Gong Yoo courted to headline writer Kim Eun-sook’s tvN drama
by girlfriday
With mega-hit Descended From the Sun already in her rearview mirror, star writer Kim Eun-sook is going full-steam ahead on her next project, her untitled fall series for cable network tvN. An offer is currently out to Gong Yoo (Big) to be her next leading man, and he’s considering favorably. At this point, I’m sure there aren’t many people who’d turn down the offer (save for Kang Dong-won, whose name popped up as a possibility for half a second, followed swiftly by denials from his reps).
It’s no surprise that all eyes are on Kim Eun-sook’s next drama and her next potential leading man, after Descended From the Sun reached 38.8% ratings in its final episode and made everyone and their mother a Song Joong-ki fan. This new drama is a departure for writer Kim, who usually does contemporary romances (Heirs, A Gentleman’s Dignity, Secret Garden). But this time she’s tackling the fantasy genre in a “goblin romance” that uses motifs from Far East fairytales and legends. I dunno what a goblin romance is, but hey, if it’s anything like vampire romance, I’m sure it’ll be sexy and angsty.
The supernatural element appeals to me since that means the drama might have a strong central conflict inherent in the premise, which is a big plus. And I can’t lie — if Gong Yoo signs on, there’s not much that could keep me away, come hell or high blood pressure. I’m sure I don’t need to rehash what a disappointment his last drama comeback was; thankfully he’s had a much better run in films (A Man and a Woman, The Suspect, The Crucible/Silenced, Finding Mr. Destiny), but nothing beats sixteen hours of Gong Yoo in dramaland, right? Except for Big. Which doesn’t count. Because it didn’t happen.
Kim Eun-sook’s goblin romance is tentatively planned for the Friday-Saturday November spot on tvN’s schedule.
Via TV Report
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1 Flightey Gazelles
April 16, 2016 at 1:30 AM
"goblin romance" like Gumiho Daddy? "everyone and their mother" made me lol hard!
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2 Zia
April 16, 2016 at 1:31 AM
Ehh, I have some worry...
Even with DOTS's extreme popularity, I still find KES's writing very iffy.
And as much as I would loooove Gong Yoo to return to the small screen, I'm also partially convinced that every drama that he touches since Coffee Prince is doomed.
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silv3rfeist
April 16, 2016 at 1:45 AM
+1
Hong sisters were big back then too(I guess they still are?) so he trusted them and joined the drama that must not be named.... I think history might repeat itself... ?
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alua
April 16, 2016 at 3:11 AM
I find the Hong sisters and KES quite different though. I could see why you'd sign on for a Hong sisters drama – he did, and got unlucky by getting the one that was really not well written.
But with KES, it's different kind of writing you're getting so if you sign on for that you know it's going to be flashy grand moments that rule over everything, including plot and common sense/logic if need be.
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crystal
April 17, 2016 at 4:07 PM
@alua totally agree with you here
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Chandler
April 16, 2016 at 2:18 AM
Haha, ok, let's not get carried away. Big was a flop, but that's the only drama he has attempted since Coffee Prince. Though I'd be lying if I said Yoon Eun-hye's curse (poor girl) didn't have me worried of him following in her footsteps...
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alua
April 16, 2016 at 3:02 AM
Well, I hope he turns it down. Especially after Big.
Someone somewhere commented that KES's writing is like fan fiction, which I find a very fitting description. Yup, I'd file her stuff next to fan fiction, Twilight and all that really insanely popular stuff that still is terribly written.
Gong Yoo has done some really good films, I would find it very surprising if he took this on. Because it wouldn't be for the quality of the project, but for popularity (which is a good reason to take on a project, but I don't think he needs that).
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fay17
April 16, 2016 at 3:06 AM
Yeah let's not forget the cheesy romance,that KES is always inclined to.Though I would lovve to see gong yoo and gong hyo jin together again,so if they are in,I am sold on this lol.
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alua
April 16, 2016 at 3:13 AM
Gong Hyo-jin??? Has she been offered this? I really can't see her in a KES drama.
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fay17
April 16, 2016 at 5:53 AM
Lol no,she is not courted for this drama.I am just hallucinating.
angieya
April 16, 2016 at 3:20 AM
GHJ will already star in Jealousy Incarnate this summer, highly doubt she'll be in another drama this year.
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kaybee
April 16, 2016 at 3:19 AM
Ha, calling her writing fanfic indeed seems fitting! She's a very populist writer, just throwing in all the elements that she knows people tend to like and hoping for the best.
I really, really, really hope he doesn't do this project. KES and goblin romance is not exactly something I'd like to see Gong Yoo coupled with...
