Tamna the Island on MBC weekends
by javabeans
There’s an interesting new drama taking over the MBC weekend drama slot from Chae Rim‘s Job Well Done, which is, sadly, getting a shortened run. Due to health concerns of its writer Park Ji-hyun, Job Well Done will not run for the originally planned 50 episodes and will instead air its last episode on August 2.
The week following that, MBC will launch Tamna the Island [탐나는도다], which is produced by Group Eight and features a cast of fresh faces. Based on the preliminary info and stills, it looks like a comical sort of Robinson Crusoe–meets–Joseon era adventure romp set on Jeju Island. Quirky, for sure.
Tamna is a 20-episode miniseries based on a recently published manhwa of the same name. It stars Boys Before Flowers’ Im Joo-hwan (who played Kim Bum’s older brother) as well as Crush and Blush‘s Seo Woo.
Tamna the Island is set in 17th-century Joseon times as a young English castaway, William, comes to the island and meets the characters played by Seo Woo, Im Joo-hwan, and Lee Sun-ho (Snow Queen). The name “Tamna” refers to what is now called Jeju. (Here’s some Wikipedia reading for the curious.)
At first, I thought it looked incredibly silly, but the more I read about Tamna, the more I’m drawn to it. Aside from the cute and plucky lead actors, directing is PD Yoon Sang-ho of Legend, with writer Lee Jae-yoon (about whom I haven’t been able to find much).
According to producers, the drama portrays the life on the island in the 17th century, with its hard-working and self-sufficient women and, in contrast, relatively weak men. It’s described as a “comic sageuk with a new format that hasn’t been seen before.”
William is played by 24-year-old French model Pierre Deporte — who has adopted a Korean name, Hwang Chan-bin — who you may recall was once featured on a special broadcast of the male counterpart to the Misuda (Chatting With Beautiful Women) talk show. He sure looks the part, doesn’t he?
Seo Woo, who received a lot of praise (and some awards) for her role in Crush and Blush, plays a cheerful, outrageous diver. Im Joo-hwan’s character comes from a distinguished noble family and is therefore completely stuck-up. Consider him a 17th-century chaebol. And while I shudder at the overplayed comparison of his character as a “Joseon-era Gu Jun-pyo,” I suppose that’s not too far from the mark; he bows his head to no one and is the type of guy all the girls sigh over.
(Still, with Legend‘s director and a completely new world, Tamna looks much more comical than Boys Before Flowers. At least it’s my sincere hope that Tamna does its own thing, Group Eight’s involvement notwithstanding.)
The drama airs its first episode on August 8.
Via No Cut News, Asia Economy
RELATED POSTS
Tags: Hwang Chan-bin, Im Joo-hwan, Lee Sun-ho, Seo Woo, Tamra the Island
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1 selly
July 19, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Wah a drama with a foreign co lead! I cant wait for that. >w< hope he can act, I think he was in the movie ... my tutor friend 2 or it may be someone else but they look alike
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2 sidney
July 19, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Also, it didn't make sense to let "Job Well Done" run to the 50th episode when it's getting so low ratings now.
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3 kimchikay
July 19, 2009 at 3:52 PM
whoa, surprisingly the still's make this look interesting. I agree, I hope this is more comical, cause from the looks of it, I don't think I'm going to be able to take it seriously, even BOF was comical at times despite trying to be serious
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4 tlina069
July 19, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I CANNOT WAIT!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IM JOO HWAN!!!
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5 wingstodust
July 19, 2009 at 5:00 PM
I'm really, really looking forward to this. I absolutely love the manhwa and can't wait to see how it will adapt on the tv screen.
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6 Dele
July 19, 2009 at 5:09 PM
I had heard about this drama a while back and I think it is pretty cool to have a non-Korean co lead. I hope someone subs it if it turns out to be good.
@Selly....I am pretty sure he is from TF2
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7 loveydovey
July 19, 2009 at 5:41 PM
wow this looks so weird that i have to check out the first episode. and i'm excited that's there's a foreign lead but also disappointed because he's pretty ugly. not trying to sound mean.
