SBS to air director’s cut of Legend of the Blue Sea’s first two episodes
by javabeans
Huh, well I’m not sure that it’s necessary, but SBS has announced that they’ll be airing a special director’s cut of the first two episodes of its mermaid-fantasy-rom-com Legend of the Blue Sea this weekend, with a full 16 extra minutes of footage (8 minutes per episode). That’s a pretty decent chunk of new material. I can certainly see why the station would want to milk the scenario, since its brand-new show is poised to be dramaland’s next hit and SBS is probably dying to make the most of it—the show premiered with very strong ratings (16.4%) and its highest real-time ratings broke 20%.
I do quite like the drama so far—there are some plot gaps and I have lots of questions that haven’t been addressed, but it’s fun and makes me feel excited to watch it, which I won’t take for granted—so it’s not quite like more of it would be terrible… BUT, I am definitely not a fan of this new trend of releasing multiple versions of episodes, as the show is airing. How am I supposed to know what’s canon if you keep throwing out different versions? I am a story purist and THERE IS ONLY ONE CANON, ever, and confusing me with alternate versions makes my head hurt.
That said, I’m definitely curious to see what’ll go in the extra minutes, since I did think the story kind of flew by in the first two episodes. I wouldn’t have wanted the pace to go slower, but I also wouldn’t mind getting more building of the relationship, or a drawing-out of the emotion of their first meeting. (Also: More sageuk scenes!) Now I just have to hope it becomes available to all of us outside of Korea.
The director’s cut of Episodes 1 and 2 of Legend of the Blue Sea will air on Sunday, November 20. The show airs on Wednesdays and Thursday nights on SBS.
Via DongA
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1 ObsessedMuch
November 18, 2016 at 3:08 AM
I dunno how I feel about this. I am still recovering from my Moon Lovers scars (see what I did there)! But on the other hand if we get more of Jeon Ji Hyun's antics, I think i would enjoy it- a lot!
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jellybine
November 18, 2016 at 6:40 AM
We are never getting over the scars caused by Moon Lovers. </3 I'm with you though in wanting to see more of Jeon Ji-hyun! :D
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mary
November 18, 2016 at 6:56 AM
If only Hae-soo made a cream to remove the Moon Lovers scars, she'd be filthy rich by now.
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marimari
November 18, 2016 at 2:21 PM
lol. instead of this, can we get that special moon lovers episode so we can all move on with our lives? I'm still traumatised that I can't bring myself to watch another drama
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2 Nissa
November 18, 2016 at 3:09 AM
Wow.. So, it's kinda alternate storyline? Isn't better that they just broadcast a BTS version instead of director's version?
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3 diana
November 18, 2016 at 3:10 AM
I hope this is not another case of ML: SHR where I would have to watch 3 different versions per week.
JJH is killing it as the mermaid. I honestly didn't think she would, but she did it.
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profilerrynn
November 18, 2016 at 5:54 AM
Wait there's three different versions? Hul. And here I thought there's only two... The International ver and the SBS ver.
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Adnana
November 18, 2016 at 7:57 AM
The Chinese (Youku) version, apparently, was not always identical to the International version (i.e. the DramaFever and AsiaOne version). I figured it out that time when an episode was leaked early (E16) and I watched the Chinese version first. And then when I saw the International version, it was a bit different. And I think, maybe that wasn't an isolated case. Not that I really care, since overall I had quite enough on my hands already, with the other 2 versions.
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windsun33
November 18, 2016 at 12:31 PM
Chinese versions are often different due to censorship in China. Some shoot alternate scenes, some just cut out parts.
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4 Yogi_Bae
November 18, 2016 at 3:12 AM
Oh goodie, 16 more minutes of me staring at Jeon Ji Hyun's beauty and feeling ugly about myself
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chingu
November 18, 2016 at 3:49 AM
Aww! ?
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Kiara
November 18, 2016 at 5:56 PM
Yogi, I hope you don't mean that. Don't compare yourself to these movie stars. They are expected to look their best in front of the camera.
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5 bebeswtz
November 18, 2016 at 3:12 AM
Huh..... Didn't we just go over this with "Moon Lovers", SBS??