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alua
April 16, 2016 at 3:31 AM
I really really hope he doesn't either. I confess I have lesser appreciation for all the DoTs leads now. Not in terms of their acting, but what they judge as "good" and I judge as "good" is so vastly different that there's no way I'd watch a project just for them now. I'd watch something they are in if the writer & director are good, but not for them. With others, like Kang Dong-won, Bae Doona and the like... even if they do genres I'm otherwise not interested in, I watch for them knowing that we're operating on the same quality-assement meter and I won't be wasting my time.
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alua
April 16, 2016 at 3:42 AM
*assessment
Edit-button, where art thou!
kaybee
April 16, 2016 at 4:52 AM
Yeah, I definitely don't trust their judgement either when it comes to quality. Choosing a script you know is going to be well-received isn't necessarily one chosen for quality. DoTS might have had some good points and I may have laughed a lot at some scenes, but it didn't have any emotional impact and the script was severely lacking.
I'm still too new to kdrama to be familiar with more than a few actors, but I'm careful about watching a drama just for a certain actor. I really, really, really have to like the actor to watch something just for them. Otherwise my completist nature would have me wasting my time on thousands of hours of awful movies and TV ha! (It once made me finish the 3 hour long Sex and the City 2, which I had only started watching because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about and a movie seemed the easy way out... It wasn't. It was movie-watching-torture. Literally. I felt like my mental health should be checked afterwards.)
fay17
April 16, 2016 at 5:57 AM
I am so happy there are other people out there who did not like DOTS.I really like SJK a lot,currently watching innocent man because of this child-man,but his dialogues were so cringe worthy in DOTS.Also the way they kind of threw in random countries,and random villains to make it look all thrilling,while it ended up looking a bit comedic tbh.Gong Yoo could may be try a different genre,which would be critically acclaimed,something like signal maybe.Definitely saw him in something serious,a movie role probably.
kaybee
April 16, 2016 at 6:16 AM
@Sky - I actually think the cheesy lines somehow made it better. They knew they were cheesy and so those moments felt like the drama didn't take itself too seriously. For me it failed whenever it went serious, because then it became impossible to overlook the ridiculous plot(holes) and all the many, many, many klichées. That and the fact that the SJ+MY relationship was very different from most kdrama relationships is what made me able to finish it.
I agree that things usually ended up being more comedic - that desert-scene in the last episode had me laughing so hard, but clearly that wasn't what they were aiming for lol!
fay17
April 16, 2016 at 7:07 AM
Lol @kaybee I know what you mean,sometimes I also watch a drama just for the sake of getting updates on what all the fuss is about.But it does get torture some after a while.And SHK,I can't get through this girl,something about kdramas is,when you don't click to someone,you just don't.I could never watch any of her dramas,so it's always red alert for me whenever someone like her is acting against my favorite actors.Anyway off the rant,I am also with you about the cheesy parts,|I could not watch DOTS after ep 2,and trust me I wanted to carry on just for the sake of nice visuals and pretty people,but if only KJW abnd JG were the lead couple lol,they had better chemistry and that's why the acting was credible to me...but SHK has this weird way of making the most hilarious scenes into something off putting? Like when she was watching in the cc camera how SJK's character was being cool with all the fighting scenes,her expression was quite funny,while she was supposed to make us laugh,she became a source of laugh for me.
Anyway I would stop my rant.I just hope if Gong Yoo does take this drama,then the story should at least do justice to him this time around,I felt for the guy when he had to survive that bizarre plot of 'Big'.Goblins and fairy tales make me remember 'lord of the rings'.
kaybee
April 16, 2016 at 8:22 AM
I'm actually a bit obsessed with getting references, so even though I often don't find the popular stuff as amazing as everyone else, I still end up watching/reading it. *sighs at ridiculous self* However, sometimes there are really nice surprises, like Coffee Prince - sometimes there's a reason they're so popular.
Finally someone who doesn't like SHK! I find her off-putting as well, didn't think much of her way of delievering lines and there's something in the way she looks that just makes me uncomfortable. Don't know why. I thought I was the only one who wasn't a fan of her and who didn't find the main couple's chemistry as sizzling as everyone else. I agree, MJ and DY had much more chemistry - they were by far the more klichéed relationship though, what with all the noble idiocy, daddy opposition etc.
I have yet to watch Big, but it's on my list. Is it really that bad??
Sera The Ms Temper
April 16, 2016 at 6:01 PM
@sky & @kaybee,
I have to agree on SHK. I am bit afraid to express my opinion on her, because most ppl listed her as one of the best actress. Most of the times, I watch her because she is pretty. I might be in the minority who could not finish Full House, because of her.I loved SJK so much, but his role in DOTS was not really challenging for him.
kaybee
April 16, 2016 at 6:35 PM
@Sera, yeah I don't think it was a challenging role for him either, he's capable of so much more. I hope we get to see him in a more complex role next time, like in Innocent Man.
