Lost at sea for tvN human drama Memory
by javabeans
Wow. That’s what I call an evocative poster. The premise of upcoming tvN drama Memory may sound familiar in light of other dramas with similar themes (not to mention titles) — a man losing his memory, getting in touch with what’s important in his life — but one look at Lee Sung-min standing alone with the vast sea behind him establishes a mood that sets it apart. He’s smiling, but it feels melancholy and lonely, and makes me want to stock up on Kleenex before venturing into this story.
In Memory, Lee Sung-min plays a lawyer at a large-scale firm who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He puts his remaining time on the line to defend one last case, and in the process comes to realize the preciousness of life. He’ll start out as a taciturn workaholic, but as his memory starts to fade, we start to see his earnestness emerge through his desire to take care of his family. The line on the poster reads, “The more [it] disappears, the more the precious things began to appear.”
The premise brings to mind dramas like Remember—Son’s War (a son fights to defend his Alzheimer’s-stricken father against a wrongful accusation) and A New Leaf (a high-powered lawyer suffers amnesia and turns over a new leaf), and I’d wondered if this story would feel like the same old stuff by the time Memory rolled around. But if the tone of the show follows in this vein — moody, poignant — it’s likely the dramas won’t feel very similar at all. With the Devil and Resurrection director at the helm, I’m expecting something a bit dark and weighty, though Memory also promises to have a warm human drama side, mixing in “a joy and happiness that’s difficult to express.” Still: Get your Kleenex ready!
Memory also stars Kim Ji-soo, Park Jin-hee, Lee Ki-woo, Yoon So-hee, Jeon No-min, Song Sun-mi, and 2PM’s Junho. It will follow tvN’s current Friday-Saturday drama Signal, premiering in mid-March.
Via Chosun
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Tags: Lee Sung-min, Memory
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1 alienshore
February 5, 2016 at 8:06 AM
On one side is my general dislike for melo tear jerkers, human dramas, etc... I'm a rom com / action / sageuk girl, and only like breaking out the tissues if my hero just got stabbed with like a thousand swords or something. That said, I also love great acting. And I know this is going to be tour de force stuff her - I can just feel it. Lee Sung Min is one of the best actors I've ever seen, and this looks like the kind of drama that will bring out the best in him.
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Alessar
February 6, 2016 at 8:16 PM
Pretty much. I just kind of feel like he's smiling because he knows he's about to take home a boatload of trophies and acting awards for this upcoming drama. Because he's gonna kill it.
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2 Kiara
February 5, 2016 at 8:18 AM
Lee Sung-min <3.
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3 jheart
February 5, 2016 at 8:25 AM
Can't wait for this drama.
The first 15 second teaser is out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuVAd4O61I8
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Gidget
February 5, 2016 at 1:01 PM
Oooh, love how this juxtaposes with the still photo. Like the more time progresses, the more he wades into the sea.
Love that metaphor for what alzheimers must be like. Adrift, no moorings, being swept away from firm ground in a riptide.
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4 apluszee
February 5, 2016 at 8:36 AM
Seriously though, tvN is definitely on a roll lately. I'd be breaking cold sweats if I were a part of the big 3 broadcast dramas as the tvN dramas sort of set the bar quite high for them.
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Rachel
February 5, 2016 at 9:01 AM
Agreed. Of late the dramas that get me the most excited have been from the cable stations.
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Waiting
February 5, 2016 at 4:55 PM
Completely agree.
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bd5
February 6, 2016 at 1:34 AM
Not really surprising - many of the best shows coming out of Hollywood are for the cable networks and now online.
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5 Mary Grace
February 5, 2016 at 8:58 AM
One look at that poster though. Saw Lee Sung-min and I am sold!!!
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Gladys
February 5, 2016 at 9:59 AM
I couldn't have expressed it in a better way. I'm sold. Definitely.
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6 Kaylie
February 5, 2016 at 9:05 AM
This REALLY reminds me of our poor overworked Chief Oh.
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7 blo
February 5, 2016 at 9:25 AM
I've been waiting for this. So excited!
