Viewers Note that Memories of Alhambra Appears Tailor Written for Hyun Bin as Jin Woo with an Excessive Male Gaze

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• I don't give a darn about the Bechtel test but have the guts to not bring an actress (I'm middle of the road about PSH's acting talent but she's definitely a top tier k-drama actress.) into a drama that isn't going to utilize her unless she knew beforehand that's how it was going down. Who knows, maybe she enjoyed sightseeing in Spain while HB worked his tush off.

  Of course, the drama isn't done and could be PSH's role in the second half will be more satisfying. If the production had hired a less well-known actress, a smaller role would have been anticipated but I can see why some PSH fans are a bit irked.

• Guess drama won’t work as well with a lesser actress. I’m just happy more binnie!

• Yes you're right. This drama is not going to pass the Bechdel test. It's already 8 episodes and they've only focused on Hyun Bin and AR stuff. PSH feels like a cameo. Very strange that a top actresses like her would take such a lame role. Even bigger issue is how badly all of the female characters are written. Like a dude with cheetos fingers wrote it. I'm curious, is this the consensus of Korean viewers too? If you ignore the female characters and only focus on Jin Woo's journey then it's watchable.

  • Maybe PSH is a Binnie fan and doesn't mind working with him (a first for her) even it means a lesser focused role.

  • I dint consider PSH is a top actress yet. Just not yet. In Korea industry she still consider as young hallyu actress just like Suzy etc. They still has a long way to go. To become top they need to take more challenge acting character. However I agree this drama is more HB centrism and not really favor to PSH which kind a disappointing.

    • Status and ability has nothing to do with each other.
      Both PSH and Suzy are considered top actresses of their generation, irrespective of how i-fans view their talent.

    • I would think PSH is a level above Suzy, even leaving the question of talent enrirely aside, she has consistently successful (in ratings) dramas over the last five years and two 20 percenters in that (Heirs/Doctors). It's a shame MoA is so lame and sidelines her though.

  • And so i thought i am just the only one noticing it.shouldn’t they give her the best of it since she os one of the most anticipated actress.just a bit sad about how they led her into something not so noticeable??.

• OMG that first pic looks like our Binnie has a rod wedged between his legs! Anyway if I was a diehard PSH fan I would be spitting tacks because all the promos led us to believe that it was a equally played out drama you know the ying and the yang but it’s not. And whilst I’m enjoying the storyline I’m definitely not happy with Hee Joo being sidelined as the weepy no back bone 2nd. If that was the case why bother casting her? This writer and her portrayal of female characterisations is questionable. However PSH would have seen how her character was placed and good on her for taking the role regardless. That’s what you call a good sport. Everything about MOA is on point except for Hee Joo’s character not enough meat so to speak!

• How do we know how PSH's role turn out to be as we are only half way through the series.As someone had said must the lead actress be always punky and fiery. Just look at some other over hyped actress whose roles have been been always a 'poor me' that evoke sympathy. Those repeated recycled roles get the thumbs up for her sad stories. And here PSH is critisized for her always being weak 'crying'.

  Im not a PSH fan. Im putting in my comments noting how articles here over the past weeks have been so slanted. Suppose its all commercial and nothing else.

  • Agree with you on the punky and fiery lead actress. As much as we like our female leads to be the independent and capable modern woman, dramas will become all stale and similar if they are all like that. Besides, this is a male lead-focused drama, it's only natural that the female characters take the sidelines.

    • Correct, this is a male focused drama.

      So, that begs the question why add a female lead character to the story and why cast a high profile actress for it? The drama works fine without a female character, so I'm baffled that there is one.

      For ratings and profits, a female lead is needed, and a high profile actress is much better.

    • This is a reply to drawde2's question - why cast a high profile actress'. My question - why cant a 'high profile' actress accept lesser roles? What does 'high profile' mean?

      My take is that after having been in the industry for a while these 'high profiles' know what they are into. They could have been given flaks when playing centre stage. Why not then play some 'side roles' once in a while to hone up skills. And when they take on lesser roles(im not saying this female role is of lesser imptce as we still do not know) they got lambasted too. So it seems a male focused drama shld not have 'high profile' actress even when the actress herself may think tt the role can help her development in the long run.

