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[Beanie Recs] The ~impossible~ Lee Jae-wook


Ahoy, Beanies! It’s time to gather your collective genius for a recommendation series that features you and your drama knowledge. We’ll drop a drama conundrum and leave it up to you to provide a drama rec, and the appropriate rationale behind it, be it long or short. Respond below!
 

So I’m not sure if I actually like The Impossible Heir yet, but I’m definitely sure I need more Lee Jae-wook dramas. Yes, I’ve seen Alchemy of Souls, but that’s it. What should I watch first? What should I avoid??


Have a very particular drama itch that needs scratching? In need of a Beanie Rec? Email us at hello @ dramabeans.com and we’ll feature your topic in a future post.
 
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No question for me (although I'll be in the super minority ...again): Search: WWW. I dare you not to fall in love with him (and Scarlett)!

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Pretty sure you're not in the minority with this. I was going to recommend the same thing. One of my favourite drama couples of all time and that's saying a lot given how many shows I've watched!

They also have one of my favourite OSTs. So soothing and lovely.

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Fascinating! I suppose we could've also pitched the best weekender never aired,What's Wrong with My Mother-in-Law, as his true masterpiece, then!

https://youtu.be/2ZIP0F4Yw-s

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I was just about to suggest What's Wrong with My Mother-In-Law 😄😄

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That's an amazing clip! I'd love to see one put together all of Scarlett's 😲🫢😱🤯 reactions.

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I came in to recommend this one closely followed by When the weather is fine when he was so cute. He was good in Extraordinary you.

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I completely agree, and there's no way we'll be in the super majority here because LJW is so incredibly lovely, charming, and just perfect in that role. I saw him in "Extraordinary You" before I watched "WWW," so this wasn't my first exposure to him. But because he was a (complicated) villain-ish character in EU I was even more impressed with how completely he embodied a much more docile and puppyish character in WWW. And despite the age difference, he and Lee Da-hee had excellent chemistry.

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Definitely not a minority opinion around here. They're among DB's all-time favourite couples, I'd wager.

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Is it bad that I watched Search: WWW only for him? I fastforwarded only to his part and Dahee's but I think the main leads story is good too whenever I catch a glimpse of their scenes. But at that time i'm just focused on him

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Every project of his, including Marco from MOtA 😅

He was the most charming in Search WWW, had the best scowl in EY, most lost in Dol Dol (why was he in this drama again?) , quite versatile in Alchemy (from one season I saw) and a fantastic cameo in Death’s Game.

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And warm and friendly in When the Weather is Fine.

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I met him as Marco in Memories of Alhambra 😅
His appearance in that drama is hard to forget.

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What not to watch: Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. Biggest nonsense of an ending I have seen recently...

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It is kinda cute in the first few episodes tho

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I like Lee Jae-Wook but I didn't really like his dramas as main lead like Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (he played one of the worst ML for me), Alchemy of Souls 1 was good but the second part was a disaster.

I really liked him in When the Weather is Fine and Search: WWW as supporting cast.

In Extraordinary You, his character had a nice arc (but I never had a second male lead syndrom).

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I was swept by him in Alchemy 😊
My wife can't sleep...

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I didn't 😅

I didn't specially like the couple in the second season and I found him completely lost in this role. He didn't seem he knew what he should do with this character in the second season.

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Same. I never had a second male lead syndrome in EY because the main couple is sooo cute. I also didn't get people who says they prefer him more than the main lead. I was not a fan of him at that time. But after rewatching when I was already a fan, it all changed lol

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I liked his arc, it was nice to see him evolving at the end but alone and not thanks to love. But at the end, he was the typical chaebol son with the past trauma who fell for the FL.

I liked Haru because he was completely different from other ML. He was a blank page, no memories, no home, no family, no friends just a weird feeling when he saw Danoh. But step by step, he gained friends, created memories in this life, remembered his "past" life, accepted his fate.