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6 Who's Scruffy Looking
November 18, 2016 at 3:13 AM
Romantic Teacher Doctor Kim has also released director's cut versions of the first two episodes as well.
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fab
November 18, 2016 at 3:32 AM
Do they contain less shouting in the ER? I may give it shot.
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Yahoo
November 18, 2016 at 4:03 AM
Lol. Shouting and yelling is the trademark of Romantic Doctor as the most rational medical drama LMAO.
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Who's Scruffy Looking
November 18, 2016 at 4:39 AM
This is what someone on another site has said.
Episode 01 Director's Cut has a full 3 minutes of extra scenes added, and 28 seconds of previews cut. At 21:45 extra few seconds of ER MA . At 23:00 (cut from E02, and inserted here?) visiting dumpling shop for 1:25 before MA anal patient. At 35:14 MA anal patient banal banter 20 seconds added. At 29:02 escalator praise for Crazy Whale, 20 sec added. At 50:30 pen clicking, quiet gossip in the ER 23 sec added. At 58:00 a repeat of "You finish your residency,... Let's get married then." 8 sec. added. At 58:28 "unexpected skinship happens" 7 sec added. Nooooooooo, bad file encoders choice: Billy Joel is cut off at "Well we all have a face..." 28 seconds of previews cut.
Episode 02 director's cut has - At time code 00:01:50, 1 minute of eating dumplings at mom's shop Cut. At time 17:00 neck cutting banter: 37 seconds Added. At 20:25 extra pleading for forceful intervention, "Mr Kim ordered us to escort him." : 25 sec Added. At 48:00 more response to "How many people did you kill?" : 10 sec Added. At 48:25 short preamble to "I'm going back by any means necessary!" 5 sec Added.
Reply
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tacit
November 18, 2016 at 5:02 AM
Where can the Romantic Doctor director's cut episodes be found?
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loveblossom
November 18, 2016 at 4:36 AM
Aw really?! Hope I can find it somewhere.... This drama is my current fave!
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Chandler
November 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Nooooooooo. Do I have to go and find these now? It should never take this much work to keep a story straight!
And if SBS was going to pull this repeatedly with all their dramas, why couldn't they do it with JI, the one show I can't seem to let go of. I wouldn't mind watching all 24 episodes over again if 8 extra minutes of Jo Jung Seok's hilarious antics were added to each! Lol, although, technically, I've been rewatching anyway so I guess this isn't necessary.
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Le
November 18, 2016 at 11:56 AM
I agree. JI Is the drama of the year for me, or even decade. Do you know how much JI director's cut DVD cost in usd, and if it is eng sub and if I have to preorder and how?
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7 star
November 18, 2016 at 3:16 AM
This case remind me of Moon Lovers again ..
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8 Undividlylove
November 18, 2016 at 3:16 AM
Fingers crossed it's 16 more minutes of Lee Minho in the shower
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Bùi Quốc Khánh
November 18, 2016 at 4:09 AM
And show the half-naked body of him, not only his hair too.
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klurker
November 18, 2016 at 4:20 AM
Yes! Lee Minho in a long, brooding shower scene. I can watch him just sleeping, too. 16 minutes of Lee Minho. Chewing. Sleeping. Whatevs.
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9 dunno
November 18, 2016 at 3:20 AM
Ratings were lower for ep 2 already so they want to see if something a bit different could help...
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zia
November 18, 2016 at 7:03 AM
It is lower in AGB but it increased in TNMS.
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lemondoodle
November 18, 2016 at 9:46 AM
Nobody pays attention to TNMS. Netizen reaction is pretty poor too towards the script writer.
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10 potatodrama
November 18, 2016 at 3:23 AM
Not a good sign. Even with the good ratings, i read some netizens reactions and complaints about the plot.
Every show SBS made this move with the "directors cut" versions hade serious problems with story lines. Entertainer and Moon Lovers, for example.
