News bites: January 29, 2022

61 January 29, 2022January 29, 2022

by tccolb

Ryu Joon-yeol, IU, Park Jung-min

A new drama called Money Game is in the works, based on two popular webtoons called Money Game and Pie Game, with casting confirmed for Ryu Joon-yeol (Human Disqualification), IU (Hotel del Luna), Park Jung-min (Hellbound), Park Hae-joon (A Couple’s World), and Bae Sung-woo (Live). The drama will be made available on streaming platforms and production will be led by film director Han Jae-rim (The King, The Face Reader). [MBC]
Lee Seung-gi (Mouse) is being courted by KBS to star in a new legal drama called Love According to the Law. [Xports News]
Oh Jung-se (Uncle) is reviewing an offer to star alongside Gong Hyo-jin (When the Camellia Blooms) and Lee Min-ho (The King: Eternal Monarch) in a new sci-fi rom-com called Ask the Stars. Scripts will be penned by Seo Sook-hyang, who worked with Gong in both Pasta and Jealousy Incarnate. [Newsen]

TVING’s upcoming I Haven’t Done My Best Yet has released new promos of Park Hae-joon (A Couple’s World), including a poster and a cute video teaser. [10 Asia]
Park Seo-joon (Itaewon Class) and Han So-hee (My Name) are both confirmed for historical thriller Kyungsung Creature (working title), written by Kang Eun-kyung (Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim) and directed by PD Jung Dong-yoon (Stove League). [KBS]
Kim Min-jae (Dal-li and Gamjatang) is returning to fusion sageuks; he confirmed his role in tvN’s upcoming Joseon Psychiatrist Yoo Se-poong. Ousted from being a royal physician, Kim stumbles across a strange village where he joins Kim Sang-kyung (Racket Boys) and Kim Hyang-gi (Moment at Eighteen) as they treat people for illnesses of the mind. [MBC]

Kill Heel confirmed its premiere date of February 23 and released a new poster and teaser, giving us another high-powered look at our three leading ladies: Kim Haneul (18 Again), Kim Sung-ryung (Are You Human Too), and Lee Hye-young (Lawless Attorney).
Actress Moon Hee-kyung (Hospital Playlist 2) joins the cast of tvN’s upcoming comedy-mystery Murderer’s Shopping List, which stars Lee Kwang-soo (Live) and Seolhyun (Awaken). The story takes place in a small neighborhood where a mysterious corpse and strange shopping receipt sparks both fear and shenanigans. [YTN]
OCN’s new thriller Superior Day released stills of the first script reading and dropped a new video teaser. Starring Jin Gu (Legal High), Ha Do-kwon (The Witch’s Diner), and Lee Won-geun (One the Woman), the drama is about a man who’ll do anything to save his kidnapped daughter even if means killing another killer. The drama premieres on March 13. [News1, Newsen]

Kim Rae-won (L.U.C.A.: The Beginning), Sohn Ho-joon (Was It Love), and Gong Seung-yeon (Bulgasal: Immortal Souls) have been cast in The Police Station Next to the Fire Station, a new SBS drama about emergency responders. Written by Min Ji-eun (Investigation Couple), PD Shin Kyung-soo (Nokdu Flower) is attached to direct. [SBS]
KBS’s long running 1 Night 2 Days has announced a new member for the show: Na In-woo (River Where the Moon Rises). [SBS]
AppleTV+’s historical drama Pachinko is well underway and new stills have been released featuring the main cast, including Yoon Yeo-jung (Minari, No Second Chances) and Lee Min-ho (The King: Eternal Monarch), among others. The drama starts streaming on March 25. [SpoTV News]

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1 DancingEmma

January 29, 2022 at 6:35 PM

More and more of Ryu Joonyeol, and less and less of Lee Minho. Please, Goddess of big and small things in the multiverse…

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Yeu

January 29, 2022 at 6:53 PM

That's impossible because of his legacy as a Hallyu Star. Why else have we suffered through 2 decades of SHK and her 'acting'.

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DancingEmma

January 29, 2022 at 8:21 PM

I know. Fairness is an illusory concept in this world.

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Yeu

January 29, 2022 at 10:42 PM

LMH, PSH, SHK having the illustrious careers they have will always be a mystery to me.

