Dying roses and burning skulls for OCN’s Black

31 August 25, 2017September 11, 2017

by tipsymocha

Believe it or not, I wasn’t generally really into OCN’s offerings before this year, but ever since Tunnel, my weekends are never complete without a thriller to creep me out. OCN is gearing up for its next weekend show, Black, and they are definitely playing to their strengths — dark and stylish — if this first teaser is anything to go by.

While currently airing Rescue Me doesn’t really include a sci-fi element, its predecessors Tunnel and Duel certainly did, and as a fantasy geek, I’m pretty excited to see the supernatural component back in this newest OCN show. Song Seung-heon (Saimdang, Light’s Diary) will star as a grim reaper who falls in love with a human, played by Go Ara (Hwarang), thus violating the rules of heaven and is subsequently punished by having his existence erased. Harsh, but those dramaland deities have been known to be just that.

This first look at the show doesn’t reveal much about the plot details, but it’s quite beautiful, in a gothic kind of way. It starts with a close-up of some pink roses, which quickly wither away and turn gray. The director-writer duo, PD Kim Hong-sun of Voice and Choi Ran of God’s Gift–14 Days, get a mention, accompanied by a backdrop of stormy clouds. Then, there’s a brief flash of a burning skull and Song Seung-heon doing what he does best — brooding — while the chyron reads, “The dead one protecting death.” Go Ara’s reads, “The woman who predicts death,” as we see a super close frame of her eyes.

I have to admit, when I first heard about the leads joining this show, I was a little wary given their track record acting-wise. But, by all accounts, Song Seung-heon put in a decent performance in Saimdang, and if the previous character descriptions for his grim reaper are accurate (“stoic, blank-faced” and “expressionless”) I can see him being a very believable reaper. I’m also just glad Go Ara’s character isn’t another plucky, cheerful type, ‘cause I’ve seen her play that role a lot. Her character is a foul-mouthed shut-in who finds it hard to communicate with others, but is also prone to crying a lot. The duality sounds pretty comical, and I look forward to her take on the role.

The first script reading for Black was held last month, and I really like the supporting cast the show has lined up. Lee El (The Lonely Shining Goblin) will play a mysterious ER doctor connected to the grim reaper, and Kim Dong-joon (Shining Eun-soo) will become a second generation chaebol who is ironically more used to serving rather than taking. Other actors include Kim Won-hae (Criminal Minds) and Jo Jae-yoon (Rescue Me), who are both currently creeping me out in their respective shows. It’s a strong lineup, and I’m pretty excited to see them all inhabit this world.

OCN’s Black will follow Rescue Me on Saturdays and Sundays, and will premiere on October 14.

Via Geumkang ilbo, Maeil Kyungjae

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1 persianrose❤️战哥

August 25, 2017 at 2:41 PM

Interesting! I will check this one!

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2 apple

August 25, 2017 at 3:08 PM

Perhaps a cameo by the "stoic, blank-faced” and “expressionless” Water God as well?

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3 Gidget

August 25, 2017 at 3:40 PM

"if the previous character descriptions for his grim reaper are accurate (“stoic, blank-faced” and “expressionless”) I can see him being a very believable reaper."

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4 aardvark

August 25, 2017 at 3:47 PM

Hello my new everything.

Slightly nervous though, there's always a chance it will take a turn for the worst, but for now I shall anticipate with blissful ignorance!

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5 Adal

August 25, 2017 at 3:48 PM

I don't like either of the leads - well, I like Go Ara lot more than SSH (he could easily put me to sleep) - but the plot sounds interesting and that teaser is so cool, so I'll check it out. However, if it ends up being dull, I'll drop it like a hot potato.

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6 🍙 kimbap noona

August 25, 2017 at 5:15 PM

It was during one of Go Ara's (too many) crying scenes that made me drop Hwarang so this character's proclivity to cry makes this drama a definite no for me.

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7 giocare 🌻💛

August 25, 2017 at 5:17 PM

I hate when the supporting cast is great but the leads aren't my cup of tea. I'd rather not see Go Ara in anything else for a long time but it sounds interesting

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8 Jpb

August 25, 2017 at 6:46 PM

Suspense, super-natural, fantasy - my game!

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9 💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜

August 25, 2017 at 6:54 PM

I literally only clicked on this news thread because it said "dying roses and skulls" in the title...
Help me...

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10 jadea

August 25, 2017 at 9:20 PM

Curious how this blow over since both leads are lacking on the acting front. I like Go Ara, but I wish Lee El could have played the lead in this. I'm ready to see her in a lead role. I've loved her since Liar Game.

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11 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

August 25, 2017 at 10:06 PM

I can never understand why weak actors can get an interesting drama while better actors always get a mediocre drama. Maybe these weak actors have a clearer eyes to choose script? lol.

I don't know if I'll check this out later, both leads turned me off, but there's Lee El that I have soft spot with.

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12 mango

August 25, 2017 at 10:16 PM

Can we hope that Jo Jae Yoon's character won't be as creepy as in Rescue Me.
Lee El must be attracted to mysterious character. Can't wait to see her again.

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13 eva

August 25, 2017 at 11:58 PM

Dark and stylish. Great teaser. Love that piercing look by SSH.

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14 hannaehh

August 26, 2017 at 1:49 AM

So far OCN thriller dramas never fail me, so I'm excited to watch this after Save Me ends!

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15 zentro29

August 26, 2017 at 3:26 AM

The leads are both lacking in acting. Hoping for the story to save them. Will be watching this, all because it's from ocn.

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16 korfan

August 26, 2017 at 7:51 AM

Dark and mysterious. ? ?

This could be interesting.

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17 radicchio

August 27, 2017 at 12:24 AM

Getting a bit exhausted with Goblin-wannabe dramas - is it just me? Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely rooting for more Korean dramas in the fantasy genre but after watching Bride of the Water God and now this... I feel like everyone's trying to emulate some plot aspect of Goblin in the hopes of high ratings. I don't know if anyone else noticed but Nam Joo Hyuk even imitated Gong Yoo's tone of voice/speaking mannerism in Bride. (Not knocking Nam Joo Hyuk as I was a major fan of him in the Weightlifting drama and to be fair, maybe it was more of a directional/PD issue and that's why he spoke like that? Who knows.)

With Black, it just seems like it's trying too hard... younger girl (Go Ara/Kim Go Eun) with older, fictional guy (Song Seung Heun/Gong Yoo). Really, is it just me that feels this way??

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18 YY Chats with Toast Between Bites

August 27, 2017 at 11:09 AM

I thought SSH was awesome as the burning skull in the trailer.

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19 Ros

August 28, 2017 at 3:58 AM

"Prone to crying a lot"... Didn't we have enough of Go Ara's crying scenes in Hwarang? Heol.

I guess I'm gonna miss my weekend thrillers after Save Me.

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20 sirena

August 28, 2017 at 11:44 AM

I am definitely interested in watching this drama. I just wish that they would've chosen another actor to play the reaper. Oh, well..

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21 nomimono

August 29, 2017 at 6:46 AM

Gosh, So excited for this. I'm sure Go Ara can pull off her character since she's always good at it. Fighting Black.
It's not Goblin or BotWG it's Black!

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Black