I didn't know that Kim Hee is that tall and she don't even have high heels but I don't like the curly hair though :/

i'm excited!!!! LHN is adorable with those specs.
3 hot and manly guys, i gotta say this PD has an eye for guys, might be because she's a girl too =p hahahaha..

I am reminded of Finding Nemo.

Seagulls: Mine.
Seagulls: Mine.

JB: [quietly to YKS] Okay, don't make any sudden moves. Hop inside my car... if you want to live.

Dramabean Seagulls : Mine?

Luckily, JB has nipped that one in the bud. We are all cool now. All of Triple belongs to JB, and KJW belongs to me.

Let me tie up my hair and get my earrings out...

I am not surrendering these guys without a fight, yo!

(Ok fake ghetto anger out....but I still claim Yoon Kye-sang.)

*can't hear you.....can't hear you....i can't hear yooooou*

omgomgomg it's THE yoonkyesang smile!!! he looks absolutely adorable in that second group pic. who could forget that goofy smile??? <3<3<3

and dayum, kim hee is tall!

oh man, number one on my list right now.
please, please, please let it be good.
when i first read about the plot, i thought lee seon-gyun and min hyo-rin were stepsiblings. whoops. but seems lee seon-gyun will be a bit of a player in this one. with that voice, i'd love him in any role!
and yoon kye-sang is total <3

The plot sounds like a soap oper but im assuming it'll all be done in a tongue in cheek way, heres hoping the cast has great chemistry.

Kim Hee looks freakishly tall...or Min Hyo Rin is super tiny (she's the only one wearing heels). O.o

Ah, one more week! :D

@ Samsooki

Reporters are out in the field...News Update to follow later....

Be afraid.
Be very afraid.
:P

hahahaha...this war between men is so funny to watch. :) good (or not good?) thing i'm just watching all these from afar. :P

but the relationship is so complicated...love hexagon...oei.

JB's men: One = LJJ, Three = YKS, Five = Voice
Two = Lee Hana. Four = Min Hyorin, Six = Kim Hee.

One hurt by Two
Two likes Three
Four likes One.
Six had fling with Five.
Six likes One too.

Nobody seems to like any of the women - Two, Four, and Six (just had a fling but nobody likes her either?). It seems that the girls are chasing the guys in this one?

so howsabout we just come to the understanding that they are ALL mine? Okay? Phew, I knew we could work that out ----> LOL.. hahah

Can't wait for Triple too... counting down days..

sounds good. i hope the lead couple is not the step brother & sister. it makes me think of One Fine Day, but that had 2 creepy bother/sister relationships.

LOL about JB and dibs on MINE! How did you know an outbreak of mine would occur? hehehe

Oh my a week to go! It looks so fun - and thank god Lee Jung Jae's hair is no longer Spock like (at least in the press con!) This is really looking like one fun series. Not to mention a great looking one!

@4 Samsooki ..... really you are tempting fate aren't you? :P

@11 hjkomo - Looking forward to the news update! I think that even a crack team of CSI (with Grishom) will be unable to trace the suspects/culprits/lionesses just due to the vast vast numbers. :P
Honestly hjkomo don't you agree that some people never learn (or took the repeated warnings seriously)? LOL

Wow finally something to look forward to. I missed coffee prince spirit and hope Triple brings that to me. I cant help but to expect much.

This is exactly what I kept complaining about before! It's just going to be another sappy love story. The drama could have picked any sport, so why figure skating? Because like everyone else, they're all money grubbing exploiters and cashing in on someone else's fame. Couldn't they have at least waited until AFTER the Olympics to start their exploitation? It's nine months away! They couldn't wait nine months?! It's freaking one pregnancy!

Man, what a waste! Everyone kept raving about the PD doing such a fantabulous job with Taereung National Village, that I actually had some hope she would be able to shed some serious light on Koreans and their excessive nature of sports nationalism. Especially the hot issue of Korea VS Japan. I was all ready to grovel and beg on my knees for forgiveness since I basically bashed it at every opportunity. But looks like I was right all along! It's the same forumla used in every other drama: eye candy + love story + popular backdrop, with absolutely no significant lesson or moral to be learned.

And screw Lee Jung Jae for requesting a cameo from Kim Yeon Ah. Dude, please! While you're riding her wave, she's a little preoccupied right now preparing for, the oh you know, OLYMPICS!

AAAAAAnnnnd end rant.

@18 ndegeocello

I'm not sure what you are complaining about?

1. the fact that they picked figure skating is bad because....?
2. the fact that they picked good looking actors is bad because..?
3. the fact that it has a love story with multiple relationships is bad because...
4. the fact that the olympics is approaching in less than a year is bad because...
5. what exactly is the waste?

Based on your post, I think you want the PD to make the drama a crusade against sports nationalism? Why does the PD have to do that? If if she doesn't, then will you complain about every other drama that doesn't focus on the evils of sports nationalism? I mean, I think Temptation of Wife and Queen of Housewives also didn't focus on the evils of sports nationalism.... should we also complain to the PD there too?

