Film ingenue Kim Tae-ri cast opposite Lee Byung-heon for Mr. Sunshine
by javabeans
Interesting choice! The lead actress for star writer Kim Eun-sook’s (The Lonely Shining Goblin, Descended From the Sun) much-anticipated upcoming drama, Mr. Sunshine, has been cast, and it’s a rising film actress making her drama debut, Kim Tae-ri. She’ll be joining longtime industry veteran Lee Byung-heon (Inside Men), giving this TV drama a boost of Chungmuro starpower.
Kim Tae-ri’s acting debut came in the 2015 film Moon Young so she’s very much still a rookie, but she put in an impressive performance in Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden last year, for which she won new actress awards at both the Blue Dragons and the Buil Film Awards. It was very much a star-making turn—I thought she was remarkable as the handmaiden, who provided the eyes through which we entered the bizarre and mysterious world of that movie. And upon further thought, the casting makes sense in that it seems to echo the dynamic that made Goblin such a success, pairing a promising film rookie opposite a familiar leading man with oodles of screen presence.
Mr. Sunshine is set in the late years of the Joseon dynasty in the early 1900s, during the time when Japan was aggressively asserting dominance over its neighbors, particularly Korea (which it annexed in 1910). The human melodrama tells the story of “the righteous army that went unrecorded in history but which must be remembered.” Lee Byung-heon plays one such soldier, who as a child was taken to the United States following the Shinmiyangyo incident of 1871, in which an American expedition turned into armed conflict, resulting in over 200 Korean deaths. He returns as an American soldier to “the country that abandoned him” when he’s stationed in Joseon, and there he meets a young aristocratic lady.
Kim Tae-ri will play the last in the lineage of the prominent aristocratic Go family, which was one of the pillars of the Joseon nation. Kim played a lowly servant who fell in love with the aristocrat’s daughter in The Handmaiden, so it’s fitting that she’ll get to turn the tables and be the aristocrat’s daughter for Mr. Sunshine. (Ironically, her character in this drama is called simply “Aegisshi,” a term referring to a noble young lady that’s a variant of “agasshi,” which is The Handmaiden’s Korean title.)
Sounds ambitious and potentially epic. I have to say I have my reservations about Lee Byung-heon (I think he’s a powerhouse actor but his personal stuff icks me out), but I don’t know if I can stay away from this fighting-for-freedom-against-colonial-overlords storyline, especially since Kim Eun-sook is probably going to rip our hearts out, reduce us to sobs, and make us like it. Mr. Sunshine is being planned for an early 2018 launch.
Via Joongang, Hankook Ilbo
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Tags: Kim Tae-ri, Lee Byung-heon, Mr. Sunshine
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26 Needaname
July 6, 2017 at 5:20 AM
She has an air of Song Hye Kyo in that picture, next to Lee Byun Heon it reminds me of All In. Age-wise it is similar to Goblin, Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun, she looked so much younger than him, although they were cute together! But agree with some commenters, here it might look like father/daughter, Lee Byun Heon is much older!
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27 aami
July 6, 2017 at 5:24 AM
No! I love her, but not the pairing. NO!!
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28 Thaisfrede
July 6, 2017 at 5:42 AM
Okay, she is 27 years old and he will be 47 in some days, the age difference is 20 years.
She is an adult, I have no problem with that, many couples have this difference in real life. My problem is the film industry that loves to put much younger women to play romantically with older actors.
It has several beautiful women who perform magnificently and are in their 40s. This age difference for women is cruel. This industry is cruel.
I liked her in the movie The Handmaiden and welcome to the world of kdrama.
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Shinko
July 6, 2017 at 7:07 PM
I agree. I have no issue with Kim Tae Ri, but there are so many talented Korean actresses in their late 30s and 40s. Based on the character description, they could have cast older. Now I can only watch my favorite female actresses in weekend dramas.
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29 Kafiyah Bello
July 6, 2017 at 5:46 AM
I am not going to watch this because I think KES is a trash writer, but I knew she was going to cast a young 20 something with LBH. The girl's character will be stupid because KES is incapable of writing a naive character. LBH will be a jerk and the girl will fall in love anyway. The plot will be shallow and at the end probably pointless, but millions will love and watch it. Sorry for the rant KES dramas upset my equlibrium. Lol?
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alasecond
July 6, 2017 at 5:54 AM
i totally get it.. when goblin was airing i was in love.. would wait for each episode.. and i think somewhere deep inside my mind thought it to be supe rpoignant meanningful drama.. i was fretting over how i will get over the withdrawal symptoms..
