Well, both don't convince me as of now. However, the fact that casting went to them first must mean they're what the roles need.

PS. How cute that JTBC is starting to pre-produce shows 😀😀

They are very skilled in acting, can't pick which one better than the other, but the two convince me with their great acting skill, this drama will receive lot of acting award for sure

I love Go Ara to pieces in "Reply 1994" but I can't stand her acting in everything else I've seen her in no matter how much I try.
L is even worse.

I love "Chuno" but I haven't been into any of PD Kwak's dramas after that. I'm not even very hopeful with these two leads.

Hopefully it doesn't become a "who's the worst actor" face-off, bc I like Go Ara in Black but although L improved in Ruler, don't know how he would fare as a main lead and not a second one. I think it's a matter of the right character for both though bc her character in YAS was terrible and his in Ruler was annoying, so fingers crossed it's good

How many drama reunions does Go Ara and Sung Dong-il have now? :D

I thought I read on Soompi that the author of the novel, who is also penning the script, is actually a judge? So I wonder if this will be a more realistic, accurate portrayal of courtroom proceedings than we are used to.

Go Ara and L are both actors I have liked in one role (Answer Me 1994 and Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, respectively) but not in anything else I’ve seen them in. Hmmm. I agree with Javabeans that this role could be a good fit for Go Ara, though. We’ll see.

With such similar character setup I sure hope for everyone involved that the writer for this drama does a much much better job with this story than the one the supremely talented cast of Park Eun-bin, Yeon Woo-jin, and Dong Ha had to work with in Nothing to Lose.
*remain salty for the foreseeable future about the opportunity wasted with this ensemble*

Is the new trend human dramas??

More legal dramas, yay 😥
*tries to get excited about this*

I'm so over legal dramas. I though this was last year's trend. How is it carrying over?

Also, L did improved in Ruler, true. But the initial bar was so low it was beneath ground level. So it doesn't exactly excite me that he's doing any acting at all. Even a cameo would make me groan and he's doing a lead role. UGH.

Go Ara was fine in Black - it was a SSH drama through and through anyway. This is where she has to actually carry herself, the drama, and the weakest costar she could possible have asked for.

I am disappointed at this casting from JTBC they always cast good actors, both are actors i try to avoid if I could, I wasn't fascinated by L's acting in Ruler specially his shouting scenes they were cringeworthy.
GHR on the other hand was terrible in Hwarang and Black i had to drop Hwarang after 10 episodes but Black I couldn't because the plot was so intense so I tried to swallow her bad acting for 18 episodes. She's at the top list of my worst actress, it was Shin Si Kyung before but GHR owned the crown after Black.

Black was my favorite drama of 2017 so I'm quite glad I'll get to see Go Ara again.
For L, I haven't seen him in anything but he's so handsome so that's good. I'll look forward to this mostly because of the plot. It sounds like it's gonna be a lot of fun especially with Sung Dong Il in it too

I tolerated L in Ruler, he was decent there. Now...that doesn't mean he will be good here lol. Also Go Ara hasn't done a single drama where I have liked her, so I guess I'll give this drama a pass. Also, if they have a romance line---no just no.

Yay for pre-production!

I think if L can succeed at any role, it's a serious, no-nonsense, somewhat emotionless character. (Read what you will into what type of actor I think he is). So.. maybe there's hope?

Mixed feelings.
-Ugh, another Nothing to Lose?
-But it's based on a novel...could be good?
-It's also on JTBC...could be good..
-More a human drama...that's a positive, since I don't think L and Go Ara do romance all that well.
-Is this the right role for Go Ara? I originally thought Black was a bad choice for her, but I ended up changing my mind and thought it was a good choice for both her and casting director. This role will be a change from her previous 2 characters. Also closer to her behind-the-scenes self, who is so likable that I give her a lot of passes. Could be good for her to have a heroine-centric story.
-L...*cringe* But maybe this could be the role that changes people's opinions about his acting. After all, just a month ago, Song Seung Hun proved me wrong and did an impressive job in Black...
-The choice of director here is worrisome. I hope he can surprise us.
-Sung Dong-il!! :)
-Pre-produced! More sleep for staff and actors, I hope!

Why is Go Ara coming back on small screen too often?

Thumbs up

So much negativity in one drama. Haha2. Poor Kwak Jung Hwan. Well my negativity are the cast, legal drama, and unknown writers. Who knows it will be pleasantly surprised?

wow! this is worse than casting Mr. who cannot act and Miss who cannot act together..

:O

Needless to say, I have very low expectations for this drama. It could be a good thing.. I mean, I’ll never be disappointed. I’m looking at a half-full glass.

The only thing which is promising in this drama is the writer is/also also the judge, so I believe he knows about courtroom well. I'm quite interested to check this drama based on the premise alone, but these two leads are not even convincing as an actor, what more as a judge.

The author of this novel, Moon Yoo Seok, will also write the script for this drama. He is the chief justice at Seoul Eastern District Court. So at least, can we assume that the script would be good?

Sigh.... I'm not particularly looking forward to this...
I mean Go ara 'finally' redeemed herself in my eyes with "black" after the havoc that was hwarang
But then I ask myself, "should I push it any further to see how well she'll do?' and my answer is no
The story of black pulled me in plus some very good recommends and she was good there thankfully but this story is not sooo compelling

I hope she does well regardless *shrug

Oh yikes, what a pair to cast together as leads. 😓 Not sure if anything will get me to watch this drama now unless it receives nothing except praise.

