I don't know. Is it just me, or does Kim Tae-hee look kind of...dumb in that poster?

I was tired perhaps a decade ago of the omnipresent movie/TV posters of the leads posing with guns. It's completely dull and overdone and I don't like the message.

Heh, not very interested in this show either. Nothing I'm anticipating, especially if it's another Lobbyist ~________~

Could it work? I don't how it could fail, considering the things LBH has been in and the experience gained (and not just in The Good/Bad/Weird). If you take the main folks involved in this particular project, and then throw out the names of the projects completed by these guys, then the resume looks pretty good. Add to that locations like Russia, USA, Japan and China, and Kim Tae-Hee, and guns and so on....

how could it fail?

Then again... the last spy "thriller" we watched was Sweet Spy, and just so you know, I am still trying to figure out how to get Dennis Oh (O'Neil) to send me the $70 + S/H that I paid to buy the stupid DVD set.

On the other hand, Lee Byung Heon is no Dennis.... so again, I am thinking optimistically. Aja Iris!

-Samsooki

"KBS’s 20-episode action series Iris [아이리스] will hold its production press conference next month and air in the fall."

Wasn't it SBS?

"or does Kim Tae-hee look kind of…dumb in that poster?"

It looks like a Pantene ad for handguns. Just like how the slogan goes, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me because I'm going to shoot you."

But, yeah, she resembles Jeon Hye-Bin a little in the Iris posters.

"how could it fail?"

The Lobbyist.

But, I suspect Iris will like The Lobbyist: With a Vengeance. So it'll be great! And Lee Byung Hun is sporting a fringe. So it'll be great!! And it has TOP playing Spock. So it'll be great!!! I'm in all sorts of squee for Iris.

@5: Wasn’t it SBS?

It will be aired on KBS 2TV.

@4: Could it work? I don’t how it could fail, considering the things LBH has been in and the experience gained,

IRIS is from the same writer of expensive flops Lobbyist & Air City - Choi Wan-kyu. It can fail big time just like many recent dramas boasting big budget and cast; they can on recoup their $$ with sales to Japan.

"IRIS is from the same writing team of Lobbyist - Choi Wan-kyu."

Yeah, the major issue with Iris is that Choi Wan Kyu is writing the show, which means Choi Wan Kyu won't be writing the show. He'll be writing Swallow the Sun, and he'll outsource the Iris plot to his farm, a la Stephen J Cannell. But that itself is fascinating, because that's when CWK really indulges his inner-80s fanboi. It may be like Shiri. It may be like the A-Team. It may be like Magnum PI. There will be blood. There will be fabulous hair. This I know.

"they can on recoup their $$ with sales to Japan."

Yup. This is a major Hallyu win. I'm All In for a Love Story about my Boss, my Hotelier.

Well, lessee.

I guess I just live in a world different than others like Belleza, Helena and JB, apparently.

In my world, I see the blue skies and bright sunshine, though it may be raining and gloomy at the moment. And instead of owls hooting mighty cynical dirges, I hear bright melodies of birds singing about love and happiness.

In my world, Jang Nara is given her own weekly thread on dramabeans and extolled for her wonderful music, her soulful acting, and her charitable work in China and other places. And every single rotating header has either Kim Sunah or Nam Sang Mi or both.

In my world, 200 lb Beauty is cheered for its humorous light fare and not killed for not attaching a public service announcement to its credits and/or not making the entire movie a public service announcement.

And in my world, Korean dramas with Kim Tae-Hee and Lee Byung Heon are given a chance to succeed before being pronounced DOA.......

-Samsooki

P.S., I still give much love and all due respect to Belleza, Helena and JB, whom I compared above to mighty cynical owls. In fact, as we all know, owls are very wise birds in fact, capable of rotating their heads 270 degrees among their other many abilities and/or accomplishments.

Those pictures are horrible. No imagination.

When I look at Kim Tae Hee's face, I can understand why I never expect anything from her acting, her face is pretty but very "vapid".

@ Samsooki.

Drugs are bad for you.

@KaOri,

I will respond by a clean and sober haiku.

IRIS may fail but
We should doubt less in life, since
Hope and love are one.

=)

-Samsooki

@Samsooki,

"I guess I just live in a world different than others like Belleza, Helena and JB, apparently."