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8 Javabeans
July 19, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Ugly? Hmm, I'm not sure you can call Hwang Chan-bin/Pierre Deporte ugly, even if he is styled like an albino emo pirate in the drama. It's just the costume that's unflattering. Here he is out of costume:
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9 Bonnie
July 19, 2009 at 6:14 PM
French, eh? Can he do a convincing English accent? If not, it could be painful to watch. But since it will probably be completely silly anyway, probably doesn't matter...
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10 Meagan
July 19, 2009 at 6:40 PM
The French guy is meh...
But I love Seo WOO!!!
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11 yumi-chan
July 19, 2009 at 6:54 PM
They should have used the guy from mu tutor friend two, the one that cursed a lot, and was extremely funny to watch :]
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12 lizzie
July 19, 2009 at 6:57 PM
This is sure going to be completely ridiculous... I'm totally going to watch it. ^_^
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13 Rifae
July 19, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Wow. The pictures really do make this look interesting. The foreign the lead looks... so young! I really do hope he can act...
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14 Biscuit
July 19, 2009 at 7:08 PM
At first I thought he was Julien/Julian... that foreign actor who I saw on Kim's U XD
But Pierre is nice too~~~
I like his French name better, so I'll call him Pierre~~~~~~
I think I saw this Manhwa before... or the picture seems familiar. Either way, why 'am I so excited??? I"m literally giggling...
Perhaps it's because of the French guy and I want to hear his Korea~ or it's another manhwa based drama~ or it's by Group Eight~ or maybe because I just want a drama to watch simply for fun and nothing to do with drama and etc.
Oh when was the last time I watched a comic sageuk with foreigners and foreign clothing and.... ah... are those shorts the women are wearing -_-? With belts -_-"?
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15 ronoele
July 19, 2009 at 7:14 PM
I'M GOING TO WATCH THIS AFTER SEEING
JUNG JURI, ( gag- woman, usually guest @ star golden bell.
she's on the 4th picture, left side ) THIS WOMAN IS WAY TOO FUNNY!!!
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16 Biscuit
July 19, 2009 at 7:28 PM
@ ronoele: Oh isn't Jung Juri the gag-women who does comedy at the gag concert (I think Uchatssa?) and she has this part with the other lady too?
So funny >.< I didn't realize she was there until you pointed it out. Oh~ this drama will be fun~
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17 c
July 19, 2009 at 7:43 PM
i'm very excited to see this drama. i heard about it a few months ago from the comic book author/graphic novelist, derek kirk kim's site. the author of the manhwa series is his cousin and it seems that talent runs in the family.
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18 jessi
July 19, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Looks interesting *goes to see if manhwa is scanlated* and that frenchie is hot in those pics jb posted, can't really tell from the stills, must be the long blond hair(wig?), he looks muuuch better in short hair^_^
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19 peppero
July 19, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Pierre Deporte looks better with short hair. the wig is unflattering, period. gosh, i think the cast needs a better makeup artist. fortunately, the drama sounds very interesting since it's adapted from a manhwa.
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20 ar
July 19, 2009 at 8:15 PM
I saw this mentioned somewhere a while ago and had meant to look out for it! It looks like a lot of fun! Thank you for mentioning it on this blog or I would have missed out! I'm bit scared that it's 20 episodes though. only 4 volumes of the manhwa is out now. would have been wiser to stick with 16.
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21 JO
July 19, 2009 at 8:20 PM
I absolutley loved seo woo in crush and blush. I had no idea that she was older than 15 or so. I seriously thought she was a teen. And a great teen actor at that. SHe's so cute, and I loveeeee her eyes! Wow, Im so excited for this drama. Seems like it will be fun cotton candy
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22 Michell
July 19, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Showing their boobs and legs !!
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23 rockpinkslip
July 19, 2009 at 8:58 PM
@ ronoele OMG so it is Jung Joori!!! She's hilarious, love her as idol killer on sgb haha.
Judging from the pix, this drama looks really fun to watch! Foreign male co-lead, that shall be interesting. I wonder if he can pull off an English accent w/ his french accent. I'm gonna tune in once it airs!
