When one element out of five is the sole question mark, I’m going to revert to my typical optimistic nature of looking at the glass as more than half full hence a pretty high probability that I’ll love it. I went back and read my July 8th post about Yoon Eun Hye and Jung Yong Hwa possibly starring in a drama together and the comment thread pretty much exploded. In the seven weeks since then folks have had time to digest this casting choice, and with the news two weeks ago that Lee Dong Gun was in talks to form the drama love triangle its created even more room for debate. I’ve said my share and now its time to just sit back and see where this drama takes us – today KBS confirmed that Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Dong Gun, and Jung Yong Hwa are indeed starring together in the upcoming time travel drama Future’s Choice (also called Mi Rae’s Choice since the heroine’s name Mi Rae means future). Yoon Eun Hye is bright and optimistic Na Mi Rae, working as a phone operator at a call center with dreams of writing for a broadcast station. Lee Dong Gun plays an demanding but principled announcer/MC at a broadcast network, while Jung Yong Hwa is a sociable and talented camera man who is hiding his real identity as the grandson of the station owner. So far so good, I don’t see the words “poor hardworking” associated with the heroine, nor do I see “cold, arrogant” associated with either male lead. Mi Rae meets her future self who has time traveled back to give her advice about her life in the present in order to make her dreams come true.
I also love that writer who is one half of the Hong sister duo that did The King 2 Hearts, and this time she’s paired with as the lady PD who directed Bad Love and Crime Squad, both very interestingly filmed dramas that failed on the script and not the execution. So we have a drama centering on a female character, written by a female screenwriter, and directed by one of the few female PDs working in Yeouido. This total woman power thing associated with this drama is pretty awesome just on that alone. The synopsis reminds me a bit of that classic 1990 TVB drama Cherished Moments where the heroine time travels back 4 years into her own body but with her memories of the future and she tries to change the way she lived her life to avoid marrying the hero because in the future their marriage isn’t happy. It’s an interesting concept of whether one can change the future or some things are meant to be. Luckily for Future’s Choice, it’s not airing on Wed-Thurs and thereby avoiding the Heirs juggernaut. Instead it premieres in October after Good Doctor on Mon-Tues and will go up against the Ha Ji Won–Joo Jin Mo monster sageuk Empress Ki on MBC and Choi Ji Woo as The Suspicious Housekeeper on SBS.
It’s been confirmed that Lee Dong Gun is the male lead in this drama, so that makes me stoked since I think from the trifecta of requirements (hotness, experience, acting ability) he easily trumps Jung Yong Hwa and it would be a waste of his long-awaited return project to play second fiddle to Jung Yong Hwa. I also think the casting is correct based on the character descriptions for the two main leads. Since Jung Yong Hwa’s fans are relying on the same two basic arguments for giving him a chance (he’s only done two dramas and he works hard and maybe can improve), I’m game to check him out and see if he’s learned how to acting since Heartstrings.
I’m curious though, at what point does a fandom accept their beloved singer oppa/noona can’t act rather than constantly making excuses. For some reason, some fandoms are better than others. My stan Changmin is freaking gorgeous and I can stare at him for hours but he can’t act his way out of a paper box even with directional lights pointing to the exit. His fans are chill with folks pointing out he can’t act. Yunho is probably one of the worst actors on the planet Earth and I never see his fans defending him against critics. I also feel like Kim Hyun Joong‘s fandom has also come to the acceptance he can’t act.
I respect fandoms who can love their oppars and noonims wholeheartedly and still accept they can’t do certain things. Sing and shake their booty on stage, yes – act, no. So if Yong Hwa has had two tries, and he ends up sucking here as well, will there be a three strikes he’s out rule where his fans will be fine with folks stating that he can’t act and maybe should act anymore? I like him as a singer and honestly feel like he’s wasting his time and energy acting when he could become such a great singer and performer that even when one day CNBlue has run its course as a group he could still have a solo career. Think Justin Timberlake after ‘N Sync. Just my two cent career advice for him.
As for this drama, I also love that it’s coming over a year after last year’s K-drama time-travel bonanza, which ran the gamut from super suck (Time Slip Dr. Jin) to suck (Faith) to somewhat suck (Rooftop Prince) to pretty good but ending sucked (Queen In Hyun’s Man). This year’s time-travel drama has only been Nine: Nine Time Travels and thankfully Future’s Choice sounds less dire and more bright and bubbly. My Yoon Eun Hye is coming back to dramaland with sex-on-legs Lee Dong Gun in a story that sounds interesting with a production team that I like! *faints from happiness* Hopefully this will wash away the bad taste in my mouth from that superficial melodramatic cheap shot that was Missing You.
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I guess when a certain fandom sees some sort of hope/potential for their idol, they hold on to that hope, and say the same excuse everytime "he/she has room for improvement, give the person a chance". With the idols that you mentioned, Yunho, Changmin and Hyun Joong I think it was very obvious from their first dramas that they kinda sucked (that's putting it nicely), in Yong Hwa's case people saw a glimmer of hope from his first project and people use that to defend him.
