Odds and Ends: Upturns and turnarounds

73 January 28, 2016January 28, 2016

by javabeans

javabeans: We’re back with another Odds and Ends, and today, we have HeadsNo2 here with us, chatting about… you know… things. Odds. And ends.

girlfriday: Say hi, Heads!

HeadsNo2: Hi! I’m not helping here, am I.

girlfriday: You may have noticed Heads’ byline on the site more, because she said she had more time and we held her to it.

HeadsNo2: I’m pretty sure I didn’t say that?

javabeans: You kind of implied it once, and that was good enough for us! So we’re putting her to work, hence this chat.

girlfriday: Quick, be brilliant!

javabeans: No pressure.

HeadsNo2: I hate you guys. (But I also love you. I’m like a k-drama!)

javabeans: Speaking of which (nice segue), we were talking offline about a certain actor we’ve had a recent turnaround on…

girlfriday: You can name him, you know. Is it a secret? Are you ashamed?

javabeans: Any shame has to be shared because I’m pretty sure we were on the same page with this. I was going to speak in generalities, but if we must be specific, we were mostly squeeing over Cheese in the Trap, and wondering what it is about this drama that makes Seo Kang-joon so much more alive.

HeadsNo2: Well, his last drama was Hwajung, so…

javabeans: Granted, that was low-hanging fruit. I think everyone was less than thrilling in that one… But I really feel like he woke up or tapped into something for Cheese. Kind of like Lee Yeon-hee really came alive in Gu Family Book and Miss Korea.

HeadsNo2: Although there’s that Hwajung again…

javabeans: Maybe she’s a bad example. Oh, Hyeri turned things around in Answer Me 1988 after being kind of annoying in Hyde, Jekyll, Me.

girlfriday: Oh let’s not talk about Hyde. That was a low point for lots of actors. But I was definitely happy with Hyeri in Answer Me, and I’m more shocked than anyone about how much I like Seo Kang-joon in Cheese.

HeadsNo2: I wonder if the difference can be attributed to bigger projects/better directing. But then bigger projects =/= better directing, since it’s not like we’ve ever seen that go wrong. Is it pixie dust? Fan love?

javabeans: Directing is probably true, in that the director shapes the whole line and feel of the drama. But I do think there are just cases when actors figure things out, or find something internally. Even those who’ve been acting for a while, like Park Min-young, who I always thought was fine, who seemed to light up in Healer.

girlfriday: Yeah sometimes it’s sudden like that, where a light can turn on one day after years of uninteresting performances. I remember Lee Bo-young giving interviews about My Daughter Seo-young being a turning point for her, and how she sort of rediscovered acting late in her career.

HeadsNo2: Whereas Seo Kang-joon went from Unidentified Student #2 in Good Doctor to Identified But Supporting Student #3 in Suspicious Housekeeper to Second Lead #1 in Sly and Single Again.

javabeans: I don’t think he was ever terrible (though I’ll argue that he also didn’t shine) — his jump to major roles mostly seemed very sudden, and out of nowhere.

girlfriday: But he either learned how to turn it on for Cheese or Baek In-ho is just a character that suits him perfectly, because now I have to concede that I like him, which I never thought I’d say. And that makes me feel like I’ve matured as a person that I can admit that.

HeadsNo2: *gives gold star*

javabeans: Where’s MY gold star? I can even admit that Changmin improved a TON for Scholar Who Walks the Night! I mean, he’s still not awesome, but at least I can watch him now.

girlfriday: Well now you’re just fishing for gold stars.

javabeans: Isn’t it more rewarding to go fishing than just, like, buying a fish at the market?

HeadsNo2: Give a drama addict a fish, they’ll have a fish for a day; teach a drama addict to fish, and now they’ve got gold stars, what?

javabeans: Exactly.

HeadsNo2: If we’re talking about actors who’ve gotten a chance to shine, you’ve got to add Yoon Kyun-sang to the list. I was sure he had no talent after Time I’ve Loved You, and then he turned out to have loads of the stuff in Six Flying Dragons. (He’s so adorable there. You guys have to catch up. It’s just thirty-four episodes so far.)

girlfriday: That’s a lot of episodes. Though you’re definitely appealing to me, because I’ve liked Yoon Kyun-sang since Pinocchio and Faith and was sorely disappointed by his assy character in Time I’ve Loved You. I would love to see him be cute again.