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24 sue
July 19, 2009 at 9:10 PM
lol just looking at these pictures it looks so silly and fun!
and if jung joori's in it it's a must-see!
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25 travp16
July 19, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I was wondering about the random white dude, but I understood after reading the article. Seems like an interesting show.
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26 watts
July 19, 2009 at 9:54 PM
err that white kid looks like some pre pubescent teen you'd see working at your local burger king. why is it always so hard to cast an attractive caucasian in an asian show? Lost managed to get daniel dae kim and ...that other popular korean actress.
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27 din
July 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM
i'm looking forward to this :D
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28 Cha
July 19, 2009 at 10:10 PM
i love the ladies' costume here :)
it looks funny.. will try to watch this drama :) aarrrgghh! so many dramas, so little time!!!
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29 djeedjes
July 19, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Sounds interesting! And if comical - please make it as comical as can be, something like Nodame! :p
The casts look cute..the stills look good. I will check this out later!
And yes, Job Well Done should be shortened..with or without the writer's worsen health condition..the story is getting ridiculous- a makjang wannabe, but it's not 'cruel' enough but plainly annoying.
The casts are wasted..( Chae Rim, Uhm Ki Joon )
I stopped watching it a while ago.
Anyway, Im Joo Hwan looks fit with the scholar character, and Seo Woo is cute! Still have no comment with Pierre - must see his acting first.
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30 ar
July 19, 2009 at 10:39 PM
@watts. well this IS based on a manhwa and the kids from the manhwa look like they're in their teens. And i think the casting people would prefer the white guy to look as manhwa-ish as possible, so he looks young and like a white version of those japanese and korean idols i.e. johnny's boys and korean boy bands such as super junior, ast'1, and ft island. in my opinion, he looks like he could be heechul (from Super Junior) in a blond wig. it would look weird to cast someone hot like chace crawford- he wouldn't match the rest of the cast well.
And it's not like korean casting directors have that great of a pic for caucasians since korea is like mostly korean, and only a handful of the Caucasians are aspiring entertainers- and i think many of them would rather be an actor in their own country or in the US rather than in korea.
as for Pierre pulling an English accent: I bet he won't be able to do it- but at least he will still sound foreign to everyone! sort of like in the movie, Ever After, when all the characters were supposed to be French and everyone spoke in an English accent. It didn't matter because the movie was awesome anyways!
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31 deeta
July 19, 2009 at 10:46 PM
I caught wind of this last week and am totally excited actually. It just sounds and looks so different and fresh. And finally it got an air date too, yay!
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32 LadyIgraine
July 19, 2009 at 10:56 PM
I'm actually looking forward to this dramedy. It seems rather interesting, hopefully it'll get extended ^_^
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33 Angela
July 19, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Wow, this sounds really fascinating. I'm definitely going to have to check this one out!!
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34 withsugarplease
July 20, 2009 at 12:23 AM
i've already read the manhwa. its pretty entertaining and had a decent story-line.. so i am definitely going to check out the show.
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35 yvhsien
July 20, 2009 at 12:38 AM
This drama sounds interesting. It's definitely different based on the storyline.
I'm not sure about Pierre though. His make-up for the drama is not flattering. The other pictures of him show a young pretty face - not the type I would swoon over. They should have also kept his hair color instead of the blonde wig that doesn't become him.
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36 Malomars
July 20, 2009 at 2:34 AM
Yay! I was waiting for this to come out -- the manwha was so wacky. I hope it keeps up the FUN tone, and less of the usual sobby/weepy.
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37 ayay
July 20, 2009 at 3:39 AM
do you know the other guy? who has short hair??
he's so handsome kekekeke
maybe I'll watch it bcause of him
:)
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38 May May
July 20, 2009 at 5:30 AM
Im Joo Hwan looks so funny ! i cannot wait to see him in this drama :D
i do not know anything about this Pierre... even if i am french :D never seen him before...
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39 maria
July 20, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Mmmm...
It's good to see dramas that try new and never adapted stories. I think I'll give it a try.
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40 GeeNie
July 20, 2009 at 8:17 AM
So...how is the English guy going to communicate with the people on the Island? Is he somehow over time going to learn Korean from the Islanders?