"It’s the same forumla used in every other drama: eye candy + love story + popular backdrop, with absolutely no significant lesson or moral to be learned."

First, hard to say whether it will be the same formula "used in every other drama," but if it is, then does that mean you dislike every other drama and complain about every other drama? Second, I find it hard to believe that you would know whether there is or isn't a significant lesson or moral to be learned in Triple unless you peeked at the script, and third, why does there have to be a significant lesson or moral lesson to be learned? Why does this particular drama have to bear the burden of your cause celebre?

[Look, it’s gonna be tedious calling out “MINE” for every single cast member and photo, so howsabout we just come to the understanding that they are ALL mine? Okay? Phew, I knew we could work that out.]

sorry JB but i have to veto that.....i am really looking forward to this drama :)

dear J.beans
Thank you.

@18 ndegeocello

you should first learn to organize your thoughts before you put it in a sentence and post your complaint..

because i believe nobody really get your point..

-----
eye candy + love story + popular backdrop..

thank you for point out why i love watching k.drama..

so cut the eye candy,and popular backdrop- i can just watching a couple next door fighting..am i?

JB.
ALL three your's.....LOL, Just knew the folks would have something to say about that.
Newly wed Lee Seon-kyun looks a tad tired, don't you think. Hard to think of Mr Cool Head, Lee Jung-jae as a volcano temper.
Looking forward to the first two episodes, and on the same day. Ratings will be higher.....we hope.

@ 4 Samsooki.
10 points for bravery....hehe Seagulls, where, here.......naaaaa

@ 11 hjkomo.
The team back at the site....tipoff has it Dana Scully N Fox Mulder, glimpsed in the area.

@ bspanda

yeah, some just never learn...tsk, tsk...

@ B.B.

But Scully's too busy with Dickens and other period productions on the other side of the Atlantic, and Mulder's currently in rehab for his *ahem* addictions....

~
the latest News Update is posted at Open Thread #85
:P

Back on topic -
This looks like it's going to be fun.
Let the drooling begin...

Yes, I'm evil, Satan, and annoying for being against this drama. I'm sure y'all have the same questions as Samsooki, so when I address Samsooki, I guess I'm addressing all of you as well.

@20 Samsooki
“Based on your post, I think you want the PD to make the drama a crusade against sports nationalism? Why does the PD have to do that? “

It doesn't have to be about sports nationalism, but it's an example of making the drama about something more than just a love story. I want the drama to be of significant value, other than a love story taking place in an ice rink. Figure skating is hot in Korea right now. It would have been nice if the first ever drama about figure skating actually had to do with the sport instead of pretty people falling in love. So yes, I would like it if the PD made the drama about something other than a love story. Currently, there are a lot of areas in which Korean fans can improve on their knowledge of figure skating and sportsmanship. Specifically, this engraved rivalry they have with Japan. If this drama could show how much this rivalry feeds racial tensions between Koreans and Japanese and how much it discourages moving forward instead of stating the past, then I think the drama would have significant meaning and it would be worth it to focus on figure skating. Otherwise, if it’s just a love story they want to tell, then it’s purely exploiting the popularity of figure skating to entice more viewers to watch.

“If if she doesn’t, then will you complain about every other drama that doesn’t focus on the evils of sports nationalism? I mean, I think Temptation of Wife and Queen of Housewives also didn’t focus on the evils of sports nationalism…. should we also complain to the PD there too?”

Did Temptation of Wife and Queen of Housewives have a sports related backdrop? Did a specific sport precede every headline with the name of their drama? Was it labeled Basketball drama, Temptation of Wife or Swimming drama, Queen of Housewives? Because every single headline I read about Triple, it said: FIGURE SKATING DRAMA TRIPLE.

The PD can say NOW the drama will not focus on figure skating, but since early pre-production days, the drama has been hailed as a figure skating drama. If she’s not going to make it about figure skating, then it’s a completely cheap ploy to lure viewers. And yeah, outside of the dramasphere, people in Korea are interested in Triple solely because it’s supposedly about figure skating.

Almost everyone who reads dramabeans will know who Yoon Kye Sang, Lee Jung Jae, and Lee Sun Kyoon are, and may not have even heard of Kim Yeon Ah, or maybe only heard her name here and there. In Korea, Kim Yeon Ah is EVERYWHERE. She’s more famous than Yoon Kye Sang, Lee Jung Jae, and Lee Sun Kyoon combined. I swear, I’m not even exaggerating. Toddlers to grannies in the countryside know who she is. I can’t say the same about the Trio. Her name is all over the news to a point where it’s become ridiculous. The 9:00 national news and online media hounds report the most insignificant details about her life like when she changes the background music on her cyworld. It’s really ridiculous, right? Well, if the media salivates over her cyworld, how do you think they’re going to react to a figure skating drama?

