Odds and Ends: Upturns and turnarounds
by javabeans
javabeans: We’re back with another Odds and Ends, and today, we have HeadsNo2 here with us, chatting about… you know… things. Odds. And ends.
girlfriday: Say hi, Heads!
HeadsNo2: Hi! I’m not helping here, am I.
girlfriday: You may have noticed Heads’ byline on the site more, because she said she had more time and we held her to it.
HeadsNo2: I’m pretty sure I didn’t say that?
javabeans: You kind of implied it once, and that was good enough for us! So we’re putting her to work, hence this chat.
girlfriday: Quick, be brilliant!
javabeans: No pressure.
HeadsNo2: I hate you guys. (But I also love you. I’m like a k-drama!)
javabeans: Speaking of which (nice segue), we were talking offline about a certain actor we’ve had a recent turnaround on…
girlfriday: You can name him, you know. Is it a secret? Are you ashamed?
javabeans: Any shame has to be shared because I’m pretty sure we were on the same page with this. I was going to speak in generalities, but if we must be specific, we were mostly squeeing over Cheese in the Trap, and wondering what it is about this drama that makes Seo Kang-joon so much more alive.
HeadsNo2: Well, his last drama was Hwajung, so…
javabeans: Granted, that was low-hanging fruit. I think everyone was less than thrilling in that one… But I really feel like he woke up or tapped into something for Cheese. Kind of like Lee Yeon-hee really came alive in Gu Family Book and Miss Korea.
HeadsNo2: Although there’s that Hwajung again…
javabeans: Maybe she’s a bad example. Oh, Hyeri turned things around in Answer Me 1988 after being kind of annoying in Hyde, Jekyll, Me.
girlfriday: Oh let’s not talk about Hyde. That was a low point for lots of actors. But I was definitely happy with Hyeri in Answer Me, and I’m more shocked than anyone about how much I like Seo Kang-joon in Cheese.
HeadsNo2: I wonder if the difference can be attributed to bigger projects/better directing. But then bigger projects =/= better directing, since it’s not like we’ve ever seen that go wrong. Is it pixie dust? Fan love?
javabeans: Directing is probably true, in that the director shapes the whole line and feel of the drama. But I do think there are just cases when actors figure things out, or find something internally. Even those who’ve been acting for a while, like Park Min-young, who I always thought was fine, who seemed to light up in Healer.
girlfriday: Yeah sometimes it’s sudden like that, where a light can turn on one day after years of uninteresting performances. I remember Lee Bo-young giving interviews about My Daughter Seo-young being a turning point for her, and how she sort of rediscovered acting late in her career.
HeadsNo2: Whereas Seo Kang-joon went from Unidentified Student #2 in Good Doctor to Identified But Supporting Student #3 in Suspicious Housekeeper to Second Lead #1 in Sly and Single Again.
javabeans: I don’t think he was ever terrible (though I’ll argue that he also didn’t shine) — his jump to major roles mostly seemed very sudden, and out of nowhere.
girlfriday: But he either learned how to turn it on for Cheese or Baek In-ho is just a character that suits him perfectly, because now I have to concede that I like him, which I never thought I’d say. And that makes me feel like I’ve matured as a person that I can admit that.
HeadsNo2: *gives gold star*
javabeans: Where’s MY gold star? I can even admit that Changmin improved a TON for Scholar Who Walks the Night! I mean, he’s still not awesome, but at least I can watch him now.
girlfriday: Well now you’re just fishing for gold stars.
javabeans: Isn’t it more rewarding to go fishing than just, like, buying a fish at the market?
HeadsNo2: Give a drama addict a fish, they’ll have a fish for a day; teach a drama addict to fish, and now they’ve got gold stars, what?
javabeans: Exactly.
HeadsNo2: If we’re talking about actors who’ve gotten a chance to shine, you’ve got to add Yoon Kyun-sang to the list. I was sure he had no talent after Time I’ve Loved You, and then he turned out to have loads of the stuff in Six Flying Dragons. (He’s so adorable there. You guys have to catch up. It’s just thirty-four episodes so far.)
girlfriday: That’s a lot of episodes. Though you’re definitely appealing to me, because I’ve liked Yoon Kyun-sang since Pinocchio and Faith and was sorely disappointed by his assy character in Time I’ve Loved You. I would love to see him be cute again.