Oh don't get me wrong. I've been looking to Iris since it got announced last year, and have been keeping track on the reports on this. These posters have been up for awhile already. If you've seen TOP's poster, he seriously looks like Spock!

Firstly, KTH is not credible at all with a gun in her hands.
If Kim So-yen will have proper screen time, she will totally put away KTH from the drama.

But I love the male casting, the four of them, so even if I'm not excited I know will watch it.

Kim Tae-hee the poor women looks like she is saying " Im holding the gun, am i doing this right...is this all i gotta do" Her poster says " I CAN'T ACT "

meheheh, I actually look forward to it XD

While there are some dramas that may have done a theme that may not have done so well, I dont think that future dramas with that theme will also fail. If I like the plot, cast, and story I look forward to it ^^

@Samsooki: "On the other hand, Lee Byung Heon is no Dennis…. so again, I am thinking optimistically. "

Ahh, didn't Dennis make you want to cringe at times? And than youre wondering how he got a lead (but I guess it's only because he speaks perfect English -.-?) But than again, this is Lee Byeong Heon~
He's an awesome actor with experience, and it reminds me of a Star's Lover. Whether the story/plot may go downhill, if the leads are good, than the drama could still go on! And I have faith in LBH and his acting skills (Not so much in Kim Tae Hui, but her beauty has benefits XD).

As for the Lobbyist - I prefer Song Il Gook in sageuks ^^

Honestly, after watching BOF, if bad directing+not so great OST+poor acting by some of the cast *ahem. HJ... GHS's over the top cutesyness* and STILL remain a hit and most high-rated series... anything is possible ^^;;;;

Well I don't really want to see the show for these two. I wanna see it because I like T.O.P. from Big Bang and I like Jung Joon Ho( Last Scandal of My Life) so regardless of how the posters appear I have to actually see it to judge.

Same writer as Lobbyist and Air City yes, but why doesn't anyone mention his successes such as All In, Love Story in Harvard and Jumong? Ok, belleza did, but belleza is always optimistic about everything :)

Agree with the new posters though; they do look kinda ordinary considering how beautiful and artistic some of the Korean movie posters can be. But let's not judge a drama by its poster, hey?

Guys, what's up with you today? Do I detect a liiiiittle bit more cynicism and sarcasm than usual?

I'm still not interested in Iris. I'd watch it only to see if Big Bang's TOP can act, but I have my doubts. *hides from the fangirls*

I must be one of the only five people in the world who liked Lobbyist (even if, at times, it was out of sheer curiosity to see what kind of harm they'd think to inflict on their protagonist next. I have never seen a drama so in love with torturing its hero). So if it's like that drama, I won't mind. I am easy: give me actors I like, artsy violence, exotic locations, and tough ladies and gents, and I'll be happy even if the resulting product is not a masterpiece.

I don't know about this one and Lee Byung Hun has been my favorite actor for ages, beside the "HOT" factor, I truly believe he is one truly great actor. However, I was so disappointed when I heard Kim Tae Hee was the other female lead. But I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. I have waited a long long time to see a LBH drama, I hope she won't ruin it for me. But the poster sort of tells me that she has not improved much. She still doesn't get the expression right, I don't know why. So disappointed.

@Kobe,

"Ok, belleza did, but belleza is always optimistic about everything"

belleza is really psyched about this show. Lee Byung Hun will be cooler than the either side of the pillow. You can bank 20 million on it.

"Same writer as Lobbyist and Air City yes, but why doesn’t anyone mention his successes such as All In, Love Story in Harvard and Jumong? "

It's because Choi Wan Kyu actually wrote those shows. A lot of the times Choi Wan Kyu would just come up with story concept (and like I said, the dude has a huge boner for Rambo-style plots, which come to fruition when he doesn't have to write the thing) and have the other writers actually fill in the show. He's not so much a PD as a brand, like Jerry Bruckheimer.

I just feel the main problem with Iris is his commitment toward Swallow the Sun. One of the shows will probably have to give, and it was underlined that he was definitely writing Swallow. He needs to be more than involved.