She’s under an immense amount of pressure to win gold at the Olympics. You and others may think a drama related to figure skating will have no effect on her, but it will. It heightens interest in figure skating even more and it translates to more pressure and expectations for her to win gold.

"First, hard to say whether it will be the same formula “used in every other drama,” but if it is, then does that mean you dislike every other drama and complain about every other drama? "

Actually, I do hate dramas which use the occupation formula. This drama is about lawyers falling in love. This drama is about doctors falling in love. This drama is about fashion designers falling in love. A great example of a drama really focusing on the occupation instead of using it as a backdrop for a love story, is White Tower.

“Second, I find it hard to believe that you would know whether there is or isn’t a significant lesson or moral to be learned in Triple unless you peeked at the script, and third, why does there have to be a significant lesson or moral lesson to be learned? Why does this particular drama have to bear the burden of your cause celebre?”

IMO, if you’re given the golden opportunity in being the first drama about figure skating, (yes, it is a golden oppurtunity because many people were fighting over the right to exploit such a popular sport) then make it good and meaningful. Like I said before, it would have been nice if the drama was actually about figure skating instead of using it to attract viewers. Think about it, Korea just witnessed one of their own become the World Figure Skating Champion. And then this drama supposedly about figure skating comes out and people are anticipating it, thinking, "Oh, is this what Kim Yeon Ah’s life is like?" But what do they get? A frilly love story. I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t want a chick flick. I want to see the gritty, hard stuff.

The drama could have used this opportunity to show exactly how much pressure the country is putting on Kim Yeon Ah or how difficult her life actually is or how media can often distort news to heat up a rivalry. (SBS made a false report on Japanese skaters interfering Kim Yeon Ah during practice and it raised hell among Korean and Japanese viewers. First, Korean viewers believed the news report and scorned the Japanese. Then the Japanese news reported on the false reporting on SBS and made some false accusations about Kim Yeon Ah, which Japanese viewers believed and scorned Kim Yeon Ah.) See, there are all these areas in which Korean fans can improve on and these messages/lessons could have been learned through the drama if it were presented, but again, Triple isn’t about figure skating. It’s a love story.

So many wasted opportunities is what I'm complaining about.

@ 25 hjkomo.

OH MY, Oh my......The Seagulls did it !!!!!
See what happens when I fall asleep............more coffee, more coffee.
Catch you on Friday. Back to the movie.

*steals Lee Jung Jae & runs*

I think some people are being picky and prejudiced to 'Triple' just because it's about figure skating and they think the drama is trying to ride on Kim yu-na's fame. But what's the problem? If there are dramas about baseball and other sports for example, what's the problem about having a drama about figure skating...?

There are many people that don't care about figure skating but is looking foward to watch this drama. I am one of them. I don't care about figure skating or kim yu-na so I'm glad that figure skating won't be the main focus about this drama and even if it was, I would still look foward for it. And the reason I'm looking foward for it is because of the cast.

I do believe I claimed Lee Seon-Kyun MONTHS ago and, even if he's currently marrying and making babies with other women, as far as all Dramabeans-world is concerned... The Voice is MINE.

@27 ndegeocello -

"Yes, I’m evil, Satan, and annoying for being against this drama. I’m sure y’all have the same questions as Samsooki, so when I address Samsooki, I guess I’m addressing all of you as well."

Why take a sarcastic victim approach to replying?

Yes, I agree. Figure skating is hot, but so is baseball (WBC year), soccer (WC qualifying year, heading into WC), and trendy dramas abound even not in the athletic world.

If I were to make a drama about baseball, about a Korean player who was locked into playing for a relatively obscure Korean team for peanuts, before he would have to join the army, and then by then might be too old to realize his dream of playing pro ball in Japan and/or America, then if I make it primarily a story of love and loss, then am I to be trashed for not adding in stuff about Japanese / Korean relations? I don't see why I "need" to add extraneous stuff to my drama. And, to call my drama "just" about love, is really a backhanded slap. If you want to tell a story about how Japanese / Korean relations and sportsmanship should be improved, then write an editorial and send it to a newspaper.

"Did Temptation of Wife and Queen of Housewives have a sports related backdrop? Did a specific sport precede every headline with the name of their drama? Was it labeled Basketball drama, Temptation of Wife or Swimming drama, Queen of Housewives? Because every single headline I read about Triple, it said: FIGURE SKATING DRAMA TRIPLE."

This is my point though, which you seem to miss. Temptation of Wife was not a sports-themed drama, but it was a drama about revenge, rape, assault, divorce, marriage, abortion, and just about every ill-conceived family relations issue under the sun. But it didn't have a "message" and it didn't seek to "teach" anyone about how to raise a family or how not to backstab your bestfriend and steal her husband, killing her unborn fetus, lying to cover it up, committing massive fraud and grand theft, etc. And so it shouldn't feel burdened to have to give a message either. Just because it is a sports-drama, Triple shouldn't have to have any additional burdens of what it needs to address.