HeadsNo2: Six Flying Dragons isn’t going anywhere for a while, you’ve still got a chance.
girlfriday: I wonder if he got better, or if Time I’ve Loved You was just that bad.
javabeans: I put in a vote for Door No. 2.
HeadsNo2: I second that vote.
girlfriday: See, there IS an upside to sitting through hours and hours of a mediocre drama — you’re occasionally rewarded years later by an actor’s growth as a human being.
HeadsNo2: Are you, though?
javabeans: That sounds to me like the equivalent of punching yourself in the face repeatedly so you can enjoy the relief of not punching yourself in the face anymore.
girlfriday: But now you have gold stars.
javabeans: Go fish.
RELATED POSTS
Tags: conversation post, Hyeri, Odds and Ends, Seo Kang-joon, Yoon Kyun-sang
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1 CrazyRedHairMireu
January 28, 2016 at 8:11 PM
Seo Kang Jun just fits rebellious misunderstood guys more than well put together nice guys like he was in Sly and Single Again. And he's just so pretty it helps lol
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gadis
January 28, 2016 at 8:24 PM
Yeah, it seems like that kind of role suits him well. I remember he was also the rebellious misunderstood guy in Suspicious Housekeeper and he was quite good there. I don't mind if an actor only take similar roles as long as he/she delivers well. That's far better than going through hours of torture because some actors just can't emote and deliver their lines well.
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Julia Fitri
January 29, 2016 at 12:49 AM
My friend is an actor and he says that it's okay to be typecast. He says there's no such thing as the same character on film, the character might be the same on paper, but you can always find a different way to act/flesh out the character on film. And I have to say he's right.
We have tons of cliche characters on books and scripts, but once a character is in the hand of good actors, the character could look as different as night and day, according to each and every actor.
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2 lolalarue
January 28, 2016 at 8:25 PM
I can't believe I didn't recognise the guy from Sly and Single Again as Baek In Ho. That's just crazy to me. I really hated that guy in SSA. Well done Seo Kang Jun, well done.
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3 blo
January 28, 2016 at 8:37 PM
Yes! Watch Six Flying Dragons! It's the best show on right now.
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4 blo
January 28, 2016 at 8:38 PM
Oops accidentally hit send. Meant to add, and that means a lot considering lots of good shows on right now.
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5 jozie
January 28, 2016 at 8:39 PM
Yup, after Reply 1988, I've decided the director of the Reply series knows how to get acting from actors and I will trust whomever is picked for the next installment (dramagods please don't let this statement come back and bite me).
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renebean
January 29, 2016 at 3:55 AM
Yes i agree to this, i watched go ara afterwards in you're all surrounded and really missed her in reply 1994
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bd5
January 31, 2016 at 5:10 PM
A good script (realistic scenarios and believable dialogue), along with a talented director goes a long way in getting a good performance out of an actor/actress who may not necessarily have innate acting talent.
For the AM/Reply series - for all 3 shows, it has had the same good writing and directing.
Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that that actor/actress will continue with the improved acting for their next project or projects.
See Yoon Eun-hye, who did a good job in "Coffee Prince", but has been unable to reattain that level due to her successive projects having much poorer writing and directing.
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6 nana
January 28, 2016 at 8:44 PM
talk about reply, this one is nice comment from Hyeri
"I found out that Taek is Deoksun's husband in the latter half of the drama. Although I found out before viewers did, I wondered why Deoksun acted in a certain way while looking through the script. Then, I asked the director, 'why can't she fall asleep after her date with Taek was cancelled?' and then he replied, 'That's because Taek is the husband.'
Since I found out that Taek is my husband before Episodes 15 and 16 aired, I worried over how I should act in those episodes. I acted in a way to help viewers understand
http://kkuljaem.blogspot.co.id/2016/01/hyeri-talks-about-reply-1988s-husband.html
I think she handle the question really well but this may raise my doubt about her acting, she sure fits deuksun but ...
ps: I hope this can be nice explanation and I feel bad for the spoiler-leak-conspiracy-theory, it maybe actually a simple things, and I don't mean bad thing for posting this
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blo
January 28, 2016 at 9:03 PM
Thanks for sharing that link.
