Categories: K-dramas

Hyde, Jekyll, Me Becomes First K-drama of 2015 to Pass SARFT Approval and Will Air July 13th in China

The biggest K-drama dud of 2015 so far has to be Hyde, Jekyll, Me, or at least the drama has to be the current front runner for that ignominious crown. A combination of sky high expectations with the drama being Hyun Bin‘s comeback drama since Secret Garden and then going off to the military coupled with one of the worst written nonsensical plots in recent memory, the drama felt like a crash and burn watch experience way more painful than other equally bad dramas that didn’t come with the same level of hopeful anticipation.

Hyde wrapped up in March and shuffled off to my watch dustbin, but it still has plenty of life left in it with respect to milking more money from the stinking mess. The drama was sold for overseas airing on the power of Binnie alone, but the biggest market remained under lockdown this year when China’s SARFT passed new regulation requiring all overseas shows to have completed airing and be submitted for SARFT approval prior to internet airing, just like the process all Chinese dramas go through. After four months, Hyde recently became the first K-drama of 2015 to pass approval and will hit the online portals of China’s biggest video streaming sites Youku and Tudou on July 13th.

I don’t begrudge the production trying to make the most out of the disappointment that is Hyde, but I do wish the drama isn’t put out there like some sorta of great drama to lure in unsuspecting viewers. Youku and Tudou are providing all episodes for ad-free immediate viewing for paying viewers, otherwise those want to watch for free with ads will have to wait as one episode will be released a day. Hyde does have a shiny 0001 SARFT approval number to flash around for being the first K-drama to be approved under this new edict, which does beg the question of what SARFT’s approval standards are? No boobs or violence or love triangles or cursing or time traveling, of which have been banned currently and/or in the past, but okay with stories that are bat shit crazy and make zero sense? Binnie actually survived this mess and came out relatively unscathed, but if I were a Han Ji Min fan I would be cringing that more viewers are going to encounter her performance here because it’s certainly the nadir of her acting career.

ockoala

View Comments

  • They don't mind love triangles with a person's non-existent split personality, but they mind them with actual separate characters? Time traveling is bad, but romancing someone's disorder is not? Oh China...

  • I seriously doubt there's any die-hard fan who is actually concerned with either their biases'acting skills nor their poor performances! How more obviously could that be when untalented idols-turned-actors receive praising comments on their practically non-existent performances and/or their "growing" and "improvement"?!
    Besides, HJM is not the worse actress-not-idol out there.
    On the sidenote, Chinese Laws on time-travelling? Really?? What does that mean? As a person who respects the Law on a worldwide scale, I myself understand the real essence of restrictions but what's wrong with time-travelling? Sounds so confusing :-/

  • Dear journalist(???). Maybe yourte don't like this drama but wë really love It. Please check viewers on youtube and their comments and yourte can realize that there are many loves for this drama.

    We continue to love and support it.

  • Dear journalist(???). Maybe you don't like this drama but wë really love It. Please check viewers on youtube and their comments and your can realize that there are many loves for this drama.

    We continue to love and support it.

  • Yes. Fighting #hydejekyllme lovers
    Interesting drama and Good actors
    Keep our love
    Pissed of haters....

  • I dont see any problem with Han ji min's acting in Hyde ~ I'm not even HJM bias before watching the drama though I like her in RTP, Her and HB like them a lot after watching Hyde. Jang Hana's character and JM portrayal just fit the story esp with a man with dual personalities. I personally love and was hooked to this drama, yes it has flaws but there are people who really love it.

  • I haven't watched Hyde Jekell and Me yet because of the bad reviews and low ratings although I liked HB and Han Ji Min is my favorite Korean actress, now I'm grateful for the comments here so I'm going to watch it asap.

  • Lovesjs _ ï Think that hyun Bin was victim of bad communication like with this article. So many people 'delayed' to watch It. Exactly like your case
    Despite this, the Best remain the best. The buzz on bad rating on this drama is currently the same score of current another drama which benefits Good articles

  • SARFT will just approve bad drama so that china people will lose interest in foreign drama like korean drama so that their people will just stick to chinnese drama

Recent Posts

Jang Nara Tearfully Accepts the Daesang for Good Partner at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards

Awwwww, such a deserving recognition and a long time coming for K-actress Jang Nara. She's…

4 hours ago

Queen of Tears Tops the GoodData Full Year 2024 Drama Buzz Rankings Followed by Lovely Runner

It's still crazy that the two biggest K-dramas of this year 2024 aired basically at…

12 hours ago

Tang Yan Leads the Big Name Cast for Modern Romance C-drama Lady Liberty in Her First Post Blossoms Shanghai Casted Role

So there are new posters, stills, and a first teaser out already for modern C-drama…

20 hours ago

Jung Kyung Ho, Seol In Ah, and Cha Hak Yeon Confirmed for Supernatural Legal Drama Labor Attorney Noh Moo Jin

This is an interesting twist on what sounds like a standard legal K-drama, the male…

1 day ago

Xu Kai and Chen Yao Cast in Period Romance C-drama Wishing You Eternal Happiness

So Xu Kai is back in period drama land and has a new actress costar…

2 days ago

Prada Announces Kim Soo Hyun as New Brand Ambassador for the Italian Couture House

So Kim Soo Hyun recently became the new face of fragrance house Jo Malone in…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.