Having said all that, Iris = Win

@ 23 Anonymous, lolz that makes us the only 2 out of 5 persons in the world who thought the lobbyist wasn't that bad :P
I admit some parts were so dull, boring and painful, Jang Jin Young as the female lead actress was wooden at some parts and the storyline was kinda bleh! but I admit, if it wasn't for Song Il Kook, I wouldn't even bothered to finish the whole freaking thing!!!

if Choi Wan-kyu is involved in this drama too, then NO THANK YOU, I pass!!!
I just hate the way this guy writes! he turns all of his dramas into a very stupid plot and overdone cliches!!! I totally agree with Mister X's last write up about this man!!! after I watched Jumong, Lobbyist and now Kingdom Of The Winds, I can say that this writer has no imagination or innovation what's so ever!!!

to me, "Time Of Dog And Wolf" is the top thriller action Korean drama of all time, and I think it will stay like that for a long time!!! talk about originality, amazing cast, fast-paced plot, cliff-hangers everywhere, twists and the OST rocks!!

now speaking of the posters lol yeah both look like they are trying to look mean! like they're saying: "we're holding real guns! please be afraid of us" hehehehe

Kim Tae-hee??? I'll pass on this series thank you very much!!! I can't stand looking at this woman whether on her 30 seconds CF, let alone a 20 episode series. Her acting is ouch!

Sorry Lee Byung-heon you are a good actor but unlucky enough to have miss crazy eyes as your leading lady.

Kim Tae-hee as secret agent just doesn't sound viable.

The poster image is a little bit misleading. Kim Tae Hee's character is an agent, but she isn't written to be spy or femme fatale. That's going to, I think, Kim So Yeon. Synopsis has her as his recruiter and maybe interpol agent that hunts him down. This looks like a gender flip on Shiri; he will be like the Kim Yun Jin character; she will be like the Han Sak-Kyu character.

how much do you want to bet that kim tae hee bites her lip and flares her eyes to show __________ (insert emotion here - anger, annoyance, surprise, fear, etc...)?

KTH's poster looks like a teen model with the theme innocence and her innocent image is contrasted with the gun in her hand.. or that she just had a random prop that just so happened to be a gun :p

in other words, KTH you're reaaally pretty, but i'm not feeling any charlie's angel or spy or police or secret agent (or anything in that line) vibe from your poster :|

I'm so excited about this drama, it's bordering on a dangerous, unhealthy obsession...if I'm disappointed by it, I'll lose a lot of faith in k-dramas....loll...

@djes,

I think this cast is definitely a Stairway to Heaven even if there 's one Last Scandal with Kim Tae Hee on board. But you gotta gotta take The Good, The Bad, and The Weird (i.e. see TOP's poster O_o ) to get Gourmet. Oh what Beautiful Days, what Shining Days!! Kobe is Kim Tae Hee's most fervent Lobbyist, so I know he's definitely All In.

"he CAN play as a cool assasin without have to show any emotion. Just shut up and no smile and he already look cool."

Exactly. Seriously, it's hard to screw up being a spy, especially a Vulcan spy. I think, therefore I am going to kill you Lee Byung Hun. This stuff writes itself.

"Ohh, I like “Time between Dog and Wolf” but I love “H.I.T” more! Better casts, more suspense, better acting. But that’s just my opinion. Ha Jung Woo > Lee Jun Ki, Go Hyun Jung > Nam Sang Mi in my world. no offense"

Yeah, HIT, Air City, and Time of Dog + Wolf made up the "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" trilogy of 2007 MBC drama (the 3 shows almost ran sequentially.) Add up the running time of those shows, and you have 2008's East of Eden, which was just as . . . . awww gawd 54 episodes and THAT was the ending?!? Did you really need to have Song Seung Heon glow like the 2nd Coming of Geezus?!? O_o

Hmm, I dunno. I'm just going to watch it for TOP. Does that make me shallow?

...

Yeah, probably.

I personally liked him in I Am Sam, especially considering that he is such a spazz in reality, and yet he is able to pull of cool, charismatic, and kind of scary at the drop of a pin. (No, he isn't my favorite member of Big Bang, I'm just constantly amused that the guy who naturally looks so scary is actually a dork). :-D

@Jess,

Come to think of it, it would be pretty awesome if TOP mowed down a bunch of agent . . . . to Lollipop. :D

This upcoming over hyped drama seem packaged for the Japan & China market than Korea itself.

