First script read for MBC's fantasy historical drama Shine or Go Crazy

51 December 10, 2014December 10, 2014

First script read for MBC’s fantasy historical drama Shine or Go Crazy

by girlfriday

Production is underway for MBC’s new Monday-Tuesday drama Shine or Go Crazy, the fusion fantasy romance set in the early Goryeo dynasty. Jang Hyuk (Fated To Love You) and Oh Yeon-seo (Jang Bori Is Here) never really had a chance to step foot outside MBC between their last projects and this one, and I’m thinking that if this show rakes in the ratings, they’ll be offered lifetime contracts to never ever ever leave. The network’s lead-in drama Pride and Prejudice has been consistently in first place, so it’s probably got a good shot to do just that.

Jang Hyuk stars as a Goryeo prince in line for the throne who lives under a cloud of bad omens predicting that he’ll bring the country to ruin. He isn’t necessarily a dark person because of that, and Jang Hyuk is reportedly imbuing the character with a sense of humor. (Or is it just the after-effects of having so much fun doing comedy?) Oh Yeon-seo stars as the last princess of the dying nation of Balhae, and the two share opposite fortunes but cross paths and fall in love.

Honey Lee (Modern Farmer) plays a beautiful princess who would’ve made a better ruler than most of the men in her family, who also knows how to make poison. She’ll be a romantic rival for Jang Hyuk as his queen. Im Joo-hwan (Watch Out For Fools) is Jang Hyuk’s half-brother, a dangerously gifted and ambitious prince who hides his true face and is eager for a chance to rule.

Meanwhile Ryu Seung-soo (Empire of Gold) is Jang Hyuk’s older brother and he does get a chance to be king, but he’s terrible at it and makes a mess of court politics and the royal house. Co-starring are Lee Deok-hwa, Ahn Gil-kang, Kim Byung-ok, and Ji Soo-won. PD Sohn Hyun-shik (Two Weeks) will be at the helm, with a second director from I Summon You, Gold, and writing is Kwon In-chan of Birdie Buddy.

The production team is a big question mark, so the jury’s out until we see some teasers for this thing, and then I’ll decide if I want to take the road to crazytown with Jang Hyuk. ‘Cause let’s face it — he would be the only reason I’d watch.

Shine or Go Crazy follows Pride and Prejudice in January.

Via Osen

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1 jhu

December 10, 2014 at 3:11 AM

Jang Hyuk is reportedly imbuing the character with a sense of humor...Oppa as a funny man AGAIN!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!!!

*cartwheels...many, many cartwheels*

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WintermelonT

December 10, 2014 at 3:18 AM

Now I'm having FTLY withdrawals.

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rinoak

December 10, 2014 at 6:38 AM

If he does his Gun laugh, then the title will finally make sense to me . . .

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marsy

March 10, 2015 at 10:44 AM

Agree to that, his laugh could totally turn the situation around.

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2 WintermelonT

December 10, 2014 at 3:17 AM

My first thought was "The second leads are gorgeous" hahas.

Unrelated but Im Joo-hwan needs a breakout drama soon. I just feel like his going backwards lately (well, compared to his co-stars and other same male/debut actors).

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Rachel

December 10, 2014 at 3:33 AM

Yup agree on Im Joo-hwan. His career kinda suffered because he had to enlist right after What's Up and he didn't pick good projects when he came back. Hope this project will be a boost for him.

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gulsan

December 10, 2014 at 4:01 AM

I hope so too. He was brilliant in Tamna <3

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houstontwin

December 10, 2014 at 7:18 AM

He was even good in Snow Queen, which I am embarrassed to say I really enjoyed (math plus cute guys!).

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bbstl 🧹

December 10, 2014 at 9:09 AM

I love Snow Queen!

pattsue

December 10, 2014 at 6:48 AM

He did act with Kang Sora in Ugly Alert last year.... Although the rating was so so only, the drama was really good and criminally under-rated...

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houstontwin

December 10, 2014 at 7:19 AM

I could never find Ugly Alert subbed. I guess that there were too many episodes

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pattsue

December 10, 2014 at 7:28 AM

http://www.drama.net/ugly-alert/

josie

December 10, 2014 at 10:21 AM

Darksmurfsub has the best subs. You register for free and then can watch all 133 episodes without commercials.