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KDaddict?JCW
January 28, 2016 at 9:48 PM
That's a good explanation she gave in the interview. It certainly helps me fill in the blank. Thanks for sharing.
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7 Jennifer Calabrese
January 28, 2016 at 8:46 PM
He's my fav orate character on Cheese which is not my favorite show (Moorim School has me hooked), but if it wasn't for Seo Kang Joon I don't think I'd be watching Cheese at all!
FYI - he was great in What Happened to My Family too! I read an interview where he credits the veteran actors for taking the younger actors under their wings and helped them to become better
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Kaylie
January 29, 2016 at 6:42 AM
I've always been scratching my head when I see attacks about his acting because he was great in What Happens to My Family. Maybe he was really unlucky in choosing projects? I guess actors not only need chemistry with the co-actors, but also with the director.
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Alessar
January 29, 2016 at 8:37 AM
I was going to say this too. He started out about the same as S&SA at the start of What Happens to My Family? and got steadily better. Park Young-Shik ALSO got a massive skill upgrade from doing that show. (I know it's painful to think back to High Society but the reality is he and the second female lead both acted rings around the official leads.)
I actually was going to watch Hwajang for him but I just didn't have a sageuk in me right then.
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8 maieutikos
January 28, 2016 at 8:50 PM
You guys are so funny XD This makes me glad I skipped Time I Loved You, though. I don't think I could deal with Yoon Kyun-sang being terrible. >_< I so agree about Seo Kang-joon though. Isn't he part of a boy band and their whole thing is being actors first and singers second...? Or is that someone else? Anyway, I think that would explain why he's gotten roles so quickly, if his agency is helping. And he is VERY pretty. That can't hurt. XD
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kimchikay
January 28, 2016 at 9:40 PM
No, you are correct.
They're called "5urpise" (pronounced Surprise) and they're actors-turned-singers (taking the opposite route of singers-turned-actors)..that's their whole concept I guess...anyway, all the guys in this groups are just HOT and they all have very good voices...
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9 meowingme
January 28, 2016 at 8:50 PM
For some reason, the image of Bang Ji and Jung Do Jeon waiting patiently for g̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶r̶ fish really cracked me up!
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gadis
January 28, 2016 at 10:04 PM
Ikr. That's supposed to be a serious and full-of-depth scene, but to see it at the end of this conversation is just... Hahaha
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10 Abbie
January 28, 2016 at 8:51 PM
I've always liked Seo Kang-joon ever since I watched him in that web drama After School Lucky Or Not Club or whatever it was called. And he's even better in Cheese. Looking forward to whatever he does next.
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Jen Lee
January 30, 2016 at 6:32 AM
Agreed. I thought he was great in After School: Lucky or Not. He didn't speak much, but his acting without words is what really made me think no wonder he's gotten so many acting gigs since. He was kind of ditzy in Roommates, but after watching Cheese and After School I like him. He kind of annoyed me before, but I've been converted into a fan.
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11 varms
January 28, 2016 at 9:00 PM
He was absolutely dreamy in What's With This Family too! Had a hard time trying to decide who to ship: Hyung Sik or Seo Kang Joon! He's a very promising young actor too, I just hope that if he gets leading roles one day that he won't be another Sung Joon. I liked Sung Joon when he was a supporting character only.
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hanie
January 29, 2016 at 12:12 AM
+1 on Sung Joon
So pretty but he kill my interest in him little by little..
I like Sung Joon in White Christmas & Shut up but meh to his other dramas.
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Kaylie
January 29, 2016 at 6:45 AM
Haha Hyung-sik was like a little puppy that you just can't help but to love, but then Seo Kang Joon was so charismatic as well. It was a surprisingly enjoyable weekend drama because of their love triangle (and also Kim Hyun-Joo and Kim Sang Kyung had great chemistry too!)