Ja, ok... in order to play a "rocky judge" they chose an 27 years old actress. Even if they will make her play a 'thirty-something years old rocky judge', ist that even possible??
Rocky lawyers, prosecutors (like in while you were sleeping and suspicious partner), that kind of make sense. People study, they do internship, they work a couple of years and you understand, you have the feeling, yes, they are still rocky, they are young, they lack experience in the field.
But "judge" is not a career you study and then can go to work as such. I don't need to be a lawyer to know that!!!
These korean writers!!
I know people look younger in Asian counties, but it is even uncomfortable to watch a drama where the judge looks like a miss universe contestant.

I'm actually really excited for Myungsoo's casting. I thought he did a fantastic job in Ruler. I really felt for his character and thought he was the most interesting and complex one. I wasn't a huge fan of the Drama but I did enjoy his character. I thought peasant Lee Sun always got the short end of the stick in everything and deserved way more. The tragic characters usually end up being my favorites which is why I liked him so much. Anyways the Korean public seems to be more and more accepting of him as an actor and are starting to praise him. Although he's not perfect I do think he's improving with each role he gets. I know my opinion isn't a popular one on this site but I do feel that way. I even read how the writer/author of the book that the Drama is based on was involved with the casting and is very excited and has high expectations for him. If the author/writer of the book/Drama believes in him then I'm definitely on board. He obviously sees something in him to cast him for the lead role.

In defense of Go Ara, I have to say that she was not that bad in Black and she had a couple of great comedic moments. I think she should try something in that vein.

Go Ara is good, but honestly I've never liked her acting in anything. I'm sure it's just me, and I know she's a good actress so she'll definitely deliver. The role suits her.

I previously mentioned how I have no problems with L's acting. If anything, I like it. However, playing a character like this makes me worried that he'll end up looking flat, especially compared to Ara. I hope he can step up his game and surprise all of us.

The story doesn't seem too interesting to me, it sounds like the usual opposites attract storyline but if I hear good things about this, I'm willing to try.

As long as she is not crying I am in.

Is L going to play "older guy but baby-faced" like Junho as Yul in "Chief Kim"? 🤔

Yay for Sung Dong-il.

I miss the days when Kwak Jung-hwan seemed aware that it's possible to combine visuals and performance. Take Chuno for instance--beyond the rippling muscles and beautiful faces, the actors made their cartoonish characters into something raw and human and unforgettable. Imagine for a second that Oh Ji-ho and Jang Hyuk switched parts--the dude just as muscly, just as pretty...but like 90% of that show's power would evaporate. With Runaway Plan B, Basketball, Neighborhood Hero, The K2, and now this, it's like he's lost the ability to look beyond the surface, picks people who have the right kind of image for the character, and stops there. Ah idk. The K2 is the only legitimately decent show he's made since Chuno (which was like...7 years ago), and although it makes me sad to see the guy who directed the greatest fusion sageuk of all time shuffled off down the road of mediocrity, it's hard not to feel like it's at least a little bit his own doing.

Go Ara is truly a beautiful actress, but the acting *sobs*

@greenfields Does someone have to study lawyering and start out in junior ranks before becoming a judge? Because I can't believe judges in South Korea are so young. It's what put me off Nothing to Lose even with a stellar cast.

JTBC, I was so happy with your latest casting decisions (The Package, Just Between Lovers, Waikiki). But now... nope.

legal human drama? is that code for adult *wink* drama?

Are they really that bad? I've watched go Ara in reply 1994 and I liked her there, although I didn't finish the drama because I was team chil bongie 😂😂
Haven't watched L in any meaty role though.. only watched him in cunning single lady😕

Hmmmm they’re both weak to middling actors, neither one of them is a particularly strong actor so I wonder why the producers decided to go with this combo? They both need someone to do the heavy lifting. Maybe they’ll rely on the second leads for that. L also has this young vibe. Too young for a judge imho. But as always it depends a lot on the directing and the script.

Mixed feelings on this. I like them both, but I don't find L to be that great an actor. Granted I haven't seen anything he's been in recently, but past experience does not bode well. But I like Go Ara. And I like legal dramas (probably the only one who does, lol). I'll reserve judgment until it airs though.

I'm not yet sure of the cast. Just curious, can there be a judge as young as these people? My brain computes a judge as a (at least) middle-aged person. I hope they can do justice to their roles.

My only comment is: "Hey, I know these two!"

TOO MANY LEGAL DRAMAS I'm alr sick of it. I swear even if a good one comes up now I don't think I'll be eager to check out. Idk but I kinda feel this might not do very well, the plot is too typical/cliche for the genre, weak leads, I'm not fan of the director's style either. Hope the result proves me wrong.

I finished exams and blitzed 11 episodes last weekend, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by all three leads - Sung Dong-il is fabulous as grumpypants Papa judge, L is surprisingly well-cast for the character, and Go Ara is actually looking good (in comparison to L, but I'll take what I can get lol).

I watched Black and was unimpressed by the script, infuriated by the ending, and unconvinced by the romance (blink and you'll miss it.) So I'm pleased to see Go Ara working the facial expressions a little better here. The script is giving a bit more space for nuance, and she's filling in some spaces.

The big surprise is that L is actually really well-cast here; I think he's doing quite well with the unspoken glances and the pensive introspection. He's definitely helped along by the script - which gives us insight into what he's thinking -- but I am so pleased to see cute dimples growing up and getting better at his craft <3