the last one.

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4 Jezz

February 16, 2021 at 6:29 PM

I knew that Penthouse: War in Life (season 2) will be on Kocowa and Viu (Southeast Asia) like the first season and upcoming thid season did and Vincenzo already now on Netflix.

It's still bad that two of my three new K-dramas premieres on second half of this week, Beyond Evil and Times still no legal American/US streaming sites which was unfortunately forgotten to acquire and I hope to acquire Beyond Evil and Times to legal streaming sites (e.g. Netflix, Viu, Kocowa or Viki) in the near future.

On my note to Beyond Evil, it was now 19+ K-drama on JTBC.

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Miky

February 16, 2021 at 7:48 PM

Penthouse First ep of S2 will also be rated 19+...Beyond Evil will have the fist 2 episodes rated 19+

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Ayalynn

February 17, 2021 at 6:34 AM

It looks like Times will be on Viki.
https://www.viki.com/tv/37679c-times.

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Islander north

February 17, 2021 at 7:33 AM

Thank you!

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rabarella

February 17, 2021 at 9:08 AM

Both Beyond Evil and Times will be on Viu!

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5 latebloomer

February 16, 2021 at 6:33 PM

Tell me Hospital Playlist 2 is premiering, and I'll be excited.

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Miky

February 16, 2021 at 8:26 PM

The last rumors say it might be May ;D

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loveblossom🌸

February 16, 2021 at 9:04 PM

Oooh I briefly heard it was maybe April. Either way, I'm glad I have more time to catch the first season. XD

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JillofAllTrades

February 23, 2021 at 9:12 AM

Word!

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6 Ayalynn

February 16, 2021 at 7:44 PM

I'll be busy!
So many dramas to watch this week...
Lee Do-hyun will be in Beyond Evil (special appearance)! Yay!
He plays young Shin Ha-kyun. Another reason to watch right there.
I'm looking forward to Vincenzo because of the writer.
I really hope it will be like Chief Kim/Good Manager and The Fiery Priest.

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7 sparks121

February 16, 2021 at 7:55 PM

Jeez, this weekend is loaded. I'm most excited for Beyond Evil - shin ha kyun + yeo jin goo, sold. I like the sound of vincenzo but yeah... not exactly the biggest taecyeon fan (as an actor, anyways) if you get my drift. I gotta admit, penthouse is a guilty pleasure for me yes, I'll be watching.

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8 Miky

February 16, 2021 at 7:59 PM

Quite excited for almost all the shows and gonna watch them aside from Penthouse(gonna watch it all when it's done)...Gonna anticipate to see how Times will differ from Kairos as on the surface they share the same plot tool...The one i'm most anticipating now it's Vincenzo even more after seeing the highlight teaser and it looked promising and quite dark sprinked with the humor i adore from the writer...Hope Beyond Evil will also not disappoint and indeed be dark and complex.

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9 ilovecoffee&rain

February 16, 2021 at 8:35 PM

Whoh! Taecyeon is so tall! I like tall guys.....Anyhow, I truly hope that Vincenzo will be somewhat like the Feiry Priest and Chief Kim. I have never really liked Song Joong-ki in a comic role, but I hope we will get to see that here.

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Kafiyah Bello

February 17, 2021 at 12:24 PM

I love this comment so much, lol. Your "I love tall guys...." made me laugh.

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Ilovecoffee&rain

February 19, 2021 at 7:12 AM

Lol! I'm glad you enjoyed my comment.

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10 loveblossom🌸

February 16, 2021 at 9:00 PM

Actually interested in all of these dramas, but no way will I be able to get through all this weekend. XD;;; Definitely watching PH 2 though. Didn't realize Times was premiering too. Feels like it will be an underdog.

Very curious about Vincenzo's black comedy aspect because I was a fan of the writer's previous work The Fiery Priest.

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11 korfan

February 16, 2021 at 9:28 PM

Definitely looking forward to Penthouse 2 and Vincenzo!

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12 nimidori

February 16, 2021 at 9:39 PM

looking forward to beyond evil!

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13 wandering spot

February 16, 2021 at 10:48 PM

I am surely in for penthouse and beyond evil. I guess I will wait for the initial reaction for Vincenzo because I have dropped every SJK dramq I have watched so far. So not sure not about it. Will gives times a try too of time allows

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14 Kurama

February 16, 2021 at 11:32 PM

Vincenzo looks fun beside all these dramas! I don't get why they choose Taecyeon as a rookie... He looks too old for that, a perm won't change that :p

Beyond Evil and Mouse looks very similar : a young and an old cop investigating a serial killer.

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💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜

February 16, 2021 at 11:36 PM

Now if only Jin Goo was also probably going to be the bad guy in Beyond Evil...

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parkchuna ❤️🍉

February 17, 2021 at 5:54 PM

we need to burn that perm!

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15 welh

February 17, 2021 at 7:23 AM

I will check out TIMES because of the leads.

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16 miss h

February 17, 2021 at 8:14 AM

Looking forward to Vincenzo. Let it be ridiculous but fun with more understated humor than the writer's previous works.

I'm on the fence with Times. It sounds like Kairos 2.0 but with politics, which I'm so over.

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17 Kurama

February 17, 2021 at 12:25 PM

I'm curious about Not Yet 30 the next week too. It's a kakao's drama with the same kind of format than Lovestruck in the City, 20 minutes long and 2 episodes by week.

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18 Eazal

February 17, 2021 at 1:09 PM

I need Vincenzo not to be good good, just funny.
And I need those Italian scenes and SJK playing a korean who's Italian at heart. Please, don't disappoint me, drama. At least I'll have Taecyeon's cute ears!

I may also check Beyond evil...

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meowingme

February 18, 2021 at 12:17 AM

Have to like the "cute ears" ><

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19 Yn00na

February 17, 2021 at 1:36 PM

With bonanza of dramas premiering this week, curious which one @db-staff choose to recap.

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parkchuna ❤️🍉

February 17, 2021 at 6:04 PM

the new ones are Vincenzo, Sisyphus and The river where the moon rises.

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20 parkchuna ❤️🍉

February 17, 2021 at 6:02 PM

I love how Vincenzo watchers are all about managing expectations - looking forward to it but don't expect it to be good good.. like ok it's universally understood this drama could go either way on the love-hate scale 😆

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Eazal

February 18, 2021 at 6:10 AM

I feel it’s going to be a disaster I will fully enjoy 😆😆😆

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21 glenlake8

February 19, 2021 at 4:55 PM

I can’t wait for The Penthouse 2. The first season was so ridiculously over the top crazy, it was glorious. Loved it. Which makes no sense because the adults and kids are soooooo horrible. But it worked its magic on me. It sometimes makes me feel there must be something wrong with me.

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