"In Korea, Kim Yeon Ah is EVERYWHERE. She’s more famous than Yoon Kye Sang, Lee Jung Jae, and Lee Sun Kyoon combined. I swear, I’m not even exaggerating. Toddlers to grannies in the countryside know who she is. I can’t say the same about the Trio. Her name is all over the news to a point where it’s become ridiculous. The 9:00 national news and online media hounds report the most insignificant details about her life like when she changes the background music on her cyworld. It’s really ridiculous, right? Well, if the media salivates over her cyworld, how do you think they’re going to react to a figure skating drama?"

Again, I think this is irrelevant. I have no idea where you going with this. Are you saying that because everybody knows about Kim Yeonah, that the responsibility of Triple is to broadcast a political/social commentary? What if Triple's ratings are only 12%-15%? Do they still have that responsibility? If "City Hall" is about the rise of a mayor, then do they have to talk about political graft and bribes and jumping off of cliffs after you get indicted for corruption?

If you want to talk about reaching people, then you shouldn't be picketing MNIKSS, with its 40% rating, and Temptation of Wife, with its 40%+ ratings, and Sandglass, with its 50% ratings, since given the importance of the message, these vastly popular shows should bear the responsibility of reaching the Korean audience. Then we can have Kim Sam Soon discussing Japanese / Korean jingoism while trying to figure out why Binnie kicked her bike over.

"She’s under an immense amount of pressure to win gold at the Olympics. You and others may think a drama related to figure skating will have no effect on her, but it will. It heightens interest in figure skating even more and it translates to more pressure and expectations for her to win gold."

So.... what does this have to do with the drama, "Triple"?

"Actually, I do hate dramas which use the occupation formula. This drama is about lawyers falling in love. This drama is about doctors falling in love. This drama is about fashion designers falling in love. A great example of a drama really focusing on the occupation instead of using it as a backdrop for a love story, is White Tower."

Ok, so then don't watch? I don't like horror movies or dramas or anything that has scary ghosts. So, I run away when I see a horror movie.

"IMO, if you’re given the golden opportunity in being the first drama about figure skating, (yes, it is a golden oppurtunity because many people were fighting over the right to exploit such a popular sport) then make it good and meaningful. Like I said before, it would have been nice if the drama was actually about figure skating instead of using it to attract viewers. Think about it, Korea just witnessed one of their own become the World Figure Skating Champion. And then this drama supposedly about figure skating comes out and people are anticipating it, thinking, “Oh, is this what Kim Yeon Ah’s life is like?” But what do they get? A frilly love story. I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t want a chick flick. I want to see the gritty, hard stuff."

Many people fighting over the right to exploit.... nobody is stopping you from writing a drama about how sports rivalries between Korea and Japan should be tempered and the effect on figure skaters should be examined in depth.

But again, I haven't seen a reason why Triple has to do your wishes?

"The drama could have used this opportunity to show exactly how much pressure the country is putting on Kim Yeon Ah or how difficult her life actually is or how media can often distort news to heat up a rivalry. (SBS made a false report on Japanese skaters interfering Kim Yeon Ah during practice and it raised hell among Korean and Japanese viewers. First, Korean viewers believed the news report and scorned the Japanese. Then the Japanese news reported on the false reporting on SBS and made some false accusations about Kim Yeon Ah, which Japanese viewers believed and scorned Kim Yeon Ah.) See, there are all these areas in which Korean fans can improve on and these messages/lessons could have been learned through the drama if it were presented, but again, Triple isn’t about figure skating. It’s a love story."

Again... so what if it is a love story?

Any competent writer could have written a side story line into My Girl, into DGCH, into just about any drama that discussed what you are talking about. It doesn't necessarily have to be about figure-skating for those topics to be broached. But, again, I've not seen a reason why Triple has to do it, and why Delightful Girl Choon Hyang does not.

"So many wasted opportunities is what I’m complaining about."

If we take what you say as being true, that the issues you raise are important enough that all of Korea needs to learn your truths that you seek to foist on everyone else, then there is no reason why Queen of Housewives shouldn't bring it up as well, and that every newscast should give you airtime to discuss your views.

The wasted opportunities are everywhere, and you are being arbitrary as to which dramas should have to deal with your very important topics that affect Korea and Japan.

***

My point - you think that Triple should address issues because of the topical proximity and the importance of the issues. I think there is no rational basis why Triple has to do so just because it's topical and the issues are important.

There are TONS of issues out there that are important, and are topical to every drama out there. Orphans and mistreatment of, would be one. Sexism and the glass ceilings that exist in Korea. Xenophobia. Right to life / right to die issues. Criminology. Pathology. Mental illness. Homelessness. Drug and alcohol addiction. Economics, finance and stress. Child abuse. Spousal abuse. Infidelity and the breakdown of the family. The list of important issues facing Korea is endless.