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Becky

February 1, 2022 at 6:57 AM

Lee Minho draws in viewers. We'll keep getting him in big dramas for this reason. I'm personally thrilled about that. I'm a big fan.

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DancingEmma

February 1, 2022 at 8:08 AM

@becky - I understand that tastes differ☺️

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2 TeaTimeandCrime

January 29, 2022 at 7:56 PM

Okay, two actors I adore, Kim Hyang-gi and Kim Min-Jae in the same drama? Sign me up!

I've never managed to finish a Lee Min-Ho drama but the period aesthetic of Pachinko is more than enough to get me to tune in.

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I basically have the same history with LMH as you—haven’t ever been able finish a drama with him. But Pachinko might be the one that makes me complete one—plus it’s only 8 episodes! I can do 8 episodes, right?

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spazmo

January 31, 2022 at 3:56 PM

imdb says he's only in ONE episode... but they don't list an older actor who plays Hansu in the later decades...
: |

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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 29, 2022 at 10:06 PM

At this point, I feel like most regular users of the site are tired of Lee Min-ho - and can we even blame them?

God I hope Koh Hansu (LMH’s character) gets recasted when he’s older. LMH miiiight be able to pull off the 30-ish, bourgeoisie asshole era because that’s his career speciality, but idk if he’s got the range to pull off Hansu’s older years.

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DancingEmma

January 29, 2022 at 10:58 PM

@ From your lips…
Btw, love the “ bourgeoisie asshole era”. So on the money.

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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 30, 2022 at 9:55 AM

That’s every Lee Min-ho character ever tbh.

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Becky

February 1, 2022 at 6:58 AM

I'm not tire of Lee Min Ho. Love him, and most of his dramas.

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currypuff

January 29, 2022 at 10:49 PM

Lee Min Jin wrote a masterpiece in Pachinko but I did not love Koh Han Su’s character for so many reasons — now that Lee Min Ho has been cast in the role, I’m not even a bit disappointed I don’t have Apple+ TV.

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3 Ally

January 29, 2022 at 8:30 PM

I’m all in for KMJ and a fusion sageuk. Yep, all in.

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4 ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 29, 2022 at 9:45 PM

I’m not exactly psyched about Lee Min-ho’s casting, but my god Pachinko is such a great novel. Even if you’re not planning on watching the show, I highly, highly recommend the book. It’s one of the “you must read before you die” sort of stories. And Youn Yuh-jung as Sunja…what incredible casting on that end.

But more importantly… Ryu Jun-yeol in a drama? Without a long hiatus? Alongside the legendary Miss Lee Ji-eun herself? Truly, ‘tis a day for miracles.

I hope Seung-gi’s upcoming drama doesn’t end up taking my remaining braincells. Mouse didn’t leave any behind to begin with. Kinda interested to see who they cast as a former Miss Korea turned lawyer (the female lead).

Yay more Kim Min-jae! And Kim Hyang-gi! My body is READY to watch a new sageuk - even a silly fusion one. This all sounds fun, but what happened to Fly High, Butterfly? Did JTBC forget to air it? Did someone get into a stupid (or serious) controversy? Where is it?

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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 29, 2022 at 9:59 PM

Oops, I had more thoughts but clicked post before typing it out. I’ll keep it short.

That Fire Station drama (the title is TOO LONG for a short post) better have Son Ho-jun and Gong Seung-yeon as the main couple. I’m traumatized from Kim Rae-won in Doctors. Also I like firefighters.

The setting for Gyeongseong Creature is more interesting than the casting. Sure, Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee are great and all, but 1940s Korea is not a time-period we see often in dramas. Definitely curious to see how it’s portrayed.

Oh Jung-se should be the male lead with Gong Hyo-jin instead of Lee Min-ho. How is anyone thinking otherwise?

As for the other dramas, I’ll probably check them out if they’re any good. Definitely watching Kill Heel though. Gotta fulfill my sapphic duties.

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currypuff

January 30, 2022 at 6:29 PM

I heartily concur with you and @miss h — we need more male leads of the Oh Jung Se variety, please and thank you. (Is it too much to hope some K-drama PDs and screenwriters might be secret Beanies?!)