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Del
November 18, 2016 at 5:48 AM
Now I came to think that the PD at SBS really are indecisive with their works. Some shows may not be so bad but they screwed up the editing which worsen the viewing experience. This is what unjustly happened to Moon Lovers. I dont understand what's the point of having so many versions of the same story? Suddenly they realized that they put up the wrong version on air? My interest on LOTBS dwindled by episode 2. The sageuk part is the one drawing me in but the modern setting easily put me off. Too much comical fish out of the water moments but lacking the story build up and substance. I am surprised that LOTBS not getting criticised over the many plot holes and inconsistency the way Moon Lovers was bashed heavily. I guess the ratings and having star actors help to eliminate the flaws.
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potatodrama
November 18, 2016 at 11:55 AM
For me, the bad editing was the biggest problem with Moonlovers. I did watch the several versions, and in some parts, the cuts didn't make any sense at all.
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11 Zah
November 18, 2016 at 3:24 AM
Maybe there'll be an explanation for the scene where both police officers are wearing seat belts in the front seat but mermaid in the back seat is jumping left and right and forward.
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yo
November 18, 2016 at 3:44 AM
lmao did you really pay attention to that... My hat goes off to you
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chingu
November 18, 2016 at 4:01 AM
Ha, haven't seen it yet, but she really sounds like an actual fish out of water–flopping around like that! ?
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Grapes
November 18, 2016 at 10:20 AM
In my country it's not necessary for the people who sits in the back to wear the seat belt, it's a must for the driver only, so maybe that the case in spain too.
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12 chingu
November 18, 2016 at 3:59 AM
Never realized the cons of extra, unreleased footage... makes sense, though. Y'know, I hate to bring up another show in this post, but I couldn't help thinking about Cheese and how extra goodies like this would've helped them and us tremendously, possibly making the viewing experience a more positive one? Anyways, I haven't even watched Legend yet (I know, what am I waiting for?), and didn't watch Moon Lovers to experience the crazy and confusing various versions of one scene, so I guess I'll see how it goes down this time around.
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chingu
November 18, 2016 at 4:04 AM
I should say "could've". It could've helped </Cheese.
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13 yeyo
November 18, 2016 at 4:05 AM
Being honest, SBS dramas got higher ratings easier than the other two channel. But for drama quality, I prefer MBC.
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Bùi Quốc Khánh
November 18, 2016 at 4:11 AM
I think KBS reach high rating more easily, not only weekend timeslot. They easy to break or increase so fast (even 8% / ep) like DotS, Moonlight.
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mindy
November 18, 2016 at 4:50 AM
Which is funny because last year people were very doom-and-gloom about KBS because the ratings for many great shows like I Remember You were just awful. And you also had Sassy and Moorim with super low ratings.
Then DOTS happened lol.
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zia
November 18, 2016 at 7:06 AM
But they have history of super low ratings, e.g Moorim, Beautiful Mind, and now Sweet Stranger and Me, which kinda worries me cause it might mean they will cut down the latter, too.. Just like what they did to the previous two.
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kanz
November 18, 2016 at 4:59 AM
For me I recently noticed my taste is somewhat leaning more to SBS than KBS and MBC though I have my favorite shows in both TV stations as well as cables.
For the ratings SBS usually maintains top or 2nd position, unless it's weekend which SBS still cursed. And for this year alone it seems SBS and KBS competing for ratings while MBC is far behind. Can't remember any hit MBC drama this year, even W can't reach 20% ratings.
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14 wapz
November 18, 2016 at 4:57 AM
"but I also wouldn’t mind getting more building of the relationship, or a drawing-out of the emotion of their first meeting"
Tbh this is the reason why I felt that the show was actually slow. I think we saw more comedic moments than growth in the story itself in the contemporary setting. That is why the few minutes of sageuk shine more in the entire hour.
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sweetsour
November 18, 2016 at 8:15 AM
I agree, however I think an additional 8 minutes is not really going to make any major difference in the tonal mood of the first two eps. I think if they had balanced heart with comedy better, the first two eps would've been better from the get go.
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15 PakalanaPikake
November 18, 2016 at 4:58 AM
I just watched both episodes last night, and didn't think there was anything wrong with them... In fact, I enjoyed them both quite a bit. Here we go again, a la MOON LOVERS.
