Seo In-gook challenges Park So-dam in Death’s Game
by solstices
Holy moly, this lineup is impressive! TVING original Death’s Game has kickstarted promotions by announcing its extensive, star-studded cast — led by Seo In-gook (Cafe Minamdang) and Park So-dam (Record of Youth) — and if I weren’t already intrigued by its premise, I’d certainly be drawn in by these names alone.
Fed up with seven years of chronic unemployment and penniless from a recent bitcoin scam, protagonist Choi Yi-jae (Seo In-gook) has had enough of what he deems a pathetic life. Wanting to end his suffering once and for all, he decides to take his own life — but his blasé attitude towards dying incenses the powers that be.
Yi-jae ought to be taught a lesson, and who better to do it than Death herself? Played by Park So-dam, Death sentences Yi-jae to trial by demise — he’ll have to experience dying through thirteen different lives. If, and only if, Yi-jae manages to avoid kicking the bucket, then he’ll be able to live out the full duration of that lifetime. The drama’s title is an amusing pun that perfectly encapsulates this scenario — drawn from the phrase “now, you will die soon,” the word for “now” (yi-je) has been cleverly replaced with “Yi-jae,” describing his impending doom.
Barely any information has been released about the supporting roles, which is being described as the “secret cast” by the production team — I’m guessing they’ll be playing Yi-jae’s various reincarnations? First, we have Kim Ji-hoon (Money Heist: Korea — Joint Economic Area), looking dapper in church with a fresh haircut. Joining him are Choi Siwon (Work Later, Drink Now 2), Sung Hoon (Woori the Virgin), and a young Kim Kang-hoon (Reborn Rich).
Elsewhere, a clean-cut Jang Seung-jo (The Good Detective 2) dons a sharply-pressed suit, while Lee Jae-wook (Alchemy of Souls 2) is dressed more casually with a fence at his back. Meanwhile, Lee Do-hyun (The Good Bad Mother) wears a melancholic expression amidst a rainy day, and Go Yoon-jung (Alchemy of Souls 2) seems to be a college student getting her daily caffeine fix.
Last but not least, we have the two names I’m most excited for. Kim Jae-wook (Crazy Love) has returned to grace our screens, gazing soulfully into a mirror, and this single snapshot is already reminding me of his beautiful brooding in The Guest. Finally, we have Oh Jung-se (Revenant) in what looks like a broadcasting station, and I’m eager to see him back on my screen so soon after his impressive performance in Revenant.
Presumably, given the long list of supporting actors, Yi-jae will fail multiple times in his effort to thwart Death’s trials. Still, there’s light at the end of the tunnel — past all the action, melodrama, and thrills of Yi-jae’s various lives, the drama promises a healing tale that will offer comfort to those exhausted by life itself.
Helmed by PD Ha Byung-hoon (18 Again, Go Back Spouses), who also wrote the drama’s scripts, the webtoon adaptation Death’s Game is slated to premiere this December.
Via Tenasia
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Tags: Choi Siwon, Death's Game, Go Yoon-jung, Jang Seung-jo, Kim Jae-wook, Kim Ji-hoon, Lee Do-hyun, Lee Jae-wook, Oh Jung-se, Park So-dam, Seo In-gook, Sung Hoon
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1 💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 4, 2023 at 2:25 PM
Low Bar, Ziggy, your drama bar right now is so, very, very low.
It should not be hard to beat, and yet this premise sounds like it has the potential to lower it even farther, can you believe that??!?
Which would be tragic for you, and also for such an intentionally star packed supporting and cameo list... *raises eyebrow*.
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Kafiyah Bello
August 4, 2023 at 2:30 PM
It could be worse he could be in your favorite season 2 show with no magic horse. 😜
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💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 4, 2023 at 2:34 PM
It could be even worse than that again: he could be Squid Game S2.
I wouldn't watch SGS2 for any actor in the world though, even Ziggy.
But not lying, this show sounds like it could live up to both of those... 😅😬😬😬
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Kafiyah Bello
August 4, 2023 at 2:35 PM
HA!!