By your reasoning, every single drama should turn into a PBS special, because of the topical-ness of various dramas and the importance of these issues, whichever ones are closest in topicality.

And, I see no reason why they should. If they do, good for them, if they don't, so be it, but the primary reason as to whether people will watch will not be based on the issues or the topicality, but on whether it is a fun drama to watch.

I just wish Jung Il Woo were in this drama..
Why did you give up on this drama? Why? Why? *sighs*
It's so difficult to see you on screen..

I only love Lee Seon Kyun..He reminds me of Il Woo..
Way to go Seon Gyun Ssi..

it's so wrong to watch a drama purely for three male characters, but i just can't help it. I'm excited about this drama cause it looks like a down-to-earth fun drama that contrasts with the recent slew of segeuks (which i'm not complaining about...just mentioning is all).
javabeans, what's wrong with Yoon Kye Sang's hair? i think it looks quite dandy on him. he just looks a little more laid-back than he did in Who Are You?
and where are these said previews that everyone keeps mentioning? seriously, i still don't know what the heck this drama is about? haha.

wonder how it's gonna fare with Partner, which seems like a fun drama as well. boy i'm excited!!!

I saw the 5 minute preview presented at the press conference and I didn't like it. As a YKS fan, I'm not liking his character going after his best friend's ex-wife who still loves the best friend and the preview doesn't give me much hope. I hope the actual drama will be good.

WOW, some heated discussion in here...
Chillaz ppl, it's only a drama.. ^^

So Lee Jung Jae seems to be the one connected to all the girls? He likes Lee Hana's character whilst the other 2 girls like him? Awww... my man...ehemmm..our man, I mean... is definitely receiving a lot of love in here..hehehe...

Anywayz, they all look pretty good in casual clothing. And their smiles...awww sooo lovely ^^

This is what I get for coming home late from work......everyone's calling dibs on my back-up man Yoon Kye Sang (Gong Yoo being MY main man....oh,wait .....am suppose to share with Snikki....hmmmm....hmmm...)

While I'm quite thrilled about the serious eyecandy in this drama, the fact that PD Lee Yoon-jung is helmng this is what's getting me excited! Can't wait! Can't wait!

Am now going to be really cheesy and save those 3 hot men on my desktop. I swear if Kang Ji Hwan was in this too, my head would explode!

@ Samsooki.

Applause for our Samsooki, well said. Even Binnie aided a bit..

Someone is not happy with 'Triple' a Romance Drama, and not a Documentary. Just drop a nice polite letter to the TV Stations, if one is in the making, they will let you know.

In my mind, I heard the flock of seagulls from Finding Nemo...

I'm really looking forward to watching this drama!

on a purely shallow note:

NO WAY I LOVE YOON KYE SANG'S HAIR DOWN!!

@33 samsooki -
“Why take a sarcastic victim approach to replying? “

Actually, I wasn’t being sarcastic. Nor was I trying to play victim. I was admitting that I realize what I have to say is annoying for others to read. Honestly, I know my comments are annoying to everyone else here and people look down on me because I’m not joining the bandwagon. That doesn’t make me a victim. I’m merely not joining the rest of you and it’s my decision not to. I’m not blaming anyone else here for the way I feel about the drama.

I was replying to your questions and browsing through the other comments, it appeared to me most people had questions along the same line as you so I addressed everyone through your questions.

“Yes, I agree. Figure skating is hot, but so is baseball (WBC year), soccer (WC qualifying year, heading into WC), and trendy dramas abound even not in the athletic world.

If I were to make a drama about baseball, about a Korean player who was locked into playing for a relatively obscure Korean team for peanuts, before he would have to join the army, and then by then might be too old to realize his dream of playing pro ball in Japan and/or America, then if I make it primarily a story of love and loss, then am I to be trashed for not adding in stuff about Japanese / Korean relations? I don’t see why I “need” to add extraneous stuff to my drama. And, to call my drama “just” about love, is really a backhanded slap. If you want to tell a story about how Japanese / Korean relations and sportsmanship should be improved, then write an editorial and send it to a newspaper.”

You missed my point. I mentioned sports nationalism and the Korean/Japanese rivalry as an example of one area or storyline the drama could pursue. I’m not demanding the drama must speak about it. I was just offering that particular point as an example of a storyline that has nothing to do with a love story.

And hey, your baseball drama actually sounds good! A lot better than Strike Love!

“This is my point though, which you seem to miss. Temptation of Wife was not a sports-themed drama, but it was a drama about revenge, rape, assault, divorce, marriage, abortion, and just about every ill-conceived family relations issue under the sun. But it didn’t have a “message” and it didn’t seek to “teach” anyone about how to raise a family or how not to backstab your bestfriend and steal her husband, killing her unborn fetus, lying to cover it up, committing massive fraud and grand theft, etc. And so it shouldn’t feel burdened to have to give a message either.”