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41 elisa
July 20, 2009 at 8:31 AM
heheeh im ju hwan and that...other guy reunite. snow queen days~~~
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42 Rina
July 20, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Pierre Deporte is cute cute cute....his costume is horrible though. They should have just skipped that limp blond wig that does not flatter him at all...
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43 Kender
July 20, 2009 at 12:57 PM
LEE SUN HO, WHAT?! I LOVED him in Snow Queen.. Oh man, so excited. <333
This show sounds quirky. I may have to check it out. :3
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44 selly
July 20, 2009 at 2:27 PM
AH Julian Quintart isf rom TF2!!! But this guy is hot, who don gon darn gon darn go say he's ugly?! xD its just the people trying to make him look like a manga character
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45 Angela
July 20, 2009 at 2:47 PM
This sounds interesting, haha. I doubt that Pierre's going to have to speak much (if at all) in English. Most of his dialogue will probably be in Korean (and from what I've heard, it's not bad -- probably MUCH better than his English, anyway). Or, maybe, there will just be a lot of Engrish going on from all sides.
And as a side note, the only French person (ok, let's limit that to actors) who can pull off a good English accent is Eva Green. Most others have a distinct French accent when they speak English. Or, at least, this is what I've noticed...and while I'm not French, I've lived in France and know many French people (and I absolutely adore them, so I'm not criticizing, just observing. Plus, I was an English teacher in France).
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46 ManhwaFanatics
July 20, 2009 at 6:55 PM
I hope they will not, will not, I emphasize, ruin the manhwa. I absolutely love the manhwa. It's at MangaFox website for anyone who wants to read it. A part of me thinks Pierre cannot act simply because of the photoshoot. In the manhwa, William is a cheerful and somewhat naive person. Pierre just act emo. He doesn't seem to be in his role. On the other hand, Im Ju Hwan just act perfectly according to the manhwa. But, then again, I really shouldn't judge the actors based on the photos. I seriously hope this is going according to the manhwa. Though I sort of expect that they are going to change somethings.
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47 Trish
July 20, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Dude the picture of that guy running next to the ocean had me rolling! I have no clue why, but it just seemed so funny. LOL! ^_^
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48 xmerokox
July 21, 2009 at 6:26 AM
Upon reading the synopsis, it sounded much like a manhwa that I was reading a while back. So I managed to dig this up about 탐나는 도다 a.k.a. "Shipwrecked!": http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=7693
I've only read a few chapters, but it's pretty hilarious! :D I can't wait to watch the drama since the story itself is already interesting.
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49 Jill4675
July 21, 2009 at 11:17 AM
@29 djes And yes, Job Well Done should be shortened..with or without the writer’s worsen health condition..the story is getting ridiculous- a makjang wannabe, but it’s not ‘cruel’ enough but plainly annoying.
I think most would agree. Story was bad, bad, bad and SO poorly written ~ no way could anyone care about those people and the stupid "plot"; the MILs were so ill-behaved ~ only CR and the little girl were worth watching. Among the worst dramas of the last couple of years! Should have ended at 16 eps if not sooner! :(
Tamna the Island might be okay...hard to say, but at least it seems they're trying to be a little different... ;)
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50 moumounelabaleine
July 26, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Well, reading all the comments about how will this french guy going to speak in english with his french accent, its quite little insulting...for whatever nationality you are and about to speak another languages is not to be critisized. An american who tries to speak french has good accent to it; a french who tries to speak english has the french accent; the koreans who speaks english has their accent also; etc....etc...etc...and all of them are nice to hear...cute in some manner and everyone has their identity...in this movie or drama why they hire this foreign person is because of the necessity to the story...and maybe the production were not able to find a young foreign english guy to fullfill the role...and the role i think is about a european guy ( after seeing the wardrobe he's wearing in the photos stills ) ...so..... with the comments....lets get it a little less insulting then....
@ 45 Angela : Eva Green's father is a sweedish original and in sweeden english is their second language...and she went to learn acting in a British school ...so no wonder why she can pull good english conversation.
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