Ok so hear me out: A drama called Second Lead, where the main character is in love with a feisty-but-slightly-dim girl (called, say, Candy?) who spurns his love and begins a relationship with her chaebol-in-disguise new next door tsundere neighbor who loves her despite grabbing her wrist all the time. The drama shows our main character’s heartbreak and subsequent personal growth, and then his adorable relationship with a witty, genius-astronaut-in-training (who is also the heiress to a large corporation, if you want; I do love a good fancy-dress scene.)

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    Important question: Who would you cast?

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      Ok, don’t judge me for overthinking, this ok?

      Male lead: I think it needs to be someone who is a believable second lead. That was part of the genius of the casting in My First First Love to me—that Ji-soo could actually be the second lead, so you weren’t 100% sure (or i wasn’t) how things would go. And it needs to be someone with enough range to pull off heartbroken and also evolve with a dynamic arc. Jang Dong-yoon? (I know, I know. I always cast him in my imaginary dramas!) Park Bo-gum…Park Ki-woong? (I’m ignoring the age factor, I know.)

      Second Female Lead and Chaebol Neighbor: In an ideal world, where I am a casting director and have lots of funds at my disposal, this is where I’d cast the a-listers…Like, I want the show to look like it’s passing over the typical main leads and following our sad second lead. So Kim yoo-jung…Kim So-hyun…Park Shin-hye? Hyun Bin…Yeo Jin-goo…Yoo Ah-in? Someone who can execute the role but with levity to parody it, too.

      Female lead (the genius astronaut in training): Jin Ki-joo! Or Park Se-wan…Lee Si-young and Lee Yuri come to mind, too.

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        No judgement, this is totally an important inquiry 🤝

        omg how awesome would it be for Jang Dongyoon to star in this (I was just thinking this morning that he would’ve made a great Prince Dowon :P)??

        Seconded for Kim Yoojung + Yeo Jingoo for that Moon Embracing the Sun reunion—Yoojung really needs to act alongside an age-appropriate co-star!!!

        Astronaut: If we’re talking Jang Dongyoon I think I’d pick maybe Chae Soobin?

        Also, I would casually shove Park Kiwoong in as the main character’s older brother for pure fan service purposes. (I’m the fan.)

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          The more I think about it, the more I like Kim Yoojung + Yeo Jingoo. Agree about the age-appropriate factor, but I also like the sort of meta-message their casting could send: not getting the “drama-ish” romantic partner, but getting someone more real etc. I also LOVE the idea now of KYJ playing a Candy 😉

          I can’t quite imagine the chemistry between JDY and Chae Soo-bin…I do love her…but is she *too* cute for this? I think a genius astronaut might need a little more gravitas? I’m torn on this one, I admit.

          AND YES. *scribbles frantically on my script to add an older brother so we can have all the Park Kiwoong that is humanly possible* I already need his spinoff 🙂

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