Burning Question: Why is a re-edited version called a "director's cut"? Wasn't the director the one who called the editing shots the first time around? Or is it a tacit admission of "director's remorse" (over ratings, reviews, box office, etc.)?
Granted, back in the good old days of the Hayes Office that censored Hollywood movies, lots of stuff was taboo. I can understand how a director forced to omit dialogue and scenes that contributed to the plot or character development might want to tweak a movie to more closely resemble his/her original vision, perhaps for re-release with a non-PG rating. But this is getting ridiculous, and verges on drama vivisection.
/rant off
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junny
November 18, 2016 at 5:15 AM
LOL, director's remorse. That's a good one. Maybe the directors in k-dramas don't have the final cut privilege. From what I understand, it's not a guaranteed thing in film as editing occurs in stages and other stakeholders such as the production company and distributors can impose changes in the name of profitability at the box office. So this could be the case for k-dramas as well.
I am not in favour of this recent trend of releasing "director's cut" episodes when the drama is still airing. It just messes with the viewer and is not a sure-fire way to raise ratings, if that's the reason for doing so.
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Lily left the valley
November 18, 2016 at 4:20 PM
Director's remorse gave me a chuckle as well.
What I can't understand about the DC versions is when I tried to watch the ML versions, I could not even find the SBS site using english to see if there was a way to watch them.
Maybe they only care about the Korean audience, and not the internationals?
Speaking of DCs in general, has there been any word yet when/if Moon Lovers will be released as a DVD and what variation it will be? I'm still a bit worried about format, but still hopeful it will happen one of these days.
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michykdrama
November 18, 2016 at 5:31 AM
Can't comment about Moon Lovers but maybe it's because they have to fit the show into the 60 min episodes but there were a few more seconds of certain scenes they would have preferred to add, or even entire chunks that they just had to let go of because nobody can really predict exactly how long a scene is going to take and all those extra seconds/minutes added up.
Well this is my guess, I know nothing about film production at all, so feel free to correct me!
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Baek
November 18, 2016 at 6:47 AM
Michykdrama, Moon lover was a nightmare for me on that.. Dont get me started on the adding/removing or lengthen or shorten certain scenes that really gives the viewer a hard time to chase the different version to understand everything fully.. Even certain voiceover and inner thoughts were remove in one but appear in another version.. It sort of leads to multiple interpretations..
I agree with what PakalanaPikake said.. really dont understand the reasoning behind it.. if its really the production constraints like what junny mention, i really dont understand whats on their brain.. if they think the scenes are good and worth to show, then why compromise with less episodes? is it that hard to produce a drama with longer episodes? is there something wrong with the planning? and this is a pre-produced drama. i really dont understand why they are doing this.. does it cost more? and why bother filming those scenes then not using it later.. isnt it more wasteful (time & resources, not forgetting effort..) and if they decided not to air those already.. why are they deciding to show them now in "director cut"..
i understand its marketing and probably milking more rating bla bla bla.. but they just dont put themselves in the viewer position.. could this be the beginning of the end?
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16 kanz
November 18, 2016 at 5:02 AM
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Seriously, the drama is top-rated, it doesn't have some serious editing flaws like Moon Lovers, why'd you give us director's cut SBS?
I'd rather have special episodes containing BTS or mermaid backstory when she's still in the sea than director's cut with extra footage.
Idk if anyone needs that, but I certainly don't need any new versions!
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17 Baek
November 18, 2016 at 5:14 AM
Intend to watch during the weekend..
With this director cut, should i wait for it and watch that instead??
According to the post, this Director cut is just going to have extra things right? not going to remove things that were originally aired already right? its not going to be v1.0 and 2.0 (yes im looking at scarlet heart) instead its sth like v1.0 and 1.1?
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18 daydreamer11
November 18, 2016 at 6:14 AM
The way I see it, it's just SBS' way of encouraging people to watch the re-run episodes so that the ratings at that time slot kinda increased? Maybe?