Also, edit for my own previous comment (like alua, I need an edit button!): I meant that there's something in the way SHK looks as in her eyes looking lol (way to express words there Kaybee. Maybe you shouldn't be doing this at 3:33 in the night?), not that there's something about her visual looks that makes me uncomfortable.
julia
April 16, 2016 at 4:50 AM
I agree... she creats some 20 romantic scenes and expect the actors to make sense out of 16 episodes.....
DOTS was very lucky with casting....plz reject GY deserves much better
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Elena
April 16, 2016 at 5:31 AM
Yeah, I think you nailed the description of the drama. I have to confess that I have dropped DOTS because I got bored, Song Joong Ki's appeal was not enough (and I acknowledge that the romance had very nice moments..).
Hope Gong Yoo picks another project to return to dramaland. I feel this one is going to be a mess, and don't want his talent and charisma to be wasted...Anyway, it will be good news if he comes back with a drama this year :)
jules
April 16, 2016 at 3:22 AM
I'd qualify that by saying 'KES's writing is like *poorly written* fanfiction', because I've read beautiful pieces, in terms of both the quality of writing and the characterisation.
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alua
April 16, 2016 at 3:25 AM
Yes, you're right – there's probably some very good fan fiction out there, though my assumption would be that the average work of fan faction is not very good.
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gina
April 16, 2016 at 4:55 AM
Every celebrity needs to refreshen their popularity from time to time, especially in a country like Korea, where you can easily be forgotten due to the amount of actors/idols debuting every year. And imagine all the money he could make from CFs if this drama is a huge success and after DOTS it's pretty much impossible it won't be. He won't pass this up, he's probably still kicking himself for refusing DOTS.
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Grapes
April 16, 2016 at 5:08 AM
Agree, @ gina even though her writing is not all that but we can't deny that her dramas doing very well in ratings look at heirs, secret garden and DOTS so he will accept he can't pass that even if the story was not that she bring fame to all her actors/actresses
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saranga
April 16, 2016 at 7:39 PM
sorry, but who is kicking himself for refusing DOTS? i've heard that song joong-ki wasn't the original pick for the role, but i don't know who else it was offered to...
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gina
April 16, 2016 at 10:04 PM
Gong Yoo..others that were offered the role were Won Bin, Kang Dong Woo and Jo In Sung.
damianna
April 17, 2016 at 12:21 AM
http://kkuljaem.blogspot.com/2016/04/actors-who-turned-down-lead-role-in.html?m=1
Hasbeen
April 17, 2016 at 12:26 PM
Gong Yoo would have been so much more convincing as captain than SJK and SJK would be better in a goblins drama. They should have swapped and who knows DOTS might have been bigger!
crystal
April 17, 2016 at 4:13 PM
I can see why they were the original pick. SJK did a good job, but he isn't physically what I expected from a special ops military guy.
Cotton Candy
April 16, 2016 at 6:53 AM
Considering there are many extremely well-written fanfiction stories (some even better than the original source), your words come across as ignorant and rude rather than humorous. Try again next time.
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turkey
April 16, 2016 at 12:13 PM
I have to agree with alua though — her stuff does come across as (bad and juvenile) fan-fiction. It's full of big moments and grandeur, with little respect given to the setting, her "characters" and source material. They are basically there for the headcount, if you get want I mean... so by extension, I find it impossible to respect her work and her as a scriptwriter.
Which is why I always steer away whenever I see her name.
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alua
April 17, 2016 at 12:29 AM
See my reply to @Jules.
But if you prefer, we can use 'airport novels' as an alternate reference (as in: Twilight, Dan Brown, 50 Shades and the like).
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3 Redd
April 16, 2016 at 1:37 AM
Aaaaaa *scream* omg, i just thought about how I miss Gong Yoo in the drama screen this morning, and tada! If he confirm, then I hope he get a good script and awsome costar *pray*
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4 kale
April 16, 2016 at 1:39 AM
LMAOO...as if her plots and dialogue weren't corny enough, now she's adding fantasy, goblins, and eastern mythology.
Anyway, I feel like I'm one of the few people that doesn't mind her dramas, I watched a lot of them and enjoyed them, yes, even Heirs and Secret Garden.
Her dramas aren't good, but they are entertaining fluff.
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Rj
April 16, 2016 at 1:53 AM
Exactly true! Her dramas might be cheesy but who doesn't love cheese? And with gong Yoo I hope it will be snowy romance in November!! Fingers crossed!!
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damianna
April 16, 2016 at 2:40 AM
Kang Dong won you dodge well. If you're eyeing a drama comeback, make it a good one because I love you.
IMO, this writer excels in romantic moments (though they're somewhat cheesy) but story-wise, not so much. Will definitely watch this for Gong yoo anyway even though this will surely call for some eye-rolling.