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12 Nathan
January 28, 2016 at 9:01 PM
Well, Kang Joon in "Cheese" is the same when he was in "Suspicious Housekeeper", "Sly" and "What Happen To The Family". So the conclusion is he only suit that kind of role.
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confusedturtle
January 29, 2016 at 12:23 AM
He's much more natural and nuanced here then in those roles.
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13 kit
January 28, 2016 at 9:07 PM
Wait, Changmin is watchable now?
Actually shocked.
The only thing that would shock me more if you know, Yunho became watchable. But even his best fans beg him not to do dramas anymore so.
And hi heads! Nice to know the evil (loveable) lords have grasped you even tighter.
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ck1Oz
January 28, 2016 at 9:24 PM
He was. Watchable enough that it took me a few episodes to figure out who he was. And for me after the stupid Paradise Ranch - was a shocker.
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carpetfibers
January 28, 2016 at 9:33 PM
Yunho was actually great in I Order You. Granted, it may have been that he had great chemistry with Kim Ga Eun, or that the ensemble cast really meshed well-- and I will caveot all of this with the fact that I have yet to actually finish off I Order You-- but from the first half of the show, he was totally watchable!
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juliesean
January 29, 2016 at 12:36 AM
I wouldn't call it "great" but a little better than before. At least I didn't cringe watching him unlike in the past.
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14 PeepsLeAwesomePotato
January 28, 2016 at 9:11 PM
I think Seo KangJoon's great at roles that are around his age range. Like in What's Up with My Family and of course, Cheese in the Trap.
It's like he hasn't the slightest idea of what grown up maturity is or of the totally different worldviews his older, stabler counterparts have so he doesn't bring that understanding to his older characters and therefore lacks gravitas and charisma needed in those roles, thus giving shallow and unimpressive performances.
I think short tempered, hearts on sleeve and rash Baek InHo is right up his early-twenties alley.
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15 carpetfibers
January 28, 2016 at 9:31 PM
My first introduction to Seo Kang Joon was in Roommates-- and even if he was just acting a version of himself, he was so endearing and earnest. It's great to see him in Cheese, because you can see all of that effort and hard work alluded to during his time on Roommates really pay off.
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juliesean
January 29, 2016 at 12:37 AM
Haha. He's kinda of a himbo. Not sure if it's a character he took on in Roommate or his real self.
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Jen Lee
January 30, 2016 at 6:38 AM
He was a total himbo. I did not like him much in Roommates. That image of him kind of stuck for me. I didn't like him in anything since. Cheese really turned things around for him in my opinion. I'm actually crushing on him now. Wowzers!
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16 kimchikay
January 28, 2016 at 9:32 PM
What's funny is I've pretty much watched every drama Seo Kang Joon has been in but have no immediate memory or recollection of him in ANY of them...I know, its sad.
I think it's a combination of picking the right project at the right time plus a little bit of luck. He's managed to snag a great role that is doing wonders for him - both improving his acting by leaps and bounds but also making a name for himself...I'll definitely remember this as HIS role. Akin to Yoon Eun Hye in Coffee Prince. Both made the character come absolutely ALIVE.
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Elena
January 30, 2016 at 8:50 AM
A good way to express how good SKJ is as Baek In Ho. He perfectly conveys a grumpy, vulnerable and adorable piano genius. My favorite character from Cheese by a mile. :D
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17 telomere
January 28, 2016 at 10:08 PM
This was very amusing :) Heads should join in these conversations more!
My first impression of Seo Kang Joon was actually his slightly ditsy self on Roommate, especially the bit where Lee Dong Wook took him to buy a cellphone and were both complete dorks at the store. I've not seen him in anything else but Cheese, and he's so different from his usual persona there that I'm really impressed!
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dramacasualty
January 28, 2016 at 11:03 PM
haha, I remember catching random bits of Roommate and Seo Kang Joon and Jackson's interactions were hilarious. Both earnest, yet clueless.
I've seen Seo Kang Joon in Sly and Whats Happening...was okay in both...not great, but no bad either. However, he is totally killing it as Baek In Ho. Chatting and alive when bickering with the lead and quietly emotionally engaging when reflecting on his lost piano dream. The scene in front of the convenience store watching another prodigy play and venturing to the music department as well as seeing the piano in the basement were great.
