Campus drama Persevere Gu Hae-ra opens with big musical number

35 January 3, 2015February 5, 2015

Campus drama Persevere Gu Hae-ra opens with big musical number

by girlfriday

This drama has flown under my radar for the most part, but I remember that Monstar did too and it ended up being such a sweet, earnest musical drama that told little stories in big-hearted ways. Cable network Mnet is hoping to repeat that success with its second original drama outing, Persevere Gu Hae-ra, which is gearing up for a premiere next week. The campus drama has released a teaser of its big opening musical number, a fun High School Musical-esque rendition of Kim Won-joon’s “Show.”

I can’t imagine that the show’s going to be giving us a big set piece number like this in every episode, but it would be pretty impressive if it did. Of course that doesn’t mean I want endless musical interludes, because we saw what happened to Dream High 2. Monstar was best when it focused on story and drove the musical numbers from an emotional center, so hopefully Gu Hae-ra has a good story to tell.

I like the setup, which shows promise: Min Hyo-rin (Romance Town, Gone With the Wind) stars as the title character Gu Hae-ra, an aspiring singer whose dream is to make her father’s music posthumously known. She lives next door to two neighbor boys, twin brothers Kwak Shi-yang (Feel-Good Day) and Jinyoung (Miss Granny), who have been with her through thick and thin.

The younger brother Jinyoung is the smiley, good-natured twin, and has been madly in love with Gu Hae-ra since they were kids. But as they become teenagers, she develops feelings for the quiet smartypants hyung, who is much more reserved. Hyung hides his feelings so that his brother doesn’t get hurt, but his desire to keep their lifelong three-way friendship intact becomes a big source of conflict. The second teaser below gives us just a tiny glimpse of that love triangle, but I already like the tone of it, which is much more contemplative than the big show-stopping musical intro.

Super Junior-M’s Henry, Ulala Session’s Park Kwang-sun, and Voice of Korea’s Yoo Sung-eun costar. Shim Hyung-tak (the hilarious Lawyer Kim in Let’s Eat) plays an agency president who was a former idol, hence the awesomely awesome stills below of him in H.O.T. cosplay. HEE.

The drama comes from musical variety PDs (Superstar K and Dancing 9), and writers of variety shows (Real Men and Music Bank), and the sitcom Nonstop. It’ll feature a fictional rendition of the audition program Superstar K2 where our leads will audition, which launches us into the story of them taking the unconventional route to chase their dreams. It looks adorable and feel-good, and well-produced to boot, so hopefully there’s a little magic in those steps and a beating heart in its story.

Persevere Gu Hae-ra airs once a week on Friday nights for 12 episodes, and premieres January 9.

Via Sports Worldi

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1 maknaee

January 3, 2015 at 12:23 PM

Sounds interesting~

The last picture reminds me with You're the Apple of My Eye's poster kkk
http://www.impawards.com/intl/taiwan/2011/posters/you_are_the_apple_of_my_eye_ver2_xlg.jpg

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tina

January 3, 2015 at 12:33 PM

hopefully it has a better ending than that drama =///

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maknaee

January 3, 2015 at 1:47 PM

ameen /.\

ah Ko Ching-teng </3

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maldita

January 3, 2015 at 4:06 PM

OMG that movie brought out the waterworks in me. So much tears for that movie.

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salt n' pepper

March 22, 2015 at 9:50 PM

I really liked that movie. The ending was .... but that movie brought out so much feels.

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2 parny

January 3, 2015 at 12:28 PM

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3 Adal

January 3, 2015 at 12:36 PM

Nice. Looks like I'll check this out.

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4 Aly

January 3, 2015 at 12:45 PM

I completely forgot about this drama.

The trailer (?) doesn't appeal to me... and neither do the pictures.

But I'll probably check it out.

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5 Manin

January 3, 2015 at 12:50 PM

ohh this could be a lot of fun. Also yay for colledge dramas!

I'm going to do some negotiation sith the forth dimension to fir it in though (wish me luck guys so far it hasn't been open for a collab....) but i love these types of dramas (if done right). Its bound to give me major flash backs to when i was a music major (so much work, so much frustration.. But so so fun!)

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6 panshel

January 3, 2015 at 12:50 PM

This is a must-marathon for me. It looks adorable, but I'll wait until all 12 episodes air to start watching.

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7 Chandler

January 3, 2015 at 12:55 PM

Oooooo, I think I'm gonna like this. I hope it capitalizes on it's full potential. I realllllly liked Monstar....but I also didn't ever finish it because the story lost me a bit in the last few eps. Hopefully the creators improve upon that here :)

I'm also super happy for Shim Hyung-tak who has amazing comic timing! That one photo...OMG, I can't even...I completely lost it. LOL. I actually still think it would have been so great if they based Let's Eat 2 on him, but I'm fine if he's snagging hilarious roles like this one!