Anyways, Yey for Lee Dong Gun comeback!
i'm so happy lee dong gun is the male lead!!! :)i thin he hs good chemistry with YEH
Jung Yonghwa surely has more potential compared to Changmin, Yun Ho and Hyun Joong though. Probably why people are still up to give him a chance. I've watched both of his dramas and while I'll admit he's nothing brilliant in acting, I'd admit the boy has his moments. So I'll look forward to this one and reserve any judgments for now. On a side note, loving the visuals in this drama.
What's the point in saying he has more potential than people who are basically the worst actors ever? Surely we should be giving our support to people who actually have the talent to make a contribution to the industry instead of retroactively justifying their casting?
Wow. Chill. I'm a noona who just who just wants to enjoy her K- dramas. I'll watch what pleases me, credit who deserves credit. To each his own. I see potential in the guy, you don't, does that make my opinion invalid? Don't sound like people can't have opinions opposite as yours. Who are you anyway? *cringes at the elitism*
I could play fangirl bingo with the comment above mine - let's see (paraphrasing below):
'I have opinions! I'll like what I like!' - check
'They are valid opinions! Just as valid as yours!' - check
'He's not that bad/he has potential!' - check
'who are you to judge, anyway?' - check
'people who want actors to have some talent are elitist' - check
(and btw uhm, the word 'opinion' is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for plain old wrong or stupid arguments, just saying. I mean, some people used to be of the 'opinion' that the earth was flat.)
Totally agree. JYW should stop taking drama roles until after going to acting school. I think he's being cast just so the dramas can have a built in audience of his fan girls. He was even bad in his small cameo in A Gentleman's Dignity - defined "wooden".
I´m not a fan of the guy but this is getting ridiculous: why is it controversial to state that he has potential anbd that some people actually look forward to him being cast in something? I really don´t get it..
There are so many professional actors and actresses out there for whom acting is their main job and they still suck at it. Some get cast again and again because of their attractiveness even though they don´t get better at what they´re doing at all.
Also, can anyone really say that most actors/actresses in e.g. family dramas are genuinely good? And still, they keep getting work..
So it´s just not about being an idol and having a lot of fans though of course this might be of some help..
I don't get it too. It's really getting riduculous how when you think the guy has potential, you are automatically dumped into his pool of fangirls, as if you can't have a valid opinion.
Yonghwa should stick to do music, I have some CNblue songs in my ipod (i dont usually listen to kpop)
he's doing great from writing songs, playing instruments, singing, composing, etc.., even when his idol status comes to expiry, he's got nothing to worry, he can be a music producer..
People can't have everything, I hope his fans and agency can understand that..
maybe many of them think not everyone can be G-Dragon..i has so much respect for GD not doing anything except music..still he is most popular idol-music producer to date..he even more popular than many actors out there
Oh G-D is a Genius !
VIP ♥
Seriously. I respect him as a musician, he's one of the better ones in kpop and it is perfectly fine to stick to his strengths - he does have talent, it's just not in the field of acting.
Same here. I happen to think he would be even better as a solo artist. I just wish he would stop trying to act. Some people have it, and some people don't, and he is one of those who don't. He's just another guy that got acting gigs because he could sing and has a fanbase.
He's wooden in his movement and expression, his delivery is flat, he kisses like a slug...but he can sing! (Actually, he has one up on Taecyeon, there. Taecyeon just lets his abs do the singing.)
thanks for the info! :)) can't wait to see eun hye noona in the small screen again.
At last! I'm waiting for your post since the news came up this morning! I Loled in the last paragraph! YEH AJA!
Sorry Koala....but I LOVED Rooftop Prince....and Missing You wasnt that bad. I thought Jung Yon hwa was pretty good, considering it was his first role in You're Beautiful, .....Heartstrings....not so much......but to each his own :D
I thougt jung yong hwa didn't want to be second lead anymore??Remind me,that's the reason he reject heirs...o_O
I think YongHwa doesnt want to be second lead with Lee Min Ho, but doesnt mind being to Lee Dong Gun -a more experienced actor. Also in that drama he rejected ('The Heirs'), the female lead is Park Shin Hye, w/c he teamed-up in Heartstrings, wouldn't it be awkward if he did this as second lead??? It's like going back&forth w/ PSH and not moving forward. Thus maybe, this is a perfect choice for him now the 'Future's Choice' if he wants to go further in his acting experience; being teamed-up w/ Yoon Eun Hye & Lee Dong Gun would be an honor and the best dream anyone could have. Good luck!
To that Kristine to this day I believe the decision to reject the role in 'Heirs' was totally unilateral from Yong Hwa's management company. If the rumors we're true that "he"(his agency) didn't want to play second lead, then why take the second lead in Future Choice.
The only reason why "YongHwa" (his agency) is going along with being the second lead to Lee Dong Gun is because both belong to the same agency FNC entertainment. That been said when one door closes a window opens because this is a wonderful opportunity to work with very experience and talented cast, production team and crew.
About his acting ability I really can't said much because I only have watch Your Beautiful and it was ok for a first timer, whether he can rise above well I like to reserve judgement.
Glad that Lee Dong Gun is actually the male lead instead of Yonghwa, not that I hate him in fact I really like Yonghwa but I just think that Lee Dong Gun might portrayed the role well instead of him. Anyway, looking forward to this drama :D
I will go for Suspicious Housekeeper. I like both the main leads.