I already posted about the recently made public behind-the-scenes conflict between the production of Spy Myung Wol with Han Ye Seol and her agency Sidus HQ here, so I won’t repeat any already stated facts. The latest developments continue to head in one direction – a downward spiral that has now resulted in KBS confirming that it’s airing a SMW special on Monday. Clearly the supposedly completed 40% footage was not enough to scrape up a new episode on Monday, and my gut tells me unless Han Ye Seul immediately shows up on set on Monday August 15th, there won’t be enough footage to air a new episode on Tuesday as well. As of Monday noon Seoul time, Han Ye Seul is still a no-show on the set of SMW, and KBS is holding an emergency meeting to discuss its options.
I was actually thinking of completely dropping my SMW posts (baby recaps and previews) because much as I want to give back to courteous fans of this drama, someone still felt the need to tell me I have bad taste because I had the temerity to love Lie to Me but don’t like SMW. Put aside the faulty logical argument behind that correlation, it’s like coming to my house and enjoying the dinner I cooked, and then slapping me in the face before leaving. Yeah, it doesn’t make me eager to spend my precious free time producing work for people like that. Ergo, this SMW kerfluffle unwittingly answers my dilemma for me. I’m out everyone. Good luck to this drama – cast, crew, and fans.
KBS has elected to use very harsh words for the media, stating that it is weighing all options, including the possibility of taking legal action against it’s leading actress for contract breaches. Uhm, based what I gleaned from all the he said-she said, Han Ye Seul probably has an equally valid counter-claim and possible defense. Wonder when both sides will accept their share of the blame for letting the situation deteriorate to this point.
Based on everything I’ve heard, I do have to point out that the now public and very heated discord between Han Ye Seul and PD Hwang (who she has requested be replaced) is probably the key reason why she’s not on set (as opposed to the being sick – which no one is buying, and Sidus HQ ought to be ashamed for trotting out such a lame and completely transparent excuse).
The drama has been filming nights and days pretty much from the get go. Asking for humane work hours is perfectly fine, and ought to be the case. But the reality is that it’s not (which is why when a star goes A-list at Chungmuro, he or she doesn’t come back to dramas – this is one reason for that). Airing no new episodes this week will probably also impact SMW’s episode count, likely dropping it back down to 16 episodes again.
All I have to say is – in my (few) years of K-drama watching, this is the craziest behind-the-scenes meltdown between production and cast I have personally witnessed. It might be nowhere near the insanity of what goes on behind many drama shoots, but those things never get reported so we’ll never know. But for dirty laundry aired in the media? This is by far the most sensationalized spat I’ve seen (though East of Eden still takes the cake on scope of the on-set conflict for that drama). In situations like this, no one wins, and both sides are only going to emerge with eggs on their faces. And for Han Ye Seul, some damage to her reputation akin to what Lee Da Hae suffered after she quit EoE.
[Credit: Nate news]
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It's your website and your free to make whatever choice you wish!!
You are free to post what you like and what not you like, if people have problem, they can go read somewhere else.
As to the show, i feel bad, coz i really liked to see the second lead.
Now who on earth sane director will pick up this actress again? i bet there are tens of next level actresses who will show up any time of the day to the set if they get to be lead actress on a drama, and thousands of newbies if given an opportunity. so as you said, no one wins in this fight, may be one side gets money, this is still a failure in long term.
Hey! I love following your stuff and I think this is my first time commenting but thanks for sticking with SMW up to this point, it was nice hearing your thoughts. I do have my own issues with the drama, as a seasoned k-drama fan, but I also have an extremely hard time dropping shows (they have to really, super SUCK...but then again, I don't recap either so it's easier for me to stick with them).
To the person who made the rude comment to you about Lie to Me versus SMW, shame on them! Everyone is entitled to enjoy whatever it is they want to, and it doesn't always have to make sense. I will admit I am curious as to why you do love Lie to Me so (apart from the lead actors, who are fab) as the plot was (in my opinion) extremely flawed and a big disappointment in later episodes...which surprised me since from your other reviews and such you seem to have a great taste for quality versus appearance. Of course, I'm not trying to flame you or anything, it's totally fine that you love that drama (I just had major issues with it) and I'm only curious ^^
Anyway, I think it is a good idea that you dropped SMW if you don't like it. Now you can continue watching it (if you choose) and not have to think too hard about it.