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I liked his roles the most in "Extraordinary You" and the second part of "Alchemy of Souls". Because both of these roles had something of a villain to them. Such roles suit him. If he ever played a full-blooded villan, a sexy villan, I would be very much in favor of such his role.

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I loved him in these roles, too! He was more interesting in Extra-Ordinary You than the actual ML (and than the "in-drama ML"). And he was great in AoS - definitely what kept me invested.

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Was not a fan of him in the second part of AOS more than the first part. He has wide range of emotions and characterization in the first part compared to part 2

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Lee Jae-wook has been a part of some very interesting shows; however, for me only perhaps, he seems to shine more in the supporting roles. This is not conclusive because I have only watched 3 of his projects so far, 2 of which I really loved he was either a supporting or a cameo role.

What I loved him in:
1. When the Weather is Fine (aka I'll Find You on a Beautiful Day) (Supporting cast)
2. Memories of Alhambra (a cameo/ supporting role)

What I found ok-ish:
1. Alchemy of Souls

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He's a supporting character in Move to Heaven. I had no idea he was in it before I watched it and I was like hmm, that looks familiar haha

It's a sad one so be warned

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Ok, so I know it's pretty universally disliked, and BOY did it go off the rails in spectacular fashion in the last 5-6 episodes, BUT... I really liked Lee Jae-wook in Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. (*and I didn't hate that drama, either, although there are MANY THINGS that should have been fixed in the writing*). 🤷‍♀️

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Totally agree.

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Add me to your list lol.

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I feel the same way. The fact that I still enjoyed "Do Do Sol" even with that bizarre ending is probably right up there with my view that "Just Between Lovers" is overrated in the "Opinions That Will Get You UnFollowed on DB" category.

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😂 Just for this comment I would have followed you ... but I'm already doing so!

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Oh, for sure I get that. That show had a whole archive's worth of problems, but his performance wasn't one of them.

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^^ Beautifully expressed ... and yes!

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I’ve heard so many horror stories about this ending. If one wanted to watch it (for him or for any other reason) is there a good stopping place so that you don’t have to deal with the terrible ending episodes?

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With the caveat that I "watched" by FFing so much of the show that I missed entire groups of supporting characters and plot arcs: You can pick any reasonably happy and cute scene up to episode 12 to stop. That's when ominous clouds gather, especially for LJW's character, but just pretend they don't and that it's all a false alarm. The writer's beloved fakeouts and pranks get out of control, too. You can read the recap for the full WTF or write the rest in your head.

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Yep, that's good advice 👍

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It's not a sad ending, it's the *way* they achieved the ending that's so irksome for most viewers. As a comparison, this isn't another HeartBeat.

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Would you believe it ... I rewatched DDSSLLS to get over the heartbreak from Heartbeat and it worked!! I realized I shouldn't miss out on a perfectly fine 15 and a half hours of drama just because of the last 20 odd minutes harakiri.

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15 and a half hours ... hard stop after the OTP have a "concert" in the first half of ep 16. I loved the drama till there.

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It's the very fact that it was so enjoyable right up until the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad ending that makes me really, really hate this drama. The way LJW's character betrayed the FL and the little tight-knit community of his friends was unforgivable, and the way they didn't seem to hold it against him was simply ridiculous. And while LJW (the actor) was a legal adult at the time the drama was filmed, the romance was still kind of icky.

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I loved him in DDSSLLS!!

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My main recommendation is When the weather is fine. His character was so cool.

He was great in Death's Game

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The comment got cut off.

I was saying that he was great in Death's Game too. I wanted more 😄

And I really liked him in Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. His character was so endearing... But oh well. Watch at your own risk 😅

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I second you 100% on Do Do 😂👍

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Re: Death’s Game - I know! I was telling myself not to get too attached because obviously he’s not going to last long, but at the end of his part I thought I could have watched a whole drama about his character trying to navigate that situation.