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PeepsLeAwesomePotato
April 16, 2016 at 2:41 AM
Isn't Kang DongWon terrible at romance-dramas anyways?
His performance in 1% of Anything wasn't much to rave about.
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damianna
April 16, 2016 at 2:45 AM
He handled romance in movies quite well. 1% is such an old drama of his.
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alua
April 16, 2016 at 3:05 AM
All his terrible stuff is from very early in his career. It's stuff like 1% of Anything and Magic (only tried a bit of the first episode), and I can totally see why he quit the drama world. He may have been green as an actor then, but I could also just imagine him thinking back then "This makes no sense" when he was uttering his lines...
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damianna
April 16, 2016 at 3:22 AM
I love his movie choices and I'm tempted to watch The Violent Prosecutor raw but I'm holding it in.
I waited like a year to watch Gong Yoo's The Suspect fully subbed.
kar
April 16, 2016 at 5:19 AM
@Damianna
I've watched A Violent Prosecutor subbed (in my language). I can't say that it's his best movie, but he's hilarious as a sidekick.
kar
April 16, 2016 at 5:17 AM
He's good in Maundy Thursday, I cried buckets watching that (though romance is not the main point of the film). It's just he often chooses projects with bromance rather than romance.
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damianna
April 16, 2016 at 6:09 AM
What language is that? Maundy made my eyes swollen for like a day. I would love to see him do a full on romance, but of course with a credible script.
lynnet
April 16, 2016 at 3:07 AM
Hmm watched both Heirs and Secret Garden so clearly I don't mind her dramas . I found Secret Garden more than mildly entertaining though I found it very frustrating that the supernatural elements were never properly explained. That's my main worry with this drama that she won't give proper mythological explanations for why things happen .Instead like Secret Garden and to some extent Heirs ,she'll mostly rely on good casting and chemistry and I'll get sucked in because I've really missed this guy. So ,yes to cut a long story short I'm in!
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Grapes
April 16, 2016 at 5:10 AM
I didn't like heirs or DOTs but i liked secret garden
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5 Alex
April 16, 2016 at 1:48 AM
So totally agree with girlfriday on this. I love love love love Gong Yoo to bits but i couldnt sit through all 16 eps of 'Big'. And KES's plots are more holey than a proofing focaccia. But if anything, i'm on board a good Gong-Yoo romance. Hope they pick a great actress to star opposite him. And since Kim Ji Won is on a role, i hope she signs on as the lead actress!
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PeepsLeAwesomePotato
April 16, 2016 at 1:59 AM
A proofing focaccia!! Ah hahahahhahaha!!!! Proofing! Focaccia! Holey! HAHAHHAHAH!!!
I don't know why it's so funny but it is!
And Kim JiWon is on a roll by being in the role.
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meganG
April 16, 2016 at 2:52 AM
...and now I want focaccia for breakfast. Why am I so hungry right now? (rhetorical question, I don't expect you to know when I do not!)
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6 Chandler
April 16, 2016 at 1:59 AM
Oh dear. Um, I think I feel good about this? I have such weird feelings toward KES dramas as of late. And here she goes again snagging another one of my ultimate favorite actors.
Tell me how to feel. I was just thinking the other day how great it would be if Gong Yoo finally, FINALLY came back to dramaland. And here he is signing on with a writer that, at the very least, gave me some good characters to be invested in in her most recent project. I love seeing what DoTS is doing for its stars and it has some enjoyable elements, but it's ultimately not very memorable for me. It certainly is worth watching for its endearing relationships, but I ultimately have a hard time connecting with a story that insists on letting its characters react to the plot happening around them, rather than having them drive it forward themselves.
So while I'm comforted to hear that this premise may have more "meat" to it, I'd also argue that DoTS could have easily had a strong central conflict...but it didn't really. I'm still waiting for that from a KES drama. But, if this casting goes through, I'll at least hold out hope that Gong Yoo won't be wasted in the project and we'll get some enjoyable characters and romance out of it. I just can't help but want more for him.
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turkey
April 16, 2016 at 12:21 PM
It's the kind of drama that I would do for purely for money and fame (to get myself better offers), if I were an actor.
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mashimomo
April 18, 2016 at 8:03 AM
You summed up my feelings as well. I'm so, so happy Gong Yoo is coming back but man - as much as we rag on KES we all have to admit she brings in the ratings writing mindless fluff. Obviously K-audiences gravitate towards her dramas given her ratings record , so she must be doing something right. Even if DoTS to me fell flat in delivering a more compelling storyline, the fact that the romance between SJK-SHK was not as cringeworthy as her other pairings from her past dramas gives me a lot of hope. Plus, as an actor I also agree with the others here that you know what you're signing up for on a KES drama - a little bit more exposure that translate to more CF offers and popularity does not hurt imo.