Oh, and I just wanted to let you know: I am a HUGE fan of Drunken to Love You now because of you!! XD I wasn't going to watch it--despite my love for Rainie's other works--simply because the story didn't sound all that interesting to me and I wasn't familiar (or attracted to) Joseph. But after following this blog I found that I share the same opinion as you on many things and since you love DtLY I figured I should give it a shot...yey, addiction!
Thanks for all you do! Every time you post an update my day is always a little bit better! ^___^
Hi purty!
Psst - DTLY ep 18 recap be up soon..... Heh. I really enjoyed that drama.
As for Lie to Me. Here's the deal. I completely agree with you on the plot of the drama going from middling to horrific by the end. But I genuinely was so emotionally attached and invested in the OTP that the plot (however much it was evident that it was just filler and stupid) didn't bother me much and ultimately did not take away from what I did love about it - namely, the palpable chemistry between the OTP. Does that make sense?
I can't say whether the plot of SMW is as nonsensical as LTM (probably the same level of stupid, but SMW has bigger shoes to fill since it has the politics and intrigue it has to rationalize, whereas LTM could be as stupid as it wants), but because I don't connect with the OTP in SMW, that is the only reason why the latter drama doesn't keep me riveted and want to recap it.
I think many drama viewers feel the need to insist that if they like/love a drama, that drama must be good and everyone else who doesn't think so must be wrong or have bad taste. The sooner viewers find ability to enjoy silly fluff without needing to rationalize it as substantive fare, the sooner I'll get less inane comments. Not yours, of course, but just the general "this drama is so good, you are stupid for not thinking so" variety.
I'm an egalitarian viewer - everyone should have the freedom to like what they like. What I hate is the need to force objective quality on what is ultimately subjective taste.
Hi! I for one was really glad you decided to stick with recapping Lie To Me. While the plot was sinking faster than the Titanic - I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two leads...to the point of sheer addiction. So thank you...I would read both Dramabeans (until they canned it) and your recaps. Am so glad you didn't fold.
With you all the way on SMW. While I love watching Eric (most of the time anyway) - SMW is going nowhere. Haha if they were truly in the North, I wonder if they'd be all put to a lifetime of hard labour as punishment!
Thank you for sacrificing your time and lovingly putting this blog together. I enjoy reading your recaps and short write-ups.
=)
I feel I must comment!
I did not know Korean dramas existed until I stumbled upon Lie To Me-I believe it was EP 8 on youtube. The particular clip wasn't even at the beginning of the ep-just midway through, and I kept watching, and watching, and then realized I was watching the next ep, and finally got smart and realized there had to be English subtitles somewhere. When I found them and started at EP 1, I thought I had hit the jackpot.
Yes, it had incredibly goofy parts, and was nothing like anything I had seen here in the U.S., but I think that is why I loved it so much. I was totally smitten with the leading actors and their interaction.
While I agree I don't know what the heck happened after the writers switched (though I watched it to the end), it is one of my favorite Kdramas, because it was the first one I ever watched, and I felt the rawness of falling in love all over again. I can't say enough about how much I love that drama. Since then, I have become a total kdrama fanatic. I think I have watched over 25 of them. (do the math). That means I have watched many episodes in the raw, and then scrambled to read the recaps, (and then watched when they are subbed), watching some eps after the Mr. goes to bed up until wee morning hours, at one point he thought I was nuts after 3 days of this late night behavior so I actually set the clock back a few hours so he wouldn't think I had been up until 4.am..., I know that is really bad...) because it is like a super long, fun movie marathon. I love it.
Sorry your taste was insulted by that person. We know you don't get paid to recap, and it is out of the goodness of your heart, and dedication to the dramas. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you!
P.S. I can't believe the craziness going on with the Spy fiasco! Wow!
