KBS Releases First Poster for Sageuk Romance First Night with the Duke Starring Taecyeon and Seohyun
It’s unfortunate that the first time I heard news about this drama after the initial casting was that the production pounded nails into a historical site during filming and understandably got into trouble with the authorities. But filming continued onwards and now KBS has confirmed the airing date of June 2025 in the Wed-Thurs timeslot for the sageuk romance First Night with the Duke adapted from the webtoon I Took the Duke’s First Night which was set in a fictional Western/European setting but now transported to Joseon era. Seohyun plays a modern woman sent back to the past in the body of a supporting character in her favorite sageuk romance novel. She ends up sleeping with Taecyeon‘s male lead and then tries to keep the novel time line on track for the male lead to fall in love with the female lead but he’s dead set on being with her supporting character now. It’s got shades of Extraordinary You and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and sounds cute albeit I’m not expecting stellar ratings as this type of drama tends to be pretty niche for the domestic audience. Rounding out the cast is Kwon Han Sol as the poor novel female lead that isn’t getting the Duke this time around, and relative fresh faces in Seo Bum Joon and Ji Hye Won.
I find Taecyeon quite the package—can sing, can dance, can act, tall and handsome, speaks fluent English, seems nice and well-liked. His drama choices aren’t stellar though. They’re not bad individually, but taken all together it seems there’s no clear plan to balance it out (like something fun, something heavy, something that appeals to the general public, something that appeals to the critics).
Examples of those who were able to balance it out well (and succeeded) are Junho and IU. Foremost example of immensely talented but sucks with script choices would be Ji Chang Wook. But at least Ji Chang Wook has Empress Ki and Healer to remember his talents by, Taecyeon doesn’t have any such project that I can remember.
I think he’ll being doing just that following up this upcoming drama with Seohyun with his upcoming Japanese drama Soul Mate that will be on Netflix this summer.
What about his villain role in Vincenzo? I didn’t watch it yet, but by edits he seems good
I am quite a Junho fan honestly, turned into a fan after TRS honestly.
But entertainment industry is all about Luck.It was Taec who had a hit with Vicenzo first.
They are the same 2PM teammates.
Junho was lucky to work with a skilled director like Jung Ji In and a good actress like Lee Seyoung in a beloved historical drama which turned into a Baeksang winner.
Junho had a viral My House moment in 2021. As the beloved idol at that moment & beloved MBC son after TRS rating hit, MBC Gayo arranged Senorita
Performance with his 2nd Gen SNSD Yoona who was a Gayo Host.
Senorita performance was viral in 2021 MBC Gayo even surpassing the views of 4th Gen idol that time.
This was the reason King The Land happened and it became unexpected Netflix hit .
Who knows, Taec & Seohyun are next 2PM – SNSD couple.
A lot of 2nd Gen idol fans may end up checking out the drama.
For the drama watchers, it may become next Lovely Runner .
It is because he bungled the first few opportunities he had for meaty roles. Anyone who watched him in Wonderful Days 11 years ago would understandably be not eager to try casting him in a melodrama again.
I find Taecyeon quite the package—can sing, can dance, can act, tall and handsome, speaks fluent English, seems nice and well-liked. His drama choices aren’t stellar though. They’re not bad individually, but taken all together it seems there’s no clear plan to balance it out (like something fun, something heavy, something that appeals to the general public, something that appeals to the critics).
Examples of those who were able to balance it out well (and succeeded) are Junho and IU. Foremost example of immensely talented but sucks with script choices would be Ji Chang Wook. But at least Ji Chang Wook has Empress Ki and Healer to remember his talents by, Taecyeon doesn’t have any such project that I can remember.
The poster looks cute and the plot sounds fun.
The synopsis sounds boring. The cast look boring too. I love sageuk. Unfortunately, there seem to be very few sageuk dramas doing extremely well to impress me. This one looks like another one that I can pass.
I agree. I haven’t see one that has pulled me to watch it since My Dearest. It would just be nice to see more period dramas for other eras tbh. I enjoyed When Life Gives You Tangerines and would love to see more dramas in the eras of Mr. Sunshine, Chicago Typewriter, and Pachinko.
Dear Hongrang with Lee Jae Wook, Jo Bo-ah, and Kim Jae wook, Show Business with Song Hye Kyo and Gong Yoo, The Records of the Silla-Tang War with Jang Hyuk and Yoon Joon Sang, and Untold Scandal with Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, and Nana are the upcoming period dramas I’m looking forward to the most.
I’m looking forward to LJW’s Dear Hongrang. I read news just now that DH was scheduled to premiere on May 16th on Netflix. LJW is also cast for another Netflix drama before he is enlisted.
I like this type of storyline, when done well, especially if it’s playing with/reinventing a classic favourite. The one that comes to my mind is Lost in Austen, a fantasy adaptation of a modern day woman entering the Pride and Prejudice novel/world. If you’re a Jane Austen fan, I adore her, then definitely check it out.
Not quite in the same vein but Clueless, a reinterpreted/modern day Emma, is also a very fond favourite that have rewatched a fair few times over the years.
And I like Taecyeon in some stuff so I’ll definitely check it out.
Ji Hye Won!! I liked her acting in I
Hierarchy, she was good and charismatic there, made me anticipate more of her projects.
It’s a pity she doesn’t have much roles even as support cast. I would check this drama at least for seeing her acting skills and strong stage presence again.
I have a soft spot for Taecyeon, I will always start to watch his dramas but can I finish it, that is a different issue. I hope this is entertaining.
To be honest I’m quite skeptical that the plot can be adapted into the conservative joseon setting, but seeing go ara’s recent drama, the plot isn’t my type but I guess they now don’t shy away from introducing this kind of plot in joseon era
Go Ara’s recent drama? The Scandal of Chunhwa? To my surprise, that drama had very bold and sexually explicit narratives LOL, not my cup of tea either.
Thanks for that, have started watching it.
So, on paper this – The Scandal of Chunwa, would be right up my street. A modern/sageuk fantasy with an emancipated sexually, social and equal rights demanding-wise heroine. HOWEVER, having watched the first episode, am not completely won over. Like the concept, parts of it were fun – women in the Joseon era enjoying reading/looking at and talking about smut comfortably. The fresh, fun, matter of act approach during the screen-poking, snooping commentary. Other parts not so much. Yes, surprisingly to me, found the joint virginity-losing scene way too sexual. They should’ve focussed on the mutual love for each other, along with their being less ‘adept’ than they seemed to be, at the actual act. But will continue, for the time being.
Also, while not a fan of Go Ara – loved her, along with mot of the other actors, in Reply 94, liked her in Miss Hammuraburi, she’s fine, so far, in this.