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7 agnes
April 16, 2016 at 2:03 AM
Please... please Kim Eun-sook writernim ... don't be like Hong Sisters -___- They totally ruined Gong Yoo in Big. Heol.
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aX
April 16, 2016 at 9:25 PM
BIG was terrible.
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8 Elgarmummy
April 16, 2016 at 2:05 AM
I hope tvn's quality production standards will prevent the glaring loopholes in DotS.
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Rachel
April 16, 2016 at 2:59 AM
Here's hoping you're right about that!
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9 Panda3lou
April 16, 2016 at 2:11 AM
Meanwhile, I hope we will see him on the Croisette, walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival next month!
His film Train to Busan (Busan-haeng) (where he acts with Jung Yu-mi again after Silenced) has been selected for a Midnight Special.
(No less than 4 Korean films have been selected this year! Hurrah!)
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10 soapbox
April 16, 2016 at 2:12 AM
"At this point, I’m sure there aren’t many people who’d turn down the offer"
Yeah even though I don't like KES's writing, the one thing actors don't have to worry about when it comes to her dramas is commercial success. If you don't mind selling your soul for a second, this is the grandest way to do it.
Speaking of Gong Yoo, I'm looking forward to seeing Train to Busan. Hope it's good.
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11 Sour Grapes
April 16, 2016 at 2:31 AM
Noooo. Why TvN, why? It's the only channel with unique content and now they booked the corniest writer in Korean dramaverse. I seriously hate anything Hallyu. Money and looks over genuine quality.
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12 Mayisoon
April 16, 2016 at 2:34 AM
I feel like we're starting to need a list of all these shows or heartbreaks that never happened...
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13 Princess Noor
April 16, 2016 at 2:43 AM
I don't care about anything else I just care about gong yoo return to drama I really miss him sooo much and I trust tvn more than puplic channels
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14 Matt
April 16, 2016 at 2:44 AM
So am I reading it wrong or despite its supernatural premise it's not going to be a sageuk? Like, I much more prefer modern day dramas so I'd like to know what's it going to be.
Also, the rumored title is 'Demon' or something so it seems interesting and I'd honestly watch it just to see how Kim Eun Sook writes something different for once.
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15 frabbycrabsis
April 16, 2016 at 3:18 AM
I saw Gong Yoo for the first time in 'Biscuit Teacher Star Candy', which I absolutely loved, and then 'Coffee Prince', which I absolutely hated. Who knows? If he takes up this project, I may be able to love him again.
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Kat
April 17, 2016 at 7:41 PM
I had to laugh at your comment because while I didn't hate Coffee Prince, I just thought it was kinda ok.
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16 Nikilann
April 16, 2016 at 3:42 AM
Yup. Big ? What ? Didn't happen.
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17 coby
April 16, 2016 at 4:41 AM
I don't know if it me or the writer.. but with all those drama that she made, I've only finished Lover's in Paris which I love except for the ending. I didn't see Secret Garden. Can't get myself to finish the rest of her dramas and that includes DOTS which.. sigh...which could have been better.
The funny thing is last night, while my friend rants about DOTS I told her that I'll watch (and finish) whatever drama she will do next, if Ivoire gets to comment first on the recap of DOTS ep 16. And voila.. its Ivoire who posted the first comment! Its Gong Yoo.. so win win?
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lola
April 16, 2016 at 9:33 PM
Thank Goodness I did not bother to watch DOTS.
I looked at it and read the summary but it did not look the least appealing to me.
But I saw the ratings and people gushing about how it's so amazing.
So I bookmarked it and thought MAYBE if there is nothing to watch I would marathon it but after reading the reviews here lucky I did not start.
I do no want to start something that I would not want to finish.
And no matter how good looking an actor is (SJK) I can't force myself to watch something that is unappealing.
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18 Nata
April 16, 2016 at 4:41 AM
Ohhh I want him back.
I loved this "Except for Big. Which doesn’t count. Because it didn’t happen." SO TRUE!!!
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19 gina
April 16, 2016 at 4:51 AM
Every time I see this man I go "ayy papi", so if he signs on, I'm definitely watching this.
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20 Dramafan
April 16, 2016 at 4:54 AM
We need a dose of Gong Yoo. I love all of his dramas except Big.
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21 kororo
April 16, 2016 at 5:14 AM
Gong Yoo back in drama land would be sooooooooo nice !!!!! KES doesn't give the best, greatest, most realistic plot line but I find the characters in DOTS and in a Gentlemen dignity quite good and she in both those drama was able to get really good actors who could deliver. And maybe the fantasy genre can be good for her somewhat kinda iffy plot line. So I'm optimistic...*crossing fingers* *sending prayers*
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22 Grapes
April 16, 2016 at 5:21 AM
I don't know why everyone hating on big, am i weird because I liked it except for the ending maybe i an from another planet!
