Fantasy sageuk Mirror of the Witch adds its villainess shaman
by javabeans
Now this casting, I can see perfectly: Yeom Jung-ah (My Neighbor’s Wife, Royal Family) is the newest addition to JTBC’s Mirror of the Witch, playing a powerful shaman in a villain’s role. She’d be perfect for that, and I look forward to being unnerved by her steely fierceness.
We also have more description regarding the plot, and I’m finding myself intrigued the more I hear of Mirror of the Witch. At first I was skeptical about taking such a fantasy bent in reimagining the life of a historical figure (Joseon doctor Heo Jun, to be played by Yoon Shi-yoon), but I do find it fascinating to hear the story features a tragic princess who’s cursed with a frozen heart, who then becomes a gray-haired witch (to be played by teenaged Kim Sae-ron).
I can maybe understand why the drama would cast so young if it’s meant to contrast with a silvery, aged appearance. (Though you could still get that contrasting effect with an actress who’s not a legal minor, just putting that out there.) The princess-witch falls in love with the passionate young Heo Jun in this coming-of-age romance fantasy sageuk, which will tie in (fictionally) to the real-life medical text Mirror of Eastern Medicine, giving us the “hidden story” behind the man and his love. Really though, I think we’re best off considering this a wholly fictional world, rather than trying to fit it to what we know of Heo Jun.
Yeom Jung-ah’s character is a shaman who possesses such strong powers that she could change the king if she wanted; she’s skilled in black magic and can even change fates. She can take a piercing look into a person’s heart with one glance and has a mysterious aura marked by an ageless appearance. She plays a pivotal role in the story, starting with using her powers to give the childless queen twins — but that comes with a terrible curse, which is how our princess comes to be born into a dark fate. The princess-turned-witch will later face off against the shaman, I presume to free herself of the curse, making for a tense conflict between the two ladies.
The plot seems fresh for dramaland, so I’m hoping that my misgivings about the casting are unfounded. I do find the age gap awkward between Kim Sae-ron and Yoon Shi-yoon, but hearing what the characters are like, I can understand why those actors were sought out — her with her youthful mix of innocence and tenacity, and him for his ability to add emotional nuance to his boundless energy. I just hope the pairing plays well onscreen, because now I am invested in this storyline. And Yeom Jung-ah is the perfect blend of scary and strong to be our wicked villain; I find her similar to Shin Eun-kyung in range and intensity, and seeing how the latter ruled Village: Secret of Achiara, I’m eager to see how Yeom turns it on for Mirror.
Mirror of the Witch will premiere in May, following Ms. Temper and Nam Jung-ki on JTBC.
Via Osen
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Tags: Kim Sae-ron, Mirror of the Witch, Yeom Jung-ah, Yoon Shi-yoon
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1 Mandy
March 8, 2016 at 7:20 AM
I love the premise; it's fresh, different and completely intriguing. But I'm still not okay with the casting. If they're out for epic, swooony and dramatic romance, I just don't see how a 15 year old can fit in. Just a few more years (3 to be precise) and I'd buy it wholeheartedly.
I'm still going to try it out though lol. Hopefully it's so good I'd forget real issues.
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Kiara
March 8, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Right, it doesn't change the fact that she is still 15.
Doctor Heo will be sandwiched between the 15yr old Sae-ron and 43yr old Yeom. Is it too hard to get an actress closer to his age? Just saying.
Shin Eun-kyung is a real terror when it comes to playing a villain so I'm looking forward to what Yeom Jung-ah can do here.
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2 Lilly
March 8, 2016 at 7:51 AM
Umm, yeah. A young girl with a man twice her age.
There is going to be that Ewwww factor built in there.
I think casting was off.
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3 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
March 8, 2016 at 8:04 AM
seriously, even an American series wouldn't dare to make a romantic pairing out of a 15-year-old and a 30-year-old.
I mean, even the 1996 Romeo+Juliet refused to hire a then 14-year-old Natalie Portman because they felt it looked off and wrong, and went with a 16/17 year-old Claire Danes instead. And the male costar in that case was all of 21.....not 30 like we've got here.
I honestly wonder wtf the producers of this series are on, if they think this is going to make any kind of credible romantic pairing.
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Kiara
March 8, 2016 at 9:07 AM
It didn't work with Secret Door. What makes them think it'll work here?
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4 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
March 8, 2016 at 8:05 AM
That said, I'm glad to see Yeom Jung-ah again, I liked her a lot in Cart.
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5 Nathan
March 8, 2016 at 8:19 AM
I got no problem with her age and "frozen heart" make me more interested in this drama. I like cold dark Sae-Ron so I hope her character will have some of that elements.. Well I don't mind not having hot kisses or intense skinship as long as the storyline of the drama is good.
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fay17
March 8, 2016 at 8:31 AM
Glad at least someone thinks differently hahah.
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6 Adal
March 8, 2016 at 8:23 AM
I am vacillating between interest in the plot and cringing at the casting. It may be more acceptable if they eliminate the romance between them and gave him a new love interest. I know folks those days married young, but it's hard to suspend the realization of KSR's age and immerse myself in the drama. I had a hard time watching HSLO and she pulled off her part perfectly there, I just kept thinking - this girl is still a kid! Ay yah-yah!
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Gidget
March 8, 2016 at 10:16 AM
Apparently the notion that people in that era married early is largely a myth. A comment on yesterday's casting-offer post had the statistics.