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telomere
January 29, 2016 at 7:18 AM
Thanks for reminding me of season 2 and his interactions with Jackson! I totally forgot that they were roomies. Clueless roomies, who spraypainted their room together.
I do hope that his performance as Baek In Ho is the start of him coming into his own as an actor. I've been rewatching the first few episodes of Cheese and he's just really fascinating to watch - emotionally engaging like you said, and also just really believable despite some of his larger than life aspects.
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18 Xingii
January 28, 2016 at 10:45 PM
Watching SFD is my first time getting acquainted with Yoon Kyunsang I absolutely adore/love him. I can see his Moohyul bouncing off Jo Jinwoong's characterisation of Moohyul (in Tree with Deep Roots) quite well, whilst giving him his own individual, youthful flavour to the character, so I can probably assume that he's probably watched TWDR and actually studied how to do the character justice. (He said he's a huge fan of Jo Jinwoong's Moohyul & thinks that he was really cool, his fanboying is SO CUTE!)
Therefore, I'm soooooooooo glad that this is my first serving of Yoon Kyunsang, (Moohyul in TWDR & SFD is one of my favourite Kdrama characters EVER) and that I avoided the Time I've Loved You drama. I don't think I could bear to see him being terrible, I mean, he is extremely endearing so seeing anything less than that would probably wreck my life. :3
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earthna
January 28, 2016 at 11:24 PM
I think he did study Moohyul before playing the role! He does this thing with his eye (and like the cheek area) that Jo Jin Woong's Moohyul also does in Tree.
May I ask where he fanboy-ed over Jo Jin Woong? I haven't seen it. :3
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xingii
January 29, 2016 at 2:28 AM
Yes I noticed that too. I think his facial expressions are totally on point. ;~; He's doing so well.
Oh yes of course! SBS's official Drama channel is blocked for me and I'm unsure where you live (it may be blocked in your country too, I don't see why SBS likes to block their content in certain countries but whatever lol ><) so I hope the Naver link works ok for you instead! :D The 6 dragons cast did these tiny, short little talks about their characters before the drama aired.
http://tvcast.naver.com/v/545736
It's obviously unsubbed but you can kind of get the gist of what he's saying:
"I really liked him... wahh it's so crazy, he's so cool!" etc. XD
Also, he said that when his friends found out that he got the role, they didn't believe that he could pull it off. HAHAHA he's so cute ;A;
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19 earthna
January 28, 2016 at 11:17 PM
I've always felt terrible about not liking Seo Kang Joon (but now I can say it!). I totally avoided everything that he's in. I don't know why. There's something about him that I don't like and looking at him irks me so much. That's why I was so surprised when I watched him in Cheese (I went in without knowing who the cast were). I can confidently say now that I like him. Maybe it was Baek In-ho? He probably just fits that role so well.
On the other side, I can't look at Park Seo Joon the same way again after watching She Was Pretty. His character is someone I'd want to punch in the face (him in the earlier episodes). I can't believe that disliking Park Seo Joon is possible in this world.
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Jen Lee
January 30, 2016 at 6:45 AM
My sentiments exactly! You should watch Seo Kang Joon in After School, especially the last two episodes. I only watched it after finishing episode 8 of Cheese to get my Seo Kang Joon fix.
And, grr to Park Seo Joon. Total jerk in She Was Pretty. I flipped him off so many times while watching. My husband can attest to that.
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20 pgeo
January 28, 2016 at 11:37 PM
And that's astonishing performance is called "directing+writing". Mediocre "stocks" have one huge advantage: they can go seroiusly "down" or absolutely "up". That's the case with lots and lots of actors, performance and talent usually match, unless there's a specific director behind a project because, let's face it, we only have one Daniel-"flawless"-Day-Lewis and one Matt-"adorable and talented in every role"- Damon in this whole wide world. Therefore the undeniable truth is that all tributes must and ought to go to production teams especially when it comes to tvN's series; they had been seeing a tiny acting "flame"in each and every mediocre actor/idol/celebrity they had cast and had worked hard to transform that into a big "fire" for the sake of their audiences. Hyeri is not a better actress now after the amazing AM'88, the same way poor TaecYeon didn't improve after tens of rehearsals in Who Are You (BTW, I watched his rehearsals with the PD in a BTS bonus of WAY and I can officially say I was absolutely impressed by the crew's dedication and TaecYeon's efforts).