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nuwoy
April 16, 2016 at 7:14 AM
@ Safadi , maybe we both from that 'another planet'. HAHA
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23 kar
April 16, 2016 at 5:23 AM
Goblin romance? Now I'm imagining Griphook being lovey dovey uttering cheesy lines to a... what? A house elf?
But I don't know how goblin looks in far east fairytale. So, let's hope they're hotter.
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Tofu
April 16, 2016 at 7:00 AM
The correct word for goblin in Korean would be dokkaebi, which does refer to mischievous or vengeful goblins (who are generally larger and more humanoid than western perception of goblins), but the word itself can also refer to monsters and demons, too.
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Dang Seine
April 16, 2016 at 10:26 PM
No. He'll be uttering cheesy lines to the Sword of Gryffindor, which unfortunately, is inanimate - like (sad to say) most KES dramas' heroines. I like Gong Yoo though, so I really hope this pulls through.
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24 jichangwooklover
April 16, 2016 at 5:31 AM
I guess I am the only one who enjoyed Big. The drama was funny and he was pretty adorable in it. Remember downloading the OSTs too. The ending did piss me off but my mind has erased it lol.
Anyways want Gong Yoo to take a project already. Miss him :(
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nuwoy
April 16, 2016 at 7:22 AM
@ jichangwooklover, don't worry you're not alone. I enjoyed Big too except for the ending part. Refer to comment number 22 @ Safadi , HAHA I guess three of us from that 'another planet':p
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Kat
April 17, 2016 at 7:44 PM
On a different site, there are a # of people who comment that they liked Big but it always comes down to the ending. If people think a drama is just kinda okay but it ends well, they are very forgiving. People do not like the ending of Big and thus people wanting to forget it ever happened.
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25 bumpetybump
April 16, 2016 at 5:55 AM
Somehow "goblin romance" reminds me of that old movie Labyrinth.....
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26 Chandler
April 16, 2016 at 6:06 AM
Okay. I've decided how to feel. For real now.
I strongly dislike this news. It's like I feel like I should have all this goodwill towards DoTs and KES for not saddling the 4 leads with bad characters and she did surpass my expectations of her, to be sure.
But I find her best dramas to be unoffensive and enjoyable skim-watches, nothing more. And I want to LOVE Gong Yoo's come-back drama. It's been 4 freakin' years and I'll be damned if he's going to come back for stylized fluff before disappearing again for another few years.
(Sigh, I'll probably be damned, won't I?)
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27 Den in the Trap
April 16, 2016 at 6:44 AM
I'd rather watch Big (couldn't go through it after watching LMJ's acting during the first episode) than watch Gong Yoo in a KES drama no matter how high the ratings are going to be. Frankly, I'd watch another mediocre, half-assed script by the Hong Sisters than any show by KES even if it's on tvN.
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28 kale
April 16, 2016 at 6:45 AM
Also, I'm cackling at the difference in the comments between male actors making comebacks after commercially or critically panned (at least on db that is) dramas and performances aka, GY, LMH, and Hyun Bin, versus actresses in the same position.
Ya'll ain't slick.
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paroles
April 16, 2016 at 9:11 AM
I actually do agree with you! I don't think people'll show the same kind of enthusiasm towards someone like
Yoon Eun-hye - who's had a couple or more flops, but isn't a bad actress at all, or
Han Ji-min - who had to suffer the brunt of most of the criticisms for the drama which must not be named, or
Goo Hye-sun - who's practically hated in every drama community for BoF (I mean, can people substantiate their hate with more recent examples please?)
That being said, I have never really watched Han Ji-min or Goo Hye-sun before, so I can't opine on their acting. I do think how "favoured" an actor is plays a part too, but in general guys always get the sweeter end of the deal.
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Kat
April 17, 2016 at 7:54 PM
I'm gonna agree. I've mentioned it before that there is a definite difference in how actresses are treated versus the actors. Being in Korean dramas is like gambling, you just never know if you are going to win. These actors pick the roles based on a few scripts (that can still be changed) and a synopsis and certainly working with certain PDs and writers. So will you get the hit or not???
I think all of the actresses mentioned have been good in some roles. The only one I think maybe gave up was Han Ji Min in the 2nd half of the "drama which must not be named". Honestly, I can't say that I blame her.
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29 Sera The Ms Temper
April 16, 2016 at 6:57 AM
I honestly think KES's drama is suitable more for rising hallyu stars compared to the established actors.
GY actually need a good drama to bring back him to dramaland. I leave it to his judgment.
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30 paroles
April 16, 2016 at 7:27 AM
Goblin romance itself doesn't sound promising. KES writing a goblin romance drama sounds like it may be disaster.
