Kim Hyun-joo goes back to high school for Fantastic

57 August 22, 2016August 22, 2016

Kim Hyun-joo goes back to high school for Fantastic

by javabeans

For a drama that involves a main character with a terminal disease, JTBC’s Fantastic sure looks upbeat, which is something I could really get behind. That’s not to say that thoughtful, sorrowful terminal-disease dramas don’t have their place… I just think their place just may be far, far away from me at this moment, and Fantastic looks like a breath of fresh air.

The newest set of stills released by the show feature the show’s main character, played by Kim Hyun-joo (I Have a Lover), in her high school guise along with buddies Park Shi-yeon (Greatest Marriage) and Kim Jae-hwa (Uncontrollably Fond). In the drama’s present-day storyline, the three friends have gone on to live their own lives, but when Kim Hyun-joo receives her terminal illness diagnosis, she thinks back to her brightest, most fearless days back as a high schooler and reunites with her old friends.

In the first teaser below, Kim Hyun-joo holds her hand out to the rain with a melancholy look on her face, and the chyron notes, “It’s difficult, isn’t it, living with a smiling face.” She looks over at a group of laughing high schoolers and thinks back to her own school days, and she bucks up with determination as the show adds, “When you want to see [them], do it right now.” The drama promises to depict a moving, heart-warming friendship among the ladies (sorry, I can’t use the word womance, I just can’t) to rival (and even outshine) the upbeat romance.

As an adult, the main character is a busy drama writer who falls into a cheerful romance with the big star and famously terrible actor played by Joo Sang-wook (Masked Prosecutor); in the next teaser, Kim Hyun-joo scoffs, “So what? He can’t act” and Joo Sang-wook retorts, “I know I’m a foot-actor — the whole world knows it!” (The term “foot-acting” comes from the idea that you’re such a conspicuously bad actor that you may as well be acting with your feet.) Moreover, she points out that he’s even been called an “acting eunuch” — ouch and ha!

Park Shi-yeon, meanwhile, has married into a wealthy family, though she was once a wild badass in her heyday. My favorite part is when Ji-soo (Doctors) very conspicuously chats her up, asking for her blood type and sign, and when she offers her palm for a reading, he apologizes politely, “I’m sorry, I haven’t studied that yet.” Last but not least, we have Kim Tae-hoon (One More Happy Ending), who laughingly notes the irony of a cancer specialist falling ill to cancer, and then says cheerfully, “Welcome to the world of cancer!”

Fantastic will be JTBC’s next Friday-Saturday drama to follow Age of Youth and premieres on September 2.

Via TV Report, Sports Chosun, Osen

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1 wapz

August 22, 2016 at 11:10 AM

This show looks so fresh with the premise being that of terminal disease. Plus i agree with you not being able to use womance. I had the same for bromance too but eventually everyone starts using it and it becomes so mainstream that you stop bothering about it.

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pogo

August 22, 2016 at 11:18 AM

I think what feels fresh is the terminal illness part being disclosed up front instead of used as a 'GOTCHA!' in what was initially marketed as a romcom.

I love the entire cast here, especially Kim Hyun-joo, Park Shi-yeon (it's been way too long since we had her onscreen) and of course db's resident puppy Ji-soo.

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2 erratic

August 22, 2016 at 11:12 AM

How Kim Hee Sun managed to look that fresh in Angry Mom, I'll never know.

Also... Ji Sooooooooo! XD

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erratic

August 22, 2016 at 11:15 AM

Speaking of fresh, Kim Tae Hoon's not looking greasy in this one. Yay!

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pogo

August 22, 2016 at 11:18 AM

I actually did not recognise him until they put up the chyron for his name lol.

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meowingme

August 22, 2016 at 6:58 PM

I watched the trailer at the end of Age of Youth and was like, who's that 12-year-old boy? All those adorable wayward curls, aaw.

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nchoe

August 22, 2016 at 3:49 PM

Jisoo is everywhere nowadays... not that I'm complaining...

I can't get enough of him anyway... LOL

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3 mindy

August 22, 2016 at 11:14 AM

Awww, this looks so nice and refreshing! I'm definitely checking it out. The cast seems really great, too. JTBC has really been giving us promising shows lately.

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4 mary

August 22, 2016 at 11:22 AM

Why does Jisoo always fall for the badass noonas? hehehehe

I'm so glad the two leading ladies will be friends and not love rivals. FantastiC!

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pogo

August 22, 2016 at 12:16 PM

Yeah, I think at this point every girl he's fallen for in a drama has given him a dose of physical violence in some form first, ha.

I mean, first Kim Hee-sun kicked his ass, then Eunji bit him in Sassy Go Go, I'm pretty sure Kim So-hyun smacked him with her stick in Page Turner, Park Shin-hye threw a punch at him in Doctors, now this.... and now I wonder if IU is going to end up hitting him in Scarlet Heart too.