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miss h

January 30, 2022 at 4:16 AM

I've been wondering the same about Fly High, Butterfly. There were rumors it was going to air after The One and Only but surely promotions would have started by now.

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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 30, 2022 at 9:56 AM

It was supposed to air after The One and Only? Oh, we’re being ROBBED.

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bomibeans

January 30, 2022 at 9:04 AM

I happened upon the Apple Walk with Min Jin Lee, and when she talks about her upbringing in NY, she comes across as terribly wicked and funny and I absolutely loved it. I never read Pachinko as family sagas put me in a awful mood full of regret and longing, but I wonder if her mischievous voice can be traced through the novel.

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kiara

January 31, 2022 at 12:18 PM

I love Kim Min-jae, but I wasn't impressed with "Flower Crew" or his acting. Kim Hang-gi is talented, but I haven't seen her in a sageuk.
I don't know what to expect.

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mugyuljoie is preciousss

February 1, 2022 at 2:09 AM

KMJ was too reserved in Flower Crew. Hoping this one is a better fit.

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kiara

February 1, 2022 at 7:56 AM

He is fantastic in rom.coms, but sageuks is a different challenge.

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bong-soo

February 1, 2022 at 8:14 AM

I will definitely be watching JOSEON PSYCHIATRIST and hoping it is a good fit for KMJ. I am currently at the early episodes of THE BIG HIT (2017) and enjoying him and Yoon Shi-yoon.
KMJ has sageuk experience in FLOWER CREW (2019) so such that it is should help. For JP maybe KMJ can learn from YSY’s performance in GRAND PRINCE. If KMJ can find a balance between his sometimes over the top performance in DALI and his uptight performance in BRAHMS it might be similar to how YSY toned down his persona for his role in GP. Just thinking out loud here.

bong-soo

February 1, 2022 at 8:22 AM

Also, I am adding Park Seo-joon’s GYEONGSEONG CREATURE to my list of upcoming historical dramas.

kiara

February 1, 2022 at 10:13 AM

@marcusnyc20 bong-soo

Kim Sang Kyung is a great veteran to learn from, but the PD is from "Ruler: Master of the Mask." 😟 Wasted two young talents in that show.

I don't know much about GYEONGSEONG CREATURE but I'm most excited about Jang Hyuk and Kang Han-na's sageuk.

5 beffels

January 29, 2022 at 10:02 PM

I’m tossing up whether or not I want to go to the trouble of finding a way to watch Pachinko - I guess it will depend on if reviews are good.

I will be watching Love According To The Law, because Lee Seung gi; it doesn’t have to be good 😂. His dramas are all pretty interesting picks to date so I expect at the least it will be not terrible. It sounds like quite a change of pace from Mouse 😅

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6 korfan

January 29, 2022 at 11:30 PM

Great to know Ryu Joon-yeol will be back so soon after his last drama!
Also happy to know Gong Hyo-jin will be returning .... plus Oh Jung-se in the same show!

I'll have to check out Kill Heel.

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7 Kurama

January 30, 2022 at 2:04 AM

I didn't read the novel for Pachinko, but it looks like an epic family story during a long period and with a lot of characters. So I wonder about the number of episodes or seasons... For now, it's kinda look they focused on Lee Min-Ho but the FL seems more important in the story...

Park Seo-Joon in a historical drama? Hum... his sageuk was his worst drama, so not too historical I hope.

So many news of projects, it's becoming so hard to follow!

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spazmo

January 31, 2022 at 4:45 PM

yes, koh hansu is a rather minor character - but he appears all along the way in spots... it's mainly about sunja and her sons and friends.

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8 miss h

January 30, 2022 at 4:25 AM

Money Game assembled a great cast.

Oh Jung-se always gets cast in big projects but after Uncle, I hate to see him go back to playing second fiddle. Take a chance and cast him as lead with Gong Hyo-jin. They'd be much better together than Gong Hyo-jin and Lee Min-ho.

Looking forward to seeing Na In-woo in 2D1N.