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bernie
April 16, 2016 at 9:21 AM
haha SERIOUSLY. I just can't think of dokkaebi as being romantic or sexy in any way :/
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31 fatraspberry
April 16, 2016 at 7:30 AM
ohnoes. I really want to love Gong Yoo's comeback drama since I've waited for yearsss since that Big disaster but now I'm not sure if that's going to happen.... I waited for Song Joong Ki's comeback too and his comeback drama was DoTS and I couldn't watch it and now this.. sigh. but well on the bright side I hope Gong Yoo will gain moooore popularity through this.
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32 haruka
April 16, 2016 at 8:16 AM
I'm all for Gong Yoo's drama comebacks, even more with reportedly to-be commercially hit but this one put me on a fence.
The things about Kim Eun-sook's dramas are the premises sound quite interesting in papers and I found most of them delivered well in earlier episodes but than it getting dragged in between and at the end of the series it feels like I just watched a drama with bunch of filler episodes. Someday, I wish they will be a day she do a short-dramas like 4-episodes-ish ones because I think her stories suitable with such lengthy.
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33 canxi
April 16, 2016 at 8:35 AM
Lol, after Big I really wanted him in something a little more thoughtful and in line with his Chungmuro work but I think that I would take anything at this point. I was actually thinking about him the other day and wondering about which drama he would pick or if he had plans to pick any at all. And here we are! Did I will this into existence?? Next time I'll will in a better writer too.
Anyway, to really sell me I want to see who the female lead will be.
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34 pitch
April 16, 2016 at 8:52 AM
Oh Honey, please don´t.
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andie
April 16, 2016 at 5:23 PM
+1000.
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35 sweetsour
April 16, 2016 at 8:55 AM
Comment was deleted
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Andrea
April 17, 2016 at 1:44 AM
It fascinates and confuses me that KES wrote both 'Secret Garden' and 'City Hall', because my feelings about those dramas are about as opposite as can be.
I loved 'City Hall' and think it is severely underrated by most drama watchers. It had a unique plot, an inspiring heroine, and sizzling chemistry between the two leads. I rep this drama hard whenever I can.
'Secret Garden', on the other hand, was a hot mess. The lead actor is a selfish, narcissistic dick who nearly rapes the heroine in one scene. The magical angle of the story is never fully explored or resolved. The male lead's mother-in-law is a shrieking, annoying harpy. Ha Ji-won being hot and butchy in the first few episodes and sweet, sweet Oska were the only redeeming things about this dram.
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sweetsour
April 17, 2016 at 10:55 AM
Comment was deleted
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Kat
April 17, 2016 at 7:57 PM
City Hall was a grown up drama. It took me 4 or so episodes to get into and I usually don't give dramas that long but there was something that kept me involved. It is hard to believe it is a KES drama, but guess what....it actually has been her least successful so perhaps that's why she just decided to stick with her cliches and cheesy lines. Oh well.
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36 oin
April 16, 2016 at 9:33 AM
Because of the mega success of Descendants of the Sun, I think almost no one dare to refuse this writer's offer. She just made some "craziness" in (almost) Asia. Believe she will make another surprise for this. But, still, choice is back to him. If she try to cast him, then he got her attention. Hope no refusing. Hehehe
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37 p3rk3le
April 16, 2016 at 10:15 AM
if only Won Bin wanted to do dramas...
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Sera The Ms Temper
April 16, 2016 at 6:08 PM
If he choose to comeback to dramalnd, I am very sure he won't do KES's drama. This guy is too selective, and he even don't do movie recently.
If he wants to make a comeback, in my opinion drama like Signal might be draw his interest, not something like DOTS.
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38 Miky
April 16, 2016 at 11:20 AM
Please let him say the big YES...i really want him back on dramaland and even more on tvN
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39 Fangirl Sy
April 16, 2016 at 12:27 PM
My main problem with KES (eventhough I finished SG, Heirs and DOTS) is that the plausibility of the events are very low. So with a fantasy based backdrop we might actually get a good story that makes sense in the fictional world? One can hope.
Ps that's not to disregard the fact that dots proved to be a huge improvement in how she writes female characters.
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40 bluel
April 16, 2016 at 1:56 PM
I think most concerning to me re: KES is her characterization and relationship thematics.
Her male characters are always toeing the line between "force" and "flirt," and very often blow the line away into "force."
I still remember that one scene from Secret Garden where Hyun Bin's character forces Ha Ji-won's with a kiss. So her male characters always embody a very dangerous masculinity, and she characterizes those traits as romantic. In real life though, those are major warning bells to run the other way, lock the door, and call the police.
Her female leads suffer from something of the same issue. They're strong on the outside - independent, fierce, kicking ass, etc. But suddenly, they're vulnerable, quiet, and meek when presented to Alpha Male.