FWIW, I didn’t even touch Temptation of Wife. I can smell garbage like that fifty feet away. And I dropped Queen of Housewives after a couple of weeks. So I’m not just against Triple.

“. Just because it is a sports-drama, Triple shouldn’t have to have any additional burdens of what it needs to address.”

But why can’t I hold it to another standard? I mean, everyone raves about the PD, right? And her previous sports drama was critically acclaimed. Is it wrong for me to have some kind of higher expectations for people who are supposed to be good at what they do? Yea, Lee Yoon Jung is good and because of that, I expected more from her.

“Again, I think this is irrelevant. I have no idea where you going with this. Are you saying that because everybody knows about Kim Yeonah, that the responsibility of Triple is to broadcast a political/social commentary? What if Triple’s ratings are only 12%-15%? Do they still have that responsibility? If “City Hall” is about the rise of a mayor, then do they have to talk about political graft and bribes and jumping off of cliffs after you get indicted for corruption?”

I said, “outside of the dramasphere, people in Korea are interested in Triple solely because it’s supposedly about figure skating.” Over here at Javabeans, almost every comment is about how hot Male 1 is or how cute Male 2 is and who Male 3 belongs to. That’s because most people here only know the actors and don’t know who Kim Yeon Ah is. Now take in the perspective of a figure skating fan in Korea, which as I was trying to show, there are many. This drama has been in the works for over a year now and since news first appeared, it’s been hailed as a figure skating drama. News after news on a so called drama about figure skating and on the press conference day the PD states the drama is going to focus on love stories and not figure skating. Ah what? Huh? What a waste! This is the reaction of figure skating fans in Korea.

“If you want to talk about reaching people, then you shouldn’t be picketing MNIKSS, with its 40% rating, and Temptation of Wife, with its 40%+ ratings, and Sandglass, with its 50% ratings, since given the importance of the message, these vastly popular shows should bear the responsibility of reaching the Korean audience. Then we can have Kim Sam Soon discussing Japanese / Korean jingoism while trying to figure out why Binnie kicked her bike over.”

What?? I’m not picketing MNIKSS. I didn’t even mention it. And again, you’re incorrectly fixated on my point about Korean/Japanese rivalry. I never said the drama MUST speak about it. I was offering an alternative storyline that could have meaning.

“So…. what does this have to do with the drama, ‘Triple’?”

That it’s going to add even more pressure on her to win.

“Ok, so then don’t watch? I don’t like horror movies or dramas or anything that has scary ghosts. So, I run away when I see a horror movie.”

You’re right. I won’t watch. But that doesn’t mean I can’t comment. If people want to drool and fangirl, then go to Soompi. (J/K! But seriously, the last time I checked, that place lacked in any real discussion! Every male actor thread had a thousand pages of meaningless fangirling.) I like coming to Javabeans because most of the time there are real discussions and good debates going on. I’m not saying my opinion is law, but I do have the right to express it, just like everyone else here is expressing their fangirlisms.

“Many people fighting over the right to exploit…. nobody is stopping you from writing a drama about how sports rivalries between Korea and Japan should be tempered and the effect on figure skaters should be examined in depth.”

Once again, it doesn’t have to be about Korea/Japan. I offered other alternative storylines that don’t deal with Korea/Japan. It’s just an example!

Nobody is stopping me from writing a drama, but you’re certainly trying to stop me from expressing my opinions. I get it. I’m the Debbie Downer and you’re trying to shut me up.

“But again, I haven’t seen a reason why Triple has to do your wishes?”

Goodness, does everyone here have to love Triple? God forbid a naysayer exists! I’ve seen others dissent and complain about other dramas and they’re given the right to. So why can’t I? I’m not demanding Triple follow my way, but I am wishing for it go another direction. How is that any different from other people complaining about dramas that don’t go the way they wanted it to?

“Again… so what if it is a love story? “

And again, it could have been more. With this amount of talent level involved in the drama, it could have been a lot more.

“Any competent writer could have written a side story line into My Girl, into DGCH, into just about any drama that discussed what you are talking about. It doesn’t necessarily have to be about figure-skating for those topics to be broached. But, again, I’ve not seen a reason why Triple has to do it, and why Delightful Girl Choon Hyang does not.”

I don't know how to reply to this because I'm not sure you know what I'm talking about.

My final word and the point I’ve been trying to make this whole time: I don’t want a chick flick. I want to see the gritty, hard stuff.

“If we take what you say as being true, that the issues you raise are important enough that all of Korea needs to learn your truths that you seek to foist on everyone else, then there is no reason why Queen of Housewives shouldn’t bring it up as well, and that every newscast should give you airtime to discuss your views.

The wasted opportunities are everywhere, and you are being arbitrary as to which dramas should have to deal with your very important topics that affect Korea and Japan.”