Ella

December 10, 2014 at 4:38 AM

Yesss! The second leads are indeed gorgeous. I would've loved it if Honey was the lead but oh well. Hope this is good! And happy to see Ahn Gil Kang in another project. He can do no wrong. <3

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Chandler

December 10, 2014 at 11:20 AM

I fell in love with Im Joo-Hwan in What's Up! I'm so bummed that the show was so underrated because, with him heading right to army, he certainly didn't leave on the strongest footing. (Jo Jung-Seok, on the other hand, kept getting all these roles from there and now he's in a movie with Shin Mina!)

Still, I did enjoy him in Ugly Alert (which really was a pretty good sitcom). But I just want him to get a lead role in an awesome drama on tvN or something, not evil second lead roles!

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3 Tasha

December 10, 2014 at 3:19 AM

Yea, finally Jang Hyuk in sageuk. Exactly the reason why I will watch this too.

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4 Hwari

December 10, 2014 at 3:25 AM

So this is why Ahn Gil Kang been busy for and he missed his son Ilrak first solo recital in drama Naeil's Cantabile.

Honey Lee as beautiful princess so awesome, now she can wear all the pretty hanbok. I bet she got so many of it and also maybe she will play the traditional Korean instrument that she really known for it

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5 QT765

December 10, 2014 at 4:24 AM

Jang Hyuk's was the reason I watched Chuno but I never finished it stopped at episode 15 xD I've always wonder this but why does Jang Hyuk's dress badly during script reading it's like he just pick whatever was at sight in his closet

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news

December 10, 2014 at 4:41 AM

It's the hat that's making everything look bad. Independently, his outfit looks fine.

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backspace

December 10, 2014 at 5:16 AM

Lol! I think that's his favorite hat. He's been wearing that everywhere.

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6 fab

December 10, 2014 at 4:27 AM

Oh no, they're sticking to that awful title...

&Jang Hyuk!

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7 neverending

December 10, 2014 at 4:36 AM

JH should never be allowed to pick his own clothes. And I'm not sure whether I like the comedic turn to it, 'cause I think he went over for his last drama.

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nobody

December 10, 2014 at 9:11 AM

Same with me. Everyone was raving about his acting skills in FTLY but I thought the comedy was kind of ridiculous & disconnected from was otherwise a very melo story.

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melody

December 10, 2014 at 11:35 AM

Most of the comedic parts were fine with me. I heard that the original was somewhat like that as well. However, the more I watch his performance the more I have the feeling that he's trying too hard. That is why I thought his performance was overrated. I think he will be better in serious show, but now "imbuing the character with a sense of humor"? Hmm...

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eki

December 10, 2014 at 4:53 PM

It is nice to have fans who praise everything you do including over the top overacting. FTLY Taiwan version was best rating drama in Taiwan ever, but the FTLY Korean version flopped. When 2 FTLY co-stars are in current dramas now that have higher ratings than FTLY, that really tells you everything you need to know.

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xx

December 11, 2014 at 9:50 PM

Flopped? FTLY topped the AGB ratings twice and the TNmS ratings several times over its run. That's your definition of flopping? And what on earth do Choi Jin Hyuk's and Jang Nara's new dramas have anything to do with FTLY, not to mention the time slot and the competitions are totally different? And FYI, FTLY TW version is not the best rating drama in Taiwan. It's Rookies Diary. Why don't you get your fact straight first before you bark?

8 jangmi77

December 10, 2014 at 5:34 AM

Yeah, it is kind of worrying when you have people with no sageuk experience working on this...

I really like Jang Hyuk and Im Joo Hwan (such an underrated actor) so I'll give it a go, but I haven't got my hopes up lol.

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9 eny

December 10, 2014 at 6:11 AM

the story seems interesting

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10 yoadrian

December 10, 2014 at 7:10 AM

Hey Jang Hyuk, monogamy in k-dramas just isn't an option.
But we really need you. You're the one that we love, haha.

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11 houstontwin

December 10, 2014 at 7:22 AM

I really didn't enjoy Oh Yeon-seo in Jang Bori Is Here and would be tempted to avoid her in future dramas if her fellow actors were not so appealing. Maybe I am being unfair. Her character came across as smug and stupid. I hope that it was a problem with the writing and directing and not just her acting.

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Ella

December 10, 2014 at 1:20 PM

I'm with you. The drama was infuriating on its own but DumBori was too much. I didn't particularly like Oh either and mostly watched for Kim Ji Hoon but what a revelation Lee Yoori and the guy who played Moon Ji Sang was. They totally stole the show. I wouldn't be surprised if Honey Lee overshadows her and in fact does so.

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12 houstontwin

December 10, 2014 at 7:25 AM

Doesn't someone you care about always die in these historical dramas? I don't want to see Jang Hyuk's character die again.

