First rehearsals underway for Fated To Love You
by javabeans
Here we go with the first signs of production for Fated To Love You, the romantic comedy remake of the hit Taiwanese drama that’s set to air later this summer, starring Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara in their rom-com reunion. How crazy is it that twelve years have passed since Successful Story of a Bright Girl and she looks exactly the same? (He looks great too, but she’s the one I suspect of hoarding enchanted aging portraits in the attic or drinking magical youth concoctions.)
The story sounds pretty familiar, with Jang Hyuk playing a perfect chaebol and Jang Nara in the ordinary heroine role. They meet by chance while traveling, get caught up in some kind of plot gone awry, and have a one-night stand that results in a pregnancy (the only kind of one-night stand in dramaland, apparently!). Thus they end up as perfect strangers who get married, with the romance developing later.
I haven’t seen the original drama but there’s enough energy in the air (from all of you, mostly!) to make me look forward to this remake. Plus, writer Jo Jin-gook worked on the sharp, well-plotted Soulmate (one of my favorite rom-coms of ever) and Hello, Franceska (the campy, witty vampire sitcom). Co-writer Joo Chan-wook’s past work is heavier stuff (Lobbyist, I Trusted Men), but c’mon, Soulmate! And PD Lee Dong-yoon has Best Love on his resumé, as well as Queen’s Classroom. A solid lineup, not to mention Choi Jin-hyuk as the perfect second lead (cue heartbreak) and Wang Ji-won as the hero’s fiancee, until he ends up married to that other chick I mean.
Fated To Love You will take over MBC’s Wednesday-Thursday timeslot after A New Leaf ends, and premieres in July.
Via Ten Asia
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Tags: Fated To Love You, Jang Hyuk, Jang Nara
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1 domo
May 21, 2014 at 12:52 PM
So excited for this!!
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2 redfox
May 21, 2014 at 1:06 PM
hobo hat. did he borrow that from Johnny Depp or something?
don´t get me wrong, together they look like some cool hipster grunge garage band
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Chesquared
May 21, 2014 at 1:16 PM
My favorite Jang Hyuk is a cleanly shaven Jang hyuk - his Thank You era. I hope he gets a hair cut and loses the hat.
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yoeda
May 21, 2014 at 5:50 PM
it's hard to do now coz he's filming saeguk Age Of Innocence until June. but, the first stills of him and nara looks really good. the hair don't bother much.
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trisha
May 21, 2014 at 8:37 PM
why. why it's always like this. netz say they dont like actors appearances when they dont meet netz wishes. It's like why he wears this and that, why her hairstyle like that, why he looks feminine. I mean it's not that every person has the same mind. We live in diversity. To try something new of different is not a sin.
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redfox
May 21, 2014 at 9:40 PM
I never said I did not like it, I just said what it reminded me of.
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trisha
May 21, 2014 at 10:32 PM
No Redfox, my comment was for Chesquared. Sorry to cause misunderstanding :)
redfox
May 22, 2014 at 1:21 AM
oh, I see! I did nt notice it was 2 step away from mine
Dila
May 22, 2014 at 6:02 AM
Oh my God, yes. I loved his hair in Thank You.
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3 adette
May 21, 2014 at 1:11 PM
omgggg i was excited because i like ftly but the writer/director combo only makes it better.
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4 sartorius
May 21, 2014 at 1:12 PM
mmmmmmm Jang Hyuk looking good as usual....
Erm i dunno if m gonna watch this one....plot wise nothing is doing it for me...i mean the plot itself is probably one of my main issues....this is just gonna be 16 or 20 episodes of pure angst! I dunno know if I'm willing to put myself thru that.
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tigerl21
May 22, 2014 at 11:38 AM
If they follow the original at all, there will be many cute/sweet/awwww moments to undercut the angst~ I think it'll be worth a try!
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5 Patch
May 21, 2014 at 1:22 PM
I loved the originally when it aired but my tastes have changed since then. I give the first episode a look, it might surprise me.
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6 Y.W
May 21, 2014 at 1:41 PM
I hope they change her personality in the korean version, couldn't stand her by only being nice, like come on!!!
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j
May 21, 2014 at 7:55 PM
In fact, her doormat personality is central to the plot. She even got the nickname Post-It Girl (PPL #1?) because everyone at her workplace places their Post-It of requests on her because she is just that nice. It's played to the ridiculous max to highlight her journey to grow herself some backbone. That's the point of her character development!