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lunatic4kd
November 18, 2016 at 7:36 AM
100% agree with you, Day_Dreamer...I think it's all about increasing the ratings and the advertisers' impact in the moment. In the U.S. well thought-out directors' cut versions of films appear long after release and theater viewing in DVD form, with behind-the-scenes footage and commentary. It becomes a prize to own a DVD of a director's cut.
Since the absolutely crazy, ridiculous and insulting preponderance of product placements like the laughable Subway scenes in The K2 have seemed to plague k-dramas lately, it doesn't surprise me that producers and broadcast stations are milking the money in every way they can when the show is current.
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sweetsour
November 18, 2016 at 8:12 AM
You have a point, and it is all about increasing the ratings. I also think that since it has been getting very mixed reviews so far, they want to try and improve it (especially since it went down from 16.4 to 15.1 in the ratings if I'm not mistaken between eps 1 and 2). So while it is getting strong ratings, maybe they are afraid that it could possibly slip more?
I don't know, all I know is that they should stick to what they aired, or give it a longer time slot from the beginning (so that this confusion of different versions airing doesn't occur).
Anyways now I wonder if the extended eps will get English subbed or not.
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potatodrama
November 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Well, KBS owns the weekends with Laurel Tree Tailors, so maybe this is SBS attempt to raise them?
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19 HelloHello
November 18, 2016 at 9:32 AM
My husband told me a couple days ago that native Koreans did not like the editing of the first two shows, so that might be why they are releasing this directors cut.
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Baek
November 18, 2016 at 7:39 PM
Are u serious?! Hope its just this two ep and they wont do it for every episode.. So if their domestic viewers continue not to like, are they going to do more of these? if it repeats, i think eventually, no one would want to watch it on the original time slots already, since its better to watch director cut later..
They should keep their hands off on 100% pre-produced drama.. unless they manage to air the edited versions with international versions being updated to the edited ones as well
Seriously, i hope they dont end up doing the same as what they did to scarlet heart.. im not ready for another nightmare..
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20 lemondoodle
November 18, 2016 at 9:42 AM
I thought this was less milking and more addressing the complaints and negative reaction (and possibly worrying about the rating drop in ep. 2) and trying to fix it. Well, that's what I got from the articles.
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21 bunny
November 18, 2016 at 10:14 AM
Ok...now I worry if I would like the alternate version better.
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22 WishfulToki
November 18, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Groan. So which version should I watch? I am even more certain now that I'll wait a few weeks before giving Lobster a try. It's good to see so many positive comments though, gives me hope.
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23 Pokemaster
November 19, 2016 at 4:45 AM
All i see was similarities to Splash and true enough even knetz picked it up. It is funny and entertaining but honestly more slapstick than anything. Other than that, i don't see anything going for them. For me not even the actors, Jeon is beautiful but again tell me what is the difference between this character and the one in STARS with exaggerated acting. Lee is same old same old heir+city hunter+innisfree model.
So, not my drama. I think one of the other 2 drama is better watch.
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24 Aisha
November 19, 2016 at 5:29 AM
I'm just watching this drama for Jeon Ji Hyun. She saves the show! =D
Lee Min Ho is so overrated. His acting looks fake too at times... Or maybe It's just because I've started hating him after Heirs...
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25 houinda
November 19, 2016 at 1:31 PM
I am also watching just because of Jeon Ji Hyun: she is really a terrific actress. And Lee min Ho in comparison does not make it for me: i would have preferred another lead actor, his acting seems too weak when you have our diva facing him. Wonder who planned this casting (sigh).
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26 wackycashew
November 19, 2016 at 7:05 PM
I feel a bit iffy and skeptical probably cuz I'm still haunted by the multiple versions of Moon Lovers that I had to watch. I really think when you put out a story, that's the best cut you've got. Not this let's add some more footage after-the-fact though I guess it doesn't hurt to see what those extra minutes are.
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27 Solita
November 27, 2016 at 5:50 AM
I'm so confused by this whole directors cut version - do I need to watch both versions of ep 1+2 to understand the story?
Feel like I'm missing out on something if I don't
Just finished the first two episodes . Hope that they won't continue to make directors cut versions of every episode - I don't have time to watch it ;)
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