BUT THEN
and when last episode aired, exactly a second after it ended.. i was done.. no withdrawal symptoms.. and i was just wondering..w hat was the point of this drama.. why did it ever feel like remotely pensive
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alua
July 6, 2017 at 6:32 AM
LOL. I confess that's how I feel about KES dramas! I just steer clear of them, even when they involve actors I like (like Gong Yoo). No point getting myself worked up in total frustation over shallow plots and characters that I either hate or can't relate to at all! There's good stuff to watch that keep my equilibrium nicely balanced. ;-)
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laisfrede
July 6, 2017 at 7:05 AM
How much power a writer in Korea have to casting the actors?
Many of these decisions are made by the directors.
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sorrynotsorry
July 6, 2017 at 7:38 AM
Certain writers can bring in big names because of their consistent successful work. I would say KES has more say and power than the PD at this point in her career. I am interested if she is going to stick with the PD from DOTS and Goblin (I think it was the same person). I think I got suckered into watching a few episodes more of Goblin than I normally would have because I thought the PD was so good at creating a mood.
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laisfrede
July 6, 2017 at 7:58 AM
I agree that KES may have a certain advantage that several writers in Korea don't have, but is it really her that which casting the actors? because There are several writers who don't like to get involved with the production phase. It's just a curiosity
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
July 6, 2017 at 8:18 AM
I think she has a say for four main leads. Like what Yoo Inna said, it was Kim Eun Sook approached her for Goblin. Some writers will write the characters based on certain actor/actress' acting style as well. It depends. Even if the director will make a final decision, he will discuss with the writer as well. In some projects, investors might want to interfere in the casting decisions as well, especially if they are investing a large sum of money, that's why they cast some popular idols despite of no acting skill, so it will be easier to sell it to overseas.
sorrynotsorry
July 6, 2017 at 12:12 PM
This isn't about KES but the writer for Two Weeks had multiple meetings with Lee Joon Gi to convince him that he could play a father character in the drama...the writer, not the director though he could have been involved also. She also is another well established writer though and I think that makes the difference.
Also LDW spoke of how long it took him to convince KES he could play the reaper; she didn't think he was right for the part (irony alert).
chingu
July 6, 2017 at 12:24 PM
Well, you're in luck because this drama will be another collab between Kim Eun-sook and Lee Eung-bok (aka Goblin and Descendants PD–you were right). Kinda cool that they're collaborating again. I expect this one to blow up just as much as the other two.
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Hashley
July 7, 2017 at 1:16 AM
She is 27. That is not a "young" 20 something.
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30 alasecond
July 6, 2017 at 5:51 AM
kew it.. so knew it.. she would be casted..
i don't know why maybe because maiden is similary era..
this should be fun.. i would be watching the lead guy for the first time when this series airs
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31 alasecond
July 6, 2017 at 6:01 AM
it is already giving me love story 1942 feels.. story wise.. i doubt it would go beyond the love story.. as iin no bigger picture.
but then as long as the sets r pretty, dresses are pretty, acting to the point..shud be fun
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32 po
July 6, 2017 at 6:16 AM
The male lead gives a bad vibe. The type who coerces female employees to have sex with them to give promotions.
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alasecond
July 6, 2017 at 10:19 AM
and if the woman agrees to give in to gain promotions then who shares the blame?
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po
July 6, 2017 at 11:32 AM
well if the question was put up for debate in hr, it would be logically him.
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alasecond
July 6, 2017 at 3:10 PM
why would you absolve woman of her share in the crime?
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po
July 7, 2017 at 2:26 AM
because it is kind of bullying. it is similar to the situation where the class bully orders you to give him your pocket money so that he won't hit you. believe me this has happened in my office. the girls were under a lot of stress and their financial situation wasnt excellent. these guys target these girls.
33 urnaa
July 6, 2017 at 6:40 AM
Thanking drama gods becoz it wasnt any of my fav actresses. Now i can pass it without worries.
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34 ck1Oz
July 6, 2017 at 6:52 AM
I was hesitant to even wonder if I could stomach watching it. But now with this casting, am definitely out. Wonderful acting or not, if I can't stomach seeing his face on screen, can't watch the drama.