HeadsNo2: Six Flying Dragons isn’t going anywhere for a while, you’ve still got a chance.

girlfriday: I wonder if he got better, or if Time I’ve Loved You was just that bad.

javabeans: I put in a vote for Door No. 2.

HeadsNo2: I second that vote.

girlfriday: See, there IS an upside to sitting through hours and hours of a mediocre drama — you’re occasionally rewarded years later by an actor’s growth as a human being.

HeadsNo2: Are you, though?

javabeans: That sounds to me like the equivalent of punching yourself in the face repeatedly so you can enjoy the relief of not punching yourself in the face anymore.

girlfriday: But now you have gold stars.

javabeans: Go fish.

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26 john

January 29, 2016 at 1:30 AM

AM1988 was my first encounter with Hyeri. I loved her dorky Deok Seon.

AM Series producer Shin Won-Ho and writer, Lee Woo-Jung, know how to get the best from the actors. A winning collaboration for all concerned.

Seo Kang-joon is going to be a hot commodity following the success of CITT. I hope he chooses a good movie or drama as a follow up. Nice to read about Cha Seung Won gave him some advice.

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27 Enz

January 29, 2016 at 3:23 AM

I'm surprised coz I saw SKJ in sly and thought he was really natural in that role. That he was a raw talent and quite memorable in that drama. I watched his drama special and he was awesome in it too.

He is ok in Cheese but I think kim go eun is the one that is great in the role. I love her many expressions. That kiss scene is Soo funny for just that. Just my opinion :)

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Who's Scruffy Looking

January 29, 2016 at 4:13 AM

Hi Enz. What was the name of the drama special he was in.

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youcallitwinter

January 29, 2016 at 4:41 AM

It's called Haneuljae's Murder. Like most drama specials, it's rather limited, but I loved it. It's rather unusual and messed up. About this young boy who met a woman during wartime, both of them trying to make ends meet, and encounters her again years later, but her daughter falls in love with him.

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28 Bongsookie?

January 29, 2016 at 3:56 AM

The first time I saw Seo Kang Jun was in "What Happens to My Family" and I thought he was really good! This is second time seeing him again in "Cheese In the Trap", so safe to say I'm glad I've never saw him act bad and so I never understood people who bash him. He's a great actor :)

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29 renebean

January 29, 2016 at 3:59 AM

I didn't realise that seo kang joon was in good doctor.I quite liked him in sly and single again though i didn't finish the drama but definitely loving him in cheese, I'm always waiting for his scenes.

I kind of do get annoyed when actors get unappreciated when they've done a good job in one drama but bad in another which i personally think it attributes to writing and directing and maybe a role that doesn't suit them in the first place.

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30 sunnyl

January 29, 2016 at 4:11 AM

There the last pic - those two (KMN, BYH) are my favorites all time

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31 sisterkiller

January 29, 2016 at 4:57 AM

ugh, seo kang joon. he's such a giant bleeding heart as baek in ho. and i'm so glad, because even in the sea of pretty faces that is dramaland, he is soooooo damn pretty.

i also have to love how annoying lee sung kyung is as baek in ha, mostly because her screen time and interaction with the leads is so limited thus far. cheese is just taking over my heart mind and soul, and i don't really have time for that right now!!!

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32 kanz

January 29, 2016 at 5:02 AM

Some of the best actors nowadays also started from being kinda awkward and terrible at first, but slowly they grown into much better actor. See, for example, Ji Chang Wook in his first drama or Ji Sung who said the director called him the worst actor ever (when he received Daesang at MBC Drama Awards) and look what he becomes now.

With the help from director, writer and the guidance from senior actors, I think most actors would do fine. Seo Kang Joon is not the worst actor for sure, and he still have a lot of rooms to improve. Though I won't say he is ready for male lead role in meatier drama, unless it's Baek In Ho-type of character.