Just wanted to say that Koala, while I totally agree with the majority of your statement, I must disagree with you being an "egalitarian" viewer. After all, this is your blog, and as such, you write whatever you like, so sometimes it seems to me that you are quuuuuite harsh about some dramas or your perceptions of them. Of course, it is entirely your right. But as I have seen with this blog and with Dramabeans and others, your opinions tend to clash with my own or with my friends, and sometimes your statements about a particular drama or episode are worded sort of "objectively". What I mean is, you make some statements about dramas leaving no room for opinion, i.e. "the plot is steadfastly downspiralling" or something. However, as I have said, this is YOUR blog, and you can hate/rave about a drama as much as you want (not that some of your sentences don't hurt the fangirl inside me a wee bit when you do).
"...someone still felt the need to tell me I have bad taste because I had the temerity to love Lie to Me but don’t like SMW."
Honestly, I just don't understand sometimes. Is it that some people get so wrapped up in their own fanboy/fangirl-dom that they can't handle it when someone dislikes their beloved drama?!?! This is right up there with the people who demand subtitles from fansub groups. In that instance, the sense of entitlement is really amazing.
Anyway...doesn't this situation seem a bit odd? I mean, Han Ye Seul has to realize the damage this is causing her reputation. Not that I am trying to defend her actions. It just seems that there must be more to the story than what is being played out in the press
Exactly, 'to each his own', right? why must we condemn another if their taste is not similar to ours. -_-
This is what I feel so confused about too. There must be something happening that causes HYS to decide to forsake her reputation and responsibility to leave for the US that we don't know about. In fact, she knows that the whole country will be in turmoil due to her absence so she left for the US. Ok, that sounded a bit too dramatic. but people would be freaking out back in Korea, like when Kang Ho Dong and Na PD announced their intention to leave 1 night 2 days.
sigh, recently there has been so much drama about dramas, like the accident pushed Heartstrings back one episode and when the actor who's acting Poopy-seok in Scent of woman almost got written out of a show due to drunk-driving. Ugh.
I am so sorry to hear that someone had the stupidity to criticize your CHOICE of likes and dislikes. You are so good at your writing and always allow people to voice their opinions without ever deleting anything (vulgarity only) that is why I love your blog but yes it is your house and if someone doesn't like the place, they should leave. I will not miss the SMW minis since I did lose interest but I am sorry for the remaining fans. Have a good week Ms Koala.
I love ur recaps and if u choose to stop these thats ok cause it just leaves more room for u to recap something new.
P.s I love u for using kerfluffle in a normal sentence!
mmmm... since you're dropping smw... you should consider watching scent of a woman.... its really really good...just a thought!
ps...i love your recaps! so if pple don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all :D
Shame on that reader who questioned your taste and not appreciative of your effort. Hey, it is indeed your home and your dinner party.
Sorry to read that you are dropping SMW, but who can blame you? This live shoots kills. And such shame to production team if they are indeed not honoring HYS's contract or for not ensuing some semblance of humane working condition. I think the saddest part is that the cast and crew are working so hard, but alas for a badly developing plot. If the plot and storyline is of their intended quality, perhps their fatigue may be easier to endure. Shame on the director and writers of SMW.
Thanks again Koala.
Oh I am sorry to hear that you had someone comment like that.Some viewers are just bad ill mannered.How can they come to someone's blog and insist that their opinion are the only way to believe.Goodness,they should start their own blog then.
I actually feel terrible for the 2 male leads this being the 1st drama post MS.What a terrible way to come back.You just know they are wanting so hard to please their fans.
My first time posting here though i'm an avid reader of your blog. Like many have expressed, it's your free will to do whatever you want with your blog. If others cant take it or dont like what you write about, well, they can pack up and leave.
Please dont be bothered by such people, there are many more who love you as you are. Like me! hahaha! I enjoy your recaps, previews and opinions. And i find myself nodding with your every sentence. hahaha! Thank you so much!
Oh please, LTM was fantastic!I enjoyed the leads' chemistry. Sorry to drag this in but I also endured Marry Me Mary coz i love the actors so much, just not the story. LOL!
Hwaiting Koala!!