People might wonder why. Ugliness exist in this world that's true. People make unkind choices ( him cheating on his pregnant wife who still stayed with him, so it's her choice ) but it doesn't mean a random stranger like me need to watch him and be reminded of the ugliness around. I would rather read of some injustice happening which I can support the person or cause for. Or some dog rescue centres where I can donate to.
Then watch him.
Well. That was a fast and quick end to my interest in the writer's latest work.
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fay17
July 6, 2017 at 8:19 AM
Great answer! Thanks for sharing your thought of mind!
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alasecond
July 6, 2017 at 10:24 AM
alternative theory is (this is about the wife), she ain't any innocent lamb either... she joined entertainment industry at 26... and suddenly shot to fame ... the situations suggest she made a business decision too.. someone who can help her with the career, a rich man etc etc... so she compromised keeping her interests in mind... this has happened before, before her pregnancy too.. but she keeps on choosing to bear it (if at all) ..
My only point is that the wife may be doing things out of her selfishness too. ... when she married knowing all of it. BH has always been well known in the industry for being kinky adn what not
And lastly, people are gladly jumping in to blame one person or the other, but don't you think audience also shares that blame.. because a man is able to abuse power only when he has power.. and for an entertainer his power comes from his audience... if he has a bank balance, it is thnks to audience.. and that bank balance is being used to nefarious activities
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canxi
July 6, 2017 at 3:34 PM
What? You talk as if women don't fall in love and believe that the person they choose to spend their life with feels the same. To make up "theories" about Lee Min Jung with no evidence is in such poor taste. Blaming the audience too?
Um..his personal stuff only belongs to and can be blamed on him. With his kind of career, he's not gonna fail overnight and I'm sure he has more than enough money to live comfortably even if he retired early. He's plenty old enough to take any ire he gets for any misdeed he's done. What is this handholding?
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Steph
July 6, 2017 at 4:38 PM
to many fans, if oppa does something wrong they still have to find ways to divert some of that blame onto others.
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ar_arguably romantic
July 6, 2017 at 7:59 PM
My impression is that LMJ didn't need a rich man unless you count her dad. She was from a prominent family and grew up in a mansion, like she was actually one of the students from Heirs and BOF. She majored in acting at a good school, and it's not like she's not talented and took on a lot of supporting roles in the beginning.
LBH is also from a rich family. Makes sense that they would feel a connection to each other - probably had similar rich childhood experiences, travelled in the same social circles (or just plain travelled to foreign countries), both are actors. Maybe their families only want them to marry someone of the same social status - so that would limit their choices of life partners. Maybe she really did fall in love with him and hoped LBH will be like the heroes in kdramas and romance novels who become faithful after marriage.
I agree that the audience can simply stop watching his stuff. But I think there is something to be said for separating the art from the artist. I have trouble doing so, but I don't blame people for being able to do so.
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MYSTERY WOMAN
July 10, 2017 at 11:00 PM
"alternative theory is (this is about the wife), she ain't any innocent lamb either... she joined entertainment industry at 26..."
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LEE MIN-JUNG, ACTUALLY, NO, SHE DIDN'T. HER ASIANWIKI PAGE SAYS SHE WAS FIRST IN A MOVIE IN 2003. (SHE WAS BORN IN 1983, SO SHE WAS 20.) SHE HAS BEEN IN EITHER A MOVIE OR A DRAMA EVERY SINGLE YEAR SINCE 2003 EXCEPT FOR 2015. AND IT STARTED WHEN SHE WAS 20 !
AND TO ASSASSINATE HER CHARACTER, BY SAYING "SHE AIN'T ANY INNOCENT LAMB EITHER", ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER REMARKS YOU MADE ABOUT HER, IS JUST PLAIN RUDE AND BASELESS.
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ck1Oz
July 7, 2017 at 7:53 AM
Personally, I don't watch his movies. But you can't blame the audience. And even if LMJ went into the marriage with her eyes open it doesn't excuse his behaviour to her.
By the way, what is with the down votes? I am not a sensitive person but if I don't agree with someone I just reply or ignore. Does the downvote serve any purpose? Are people not allowed to express their opinions here anymore? You don't have to like my opinion or even agree with it... but downvotes are kind of juvenile isn't it?
I work in an ED and also am used to plenty of flak from viki drama viewers so it's not as if I am paranoid. However downvoting expecially on a pretty supportive site such as this ( DB is supportive of viewers with diverse opinions ) just smacks of juvenile behaviour I see on many news articles or those Kpop sites with lots of trolls around.