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7 becca_boo
May 21, 2014 at 1:41 PM
"Fated To Love You will take over MBC’s Wednesday-Thursday timeslot after A New Leaf ends, and premieres in July."
But I don't want to think about A New Leaf ending!
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Muenchabench
May 21, 2014 at 1:54 PM
Yeah I'm glad I'm not the only one who is lovin new leaf right now! Kim Myung Min for the Win!
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kanz
May 21, 2014 at 1:58 PM
Same here... I could watch Kim Seok Joo forever. LOL
No of course all the good thing will come to end.
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8 Aigoooo
May 21, 2014 at 1:43 PM
It must be difficult to put Jang Na Ra in a Noona romance drama. They'll need to hire an infant to play her male lead.
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Mimie
May 21, 2014 at 2:19 PM
But she did make a noona romance drama with Choi Daniel, Baby Faced Beauty. Her character is 7 years older than Choi's, and irl she's 5 years older than he is.
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Aigoooo
May 21, 2014 at 3:45 PM
It didn't feel like a noona romance to me though since she actually looked younger than him.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
May 21, 2014 at 4:59 PM
well, the name of the drama was 'Baby Faced Beauty'...
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9 kanz
May 21, 2014 at 2:01 PM
Is it me or Jang Nara looks so thin in the pics above?
Jang Hyuk looks so fashionably trendy.
Jjangs Couple reunion. Can't wait!!
All dramas on that timeslot look good already, FTLY, IOIL, Joseon Gunman, I will have hard time deciding which one I will watch.
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10 Emmy
May 21, 2014 at 2:12 PM
Aww... they look cute.
I might be in the minority, but I thought the original "Fated to Love You" was terrible and I am not sure it warrants a remake.
It's portrayal of the female lead really made me cringe with her complete lack of assertiveness, and I found the male lead insufferable. I dropped it halfway so I have no idea whether it got better later on.
I do hope the Korean versions will have some tweaks that make the main characters more likeable.
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theravennest
May 21, 2014 at 2:37 PM
lol Yes, it gets better...eventually.
Her frustration simmers and simmers until she finally breaks about halfway through the series. Then she explodes in anger with everyone and moves to Mainland China to start her own art business. Afterwards she becomes much more assertive and blunt about her real feelings.
I think it was a disservice to have her become emotionally stronger so late. It should have happened about 5 episodes earlier than it did. A lot of people got frustrated and dropped the drama.
I agree they need to change that male lead's personality tho. He was a grade A douchebag. Like next friggin level.
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bjharm
May 21, 2014 at 10:00 PM
the turning point, just as he come to face the fact he loves her, is what happens to the child, and if you watch that scene and do not shead tears, then you have a heart of stone. That is what makes her leave in the end, with the help of the second male lead, who pretty much sets her up with a new life.
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mdolphins
May 21, 2014 at 3:00 PM
Nope, you aren't the only one. I tried to sit through that one and couldn't make it all the way. The male lead, Ethan Ruan, exhausted me too much and same with the sticky note, I just didn't connect with them and the further it went along, the less I began to care. The new K-drama remake has to make some serious changes to it if it is going to be even remotely watchable, not even the JJangs and CJH will be able to save the pathetic mess of a script that it is in its current form.
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Mimie
May 21, 2014 at 3:00 PM
I'm not a fan of the original either. That's probably one reason I'm looking forward to the Korean version. There are a lot that this remake can improve on. To be less positive, it won't be worse than the original. If it's good, it would be a very likable remake.
It's got a very solid supporting cast. The production team is definitely emphasizing the comedy part. So that's another thing to look forward to.
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Pipit
May 21, 2014 at 5:19 PM
I have mix feelings about Fated to Love You but then again perhaps it has something to do with the come back of the ex. I hate this arch with a passion. It even ruins the love I have for My Name is Kim Sam Soon. I would love that show (Kim Sam Soon) whole heartedly if only he doesn't reunited with his ex.
But in Fated to Love You besides the return of the ex, the characters' personalities have a lot to be desired for. She is really a doormat. But most of Tdrama heroines are on the border of silly or not having enough pride to begin with. A spunky and witty or prideful heroine is a gem in T dramaland.