Like some, I am looking forward to the 3 veteran male casts only aka LBH, JJH & KSW...it's storyline may just be another Lobbyist.

"This upcoming over hyped drama seem packaged for the Japan & China market than Korea itself."

I think that goes without saying. Most of the big budget projects, including Boys Before Flowers, were produced for the international market It's also the only way to cover these budgets as well as the Hallyu salaries (though that's a circular argument, since you would only hire a Hallyu actor in order to get the foreign investment and distribute internationally.) Shiri was a hit across Asia, so that'll help too.

The budget is dangerous, though, in this current economy, and these big-budget projects were greenlit before the world economy went south. It's just irresponsible. I still feel that the K-dramas will be really different by winter this year.

LBH is in another spy thing..no surprises coz he's either one spy, a gangster, gambler...etc..etc..he's awesome..Not too sure about Kim TaeHee...the look on that poster is wrong..guns dont suit her..The other babe, Kim SoYeon looks hot..a perfect Matahari sort..

I try to like Kim Tae-hee but can never go pass 10 min of her dramas. My husband loved her in . . . 'Forbidden Love?' I thought . . . next (drama) please.

mk

Javabeans, sorry if you've said in other posts but I haven't come across it so far....
are you going to be recapping the series?

These posters really don't look that great. Not only Kim Tae Hee, but I think Lee Byung Heon also looks kind of "dumb".

I'm not particularly thrilled about IRIS, but the actors look good. As long as KTH looks like her normal pretty self and doesn't talk too much, I think we've got ourselves a better cast than Cain and Abel's. And C&A is pretty tolerable thanks to its actors.

BTW, what was so bad about Lobbyist? I've never seen it, but its been getting criticisms everywhere.

@ belleza

RIGHT ON!!!! ;-D

Yeah....just stick with Story of a Man. How's Cinderella Man btw?

If they wanted everything Super Amazing Deluxe including fabulous hair for IRIS, why oh why did they make kim so yeon cut her mane?
"emasculated", in a fashion!
p.s. how's this idea for recovering that $70: pass the hat among other dennis fans :D (then again maybe they aren't as reliable as rain/suju fans -- don't flame :P )

"why oh why did they make kim so yeon cut her mane?"

It's not a boy cut; it's a cut that says "I shoot people in the daytime, and I go clubbing in St. Petersburg with my mobster boyfriend." I like! And I'm glad Kim So Yeon is changing up her signature luxurious hair, and her pose is perfect.

To be honest, cynical part of me thinks Lee Byung Hun doesn't want to act opposite an actress of KSY's mature sensuality. He mostly seems to prefer acting opposite ingenues and Audrey types. Which is cool. If there's a scene where LBH leaves KTH at the altar because he was too busy shooting his way to the church, well hey I'm all in.

@ 23 Anonymous and Selva, that makes us 3 out of 5 who like Lobbyist. At least I think Jang Jin Young is more fit for a female agent role than Kim Ta Hee, and of course, Song Il Kook rocks.

belleza - "It looks like a Pantene ad for handguns" LOL, you cracked me up.

I'll watch Iris just because I have faith in Lee Byung Hun, love him in All In.

@cosmopolite about Cinderella Man,

I watched the first half of Cinderella Man's debut, I think Kwon Sang Woo and Yoona may actually work. And -- I can't believe that I'm saying this -- Kwon Sang Woo and a Pama actually work too. O_o The age gap isn't obvious. Kwon Sang Woo could pass for mid-to-late 20s here, and Yoona could pass for 21-23 here. KSW also does a wonderful job giving us two personalities that are distinct, but subtle.

And, yeah, there's cast members from both You Are My Destiny (Sabeyuk's biological mom) and Boys Before Flowers (the butler and Jandi's daddy) here. And, yeah, it DOES feel like I'm watching the beginning of East of Eden all over again, but in a good way. The first episode is crisply paced, beautifully edited, melancholy (funerals kick off the show, but the presentation is matter-of-fact and it immediately sets up Yoona with the Pauper) but not overdone.

And I agree with Sarah. 2009's been unusually strong with super-fun and super-artistic dramas. Something for all. This could be a stronger year than 2007.