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mary

August 22, 2016 at 12:20 PM

Poor puppy :')

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wackycashew

August 22, 2016 at 12:28 PM

Have you seen him in new variety show, My Ear's Candy? Puppy even slaps his own face when he forgot to order something for lunch. LOL

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erratic

August 22, 2016 at 7:07 PM

What? It's out? Where? O.O

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wackycashew

August 22, 2016 at 10:34 PM

Yeah! It kicked off on 8/18! Airs every Thursday.

I download the show after getting the torrent file. Jisoothailand Instagram subbed most of his part. I also watch with Chinese subs on maplestage.com. tvN only posts short clips on YouTube and not the whole show. I'm only watching Jisoo and Jang Keun Suk's parts. =)

purpleowl

August 22, 2016 at 11:13 PM

At least he didn't have a love live with Shin Hye. But yes, he cares deeply about dangerous, but pretty, girls. Maybe because he's a dangerous, but pretty, boy.

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5 canxi

August 22, 2016 at 11:40 AM

Omg. I'm screaming seeing the animation for the show's title.
Is the 'C' in FantastiC for "Cancer"??! LOL! It's very...subtle.

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6 windsun33

August 22, 2016 at 11:40 AM

Seriously? Yet another terminal illness drama?

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Flightey Gazelles

August 22, 2016 at 12:15 PM

I felt like you until I recently just finished watching Marraige Contract two days ago. I went in looking for absurd makjangy shananigans to poke fun at but came out wanting to be a better person . And showing(or at least giving) more love to those around me. It left me such heartwarming feelings that I'm not only looking forward to this,but looking for stories like it( I think scent of a woman,you're next).
That been said,still haven't giving up on my search for absurd makjang craziness. Any recommendations?

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pogo

August 22, 2016 at 12:18 PM

early Lee Kyung-hee dramas, I think. Birth secrets, terminal illnesses and angsty romance enough to satisfy anyone. imo Sang-doo, MiSa and Nice Guy are probably good on that front.

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mk

August 22, 2016 at 12:23 PM

Flames of Ambition is pretty wild, as is Heaven's Promise/The Promise.

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juniper

August 22, 2016 at 7:08 PM

Flames of Ambition is pretty wild, but everything makes sense in the context of the show so I'm not sure I'd call it makjang.

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juniper

August 22, 2016 at 7:10 PM

Argh sorry, read it again and realized she was looking for serious recs, not just absurdly crazy makjang. In that case, Flames of Ambition is a good idea!

erratic

August 22, 2016 at 7:09 PM

Thank You with Gong Hyo Jin and Jang Hyuk.

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juniper

August 22, 2016 at 7:32 PM

For absurdly crazy shows, you could try an Im Sung-han drama. I haven't seen any of the ones that have gone famously off the rails, like Princess Aurora, but even her more watchable ones are a trip. New Tales of a Gisaeng goes completely nuts a little more than halfway in but remains strangely addictive, and Assorted Gems never gets quite as crazy but has bursts of madness the whole way through.

If you want to watch something just to make fun of it, there are always the season dramas. Winter's Sonata and Autumn's Tale especially are makjang classics--birth secrets, incest, amnesia, terminal illness, very rich vs. very poor, you name it, they've got it.

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mary

August 23, 2016 at 4:45 AM

How about that crazy drama with high ratings and the villain won Best Actress (which usually goes to heroine)? The one with Oh Yeon-seo? Come, Jang Bori.

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Jo

August 22, 2016 at 8:55 PM

EXACTLY. Dramas can re-hash the same things over and over again because these are core themes in life: sickness, health, and the emotions and people in-between.

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7 Chandler

August 22, 2016 at 11:56 AM

I'm really really looking forward to this. Which is good because I'm really really not looking forward to saying goodbye to Age of Youth. Those two warring sentiments should cancel each other out, right?

And yay for FantasiC also promising lots of friendship between the girls. That should help me let go of my favorite roomies from AoY.

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kdrama_addict

September 2, 2016 at 9:12 PM

Absolutely in agreement with you! I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my girls from Age of Youth either...Even though I think no drama will be able to top it off, I hope this next drama proves to be touching too (hooray for more female friendships!!!)

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8 Flightey Gazelles

August 22, 2016 at 12:05 PM

That image of Park Shi Yeon. On a bike. In LEATHER!!!

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salt n' pepper

August 22, 2016 at 5:16 PM

I know right?? SMOKING HOT!

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9 Nami

August 22, 2016 at 12:19 PM

I'M in for the love story btwn Ji soo and Park shi Yeon ?

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midflower

August 22, 2016 at 1:50 PM

Same, I'm going to check it out for them...

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salt n' pepper

August 22, 2016 at 5:17 PM

Me three! I'm usually not into noona romances but it's Park Si Yeon and Ji Soo so go go go~

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Flightey Gazelles

August 23, 2016 at 10:03 AM

Please,please,please Jisoo,please GET THE GIRL this time!