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13 Mandy

December 10, 2014 at 8:52 AM

I'm not even sure why I'm so pumped up for this drama. None of the actors are my favorites although I do like them. But I am! I put up such high expectations, I just hope it lives up to it.

I missed Jang Hyuk in a sageuk. Chuno was fabulous though it's great to see him as King. Now I can't wait for Pride and prejudice to finish!

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14 Quiet Thought

December 10, 2014 at 8:56 AM

I'm sure that name sounds more dignified in Korean. In English, it sounds like a bad teen movie title.

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Gumi

December 10, 2014 at 1:18 PM

It does sound much more dignified in Korean. And I agree it sounds so bad in English....was hoping someone could come up with a better English title, but I guess without knowing what the drama is actually going to be about, the literal translation is the best shot.

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15 juniper

December 10, 2014 at 9:59 AM

I hope by imbuing his character with humor, he's harkening back to his role in Tree With Deep Roots. He was so amazing playing at being dumb and cowardly, and then snapping back to badass when no one was looking. I'm really excited to see him in a sageuk again, and maybe I've got my blinders on because of that, but I don't necessarily see red flags based on the rest of the cast or the title, and I actually think the premise has a lot of potential. I mean, it doesn't scream future masterpiece either and seems like a step down from his previous sageuk roles, but still.

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16 Chandler

December 10, 2014 at 11:22 AM

Aw, Im Joo-Hwan is evil in this?

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17 Nessie

December 10, 2014 at 11:23 AM

Honey Lee's character sounds so interesting, I just hope they don't go down the route of making her a one dimensional evil second lead.

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18 mariazzang

December 10, 2014 at 12:31 PM

Hoping this would be good since I am in the mood for a sageuk now. And of course, I would be watching this for Im Joo Hwan. Team Park Kyu!

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19 Lilly

December 10, 2014 at 3:19 PM

Love Jang Hyuk dramas. I just know this is going to be good.

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20 aznative

December 10, 2014 at 4:34 PM

Jang Hyuk's name in the drama is listed as Wang So, could his father have been Wang Geon who was later named King Taejo? Just curious.

I'm looking forward to this drama; they have lined up a marvelous cast and "...Honey Lee as a beautiful princess.... who also knows how to make poison" made me think of Mithridates for some odd reason. Hope she knows how to make the antidotes too.

Let's hope the writers and production team give us a drama that meets our expectations.

And the hat, sorry fans, but I think it's charming.

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21 Sugarcandy

December 10, 2014 at 5:09 PM

Watching this for Oh Yeon Seo.... Just love her in jang bo ri. She showed so much transformations and she is gorgoeus

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22 ahna

December 10, 2014 at 5:27 PM

they gonna make Lee Honney the evil villain femme fatale T__T
she's so good in Modern Farmer.

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23 Chubbymochi

December 10, 2014 at 5:30 PM

Hyuk in FTTLY comedy was too over the top but he is still awesome.
I can't wait to see OH YEON SEO in this. I was surprised by her as bori bori. She is the star in that drama.

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24 popcornhoney

December 10, 2014 at 7:01 PM

I want to see Honey Lee in another romantic comedy, she in modern family was average.
Janghyuk will always be excellent in his roles but his project pick is either a hit or miss.
Oh Yeon Seo is someone i'm looking forward too, i always love her since My husband drama, medical top team, and lastly here comes jang bo ri.
She is really good and an eye candy to watch.
The only thing i'm worried is the production and the writer

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25 vanillasalt

December 10, 2014 at 7:25 PM

Jang Hyuk is hot as fuck and I loved him in FTLY and i dont care what anyone says.

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26 meh

December 10, 2014 at 8:55 PM

I'm not really feeling for Oh Yeon-seo. She overacts in "Jang Bo Ri" and there were many scenes that I hated when she comes in. I guess in "Jang Bo Ri", Lee Yoo Ri outshines her.

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shopslove

December 10, 2014 at 10:37 PM

it goes the opposite for me. Lee Yu Ri was the same from ep 1 till the end. Her character was over the top with the screaming and wide angry eyes all the time.
Not to mention the plastic face.

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27 shopslove

December 10, 2014 at 10:33 PM

MBC is really worst at promoting its dramas
if this is based on a novel i'm on board
Oh Yeon Seo is my fave actress and Hyukkie is hot.

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28 jubilantia

December 11, 2014 at 8:27 PM

Eeeee Im Joo-hwan! I know he hasn't made the best drama decisions since he came back from the army, but this sounds like a different role for him. Hopefully he'll make a comeback.