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Me too. I could have watched ten episodes about him. LJW was great in that (brief) role.

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He was great in Move to Heaven too. 😅 Although that is a totally watch at your own risk drama.

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I loved him in both parts of Alchemy of Souls. He had a great character arc across both series that I feel he played incredibly well for an actor of his age. His screen presence is compelling, and I agree with @OAsia that he would do really well with a "hot villain" role.

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Thank you! I was reading and waiting for someone to mention his age. This gentleman has such a diverse resume for being so young. I have only seen Alchemy of Souls but loved him in them both and felt like he led the shows. Powerful, funny, emotional (he was supposed to be lost emotionally in the second half), possessive. I could go on. Like many shows- the writing was well done but it was him with help from the cast that brought the show to life. I can't wait to watch all of these fantastic suggestions

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There are so many great k-dramas to watch! I haven't been bored yet. If something isn't to my liking there's always another option to hand. Let us know how you like some of LJW's other dramas!

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100%... he would kill it as a character like Dongfang Qingcang, the epitome of the 'hot villain' role. Coincidentally, LJW reminds me a lot of a less playful version of Dylan Wang, who's also a 1998 kid like him. It's really a blessing in disguise to look eternally 27-28.... which means you'd be excellent in noona-romance at both 22 as well as 32. Given the acting chops, I wouldn't be surprised if he never ever needs to take a silly High School role ever again.

Speaking of meaty roles... LJW needs more saeguks in his filmography. But then again, 'the Impossible Heir' is pretty much a saeguk with characters wearing modern clothes, lol 🙈

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I've watched almost all his work, including the movies, except Memories of the Alhambra (I tried, but I just couldn't watch Park Shin Hye) and Kiss Sixth Sense. Let me rank them here based on how much I enjoyed the dramas over-all, and not how I felt about his characters (there were dramas where he did wonderfully, but it was the drama that fell short).
1. When the Weather is Fine
2. Alchemy of Souls 1
3. Extraordinary You
4. Alchemy of Souls 2
5. Search: WWW (and What's Wrong with my MIL!)
6. Move to Heaven
7. Death's Game
8. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (I'd rank this higher, but the last few episodes were awful. So maybe watch this, but stop at episode 13.)

I didn't include True Beauty because we was there for like 10 seconds. Haha..

Just like the Beabie Rec requester, I don't know if I like The Impossible Heir yet. To be honest I'm just watching because of LJW. But the FL is definitely turning me off, and the dad's wife is annoying.

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I'm experiencing the same feelings about "Impossible Heir." I like Jun, too, but LJW is the main draw for me and sadly, I'm starting to feel that this might be the first time I don't think he has any chemistry with his love interest. Some of that is the writing, some of that is the actress, and some is just the mysterious ways of the universe. But I'm bummed because he plays "sad, aloof guy experiencing love for the first time" so well.

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"But I'm bummed because he plays 'sad, aloof guy experiencing love for the first time' so well."

That and any other role he's played! 😂

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^^ Your rating is perfect! 👌👏

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I recall the feeling of “who is that???” 😳 at his first scene in WWW and then basically watching the remainder of the show hoping he’d show up every moment. It’s so great to have seen him shoot to stardom!

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I have enjoyed Lee Jae-wook’s work over the years. I am not watching his current drama on Disney+ (TIH). AsianWiki list 13 drama series for LJW going back to 2018. I have watched and enjoyed him in four (in order):
1. JTBC’s WHEN THE WEATHER IS FINE (2020) (Viki US). My first LJW drama. At age 22 he beautifully played a character who was supposed to be 27 iirc. He was part of a great cast in that drama.
2. KBS’s DO DO (2020) (Netflix). Lol, LJW was NOT the problem. The writer and director were the problem. I enjoyed his performance until the now infamous ending. In an epilogue to episode 15 (2:47 remaining) there is a beautiful meeting (guy scene if you will) between LJW’s character Joon and pal Seung-gi (Yoon Jong-bin). That one scene made hanging in to the end worth it for me. Perhaps the most enjoyable scenes were the elder backstory scenes with LJW and Go Ara.
3. NETFLIX’s MOVE TO HEAVEN (2021). Overall a 5 star drama and LJW was terrific as (yes) a young boxer. He obviously trained. Both LJW and Lee Je-hoon’s physicality was excellent.
5. tvN’s ALCHEMY OF SOULS (2022). I enjoyed LJW’s performance but not enough to continue with the franchise.
Take your pick.