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Kiara
March 8, 2016 at 10:41 AM
She was talking about the yangban class ( the aristocracies) which was a small percentage of the entire population. None of these characters belong to that class. The majority of the people were commoners.
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7 fay17
March 8, 2016 at 8:29 AM
Errr,,I'm having flashback of sleepy hollow now..they also had one odd pairing...depp and christina ricci.
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8 fay17
March 8, 2016 at 8:30 AM
*Loved it though.
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9 Kaylie
March 8, 2016 at 9:18 AM
This pairing is bordering on pedophilic. Thankfully Yoon Shi-yoon looks more youthful than most of his counterparts of the same age. But still, this pairing is all wrong argh.
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10 nick
March 8, 2016 at 9:18 AM
Cannot accept it..15 yrs old..not compatible yo:(
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11 Chandler
March 8, 2016 at 9:23 AM
No. Please. Just...wait. Stop. Let's think about this, Drama gods. Yes, we all love Yoon Shi-yoon (and NEED to watch his army comeback drama. NEED TO.). And, yes, we all love Kim Sae-ron. But let's just...not put them together. Not in a romance.
Please.
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12 lordseungri
March 8, 2016 at 9:26 AM
If they want a good romance please cast someone who is age appropriate please. If she was 19 I'd be a little less weirded out but she's 15!!!
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hyanggi
March 8, 2016 at 9:39 AM
The news wasn't so icky at first, but that particular pic of Saeron beside YSY made me cringe
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hyanggi
March 8, 2016 at 9:39 AM
Oops didn't meant to reply
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13 loophole
March 8, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Thinking about it got me cringing already. Just don't. NO, DON'T. She is 15 for crying out loud. Just No
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14 bossu
March 8, 2016 at 9:38 AM
If the romance is not the conventional kind, I can see the possibility of pulling it off. So far the premise is interesting. Who's the writer?
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15 TJ
March 8, 2016 at 10:15 AM
The synopsis says she falls in love with him not the other way around. Wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility that this drama doesn't actually have a romantic story line. Wouldn't be the first time a young girl became starry eyed over an older man. I find it hard to believe they will actually pair these two together knowing exactly how uptight korean drama is about adult romance and sexuality. Although to be historically accurate it's very likely true that this kind of pairing took place more often than not, teenage girl, older man. This isn't historically accurate so I doubt we can count on any romantic reciprocation by the male hero.
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enkeys
March 8, 2016 at 12:54 PM
I think (more like I hope) so too. I think the romance part will be one sided on the female lead side, or it will be down played. I mean, this is jTBC (cable channel) drama afterall, where romance is not required as one of the main plot (unlike national tv channels).
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16 Hoang
March 8, 2016 at 10:20 AM
At last, a good news. For people who don't know or just care about the pair YSY and KSR, Yum Jung Ah is an extremely good actress, who won Baeksang, Blue Dragon and was nominated for Grand Bell for actress in movie. I'd say, the cast is somewhat odd considering the age gap between YSY and KSR and YJA, but the casting is strong. YSY, KSR and now Yum Jung ah are all good actor and actresses. The drama is ready to go.
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 8, 2016 at 5:25 PM
I am more excited for Yum Jung Ah's role here. ;) But will see how this drama will go first.
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17 fab
March 8, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Nope. Nope.
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18 Cotton Candy
March 8, 2016 at 4:50 PM
The part where the princess turns into a gray-haired witch reminds me of "Howl's Moving Castle." Might just watch this for that similarity.
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Kiara
March 8, 2016 at 9:33 PM
“Howl’s Moving Castle” is my favorite animated film of all time.
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juniper
March 9, 2016 at 11:10 AM
It's my favorite too! Why do we always have the same taste lol? I loved Dianna Wynne Jones as a child, but this is one case where the movie beats the book it's based on for me lol.
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Kiara
March 9, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Lol I don't know why but I love it :). I didn't read the book beforehand to be honest. I watched it because I love Christian Bale (voice too lol). I didn't expect to fall in love with the story and the characters but I did. I bought the dvd after and add it to my favorites.
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juniper
March 9, 2016 at 10:43 PM
I'm a huge Miyazaki fan. For some reason took me a long time to get around to Howl's Moving Castle, but it ended up being my favorite :) Dianna Wynne Jones was a great children's fantasy author and a big inspiration for J.K. Rowling, but I think it would be tough for anyone to match Miyazaki's imagination lol, even if it's their own creation.
lol there's a reason why Christian Bale made a great Batman...his voice is awesome.
19 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 8, 2016 at 5:27 PM
I am OK with the plot and castings as long as no KSR. No hate, but I prefer someone's older play the role.
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20 mindy
March 8, 2016 at 7:52 PM
SO conflicted! The potential loveline Makes me feel so icky but the actors themselves are great and sound perfect for the role! And the plot sounds SO up my alley. I looove fantasy and I thought the same thing as Cotton Candy, reminds me of Howl's Moving Castle! Which I love!
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21 Xingii
March 8, 2016 at 8:27 PM
Still iffy about the casting and this "romance" that they're trying to sell us (which it seems most people aren't buying) but the plot sounds awesome. D: Sounds super good on paper, I just hope that the execution works in it's favour. (Scholar of the Night sounded quite good on paper too and look how that turned out.. lol yuck)
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22 Beng
March 9, 2016 at 7:39 PM
maybe her age is also frozen. i mean she's already 30'ish but still in her teens. then once the curse is lifted, she'll turn to her original age, to be played by a different actress at the last 15 minutes of the last episode =).
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