Musings

First Look at Next MBC Fri-Sat K-drama the Political Thriller When the Phone Rings with Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin

So it’s coming up on November and I’m starting to pay attention to what’s on deck in K-drama land for the remaining two months. The new MBC Fri-Sat drama slipped under my radar when it was announced but now that the poster and stills are coming out it may be worth a check out. When the Phone Rings starring Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin is a political and kidnapping thriller at a taut 12-episodes premiering end of next month. He plays a former anchor turned youngest presidential candidate and then his trophy wife played by her gets kidnapped and a conspiracy unravels. It’s from the screenwriter of Melancholia and Doctor John and the PD of The Forbidden Marriage and Terius Behind Me.

ockoala

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  • This might be unrelated but I remember this blog site covering Taiwanese & Japanese ent/dramas a decade ago but now it's just either Korean or Chinese ent~ there's nothing much that Japanese dramas have to offer for a long time now and it's sad.. and Taiwanese dramas just all but poofed from existence ~ I know a handful of J-stars as of recently but that's about it T_T

    • It's like a shift of interest or something lacking with the industry like writing, directing or actors/actresses. I grew up watching Hong Kong movies and Thai dramas. Then, gradually added a bit of Korean, and switched over to Taiwan dramas some Japanese while still watching Thai dramas. Then, a gradual bit of Chinese dramas, and switched over to Kdramas while still watching Thai dramas. And now, I mainly watch Cdramas with like 1 or 2 Kdramas a year. But, this is just me though.

    • I used to rely on this site to get updates about Kdrama. But now I got Kdrama recommendations mainly from other sources cos Koala obviously is more enthusiastic about Cdrama nowadays. Her main interest could be in romcom and melo. Kdrama, however, has been making a foray into other genres that aren't up her street.

    • I used to love Japanese dramas more than K or C dramas before - and even now I think they still have some very good stories (at least the ones that made it to Netflix), especially the ones relating to workplace issues. However, one think I notice is that there is a severe lack of acting talent in J-dramas - for the past 20 years or so, instead of utilizing proper actors they seem to have depended on pretty boys and girls from idol groups or models to provide eye candy with barely passable acting. While K and C dramas do this too, they do it at a much lesser level, and usually as supporting actors. I don't think I can name one young (i.e. haven't been around since the mid/late 2000s), prominent Japanese actor who is known less for their looks and more for their acting abilities.

  • I find CSB so underrated. And YYS too. They’re both fantastic actors and have so much chemistry with all their costars. I think they’d look amazing together so really looking forward to this one!

  • It seems like 12 episodes might become the new normal for Kdramas.

    Unusual there are so many pictures of the 2nd female lead in these early promo stills? Her agency must really be pushing her. She looks like Jisoo from BlackPink.

    • she's Jang Gyuri, formerly an idol with fromis_9 (and yes people did say she looks like Jisoo's sister). She just moved agencies to Namoo Actors so I guess they are pushing her - she's had some pretty decent showing in IOTNBO, Cheer Up and Player 2, and I have high hopes for her in the future

      • ah no wonder. I guess it’s great this is not c ent, otherwise she would have been hacked for getting this much attention as second fl

      • Thanks for the info. I watched IONTBO but I don't remember her. Ah I see! I didn't know she was a former idol and signed with Namoo Actors. They promote their favoured actors very hard. Song Kang is a prime example. They must have high hopes for her.

  • I just realised I fell for namoo's tricks and was talking about the second lead rather than the female lead! Anyway I meant to say I think Chae Soo Bin is an underrated actress and I'm looking forward to seeing her in this role and her chemistry with YYS

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