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8 Mae87

January 3, 2015 at 1:27 PM

Oh, fun! I too hope Persevere is reminiscent of Monstar. I've been wishing for another well written youth/college drama. I like the vibrantly colored and cheerful posters. Is Jinyoung from the idol group B1A4? He looks awfully familiar to me.

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kram

January 3, 2015 at 2:32 PM

Yes. He is from B1A4.

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9 selina

January 3, 2015 at 1:48 PM

The trailer and everything reminds me of 'Fame' more than HSM. It looks like it will be a fun show and since I enjoyed Monstar will check it out.

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10 4D

January 3, 2015 at 1:53 PM

I'm in. I'm honestly not sure how this will turn out but....12 episodes once a week? I can swing that. I know some of them but not for their acting so I'm curious as to how this will pan out.

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11 porky2189

January 3, 2015 at 1:57 PM

haha i remember the ripped guy who's obsessed with doraemon from hello counselor... this drama looks interesting

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12 risa

January 3, 2015 at 3:28 PM

I'm a total sucker for this kind of story and for music dramas, so I'm looking forward to this-- I just hope MHR's singing has improved. She sure looks like Jo Yoon-hee in some shots (like the one under the 1st video).

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Elianne

January 3, 2015 at 6:23 PM

Jo Yoon-Hee!! Thanks! I knew she looked like someone but I couldn't quite name who..

I couldn't really get into Monstar for some reason, but I like the sound of this drama so far. The brotherly pain and angst will probably kill me but here's hoping it's the good kind and not the I-hate-you-both-and-the-heroine-too Vampire Diaries kind.

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13 Even

January 3, 2015 at 3:43 PM

Oh it's Lawyer Kim!

I had scrolled down to look at the rest of the pictures before reading the article and the first thing I thought was "This guy looks familiar and I don't know why I'm already laughing"

Now I really want to see this!

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14 alua

January 3, 2015 at 3:44 PM

Damn for love triangles.... even more so between three friends and two brothers – someone will get hurt there in the end.

But other than that, this might be a sweet little drama, particularly if it manages to hit the right spot like Monstar did.

I'll try it for a couple of episodes at least.

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15 Cb

January 3, 2015 at 4:12 PM

After watching the teaser, the first thing that came to mind was GLEE.

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changhyun

January 6, 2015 at 6:25 AM

Same, seemingly a lot of similarities except it's going down the path of an audition show. Either way, I'm expecting a lot of heart and a good performance from Jinyoung who was surprisingly good in Miss Granny!

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16 ana

January 3, 2015 at 6:49 PM

This kind of love triangle is my ultimate NOPE. I rather the two men aren't related to each other.

Lord her hair. Why?

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17 Cocoboo

January 3, 2015 at 10:02 PM

Omgosh, Shim Hyung Tak looks hilarious!! I knew he looked familiar. He was great and funny in his role in Let's Eat. Wish he was in the next season.

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trotwood

January 4, 2015 at 2:17 AM

He needs to have a major role in another drama. His performance as Lawyer Kim proved that he can do slapstick comedy AND serious heart tugging stuff. I have loved him since his turn as the baker boss in Snow White.

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18 yasminsatria

January 3, 2015 at 10:43 PM

Aaaw, and already have second lead syndrome for jinyoung. Or no....? Who is the male lead in this drama?

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girlatsea

January 4, 2015 at 6:33 PM

I know T__T

I wasn't sure who the male lead was either but this description is making it sound like it's Kwak Shi-yang and not Jinyoung...But no one ever clarified so perhaps there isn't meant to be a specific male lead.

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19 yasminsatria

January 3, 2015 at 10:43 PM

Aaaw, and already have second lead syndrome for jinyoung. Or no....? Who is the male lead in this drama?

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20 shf

January 3, 2015 at 10:50 PM

the drama looks nice so I think I will watch it. But, oMG, those sweaters are huge on those girls.lol

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21 soprection

January 4, 2015 at 7:03 AM

OMG, Shim Hyung Tak in HOT cosplay nearly sold me on this show. But I don't like "talent show/aspiring musician" type scenarios so I'd probably drop it eventually. Maybe I'll just watch his parts.

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22 Newbie

January 4, 2015 at 8:12 AM

Will check this out for Kwak Shi Yang. Saw him in Leesong Hee-Il's Night Flight and remember hoping to see more of him soon.

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23 kiwilove

January 4, 2015 at 8:52 PM

lol I'm tempted to watch this just for lawyer Kim!!

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24 seaofpapercups

January 6, 2015 at 3:26 AM

This looks like a lot of fun! I'm kinda on team hyung already though! Hehehe

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25 lilylily93

January 13, 2015 at 5:30 AM

Does anyone know where I can watch this drama with English subtitles? Since it's not as popular it's harder to find. I've tried many websites, but it's 'not available in your region'. ehh so annoying, thanks in advance

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ak

February 4, 2015 at 5:59 PM

If u still hasn't found it, Dramafire have it~

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