However, seeing how Witch's Romance turns out (which is much better than the T version) I have faith in the K production team that this Fated To Love You will be so much better than the T version.
Looking forward to watching it. And how could Jang Hyuk looks so good? He's aging really well, I don't think he's that good looking before. And Jang Nara really earns the title of Baby Faced Beauty.
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alua
May 22, 2014 at 6:04 AM
"It even ruins the love I have for My Name is Kim Sam Soon. I would love that show (Kim Sam Soon) whole heartedly if only he doesn’t reunited with his ex."
I'm with you! Just about everyone loves Kim Sam Soon, but it's only meh for me precisely because of that reason.
I had many problems with the original Fated to Love You as well, I can't handle the typical TW doormat characters, the ridiculous ex arches or the spunky-girl-turns-brainless-once-she-gets-the-guy (Miss Rose, Pursuit of Happiness) that you get in Taiwan dramas all the time.
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11 Elianne
May 21, 2014 at 2:22 PM
Er I have the opposite reaction when it comes to hearing the writer at helm did soulmate - that actually sets alarm bells ringing in my head
Soulmate is weird for me, I hated all the characters but the main, disliked the pace and just got frustrated watching it overall.
But man does it stick in your head. It has some of my favourite scenes (basically all scenes with the otp) in a drama ever.
So I guess if anything else, the drama will be memorable? Which is good considering how cliched the plot sounds.
Wish they'd get the same music director though. Soulmate had an awesome soundtrack.
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dbfan
May 21, 2014 at 3:42 PM
Couldn't agree more! (w/ Soulmate's soundtrack). It's one of the few OSTs that didn't have me cringing at all the English songs. I actually also found most of the characters annoying that I'm glad I saw it after the drama aired and there were a lot of fast-forwarding. After re-watching it, I found it a little bit more endearing.
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12 Skye
May 21, 2014 at 2:46 PM
Love the hat. It looks good on him.
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13 Mariconnie
May 21, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Screaming right now. For some reason, I could never finish the original Taiwanese version, no matter how hard I tried. So thank goodness for this remake, as I did like the plot *cough* and not the execution.
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windsun33
May 21, 2014 at 8:25 PM
My problem with the Taiwan version is they made the heroine so extremely sub-doormat, and that T-dramas tend to have an awful lot of just downright "not funny but silly and childish" tropes.
If done right this could be a lot better.
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tigerl21
May 22, 2014 at 11:52 AM
You should try finishing it! I think the series just fell victim to too many episodes. Her character grew a lot in the last five or six episodes- it almost made it all worth it. I think with the lesser number of episodes will help to tighten up the plot and leave less room filler angst. I'm also looking forward to it!
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14 Nancy
May 21, 2014 at 3:01 PM
@javabeans I hope with your year end review, there's a poll for "Favorite OTP Reunion" because there seems to be many this year. The idea of reunions are great for shippers but I hope this story as well as Joseon Gunman will do justice for its wonderful leads.
The plot for this drama specifically the female lead has me cringing but I suspect that there will be some (hopefully) likable deviation from the original. Its winning formula are the adorable leads and the ultimate second lead in Choi Jin Hyuk, sighs. Heartbreak indeed.
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15 하문수♡이강두
May 21, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment was deleted
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maldita
May 21, 2014 at 4:52 PM
Emergency Couple is a cable drama. It's not the same. Besides, playing second lead to Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara isn't bad at all.
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Pipit
May 21, 2014 at 5:26 PM
Yes, Jang Hyuk and Jang Nare are on a different level entirely.
And I remember how stunned the fans were (including me) when Jo Hyun Jae took second lead role in that Genius drama for a nobody (at least I consider him a nobody since I have no idea who he is prior to that drama).
So Choi Jin Hyuk being a second lead in Jang Hyuk drama is really nothing.
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AnOpinion
May 21, 2014 at 5:40 PM
He's playing second lead to Jang Hyuk, which is completely reasonable whichever way you look at it. CJH does receive a lot of love here, but please look at the issue rationally. He doesn't have a record of good dramas, and he shot to fame in a supporting role. There are people like Kim Ji-seok who acted in the lead role in a 40% rated (daily) drama but are still playing 2nd leads. It's not as if it's a rare phenomenon that this happens.