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33 Unnie55

January 29, 2016 at 5:09 AM

I never like any project from SKJ, I see him just flower boy with moderate talent and presence. But I really like him in Cheese in the Trap. He seem like new actor and impress everyone with his acting. Baek In ho character suit him very well. In fact I care about him more than anyone else in that show. i don't know if i like SJK as person yet but he as BIH make me sold. Same goes to Hyeri, really I dislike everything about her before R88 especially her aegyo. But Sung Dukseon make her loveable and charming. Suddenly I find everything about her so lovely lol. Waiting for these two next project and hope it good as the first time I like them.

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34 luv

January 29, 2016 at 5:14 AM

So true reli loving seo kang joon now.. But before the show aired i actually didnt like seo kang joon as baek in ho i thought he would suck at deliverg bad ass In Ho... But thankfully i was proven wrong..the moment he started swearing i was hooked..lol..oppa fighting..???????

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35 ju

January 29, 2016 at 7:19 AM

I guess I am one of the minority who just isn't taken by Cheese in the Trap nor Seo Kang Joon. And Kim Go Eun's role is rather disappointing. Park Have Jin brings the most layered and nuanced acting among the cast.

Six Flying Dragons is great though! The script is super well written and the director paces and tells the story very well. The ensemble cast is superlative. Each one, from the veterans to the younger actors have roles that are not one-dimensional. It is one of the best saeguk in korean drama that I have seen.

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36 Mandy

January 29, 2016 at 7:43 AM

I currently have this incurable Seo Kang-joon obsession. Or maybe it's Baek In-ho obsession? I hardly even know anymore. What I do know, is that while I think CITT is slightly overrated and I'm not enjoying it as much as I'd like, I'm sticking around for basically one person, and that's the rebellious bad boy In-ho.

I don't quite ship him with Seol though. I think they'd be such a great couple together and in any other drama, I'd be rooting for them with colourful flags and painted face. But I see CITT more as In-ho's personal journey and hopefully triumph towards reviving his dream, reaching towards it and fulfilling it. It's almost like DH, where after a point, it wasn't just about Hye-mi and whether she'd choose Sam-dong. It was about whether he'd win over his hearing issues and be able to live the music he's always dreamed. The triumph in that was so great that it was even better than him winning the girl.

I think Seo Kang-joon is nailing it in a ridiculous level. I'm a huge Park Hae-jin fan and he's just heads and shoulders above SKJ in talent - obviously. But I'm mature enough to admit that despite my hesitance for SKJ, I personally think he's stealing the show. The screen just lights up when In-ho comes around. He brings this vulnerability, this guarded facade that's very obvious. Like he's trying to be so much stronger than he is, and that in turn makes me root for him and squeeze my heart. That last piano scene? I'm not a mushy person and I don't even cry that easily, but gosh I was embarrassed to have teared up. It was so heart warming to see In-ho happy and content. I don't care what Seol has to be to stay in his life - be it a girl friend, a friend, or even a sister - I'd like for them to have those talks and those moments forever. It was really precious and easily the best scene of the drama.

I'm not sure where SKJ suddenly learned to act, but whatever magic he's bringing, I hope he can do it for everything he's in from now on. I'm just so taken by it.

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Yuki

January 29, 2016 at 12:11 PM

100% agree with everything you said.
I already have a soft spot for musicians...but Seo Kang Joon really brings Baek In Ho to life, and who am I kidding, his pretty eyes are the icing on the cake. I'm hooked. :)

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37 frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials

January 29, 2016 at 9:39 AM

I've loved Seo Kang-joon since After School Bokbulbok, so I wasn't surprised when I loved him in this at all. I can watch his scenes over and over again, he makes me love In-ho as a character, more than Jung.

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38 Faith

January 29, 2016 at 8:46 PM

Seo Kang Joon has definitely grown in his acting. Seriously needs a leading role after this!

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39 Aigoooo

January 30, 2016 at 1:36 AM

I think there are just those directors who can pull out a good performance from an actor/actress. One director in mind is director Lee Yoon Jung. She was able to get great performances from both Yoon Eun Hye in Coffee Prince (still waiting for her to reach that level of acting again) and Choi Kang Hee (never been a fan of her acting until Heart to Heart).

I don't think Seo Kang Joon is a good or a bad actor. His performances had never stood out or stunk before. He gets the job done but easily forgettable. His stint in Roommates gave me the impression that he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer though. lol

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