You’re never going to get my point until you realize I’m not pushing for only a storyline about Korea/Japan. I’m asking for storylines with meaning that don’t have to do with a love story. And as an example, I listed a possible storyline about the rivalry between Korea and Japan. Because I see it, it’s there and it exists like a big pain the ass and fandom would benefit so much if people on both sides could drop the vicious hate based on race.

Again, it’s just one possible storyline the drama could pursue instead of, or in addition to, the love story. They don’t even have to pursue that specific storyline because all I’m asking for is something with meaning and not just a love story.

“My point - you think that Triple should address issues because of the topical proximity and the importance of the issues. I think there is no rational basis why Triple has to do so just because it’s topical and the issues are important.
There are TONS of issues out there that are important, and are topical to every drama out there. Orphans and mistreatment of, would be one. Sexism and the glass ceilings that exist in Korea. Xenophobia. Right to life / right to die issues. Criminology. Pathology. Mental illness. Homelessness. Drug and alcohol addiction. Economics, finance and stress. Child abuse. Spousal abuse. Infidelity and the breakdown of the family. The list of important issues facing Korea is endless.

By your reasoning, every single drama should turn into a PBS special, because of the topical-ness of various dramas and the importance of these issues, whichever ones are closest in topicality.

And, I see no reason why they should. If they do, good for them, if they don’t, so be it, but the primary reason as to whether people will watch will not be based on the issues or the topicality, but on whether it is a fun drama to watch.”

And my point is, I have the right to expect better from this drama. I like the PD and I like most of these actors so I want a meaningful drama from them. And for me, meaningful is more than just a love story.

I get the feeling I pushed your buttons and you seem to have taken personal attack from my comments. It wasn't my intention to sound like I'm demanding other viewers of this drama to follow my reasoning and feelings. I was merely expressing the way I feel and I totatly realize how alone I am in my opinions. I get it. I really do. I'm not expecting others to follow my line of thought, but I still wanted to express what I felt.

Last paragraph, "totatly" = totally

Ah the horror had I wrriten "totitly"

@javabeans
“While you make some very interesting points, I think it’s a bit early to denounce a drama as a failure in the respects you’ve named, since all we’ve had to go on are press conferences and previews thus far. I think I’d be more willing to address the shortcomings of a drama after I’ve seen it. Perhaps we could hold off on that for the moment.”

You do have a point. But don’t we always make judgment calls on dramas based on cast/PD/writer/and that revealing, one line descriptor before it actually airs? And more often than not, we’re usually right in what our gut tells us. But you’re right, it’s too early to label the drama an utter failure. I’ll probably check out the first week, read your recaps. Don’t worry folks, I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut.

“And while this is the FIRST! DRAMA! EVER! about figure skating, I think you’re holding up a television show to such a high level of scrutiny for what is, essentially, entertainment. Last Match wasn’t pegged for representing basketball with due responsibility, just as Icing wasn’t expected to break ground for dramatic depictions of hockey.”

When Last Match aired, Korea didn’t have a world famous, Korean basketball player. Same with Icing and hockey. I think that’s the difference with Triple. Figure skating is currently in and Koreans have one of their own in contention for the biggest prize in the sport in less than 9 months. Since the sport is in right now and they have a star player, wouldn’t it have been cool and more beneficial for the viewers to get a deeper look into the sport? Apparently not so cool, judging by the reactions to my comments.

“People don’t expect medical or legal dramas to focus more on the professions than the drama’s own narrative stories.”

Oh, but I wish they did. Then we would have more dramas like White Tower. It is one of the most riveting dramas I have ever seen.

“Expecting a degree of accuracy in its portrayals, I think, is reasonable and logical. Expecting complete verisimilitude often kills the entertainment aspect of, well, entertainment.”

I think it depends on what kind of entertainment you’re looking for. I bring up White Tower again, because it’s a prime example of complete verisimilitude and still maintaining the entertainment aspect. But what kind of entertainment? The kind with love stories? No. It’s entertaining because of the suspense it created and being engrossed by the story of politics and power struggles.

Hmm, it sounds to me like ndegeocello is a Kim Yuna fan and is determined to hate the drama because it would put pressure on her for the Olympics. I'm sorry, but that is RIDICULOUS logic. A drama has no obligation to "lessen" the pressure for an athlete, no matter how popular or famous she is! I agree with ndegeocello's points that it's nice to hold a drama to a higher standard and I love dramas that are well made and wish there were more of them. But it's stupid to single out this one for being only a love story and say it has an obligation to be more. Why the reaction for this particular drama? It seems like you're a skating fan and this drama pisses you off especially because it dares to touch on "your" sport. Nobody told you you have to like this drama but you're acting like it did something indefensible and it hasn't even begun yet. If you would stop being so defensive you might see that you're being very ridiculous with your standards for Triple.