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35 Del
July 6, 2017 at 7:29 AM
Weird. That's all I can say. Is he still relevant for drama viewers to watch him falling head over heels in love and pursuing a young girl where he is old enough to become her father? The idea as a whole is totally gross. And LBH is not that young looking to convince me that he is in his 30's, and still yet to experience true love. I am never a fan of KES as I always find her writings shallow but this casting and pairing....she certainly knows how to stir up loads of attention. Acting powerhouse....definitely but let's see how the age gap and his reputation can sell the story.
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bbstl 🧹
July 6, 2017 at 7:39 AM
I'm relieved that it seems the LBH role is written for a man in his 40s given the timeline. At least I hope so (assuming he went to the US as an older child with solid Korean, enough to be fluent upon his return. Am I overthinking this?) Nearly 50 IRL is a tough sell to convince us that he's in his thirties. I guess we'll see.
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36 katasu1996
July 6, 2017 at 7:59 AM
1) please go read all the comments on Naver. Koreans do care about his scandals and have issues with him. They're willing to see his movies, but dramas are different. I still think this drama will do well however, because people are willing to ignore their moral compasses if it benefits them.
2) Please do not assume everyone here loves Kim Eun Sook. Most everything she's I've either hated, or thought was whatever. Not a single drama of hers has ever been a favorite for me. I personally despise how she writes. However I usually keep checking them out because she often comes up with unique plots and gets great star power, even if her dramas are poorly executed (in my opinion). Some of us genuinely do have an issue with her writing.
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Ek Ladhki Thi
July 6, 2017 at 8:47 AM
I personally don't want to watch him in a romance because I feel really disgusted with a man who cheats on his wife and I'm still hoping they change him out because I've never missed a Kim Eun-sook drama. I know this isn't going to happen so, I'm now caught between trying to decide if I missed her enough to watch him. He's not on the same level as Park Shi-hoo or Kim Hyun-joong in terms of disgust for me though. Knowing that this is a Kim Eun-sook drama makes me even more disgusted, because I know there will be straight-up cheese (which is one of the things I come to her drama for anyway), but I'm going to be seriously uncomfortable watching him deliver those lines. I don't know about anyone else, just saying how it is for me. In other things, I might be able to watch him. But not in a romance and definitely not a Kim Eun-sook style romance.
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Steph
July 6, 2017 at 4:42 PM
i'm with you on your second point. i've tried watching many of her dramas (Gentleman's Dignity, Heirs, DOTS, Goblin) and checked out within a couple episodes. and i'm someone who has sat through some objectively bad dramas before. i even love PSH but couldn't sit through Heirs for her (and frankly found her character very annoying). haven't been able to connect with her writing at all.
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37 Brittany
July 6, 2017 at 8:25 AM
Kim Tae-ri was fantastic in The Handmaiden.
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38 gem28
July 6, 2017 at 8:27 AM
Unpopular opinion, the cast is solid regardless of, one of their personal choices and vice, I am interested to see how KSE handles their acting potential. I am more worried about her writing capability.
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rori0711
July 6, 2017 at 10:18 AM
unpopular opinion, lucky KTR. A best new actress rookie working in a drama with one of the most prolific and excellent actor, LBH.
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Steph
July 6, 2017 at 4:45 PM
i dunno if anyone is under the impression that she's unlucky or that this is bad for her career. i think the people who object to this just find LBH a little gross or the idea of the large age gap pairing a little gross. most seem to agree that it's not a bad career move.
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39 Rose
July 6, 2017 at 8:41 AM
Great choice! Kim Tae ri is the best choice and I'm so happy! I don't know how to express myself I just find her so suitable! :D
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40 JTibs
July 6, 2017 at 9:33 AM
Does anyone else think that she looks like Song Hye Kyo ? Which brings us to how LBH and SHK dated back in the day...ew. Anyway...SHK definitely upgraded with SJK...LBH is shady AF.
I'm not sure why society keeps rewarding his gross behavior.
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41 Rere
July 6, 2017 at 9:46 AM
Yup, i'll skip this one..
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42 callie
July 6, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Gross, gross, gross. KES is just gonna keep finding new ways to up the creep factor of each of her dramas, huh?