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pigsnout
January 29, 2016 at 12:16 AM
Hyeri was bad before but her performance before and in Reply 1988 are not even close to Taecyeon's level of non talent.
Someone on this site once said that when Taecyeon acts, u can always see the look in his eyes that he's thinking what his next line is and looking for the PD's instructions. Who Are You had the least of that look but he was still bad, he is the worst acting-dol tvN has ever cast because even their magic didn't work properly on him. I didn't like Hyeri before but at least her Reply performance was better than that.
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skelly
January 29, 2016 at 5:35 AM
For me, the Reply series is not a reliable indicator of an actor's talent because these shows are very much ensemble productions...it is all about presenting a unified whole, and little world unto itself where each actor is very much connected to and affected by the others. I think this makes it a lot easier to do a decent job, especially with some fabulous veteran actors heading things up.
For example, I think Hyeri's performance was indicative of this - she did her best in ensemble scenes, where she is reacting to others (although she did tend to get a little shouty) but when she was on her own she tended to be weepy or blank. We were often frustrated with the lack of clues to how Deuk-sun felt or what she thought, and I don't think all of that was directorial restraint.
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mooses
January 30, 2016 at 1:54 PM
I don't think we can blame Hyeri on the lack of insight into Dukseon's thoughts and feelings because that's just a result of the nature of the show lol. Dukseon the character herself didn't know what she was feeling, and the actors themselves were kept in the dark as well. I think Hyeri did the best she can given that she didn't know who her own character was truly in love with.
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21 Nina Chikovani
January 28, 2016 at 11:51 PM
WoW so happy for Seo Kang Joon getting recognisation, I have seen him in web-drama lucky or not and totally became his fan....even after watching him in Hwajung....hope he will keep playing misunderstoood, a little bit crazy guys, no more Mr. Perfection plz
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22 jules
January 29, 2016 at 12:22 AM
In an interview, Seo Kang Joon said that Cha Seung Won gave him some acting advice on the set of Hwajung (basically, put some of yourself into every character). He decided to do that with Cheese and felt more comfortable with the character. So... yay for good advice, and yay for people willing to put it to good use. :)
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redfox
January 29, 2016 at 12:31 PM
simple truth, but different level when coming from a person who actually can follow his own advice. oftentimes people who give advice cant act by it. cha seung won knows what he is talking about, whether it be a funny, classy or bad-ass, it all exists in himself as well
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Jen Lee
January 30, 2016 at 6:50 AM
Cha Seung Won is just plain talented. Love him.
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bd5
January 31, 2016 at 5:23 PM
Yep - one of the few actors that can do comedy or drama w/ equal aplomb.
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23 pigsnout
January 29, 2016 at 12:23 AM
Looks like Seo Kang Joon does one type of character really well, he has a similar type of character in What Happens To My Family (bad boy type). It's less rough than Baek In Ho but with a similar feel.....
Still, it's worthy of praise for an actor to be able to deliver a type of role really well, rather than crappy actors taking 10 different types of roles but not doing well at any of them but expecting praise just for role choice even when the performance is crap. At least he can do this much so well, so many actors can't even manage that.
I also like his crazy bitch sister in the drama, her acting is so weird that it's entertaining. It's not unintentional bad acting like many idols, just weirdly funny. But only in small parts!
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24 Mainlykdrama
January 29, 2016 at 12:49 AM
Yoon Kyun Sang in TTILY/pretty much everyone in TTILY is something I want to pretend never happened. Even if it that means giving up the adorableness that was the first half of the show. I'd gladly see Ha Ji Won and Lee Jin Wook together in another show, just not one where they're friends who've been hiding romantic feelings for the past decade.
