The upcoming Korean remake of the popular TW-drama Fated to Love You is going to live and die by the chemistry of the leads. A lot of viewers already know the story from watching the original or hearing about it so the narrative won’t be hook enough to lure audience to keep watching. Plus even if someone is newbie to this story, I can safely say it’s nothing to write home about. The male lead on his best day can be described as trying to grow up from his arrogant self-absorption, while at his worst is just a jackass through and through. Ethan Ruan made him mildly palatable at his worst so I could stick with him long enough for the much too late redemption arc to arrive. Will Jang Hyuk pull it off? I have complete faith he can, and look handsome to boot doing it as well as seen in these latest drama stills. Jang Nara is adorable in character while Hyukkie is rocking that front bang like he was born with it. The royal blue suit also look mighty snappy and charming on him. While the original drama didn’t manage to pair up the second leads or other such fanservice, I already am happier with the casting of Choi Jin Hyuk and Wang Ji Won over the original stars Baron Chen and Bianca Bai. Those two were gorgeous but oh so flat. There is a also first peek at Wang Ji Won practicing for her role as the ballerina girlfriend and MBC couldn’t have picked a better actress for that role. Wang Ji Won graduated with a Bachelor of Dance from Korea National University of Arts and then was trained as a ballerina at England’s The Royal Ballet School. When you see the pics below of her dancing, it’s the real deal and so utterly beautiful in showcasing the female form.
The leading female role in FTLY is a classic doormat and even acknowledged as such within the drama where everyone calls her post-it girl because leaving her a task on a post-it and she’ll do it. She needed to grow a backbone and self-confidence and when it finally arrived the leading man also needed to grovel first in order to get her back. Suffice to say neither are characters that linger after the heady rush of this cracky drama was over, but with the K-remake comes a chance to freshen up the character traits and add a bit more maturity to the proceedings which was sorely lacking. While it’s impossible to say whether the Jangs chemistry over a decade ago in Successful Story of a Bright Girl is still there and will shine brightly in this particular story, but a little bit of faith is warranted that this pairing could be one of the better mature rom-com couples in recent memory.
I do not like Jang Hyuk hair, I know I have seen that style of hair in another drama. I hope the drama is as awesome as the TW-version
Think the hair may be the same one from the David character from jang geun seok and IU drama whatisitsname?
Its Bel Ami….
I love his hair!!! Definately gives him such a different vibe which matches his character
I love his hair too!
It’s also Oska’s hair in Secret Garden…they kinda look like the other…
Me too. I think this is the best look of Jang Hyuk ever. I don’t think he’s good looking before but now he looks totally yummy.
I never did make it all the way through the original TW drama, Fated to Love You, even though the actors are all pretty appealing (and Joe Chen was the queen of idol dramas), and the ost was absolutely fabulous in capturing the mood and setting the scene, and it was all due to the male lead’s jackass character who just strung the female lead along, treating her for granted until the tragic accident happened. So yeah, I didn’t make it till the male lead’s redemption-arc-that-should-have-come-way-earlier. I’m still deciding whether to watch this though, but it would be interesting to see Jang Hyuk’s take of the male lead. And wow, Jang Hyuk looks younger with this hairstyle, which is so different from Ethan Ruan’s. Haha, maybe the change is because he’s a spokesperson of his own company, which if I didn’t remember wrongly, was a haircare shampoo company in the TW drama. Jang Nara should be able to play the female lead role with her eyes closed, since it is in some ways similar to her role in Baby-faced Beauty.
same here….except i didnt watch the drama!
I cant deal with overly pushy female leads, over dickish male leads…but when these characteristics are the mainstay of the drama, plus the plot already sounds like its gonna be angst ridden from like ep5, i dunno if i wanna put myself thru this drama!
my gosh I am utterly captivated by Wang Ji won’s form. I do ope they showcase that more in this drama..
Same here! They have a couple of knockout second leads, I hope they use them to the fullest.
Oh wow. And I mean the ballerina not the actress. I am impressed with her credentials.
Just when I thought the hairdo of male leads couldn’t get anymore ridiculous we get this. I stand corrected!
His hair is not that bad, imo. At least it looks like it moves versus his greasy helmet hair in Bright Girl. To be fair, during those years – the whole kdramaland had ridic hairstyles.
When it comes to fug chaebol/rich guy ‘dos, Go Jun Pyo still wears the crown – half pama crown.
Omo, this drama has 2 reunions. I forgot that Wang Ji Won was on Heirs ^^
Can Choi Jin-hyuk and Wang Ji-won’s characters just forget the leads and get with each other? I so wanted then to make it work in Heirs, they looked good together even if they were on-screen together for all of 5 minutes.
yeap… agree 100%
Lmao actually they can’t.. if the korean version follows the original, they definite can’t
I love the hair…so foppish LOL
I do hope she gets to showcase her dancing
If i pose like her, i’ll break my body in three pieces.
This looks good. Normally, I don’t like remakes of dramas even if I enjoyed the storyline but I will check it out for these two. The current airing dramas haven’t captured me and there’s a void when Empress Ki and Secret Love Affair ended.
When I first heard of this drama, I wanted to go and check out the original just so I can compare better. I was absolutely I’m love with this drama and might check out MY QUEEN, another of Ethan Ruan’s series. His acting really captured me and their chemistry in ftly was spectacular. Can’t wait to see the Korean remake now.
You made so many great points, thank you. I agree with you about Ethan Ruan’s character, redemption did come far to late for him. As I was watching the old drama it seemed like every time I was starting to trust and warm up to his character he turned around and did something immature and jerkish again, it was like it was compulsive for him and it was a huge turn off for me. I struggled through the drama, but I never liked his character and seriously hope he will be written better in the new one. I have high hopes for this drama because of the cast, I am mainly watching it for CJH and now WJW, but I am also looking forward to see how the JJangs do in their roles too.
OMG! At last another drama for my Jang Hyeuk a very sensitive actor, i like him most in “Thank You”; and gosh seem’s he doesn’t aged at all he is as gorgeous as before; the story seems fascinating enough to have me ogling on my desk top screen… When will it be aired?
I never did finish the TW version because I didn’t like the lead male character. I liked the second lead male character and knowing that he will never get the girl soured the drama for me. My fave characters in the TW version are the 2nd lead male and the grandma of the lead male. Gramma was a hoot.
For the K version, all i can say so far is – Jang Hyuk looks fugly in that hairstyle.
gonna watch this one, i love FTLY and lols Jang Hyuk looked younger sporting this type of do
So cute! Certainly gonna enjoy this drama. Until then I have to watch my current running dramas Hurayyy
For a second, I thought Jang Hyuk resembled Hyun Bin~
He looks adorbs in that hair though~ 🙂
No matter how funny Jang Hyuk’s hairstyle is, I still cheer for him. I have watched the original FTLY and loved Ethan Ruan there. I am looking forward to this version of JH Oppa. I know they will pull this through, especially Choi Jin-hyuk is the second lead. Aja! Fighting!