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9 Kafiyah Bello

January 30, 2022 at 7:14 AM

IU and Ryu Joon Yeol = absolutely + Park Jung Min = Bonus. I stopped watching LMH dramas years ago. Him and KES are persona non grata to me. I won't do it and I refuse to do it. I love the poster for Kill heels and will check it out.

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ladyjaye

January 30, 2022 at 12:38 PM

Who is KES?

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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 31, 2022 at 8:02 AM

Write Kim Eun-sook of Secret Garden, Heirs, Goblin, Descendants of the Sun, Mr. Sunshine, and The King: Eternal Monarch fame. She’s a pretty controversial figure around this site.

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ladyjaye

January 31, 2022 at 11:39 AM

Lool, I agree some of the dramas she has written are questionable, but that lady was in her bag with GOBLIN. Flaws and all, it was A DRAMA!!

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Doppelganger

January 31, 2022 at 4:05 PM

I feel like Kim Eunsook is the kdrama version of Shonda Rhimes.

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mindy

January 31, 2022 at 4:30 PM

You just blew my mind.

Kafiyah Bello

January 31, 2022 at 5:29 PM

Lol, I would agree with this if I didn't like Shonda Rhimes for at least a couple of seasons. I actively despise KES dramas. Goblin may have been a DRAMA, but the way I hated that drama. I'm getting angry typing this.

ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 31, 2022 at 6:40 PM

Oh my god I just got a revelation.

@kafiyah-bello, that’s exactly how I see Kim Eun-sook’s dramas. Literally the only part of Goblin I can tolerate is the soundtrack.

10 Doppelganger

January 30, 2022 at 7:33 AM

The synopsis for Money Game sounds like Squid Game.

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11 MO

January 30, 2022 at 9:50 AM

The most exciting combo of stars, writer, and director is this one:

Park Seo-joon (Itaewon Class) and Han So-hee (My Name) are both confirmed for historical thriller Kyungsung Creature (working title), written by Kang Eun-kyung (Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim) and directed by PD Jung Dong-yoon (Stove League). [KBS]

Looking forward to this one the most. Hope they have a great budget.

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12 Juststop

January 30, 2022 at 1:35 PM

So because you don't like an actor or actress (LMH, SHK, PSH) you wonder why they are popular or have good careers. Are you hearing yourself speak. The vitrol in this website towards LMH is quite sickening. You are not a fan move on don't keep barking up the wrong tree. People have genre they like let them enjoy it, giving criticism is good but (inserts eye roll) these actors have been hard working and luck shined on them
It's as cr*zy to say you should not get promoted because people outside the company don't like your behavior. Pachinko is going to be a hit, and LMH has always been a good actor. I don't think you need an Oscar winning performance in a romance comedy. Come for his character in a thriller or a sad movie if he fails to deliver. Same goes for Gal Gadot.

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knewbie

January 30, 2022 at 9:09 PM

1. As a genre, romantic comedy is at least as difficult a genre to get right as tragedy, thriller, etc. And being a rom-com lead - making everything look light and effortless - is much harder than it looks.

2. Pachinko is not a rom-com.

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beffels

January 30, 2022 at 10:06 PM

agreeing with your point 1 so much! People underestimate how hard it is to do romantic comedy well.

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Juststop

January 30, 2022 at 11:40 PM

1. Are you saying he did not deliver the comedic timing needed for most of his characters. Which would be false considering how popular these movies are and widely loved.
2. Nobody said pachinko is a rom-com. It was stated that if he fails to deliver here then you can come for his acting.
3. I think the bandwagon of hate is just as strong as love, people with no general hatred towards someone inherit the feeling from others because it is cool and acceptable to do so.
4. He role is to be charismatic, handsome and swoony and he delivers on all 3. You can say he's been type casted but saying he doesn't deserve a role. This is very much myopic thinking

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knewbie

January 31, 2022 at 1:08 AM

If you read my comment again, you'll find that I didn't say anything about Lee Min-ho at all. I can't, cos I've never seen any of his shows.

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Charlotte

February 1, 2022 at 12:30 AM

Have to toss in my unpopular opinion here too since the Lee Min Ho frenzy is peaking. Once Dramabeans commenters get on the same roll, it often becomes a pile-on and many times when I'm reading the comments, I actually fear the reprisals if I put in a dissenting opinion. But everyone deserves their say, so it's time to declare myself an unashamed Lee Min Ho fan. I read Pachinko ...and although the generation saga lost it's lustre a bit because we met so many characters, which diluted the emotional tone and tension for me, it was a good story. I'm looking forward to the series.