Yes to Seo Kang Joon's awesomeness in Cheese! I'm putting Baek In Ho up there among my all time favorite characters, it's that serious y'all. Like I don't even know if it's Baek In Ho or Seo Kang Joon as Baek In Ho or Seo Kang Joon but I freaking love him. I think this is gonna be that turning point in his career for him and I really, like reaaaaally hope that he brings it in his next project too
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25 cupkate
January 29, 2016 at 1:06 AM
I know a lot of us love the romance between Jung and Seol in this drama but yep. SKJ is definitely the reason why I'm watching Cheese. He's definitely improved which is maybe partly director's hand or something just worked for him, or it could also be the character. But a really well written character won't be that effective on screen if it's not played well. So I think it's just him.
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26 john
January 29, 2016 at 1:30 AM
AM1988 was my first encounter with Hyeri. I loved her dorky Deok Seon.
AM Series producer Shin Won-Ho and writer, Lee Woo-Jung, know how to get the best from the actors. A winning collaboration for all concerned.
Seo Kang-joon is going to be a hot commodity following the success of CITT. I hope he chooses a good movie or drama as a follow up. Nice to read about Cha Seung Won gave him some advice.
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27 Enz
January 29, 2016 at 3:23 AM
I'm surprised coz I saw SKJ in sly and thought he was really natural in that role. That he was a raw talent and quite memorable in that drama. I watched his drama special and he was awesome in it too.
He is ok in Cheese but I think kim go eun is the one that is great in the role. I love her many expressions. That kiss scene is Soo funny for just that. Just my opinion :)
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Who's Scruffy Looking
January 29, 2016 at 4:13 AM
Hi Enz. What was the name of the drama special he was in.
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youcallitwinter
January 29, 2016 at 4:41 AM
It's called Haneuljae's Murder. Like most drama specials, it's rather limited, but I loved it. It's rather unusual and messed up. About this young boy who met a woman during wartime, both of them trying to make ends meet, and encounters her again years later, but her daughter falls in love with him.
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28 Bongsookie?
January 29, 2016 at 3:56 AM
The first time I saw Seo Kang Jun was in "What Happens to My Family" and I thought he was really good! This is second time seeing him again in "Cheese In the Trap", so safe to say I'm glad I've never saw him act bad and so I never understood people who bash him. He's a great actor :)
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29 renebean
January 29, 2016 at 3:59 AM
I didn't realise that seo kang joon was in good doctor.I quite liked him in sly and single again though i didn't finish the drama but definitely loving him in cheese, I'm always waiting for his scenes.
I kind of do get annoyed when actors get unappreciated when they've done a good job in one drama but bad in another which i personally think it attributes to writing and directing and maybe a role that doesn't suit them in the first place.
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30 fanwho
January 29, 2016 at 4:11 AM
There the last pic - those two (KMN, BYH) are my favorites all time
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31 sisterkiller
January 29, 2016 at 4:57 AM
ugh, seo kang joon. he's such a giant bleeding heart as baek in ho. and i'm so glad, because even in the sea of pretty faces that is dramaland, he is soooooo damn pretty.
i also have to love how annoying lee sung kyung is as baek in ha, mostly because her screen time and interaction with the leads is so limited thus far. cheese is just taking over my heart mind and soul, and i don't really have time for that right now!!!
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32 kanz
January 29, 2016 at 5:02 AM
Some of the best actors nowadays also started from being kinda awkward and terrible at first, but slowly they grown into much better actor. See, for example, Ji Chang Wook in his first drama or Ji Sung who said the director called him the worst actor ever (when he received Daesang at MBC Drama Awards) and look what he becomes now.
With the help from director, writer and the guidance from senior actors, I think most actors would do fine. Seo Kang Joon is not the worst actor for sure, and he still have a lot of rooms to improve. Though I won't say he is ready for male lead role in meatier drama, unless it's Baek In Ho-type of character.
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33 Jennalyn Zul
January 29, 2016 at 5:09 AM
I never like any project from SKJ, I see him just flower boy with moderate talent and presence. But I really like him in Cheese in the Trap. He seem like new actor and impress everyone with his acting. Baek In ho character suit him very well. In fact I care about him more than anyone else in that show. i don't know if i like SJK as person yet but he as BIH make me sold. Same goes to Hyeri, really I dislike everything about her before R88 especially her aegyo. But Sung Dukseon make her loveable and charming. Suddenly I find everything about her so lovely lol. Waiting for these two next project and hope it good as the first time I like them.