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nerdy
August 5, 2023 at 12:05 AM
As someone who has read the webtoon till the end, I can say it is a surprisingly great story albeit an extremely cynical one. If the screenwriter does not decide to go off the rails, we should be safe.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 5, 2023 at 3:07 AM
I just started the webtoon 🤣. Thanks for the recommendation.
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💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 5, 2023 at 2:14 PM
Hmmmm... I read elsewhere that it is very hopeless... The webtoon...
I despise hopeless storytelling so, I'm still not optimistic.
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2 Kafiyah Bello
August 4, 2023 at 2:29 PM
I love love that Park So Dam is playing death. Also this is a pretty great cast. Now will this drama be better than her last one and SIG's last one, we are hoping because I really want to enjoy this.
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3 Kurama
August 4, 2023 at 2:32 PM
So we got SIG but he won't play his own role...
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4 jerrykuvira
August 4, 2023 at 3:11 PM
Park So-dam playing Death...wow!
This one has me wrapped in with the cast. Impressive. Kim Jae-wook, Choi Si-won, Jang Seung-jo, Oh Jung-se... I'm sold.
I hope the PD is also penning the scripts.
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5 kiara
August 4, 2023 at 3:12 PM
Kim Ji-hoon cut his mane of glory. 😭
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Diana Hansen
August 5, 2023 at 9:05 AM
And he still looks fabulous! (I did love his mane of glory though)
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6 LaurenSophie
August 4, 2023 at 3:39 PM
I'm confused--is SIG going to get substantial, lead-like screen-time? Or will he only be in the first and last episode while his character is temporarily played by a streaming array of other stars?
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Unaspirated
August 5, 2023 at 6:23 AM
This is what I’m wondering about too. It also seems like a ton of ground to cover for a normal length drama. But maybe the other lives will be really short and we’ll get more SIG in between them?
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nerdy
August 5, 2023 at 6:37 AM
Some lives are extremely short. As in he wakes up as someone and is killed instantly.
The main character shows up in the beginning and in between some lives (we might catch his glimpse in reflections too). If they don't change the story and my assumption is right, SIG's role is going to be just as long as Lee Do Hyun's.
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7 loveblossom🌸
August 4, 2023 at 6:03 PM
You got me with Kim Jae Wook!
Another 'webtoon adaptation'. The premise sounds good though. Feels like it would be all doom and gloom. Wonder how the healing part will be.
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8 spazmo
August 4, 2023 at 6:44 PM
holy heck... what a cast lineup!! i guess i have to be ALL IN....
: O
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9 Gikata
August 4, 2023 at 9:56 PM
This is a lineup for ages, wow. But premise makes a little sense to me - ML is so stressed about life that he decides to off himself and Death punishes him... by granting him his wish for 13 times in a row? How is that supposed to change his attitude? Or those lives are gonna be so drastically better than his original one that he gets his will to live back eventually? Oh well, another webtoon adaptation... since when they were known for being logical anyway? *shrugs* Don't have much hopes, sorry.
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10 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 4, 2023 at 10:29 PM
Is it me or is this the equivalent of a Dulux colour mix of the dramas See you in my 19th life, Scripting your destiny, Doom at your service and a back in the day US drama Quantum Leap?
I am not ashamed to admit I am intrigued enough to try it IF they keep it light and funny.
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11 Diana Hansen
August 5, 2023 at 9:03 AM
Its giving me goosebumps with all those great cast members so is that good or bad? I am willing to watch to find out! (yeah, I watch the rainstorm from my window too)
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12 Sueweetie Sahar
August 8, 2023 at 11:42 AM
OMG is this a drama or k-stars gathering ?...
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13 JillofAllTrades
August 17, 2023 at 12:24 PM
Woah! Just for that line up, I can give it a try! And what a premise! (And Kim Jae-wook!!!)
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 17, 2023 at 1:03 PM
I am reading the webtoon it’s dark but quite funny too. Not sure how they will capture that in the drama but I am hoping I will be able to watch without being scared.
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JillofAllTrades
August 17, 2023 at 1:06 PM
Is it on Naver Webtoon?
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 17, 2023 at 1:09 PM
Yes it is.
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