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8 lordseungri
February 5, 2016 at 9:33 AM
Gosh tvN is just acing the game. Their dramas are getting better and better. The big 3 have really let me down for a while....hopefully the big dramas this year don't let me down (looking at you DOTS)
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9 kdramafan
February 5, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Thanks for update JB.
Think this will be good but a tear-jerker too.
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10 iamdeb
February 5, 2016 at 10:06 AM
*Spongebob voice* I'm ready! I'm ready!
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11 blueribbon
February 5, 2016 at 10:06 AM
If it has Lee Sung-min I am sold, and yeah I will take your advice to stock up on Kleenex.
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12 kellie
February 5, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Ikiru?
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juniper
February 5, 2016 at 11:45 AM
Love that film--my favorite Kurosawa :). If this even holds a candle to it, I will be satisfied.
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13 whatis
February 5, 2016 at 11:40 AM
all these alzehimer dramas... it's too sad. T _ T One of the worst disease... just losing your memory, and your family and friends see it too. :(
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14 Mandy
February 5, 2016 at 12:07 PM
After Bubblegum, I really dont think I'm up for another Alzhimer's patient dealing with loss of memory. That was totally depressing and equally boring. But LSM looks so good in the poster already that I'm getting tempted...
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15 mia
February 5, 2016 at 12:52 PM
Oh wow...it's very .... i want to watch....but I'm weak at this
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16 earthna
February 5, 2016 at 1:15 PM
Then, I won't be so miserable when Signal ends.
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17 brightfotini
February 5, 2016 at 1:24 PM
It doesn't sound like it's gonna be too much of a melo drama which is definitely a good thing!
Maybe because of Lee Sung-min (whom I adore as an actor!) I get a lot of Misaeng vibes which is great. Funny and bittersweet and hopeful all in one! I'm definitely gonna check it out!
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18 UmbrellaMan
February 5, 2016 at 2:38 PM
This drama could be about cutting grass, as long as it has Lee Sung-min I am in!!! He is a wonderful actor and strangely attractive. I first fell in love with him in Miss Korea. I am hoping this will be another quality production by tvn.
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19 alpha
February 5, 2016 at 3:04 PM
Why am I tearing up just at the poster? I have a feeling this drama will hit daebak, but I unfortunately will have to avoid it because I am very weak in heart, and tearjekers is out of my realm to handle :(
But I am totally in awe by tvN picks recently. What a range of genres, and great ones at that.
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20 Kween Ramyeon
February 5, 2016 at 4:11 PM
Still on the Lee Sung Min love train as just recently finished Misaeng so looking forward to this.
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21 IluvJIS
February 5, 2016 at 5:41 PM
Alzheimer's seems to be theme for dramas of late. Korean dramas seem to follow waves - one minute it's all split personality dramas next minute it's Alzheimer's. Wonder what will follow next
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22 Ree
February 5, 2016 at 8:56 PM
Wow this guy is like a TVN mainstay actor. Hope this project does well. I won’t be watching though, serious dramas are not for me
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23 tess
February 5, 2016 at 10:44 PM
I'm already tearing up. Please do not mess this up, my once beloved writer-nim.
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24 bossu
February 5, 2016 at 11:24 PM
Hoo this is a pretty rare occasion where the lead in kdrama is a non eyecandy middle aged man who isn't out for romance (beside sageuk) nice to see kdramas finally coming out from their doomed shell
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25 Franbergh II
February 6, 2016 at 2:49 AM
that picture is awesome.
anyw
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26 Franbergh II
February 6, 2016 at 2:51 AM
that picture is awesome.
anyway, how come lost memory is kind of extremly popular lately?
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27 Pearl~ai88
February 6, 2016 at 4:52 PM
I don't know if I can voluntarily subject myself to the PAAIIIIIN this drama and Lee Sung Min will undoubtedly give me. I couldn't even keep watching Remember son's war once he started losing his memory :(
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28 Anarik
February 9, 2016 at 10:35 AM
Damn, how could a mere poster do this to me? It successfully squeezed my heart and force my tears to flow in the process. Damn damn damn
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