So the big question mark around tvN fantasy sageuk drama Alchemy of Souls (Returning Soul) is now answered, and it’s not a definitive yes or no. The first episode premiered this Saturday and got 5.205% ratings which is the lowest of all the tvN Sat-Sun drama premieres since early 2021. The only other drama to premiere in the 5% range … Continue reading →
We’re two days away from learning whether ambitious new tvN fantasy fusion sageuk Alchemy of Souls will excite viewers with the different and hopefully innovative story or crash on takeoff for being too weird or unwieldy. It won’t fail for lack of promotion or awareness as tvN has been throwing so much attention at it and the latest being a … Continue reading →
All those what the heck is this discussions will be laid to rest this coming Saturday as tvN fantasy sageuk Alchemy of Souls will finally meet viewers. Taking over the time slot from critically acclaimed and highly rated Our Blues, the bar is set high to begin with and so much more can go wrong with Alchemy thanks to a … Continue reading →
It’s about one week away from the premiere of tvN fantasy sageuk drama Alchemy of Souls (Korean title Returning Soul) and I remain as perplexed as ever what to expect. But if I dig into the Hong Sisters oeuvre this drama probably has a Hong Gil Dong vibe, start off all comedic and neato before transitioning midway to mega serious … Continue reading →
Some stuff continues to look both cool and anachronistic for upcoming tvN drama Alchemy of Souls. This is one drama I have no clue what to expect and no inkling how it will be received by domestic audiences in Korea in terms of ratings. The latest stills and new character poster is out and from the promo releases this feels … Continue reading →
Hhhmmm, this is not what I expected, but then again it’s also should be expected coming from the Hong Sisters. The first substantive preview is out for fantasy sageuk Alchemy of Souls and it’s a lot more comedic that I expected. Or perhaps the production chose to lead with the comedic scenes first and what we see are Jung So … Continue reading →
Additional goodies dropped this weekend for upcoming tvN fantasy sageuk Alchemy of Souls, the Korean title is Return and I’ve also earlier seen it called Soul Marriage. I love love love the English title, literary and unique and actually captures the central plot of the drama – that souls from a previous life come back again and create complications. The … Continue reading →
The first teasers are out for upcoming tvN fantasy period drama Return, which I’ve also seen called Soul Marriage, and it looks beautiful and broody beyond belief. Starring Jung So Min and Lee Jae Wook, this drama made headlines first for being the Hong Sisters first drama since their 2019 hit Hotel Del Luna and then later for essentially firing … Continue reading →
Two decades of K-drama watching and a still keen memory tells me that a hot mess drama casting/production isn’t always indicative of a bad drama to come, buuuuuuut it does tend to turn out that way with only a handful able to overcome a messy start. The upcoming Hong Sisters new drama Return (Returning Soul) had a leading lady switch … Continue reading →
Well this is certainly a rarity in K-drama but clearly stuff really went off the rails during filming. Rookie actress Park Hye Eun (but she uses Park Hae Eun on her own SNS account) has been fired from the currently filming Hong Sisters fantasy drama Return (or Resurrection) as the female lead. Filming only started recently and has now been … Continue reading →
Well this is a breath of much needed air. Upcoming jTBC Wed-Thurs drama Monthly House was sailing on the side of my peripheral watch list but has scooted smack in the middle thanks to a slew of right up my alley promos. The teaser clinched it, so much rom-com perfection made even better thanks to leads Kim Ji Suk and … Continue reading →
A nicely laudatory ceremony for the 2021 Baeksang Awards wrapped up tonight in South Korea and I’m pretty happy with the results. The Daesang went to Yoo Jae Suk for his continued exemplary work as a variety star and host, so it wasn’t given to the drama side. Beyond Evil took home Best Drama and male lead Shin Ha Kyun … Continue reading →
The fallout of the February spate of bullying allegations continues albeit less fast and furious. Young actor Jo Byung Gyu was on the verge of total breakout after three consecutive hit dramas Stove League, Sky Castle, and The Uncanny Counter is not on ice. He was accused by former classmates of bullying, he has denied it, but it appears his … Continue reading →