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10 wackycashew

August 22, 2016 at 12:27 PM

Am so so excited for this!! Love the cast and characters along with the premise. Jisoo puppy, your first adult role! Bring it on!!

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11 mmeuh

August 22, 2016 at 1:01 PM

Like almost everyone, i was wary of the premise, still a little, but the stills and teasers look upbeat and cheerful enough to make me change my mind. Hopefully the drama will be able to deliver some positive vibe.

On side note, I'm gonna die of the cute if Jisoo char actually learns reading palms for Shiyeon char lol I'm curious on how their story will pan out. please give puppy some luvvv

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12 bugs_bunny

August 22, 2016 at 1:09 PM

will watch this for kim hyun-joo! she has this no nonsense quality in her acting that I find endearing:) most of the characters I’ve seen her play are strong women!

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13 spazmo

August 22, 2016 at 1:37 PM

is there nothing that Ji Soo isn't in? does the boy ever rest??

he's a doll, Joo Sang Wook looks purrrfect for this role, i'm looking forward to seeing the women in these roles as well.

cancer? guess we'd better keep the box of tissues at hand...

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14 marmari

August 22, 2016 at 2:20 PM

I'm with you, JB, on the "womance" thing. Every time I've seen it, this is what I hear in my mind.

"Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethew today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam. And wove, twue wove, wiww fowwow you fowevah and evah… So tweasuwe youw wove…Have you the wing?"

Princess Bride, the only place for womance.

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Flightey Gazelles

August 22, 2016 at 11:35 PM

Lol! That movie,its been awhile.

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pogo

August 23, 2016 at 6:45 AM

Yeah, I refuse to use that word - jb is right, it sounds ridiculous.

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canxi

August 23, 2016 at 10:44 AM

Lol, I've seen commenters elsewhere call it a "yeo-mance" (like yeoja) and I like that much more. Can't use it universally but at least you can for your K-Drama needs. It's also kinda punny/clever.

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15 Nina Chikovani

August 22, 2016 at 2:36 PM

Oh I love the premise, it looks so refreshing and fun.
I hope at some point it wouldn't get TOO depressing.
And PSY looks so good that I don't think I'll get disturbed by noona romance here

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16 fishnchips

August 22, 2016 at 3:12 PM

Is anyone else hoping that this'll be a complete Uncontrollably Melo reversal, and that the terminal illness will miraculously go away like 5 episodes in -preferably after the chara made an insane decision thinking IMMA DIE ANYWAY I CAN GET AWAY WITH IT and so ends up faced with hilarious consequences when they end up living after all- so we can cut out the grief and only be left with fluff and joy and learning how to live again when you thought you were gonna die?

Seriously, I want this plot so much. And the changes of it not happening aren't THAT slim, right?! (Let a fangirl dream...)

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fishnchips

August 22, 2016 at 3:14 PM

*chances. for goodness sake. how did that typo even happen? C AND G AREN'T EVEN THAT CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, FINGERS, COME ON, GET IT TOGETHER.

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salt n' pepper

August 22, 2016 at 5:23 PM

Yes, please! I don't think I can take it when they give us X episodes of fluff and cute but then the lead ends up dying at the end. So even if a false diagnosis would be a cop out given that it's been blatantly spelled out from the start that she'd have a terminal illness, I would gladly accept it.

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bbstl

August 22, 2016 at 5:46 PM

Yessiree! Bring on the old mistake-at-the-clinic-switched-test-results trope! Or the miracle-drug-discovered-in-the-knick-of-time-trope!

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17 Kaylie

August 22, 2016 at 5:32 PM

Wow, does Park Shi-yeon never get old at all?? I thought it's Yoon So-hee initially!

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18 Bili Bala Pabo Bara

August 22, 2016 at 5:54 PM

Joo Sang Wook's role sounds a little like male version of Cheon Song Yi, and Park Shi-yeon looks so right in that uniform it's unbelievable!

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19 nozomi

August 22, 2016 at 6:18 PM

Oh My G!!!

Ji-soo... please get the noona on this.. pretty please!

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20 Sera The Ms Temper

August 22, 2016 at 8:32 PM

I feel sad to say bye bye to Age of Youth, but this drama is really catching my eyes. I love all casts esp Kim Hyun Joo and Park Shi Yeon.

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21 sharreb

August 22, 2016 at 11:25 PM

Sign me up! Not a drama i initially thought would attract me. But i appreciate writer's take to be cheerful even when dying. That's super courageous and scary.
I'm not usually keen on noona dongsaeng romance but Jisoo is all kinds of cute and shiyeon in that leather attire on bike.. so cool and badass- love her already. on a side note, i also rem Jisoo in leather on bike in Doctors. Interesting if we see those pics side by side