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Thanks for the list! I didn't realize it until this moment, but I've actually seen--and liked (yes, even Do Do Sol)--every single thing he's done. He may be the only actor about whom I can say that.

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^^ 💯 Wow ... yes exactly that!! I've loved him in "everything". ♥️👐

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Among the shows he was in, liked him best in Search: WWW, while Alchemy of Souls S1 is a good watch for a LJW fan. But totally skip Do Do Sol Sol since its not worth your time.

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These were the ones I watched with him in it *

He had a good cameo in Kill Boksoon.

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Yes! It was so short, but seeing LJW in short scenes always makes me want a longer version of his story. He was so believable as the younger version of his character and embodied the mannerisms of the older actor so well!

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I'm with @seon-ha and with the exception of "AoS," think LJW's performance in "WWW" is my favorite. But I also want to cast a vote for his cameo in "Kill Boksoon." He's on-screen for less than five minutes but it's such a pivotal moment in his character's life and he played every beat of it perfectly. Plus, this tiny role allowed him to display all his strengths. He was completely believable as the aloof, cold assassin who enters the scene, as well as the smitten guy who immediately fell for the even more aloof and colder woman he'd end up mooning over for the rest of his life. The fact that I even remember these few minutes in the movie as well as I do speaks to his immense talent and presence.

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Yup his cameo was a pleasant surprise and very relevant in the story.

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Sigh. Is it okay to NOT worship at the feet of LJW???

First saw him in Alchemy of Souls Part 1 and. . . ,meh. Of course, I began the drama because of Jung So Min, and I enjoyed him - along with several others such as Arin, Yoo In Soo, Oh Nara, Yoo Soon Jang. LJW was enjoyable, but I will never understand the adoration.

Which is okay because the world would be so very, very boring if we all agreed on everything.

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Agreeing to disagree is the 3 most important words And add respectful🐢

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Its perfectly okay. I myself am very meh about him. I do like him in some of the roles he played. No one should worship anyone especially someone you barely know.

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We were discussing "chemistry" the other day, and I have to say, the weird things that Lee Jae Wook does with his hands in kissing scenes are the essence of chemistry. The hand motions (head cradling, chin stroking with thumbs. etc.) make the audience notice that he is bigger than the person he is kissing, they make her face look super small, they make him look extra caring, and it seems so natural. But just think about it--when is the last time someone kissed you and stroked your face with his thumbs? It's not a thing. But he makes his height and size into the most romantic thing in the world, like a boss.

Anyway, the other aspects of his acting are equally special and wonderful. I loved his sad, scheming yet dynamic second lead in Extraordinary You, a show I really loved. I thought he was good in Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol but if you haven't seen it, it's not worth it. Ugh. He contributed the most to Search: WWW, in that I wanted to see him on screen the most. So funny, adorable and cute! I also thought he was more than fine in When the Weather Is Fine, again showing character dynamism. I even liked him as the main lead in the weird but captivating Alchemy of Souls.

I think he's really a very fine actor and it amazes me that he did some of these roles when he was so young. He's got great comic timing and he makes choices that look like a person changing his mind. I feel like that's one of the hardest things to do on screen. I didn't realize how difficult until I started regularly watching TV in a language I don't know.

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I love you comment. Very very well expressed. 👍👏

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