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knewbie

February 1, 2022 at 1:35 AM

Sorry but I really don't see how there could be anything as violent as "pile-ons" or "reprisals" here on Dramabeans. ("Love-ins" maybe, with dozens of fangirls piling love upon love.) The negative comments here about Lee Min-ho are mild by internet standards, and constitute just a fraction of all the views expressed about the article. From the top, out of 51 comments, we have seven about LMH, and the posters make it pretty clear that they are sharing their PERSONAL preferences and feelings, rather than stating objective facts about the guy:

1. "less and less of Lee Minho... Please"
2. "LMH, PSH, SHK having the illustrious careers they have will always be a mystery to me."
3. "I've never managed to finish a Lee Min-Ho drama"
4. At this point, I feel like most regular users of the site are tired of Lee Min-ho - and can we even blame them?
5. "God I hope Koh Hansu (LMH’s character) gets recasted when he’s older. LMH miiiight be able to pull off the 30-ish, bourgeoisie asshole era because that’s his career speciality, but idk if he’s got the range to pull off Hansu’s older years."
6. "now that Lee Min Ho has been cast in the role, I’m not even a bit disappointed I don’t have Apple+ TV."
7. "I’m not exactly psyched about Lee Min-ho’s casting"

ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

January 31, 2022 at 8:30 AM

Just because actors are hard-working means that they should be immune to criticism? Yeah, that’s a thoroughly bad take. For any person in any career, good-faith criticism of your work is essential. Otherwise there is a real risk of becoming complacent and repetitive. Lee Min-ho - and the other famous actors you mentioned - should be subject to the same scrutiny. If we the audience - the person he is supposed to perform for - are dissatisfied with his previous performances, then we have every right to say so.

As for that Oscars comment, why not? Romantic comedies have been a staple of cinema as far back as the silent film era. Contrary to what people may commonly believe now, it is not a trite or shallow category of film. Producing a great performance in it can be as great and memorable an achievement as in a thriller or tragedy. Exactly as @knewbie pointed out.

On a more subjective note, using Gal Gadot as a comparison to Lee Min-ho is a BAD choice. Despite her success, she has become somewhat notorious around film circles for her one-note, bad acting. Heck, she’s bland enough that I’m almost willing to concede that Lee Min-ho might be the better actor here. Maybe don’t use her as a positive juxtaposition to your faves? It actually makes them look worse in my eyes.

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13 jillian

January 30, 2022 at 9:47 PM

I have been looking forward to Pachinko because I really liked the novel. I want to see for myself how they will adapt it onscreen.

Other drama I am interested to see is KRW, SHJ and GSY drama. Gong Seung Yeon is underutilized in Bulgasal so hopefully this will be a meatier role for her.

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14 gadis

January 30, 2022 at 11:17 PM

I've been waiting for IU's comeback drama since forever, but I guess this is the one downside of one drama being insanely popular internationally. Yep, I'm talking about Squid Game because Money Game's synopsis sounds very similar to that. Hopefully the writer can provide us with a script that made me emotionally invested in the characters' journey, though (which is usually hard to achieve in this type of story).

Still undecided how to feel about Ask the Stars. Seo Sook-hyang is one of my favorite writers, and Gong Hyo-jin has worked brilliantly with her before. Oh Jung-se can handle the quirkiest character out there and deliver well. But I still can't see Lee Min-ho playing this writer's brand of quirky character and deliver her bordering on bizarre dialogues and somehow make it works. Better cross my fingers then.

Murderer's Shopping List seems to be an interesting blend of supense and comedy, which could work really well or turn into a complete disaster. It's just odd enough to catch my attention, and Lee Kwang-soo as one of the leads is one more point for this show.

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Ry

January 31, 2022 at 3:34 PM

I've read the Money Game webtoon and I can say that the story is different with Squid Game. In fact, I personally like it better than SG. So while there surely will be some comparisons, I'm not really worried about it.