    • @drawde2000 Why can't you cast a high profile actress for it? Hee Joo's role in this story is important too, the naive family member who don't know anything about games indirectly sells the game to the male lead; looks after the male lead and enlightens him (in terms of morals and such); and let female viewers fantasize themselves as her. Can you really replace her with a male character?

    • No, there's nothing wrong high profile actresses accepting lesser roles. But I think there's a problem when an actress accept a crappy role, whether as a lead or secondary.

      If i was auditioning for a lesser role, I would have preferred the younger sister's character. That character has more spunk and more fun to play on screen.

      I just think that the character should have been written better. And it is still possible that the latter half can prove me wrong.

      So again, if this is a male focused drama, why add a female character? What is her purpose, besides cry and pine for her crush?

  • Actually a spunky and fiery female lead is not needed for viewers to be satisfied. Viewers want a well written female lead, not someone who is just there on the screen.

    As an example, Life on Mars was somewhat male-centric but the female characters also stood out. A lot of viewers adore Nayoung, who was feminine, so softspoken but also fast to act, she knew how to defend herself, made good deductions and was a great addition to the whole team and also narrative. LoM put major focus on Taejoo's journey in 1988 and everything else seems to fall in place and made narrative sense, including Taejoo and Nayoung's relationship. Yes LoM is a remake, but it is one of the best remakes in kdrama history.

    Personally i think MotA would have been much better if they put a focus on one thing first: JW's game adventures and struggles. We are only half way in, i hope the writer surprise us with HJ being super awesome. Her constant crying is unfortunately not rubbing well with some viewers, me included.

  • Lmao if you really think all she did is cry and pine then you clearly haven't been watching the drama properly. Why can't male-focused dramas have female characters? You don't see female-focused dramas without male characters too, do you?

    I don't get this whole "both male and female leads in the drama must be equal" thinking. Life has multiple perspectives and dramas tell stories from one of them, this one tells its story from the male lead's perspective.

• I'm enjoying the drama so far as it is though, I can't imagine changing any of the men to a female character. There's no need to fit women in just for the sake of equal representation. I also give this drama a little more leeway as they are doing a fresh genre after all.

• Didnt psh rejected this drama at first?? M not sure tho..

• I'm fine with this drama so far and had no problem with the lead actress being weak. I swear I have watched tones of kdrama to date's and I'm super annoyed with drama where the lead actress is fierce and tough. It just doesn't work with Korean drama because the acting is usually too much: not natural at all. The only one that I can stand is Jang Oh Jung because Kim Tae Hee did great in portraying Jang Oh Jung. I remember never finished watching Secret Garden because I just can't stand both characters and especially Ha Ji Won acting and Gi Ra Im.

  Hee Ju is not such a bad characters after all. The only flaws is she cried too. Still love this love and rooting for a happy ending. Also please no unreasonable romance related because this drama work better with light romance.

  • I like what koala observed but I also agree with you. While PSH role seem less significant in comparison to the male casts, I am happy to see PSH looking so lovely and mature in this role.

    And I must say I like Hyun Bin best in this role too. I trust the writer who has produced marvellous show for us as I still love the characters in W - two worlds.

• ..im not interested to whom played the character..my only concern is how they portrayed and played the role on the script..i love the story of of this drama..thpugh im not a fan of hyun bin and park shin hye they are good actress and actor who desrves a lot of appreciation on tjeir own fields..i wish this drama gets some sort of award..the drama is getting more interesting as it goes to more episodes..im satisfied enough of it as a whole..

  • Yes I love this show too but now I can see why Hyun Bin is a star. He really does act well.

• OMG I don't understand why people complaint so much. Park Shin Hye didn't blindly accept this role without reading the script so if you're her fans: please respect her choice for this picking this project. She said she accepted the offer of Alhambra because she always wanted to work with Hyun Bin for a long time. Don't blamed the writer or anyone because they didn't force Park Shin Hye to accept this drama. Both Hyun Bin and Shin Hye did great and work hard so hopefully they get recognized for their performance. The best drama I've watch this year.