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34 luv
January 29, 2016 at 5:14 AM
So true reli loving seo kang joon now.. But before the show aired i actually didnt like seo kang joon as baek in ho i thought he would suck at deliverg bad ass In Ho... But thankfully i was proven wrong..the moment he started swearing i was hooked..lol..oppa fighting..???????
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35 ju
January 29, 2016 at 7:19 AM
I guess I am one of the minority who just isn't taken by Cheese in the Trap nor Seo Kang Joon. And Kim Go Eun's role is rather disappointing. Park Have Jin brings the most layered and nuanced acting among the cast.
Six Flying Dragons is great though! The script is super well written and the director paces and tells the story very well. The ensemble cast is superlative. Each one, from the veterans to the younger actors have roles that are not one-dimensional. It is one of the best saeguk in korean drama that I have seen.
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36 Mandy
January 29, 2016 at 7:43 AM
I currently have this incurable Seo Kang-joon obsession. Or maybe it's Baek In-ho obsession? I hardly even know anymore. What I do know, is that while I think CITT is slightly overrated and I'm not enjoying it as much as I'd like, I'm sticking around for basically one person, and that's the rebellious bad boy In-ho.
I don't quite ship him with Seol though. I think they'd be such a great couple together and in any other drama, I'd be rooting for them with colourful flags and painted face. But I see CITT more as In-ho's personal journey and hopefully triumph towards reviving his dream, reaching towards it and fulfilling it. It's almost like DH, where after a point, it wasn't just about Hye-mi and whether she'd choose Sam-dong. It was about whether he'd win over his hearing issues and be able to live the music he's always dreamed. The triumph in that was so great that it was even better than him winning the girl.
I think Seo Kang-joon is nailing it in a ridiculous level. I'm a huge Park Hae-jin fan and he's just heads and shoulders above SKJ in talent - obviously. But I'm mature enough to admit that despite my hesitance for SKJ, I personally think he's stealing the show. The screen just lights up when In-ho comes around. He brings this vulnerability, this guarded facade that's very obvious. Like he's trying to be so much stronger than he is, and that in turn makes me root for him and squeeze my heart. That last piano scene? I'm not a mushy person and I don't even cry that easily, but gosh I was embarrassed to have teared up. It was so heart warming to see In-ho happy and content. I don't care what Seol has to be to stay in his life - be it a girl friend, a friend, or even a sister - I'd like for them to have those talks and those moments forever. It was really precious and easily the best scene of the drama.
I'm not sure where SKJ suddenly learned to act, but whatever magic he's bringing, I hope he can do it for everything he's in from now on. I'm just so taken by it.
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Yuki
January 29, 2016 at 12:11 PM
100% agree with everything you said.
I already have a soft spot for musicians...but Seo Kang Joon really brings Baek In Ho to life, and who am I kidding, his pretty eyes are the icing on the cake. I'm hooked. :)
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37 frabbycrabsis
January 29, 2016 at 9:39 AM
I've loved Seo Kang-joon since After School Bokbulbok, so I wasn't surprised when I loved him in this at all. I can watch his scenes over and over again, he makes me love In-ho as a character, more than Jung.
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38 Faith
January 29, 2016 at 8:46 PM
Seo Kang Joon has definitely grown in his acting. Seriously needs a leading role after this!
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39 Aigoooo
January 30, 2016 at 1:36 AM
I think there are just those directors who can pull out a good performance from an actor/actress. One director in mind is director Lee Yoon Jung. She was able to get great performances from both Yoon Eun Hye in Coffee Prince (still waiting for her to reach that level of acting again) and Choi Kang Hee (never been a fan of her acting until Heart to Heart).
I don't think Seo Kang Joon is a good or a bad actor. His performances had never stood out or stunk before. He gets the job done but easily forgettable. His stint in Roommates gave me the impression that he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer though. lol
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