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43 Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
July 6, 2017 at 10:24 AM
I'm wondering if Kim Tae Ri chose this as her drama debut solely based on the fact that she can ride on the fame of LBH and it also being a Kim Eun Sook drama and maybe not on the script... But who wouldn't take on such an opportunity?? Plot-wise, it makes sense to cast 2 leads with such an age gap because age gaps like these were very common in real life in the early 1900s era--women married, and were married off, young in those times DX
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canxi
July 6, 2017 at 3:28 PM
What a gross thing to say. She already has plenty of her own fame; she doesn't need to ride on anyone else's. Curious how you don't extend this same thought process to LBH who has more of a reason than anyone to team up with a popular writer who's on a roll with the hits at this time. If there is anything I can bet on, it is that he's trying to win back some public favor by being in a popular writer's show.
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ar_arguably romantic
July 6, 2017 at 7:37 PM
I agree that saying that Kim Tae Ri is planning on riding LBH's fame is gross. My impression is that the netizen response in korea to LBH's casting is pretty negative. I think Kim Tae Ri chose this drama in spite of LBH being casted because this is a KES drama. LBH has so much more to gain with a KES drama. He was strangely in a PSY video recently. Succeeding a rom-com will open him up to more endorsement deals which is apparently where all the big bucks are. And it'll be nice to leave a good public impression for the sake of his child.
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HAshley
July 7, 2017 at 1:20 AM
I think age gaps like this are also common now. Especially with divorces and second marriages. I have friends that married young and then when they had their second marriage, it was with someone much older.
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44 Livii
July 6, 2017 at 11:31 AM
She will probably play a young heiress so will be closer to 19/20 anyways. Meh. I guess DOTS will be the one and only drama I have watched from this writer.
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45 peichi
July 6, 2017 at 12:31 PM
I don't have a problem with Lee Byung Hun, I like him as an actor and am excited to see him return to dramas. But I'm not crazy about KES and Kim Tae-ri was great in Handmaiden, but she's still very early in her career and it's her first drama, so I don't know. I also agree with other's that it would've been nice if they cast an actress closer to LBH's age. The age difference doesn't bother me much since she is 27 and not like 18 and it's a period drama. Still there are many gorgeous and talented actresses in their 40's that would look great with LBH and unfortunately often there aren't many leading roles for actresses of that age. I get that a younger actress would be needed for the young naive aristocratic women that the female lead will be. But that sounds super boring tbh, would've loved to see what sort of female character they could come up with if the character was supposed to be late 30's-40's. If I watch this it'll be for LBH and the time period, the romance doesn't sound interesting at all so far (but sadly KES's greatest strength is the romance and I find her pretty weak in just about everything else, so I don't expect her to handle the time period well).
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46 sojuboy
July 6, 2017 at 1:54 PM
Interesting period. I'm looking forward to it. There's an interesting article on CIA website about this period.
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no1/html_files/first_attache_5.html
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47 yen
July 6, 2017 at 2:30 PM
Finally we get a new actress in drama field!
These days, dramas are so lackluster. Kim Eun Sook dramas may be storyless, but at least theres something worth watching for.
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48 WishfulToki
July 6, 2017 at 3:09 PM
Since she is not a high schooler I don't mind the age gap. She's 27 years old. I'm more curious to see if KES can create a memorable female lead this time - her male leads are always more interesting.
I don't like Gone with the Wind, but this drama sounds vaguely similar in several respects, and like her or despise her, Scarlett O'Hara was quite memorable. Here's hoping that Kim Tae Ri will play an intense aristocrat in a changing era... no demure “Aegisshi please!
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49 Irit
July 6, 2017 at 3:17 PM
Thank you for the artcle, and telling us more about the drama. I agree that Kim Tae-Ri was fantastic in The Handmaiden. But I disagree in comparing her to Kim Go-Eun who already had a successful film career before she joined Goblin. Kim Go-Eun is very charming, and I do not see Kim Tae-Ri like that at all. I do see her as a young good melodramatic actress based on that on film (and I do look forward to seeing her in her next 3 upcoming films). Not crazy about this pairing even though I love each one of them individually.
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50 canxi
July 6, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Man, I was so looking forward to her drama debut and am kind of ticked it's this one as I'd love to see her in this. I am just not excited about the co-star. My interest level dropped down to zero as soon as he was cast. I just can't picture him in any type of romantic genre at all anymore and would rather not, sorry to say.
I think Kim Tae Ri is wonderful and will be fine but I agree with the sentiments of some users here that this casting highlights the "shelf-life" of women, as if they are not attractive after a certain age. To be honest, I think Kim Tae Ri's age is just right but I also also had in mind that the male lead should be closer to his early thirties so there was nothing but disappointment on my end when LBH was cast for a number of reasons.
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