I'm genuinely trying to find where ndegeocello is coming at but I have to agree with JB noona and Samsooki ajussi. I just don't see why Triple has to bear the responsibility of tackling the issues of Kim Yeon ah's pressure, Korean people's expections, Korean-Japanese relations, etc etc.... If they do this then the drama would undoubtedly fail. Not too long ago I followed the series Spotlight with the good intention of finding out the 'gritty, hard stuff' of Korean Journalism. I was bored to tears. Tears? Why? Because it's starred by two of the best actors in Korea(Ji Jin Hee and Sohn Ye Jin) and they were both wasted in this drama. I suspect both actors also took on the project with good intentions, knowing that it wasn't a love story, but hoping that it would be a good hard look on Korean Journalism. Sad thing is, the drama didn't even deliver on what it promised and was so bereft of emotion that watching the 16+ episodes became so laborious. I think ndegeocello will not be served by a good drama on ice skating but a good DOCUMENTARY on ice skating, preferably with Kim Yeon ah herself.

@gizmo
"Hmm, it sounds to me like ndegeocello is a Kim Yuna fan and is determined to hate the drama"

In the same vein, I could say gizmo and everyone else here is a Lee Jung Jae fan or Yoon Kye Sang fan or Lee Sun Kyoon fan and is determined to love the drama no matter what. Although I'm not saying you're assumption that I'm a Kim Yeon Ah fan so therefore I'm determined to hate the drama, is true, why is it wrong for someone to be against a drama because he/she is a fan of so and so, but it's completely ok for someone to be for a drama because he/she is a fan of so and so. Either it's ok in both cases or it's wrong in both cases because esentially, in both situations the person is judging the drama based on fan alliances.

"because it would put pressure on her for the Olympics. I’m sorry, but that is RIDICULOUS logic. A drama has no obligation to “lessen” the pressure for an athlete, no matter how popular or famous she is! I agree with ndegeocello’s points that it’s nice to hold a drama to a higher standard and I love dramas that are well made and wish there were more of them. But it’s stupid to single out this one for being only a love story and say it has an obligation to be more."

OK, so if not this drama, then which dramas am I allowed to hold up to a better standard? And why are those dramas allowed to be viewed at a higher standard, but Triple isn't? Why do you get to pick and choose FOR ME which standard I should put upon dramas. Did I ever say everyone else should and must watch dramas at the same standard as I do? I like Lee Yoon Jung, Lee Hana, Lee Jung Jae, and Lee Sun Kyoon and think they're all talented, so I set this drama at a higher standard. I'm not demanding anyone else to follow after me, so why should others be allowed to tell me to lower my standards?

"Why the reaction for this particular drama? It seems like you’re a skating fan and this drama pisses you off especially because it dares to touch on “your” sport. "

Yes, I am a figure skating fan. I'm also a fan of Lee Hana. And a fan of Lee Yoon Jung. And a fan of Lee Jung Jae. And an even bigger fan of Lee Sun Kyoon. So where does that put me?

"Nobody told you you have to like this drama but you’re acting like it did something indefensible and it hasn’t even begun yet. If you would stop being so defensive you might see that you’re being very ridiculous with your standards for Triple."

Again, why must I be asked to lower my standards when I haven't asked anyone else to raise their standards? The way I view dramas is the way I view them and the way you view dramas is the way you view them. I have not asked anyone else to view this drama in the exact way that I do. So why should I be expected to view it like everyone else here?

A guilty pleasure for one person may be garbage for another and garbage for that person can be a gem for someone else. We're all going to view things differently. At least I acknowledge I'm in the tiny, tiny minority, but I haven't demanded anyone else to see things my way. I offered a different perspective, but I'm not demanding you to follow it, unlike you are doing to me.

Now, on a more serious note; Hair! Triple's hairstylist had the good sense of brushing up that Spock hair-do and giving us a fresh looking Lee Jung Jae for the press conference. I kinda like that unorganized tousled hair on YKS. Kudos again on the stylist for making The Voice wear a hat. Very meossitda. The only thing I don't get is Kim Hee. What's going there? What's that about? There must be a reason behind it. I guess we'll find out once Triple starts.

Phew! Good thing my Kang Ji Hwan isn't here. I wouldn't have the need to fight everyone week in and week out for him once Triple starts. I need a good reason to watch this drama though and I think Lee Hana is good enough reason for me to do so. She's a natural comedian and I had a fun time watching her in Maeri Daegu Bout.

But I think I will adopt Lee Jung Jae(since he took KJH's place) so I could join in the weekly banter or, at least, when JB does the recaps. So, from June 11, let the battle commence!

@38 simi

We have the same 'taste' in Kdrama actors. My first 'love' is Gong Yoo followed closely by Yoon Kye Sang (whom I 'fell in love with' in Who Are You and in Crazy for You?)

And also looking forward to a great OST. Hope it's as good as the ones in Coffee Prince ... lovely Korean music.

And to the serious discussions above, interesting reading. I have to admit I'm 'shallow' and watch purely for the entertainment value. If I pick up any lessons, then that's a bonus. That's just me.

Looking forward to the drama!