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leeann
May 21, 2014 at 4:58 PM
I mentioned this in the comments section for another post, but long answer short: 'Emergency Couple' was a cable drama and a lot of the times, big-name stars (who have played leads for years) are the only ones who can play leads in network (MBC, KBS, SBS) dramas. Choi Jin-hyuk just needs a little more time. I think once he's out of the army, he'll be getting more lead offers.
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Yee
May 21, 2014 at 5:59 PM
Yes, he does need the money, he was offered a few CFs with the deal! He's the sole breadwinner in his family and he just settled his family debt and looking forward to buying a house and being second lead to the Jjangs is a best option too! Even though he was offered a leading role in the movie (not the drama) TROT but sigh!
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16 Jyyjc
May 21, 2014 at 3:48 PM
Didn't like the original. Heroine was frustratingly weak and second lead female was annoying.
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17 madqueen
May 21, 2014 at 4:26 PM
I like the original T-version, mainly for the acting and chemistry between the leads. The story is ok... I expect the k-version to move faster which is good.
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bjharm
May 21, 2014 at 10:04 PM
well as it was an idol drama you got from it just what they wanted,,ie love the leads and fudge the story line. In all Idol drama it all about the sparks between the leads any thing else that maybe good is just an added plus.
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18 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
May 21, 2014 at 5:00 PM
I can't believe School 2013 was so long ago, I've missed Jang Nara.
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19 Lisa-Loo-Loo
May 21, 2014 at 5:09 PM
So excited. So excited!!! SO EXCITED!!!! Did I mention I was excited? Cause I am!!!!!
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20 laurawaterhouse
May 21, 2014 at 5:26 PM
my first fave k-pair. i love them. they are both awesome and they would be hilarious again together. waaaaah. excited. everyone got very worked up with the dong wook-da hae reunion, but this is it for me, the two jangs. soooo cuuuuuuteeee
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21 Lurker
May 21, 2014 at 6:21 PM
cant wait.. I love the original but from the looks of it, this version could be better than the original one.. excited ~~
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22 pohonphee
May 21, 2014 at 6:31 PM
I'll drink whatever Jang Nara drink! How can she manage to stay the same even prettier after all those years! Mind-boggling.
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23 Sandy
May 21, 2014 at 6:39 PM
Fated to Love You is one of my favorite TW dramas, but I don't know about these two actors playing the roles. There is a quirkiness about the TW drama that makes it special--we'll see, but I'm not hopeful. I could wee Bin Won playing this role based on some of his earlier work. The actress--I need to think about.
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Pipit
May 21, 2014 at 7:06 PM
If you like Chinese drama (Taiwanese's) you could try to have a look at Jang Nara in Bratty Princess with Alec Su as the male lead. I always love Alec Su but he makes an adorable pair with Jang Nara.
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24 blairxkitkat
May 21, 2014 at 7:45 PM
not a fan of jang nara..not a fan at all..unless the main female lead gets recast or there is another pairing I can actually ship I don't think i'll be watching.
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25 tokkioncrack
May 21, 2014 at 8:09 PM
I think I should be doing this for mary.
"Song Jae Rim oppa would have been so good in this and I would have imagined myself at the other end of the 'Fated to love you', coz we are totally fated. "
;-)
P.S. No offense meant mary. Just feeling your absence :-(
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26 mary
May 21, 2014 at 8:37 PM
None taken acidrabbit. :D
I'm worried for you. If you keep on thinking about how I think and anticipating my next move, you might start to turn into me. Which is a BAD THING.
See: GapDong and all the other "to catch a monster, I HAD to be a monster" kdramas/movies out there.
-------
Also, I like dramaland reunions! I don't want to break this OTP and can't really complain about Choi Jin Hyuk as second lead.
But yes, I'm always hoping... always hoping for Rim Oppa...
There are 140293109842930 side character roles available in dramaland and he can steal the scene as long as he's given one teensy tiny role. *buys more incense for burning*
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tokkioncrack
May 22, 2014 at 5:34 AM
well unless I start competing with you for SJR I think I'll be safe.
Sending a bit more of that incense to you virtually :-)
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27 Carmelia
May 21, 2014 at 8:56 PM
tq JB,
Whoa !, they look fresh and young,
my favourite CHUNO actor - Jang Hyuk.