That in and of itself is not a negative (we all become vulnerable with certain people). But the female leads suddenly can't defend themselves physically or verbally, can't knee a guy in the dick even though they've done it before in the same drama, and need superficial Alpha Male protection. So the vulnerability is not built on trust and emotions, its built on this caveman idea of "strength" and "protection."
Therefore, that relationship dynamic, which is fed by the characterization, is by its very nature problematic because it is unequal from the outset. And KES *relies on* that gender inequality for romance. That is why I really can't watch her dramas.
I'm forgiving of plot holes and illogical dramas. I'm even forgiving of characterizations that are not to my feminist standards because lol, so unrealistic to expect all media to be 100% feminist. We're getting there slowly though. However, I'm not forgiving when there is a repeated pattern of problematic represenations of relationships.
So I hope Gong Yoo doesn't take it, but is soon offered another TVN drama that is kick-ass and amazing.
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Andrea
April 17, 2016 at 1:47 AM
+1,000,000 to everything you said in this comment. Everything.
I really, really hope that Gong Yoo does not take this drama, even though I'd love to see him in a tvN production. All of the other characters that I have seen him portray have been pretty unique in their respect for women, and I would hate to see him acting like the kind of man that you describe so well in your comment.
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Shayna
April 17, 2016 at 8:40 PM
So well put. And I totally agree.
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41 Solarmoonmoo
April 16, 2016 at 2:00 PM
I will admit that I started to cry when he had that cameo in Dating Agency: Cyrano. Now I want to rewatch Coffee Prince since I haven't seen it in four years even though I have all of these other shows I need to watch. But Coffee Prince.
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42 fishnchips
April 16, 2016 at 7:15 PM
Honestly, my first reaction was giddy joy at Gong Yoo coming back to dramaland, followed quickly by utter dismay that it could be with this writer, of all writers.
Then, I asked myself: Okay but, could anything really be worse than Big?
Personally, I choose to believe 'no', so I'll be cautiously optimistic about how things turn out.
I mean, we've already seen the worst thing a kdrama could do to Gong Yoo, so whatever comes our way afterwards can't be all that bad.
(At least, I hope. I really, really hope.)
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43 Chine
April 16, 2016 at 8:10 PM
I would love to see Han Hyo joo play opposite him
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Grapes
April 17, 2016 at 2:24 AM
Han hyo jo is confirmed in another drama forgot the name so it will be hard for her i think to have another drama this year
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44 aX
April 16, 2016 at 9:22 PM
OMG YES!!!!
Now, we just need decent casting opposite Gong Yoo!
I truly hope it opposites the like of MOON CHAE WON, SHIN MIN AH, or even SON YE JIN.
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45 Kae_818
April 16, 2016 at 11:25 PM
I have a feeling that it will be Ha Ji Won
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46 judilicious
April 17, 2016 at 12:54 AM
Seriously y'all sound like i hate kim eun sook writing club. Wats with all d negativity? U don't like her dramas we get it so pls don't sound like its a bad thing if Gong Yoo decides to take this, its his choice. I don't usually comment but this is all a bit too much.
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47 nourmth
April 17, 2016 at 1:39 AM
i love how on this website if you don't like the drama your favorite actor does then you can just forget about it like it doesn't exist :) :P
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48 ilchul
April 17, 2016 at 4:24 AM
"but nothing beats sixteen hours of Gong Yoo in dramaland, right?" yes!! yes!! yes!!! I really hope he signs on, I really missed him in dramas!!! :D
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Shayna
April 17, 2016 at 8:37 PM
yes! me too!
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49 Shayna
April 17, 2016 at 8:37 PM
I really want to see Gong Yoo in a drama again but he is unique as far as a Korean actor goes. He hasn't enjoyed fame (watch his interviews of late) and seems a bit too jaded for a cheesily written drama with lines that are hard to deliver even if it's super hooking and fun to watch. That's likely why he's been doing so much better at serious movies.
That said, I almost wish he would do it anyway just because like others have said here, 16 hours of Gong Yoo's acting vs. 2 hours..... yeah. Even if it's not this drama, please accept something and shine there Gong Yoo. :)
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50 Kit
April 18, 2016 at 7:58 AM
Gong Yoo!!! I reaaally want to see him back in dramaland, it's been way too long. BUT... a Kim Eun Sook drama? Eh... not that sure I want him back now anymore. While I enjoyed watching DotS, I have mixed feelings about it. It feels like eating cake with very little cake and 80% icing -- all fluff, very little substance. I'd have been more excited had it been a different writer. But it's Gong Yoo we're talking about. I managed to sit through several episodes of Big simply because it had Gong Yoo. So I guess it wouldn't really hurt? Assuming he does sign on, can we get a good A-lister actress as well?
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