Antricipating this drama although it is a remake from
taiwanese drama.
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28 bananana
May 21, 2014 at 9:43 PM
I was on the fence about this drama. I was still going to give it a try because I have sentimental feelings about the TW drama, and I like Jang Nara; however, the writer for Soulmate and PD for Queen's Classroom basically closed this drama for me. I am so looking forward to it now~
I wonder how Jang Hyuk is going to play Ethan Ruan's character. I don't know how to describe Ethan's portrayal of the drama character. He kind of played a comical *ss? It's like the character was funny in terms of the expressions made but somehow still came off as a--I can't think of a good word.
Anyway, I look forward to this drama. I hope they change the plot a little. I wasn't really fond of the arc following her transformation with Dylan (?) mainly because the plot really started to drag and get repetitive a bit.
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29 bjharm
May 21, 2014 at 10:15 PM
they cast the two mothers and Jang Nara's mass of sisters and husbands
http://news20.busan.com/controller/newsController.jsp?newsId=20140522000020
http://www.imaeil.com/sub_news/sub_news_view.php?news_id=23861&yy=2014
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30 primaoptima
May 22, 2014 at 12:21 AM
My only problem with the T version is the length and unnecessary characters and subplots. I'm excited for this =)
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31 purplelyungie
May 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM
aahhhh.... can't waiy...... simply love the Taiwaneae version.... hope this will surpass that one....*swoon* at Jang Hyuk...
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32 Stephanie
May 22, 2014 at 4:38 AM
Sometimes she looks 14! Amazing skin.
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33 fab
May 22, 2014 at 4:49 AM
OMG it's really haaaaapening!!
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34 Samantha_xyooj
May 22, 2014 at 8:32 AM
Ethan and Joe have amazing chemistry in FTLY. You should really watch it and also check the BTS..lol… The last time I checked the BTS Ethan and Joe was so shy that they had to drink wine to relax and record the bed scenes for over 8 hours just to get it right…
I’m sure the Korean version will be different. I’m sure that double Jang’s (Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara) chemistry and love sparks will be everywhere. I have been waiting the longest just to see this reunion after SSOARG.
Drama lord has been so nice to us because they gave us two couple reunions… Double Jang’s and Double Lee’s (Lee Da-hae and Lee Dong-wook from My Girl)
I, soooo agree with you that “Soulmate” will and forever be my all time favorite drama. It would be great if this pair can get a reunion. I have this drama and would watch it countless of times and will always shed tears at their every encounter.
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Pipit
May 22, 2014 at 5:23 PM
One thing I can be sure of (praying that I would be wrong) is that nothing can beat that bed scene in the original. It's steamy hot. It's even hotter than that wedding night scene in It Started with a Kiss (and that one is just plain awesome).
The Korean version will be: the couple waking up in the morning with their clothes on and I would wonder whether they really sleep together or is it just my overactive imagination.
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35 lovemoonsun
May 22, 2014 at 1:45 PM
i saw the original and it is awsome. cant say the same for soulmate. i hope this writer doesn't mess the story up.
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36 Trumpetcalls
May 22, 2014 at 9:32 PM
I enjoyed watching the Taiwanese FTLY. I think the Korean version will be good too. Jang Nara found the fountain of youth.
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samsooki
May 23, 2014 at 10:19 AM
Yay for JNR!
Definitely underrated, definitely pretty and definitely cool.
Interesting pairing, and not a typical one you'd see.
Me Likey.
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37 miszeeta
May 23, 2014 at 1:24 PM
For a moment, i thought i saw so ji sub lol.. with that hobo hat and that green jacket omo i even can't tell who is ji sub who is jang hyuk. Did they shopping together somewhere?? :D
Like Javabeans said, i haven't seen it either :P but when jang hyuk and jang nara are in it's hard to resist.
My only concern is, if they airing with same slot just like my other favorite heroine GHJ's new drama ,it would be hard to choose. For me at least :)
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38 miszeeta
May 23, 2014 at 1:26 PM
Jang duet would be jjang!! Lol
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39 venap
May 23, 2014 at 9:01 PM
Haven't watched their last pairing but with all the buzz abt the pairing guess it was awesome. Looking forward to seeing jang hyuk again on the small screen. Missed him doing bad ass characters.
How can jang nara looks the same?
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