Any consistent follower of K-drama filming and casting shouldn’t be surprised with today’s news that SBS is in talks with Lee Jong Seok and Park Shin Hye for its upcoming drama Pinocchio. This is the third drama in recent weeks to borrow either the title or the title/concept from Western works – there’s Three Musketeers over on tvN that is … Continue reading →
Lee Jong Seok is vaulting to the Hallyu big leagues whether he’s ready to or not with the news that he’s joining previous endorsement models Lee Min Ho and Kim Soo Hyun in repping major Chinese male fashion brand Semir. The endorsement deal is only for Chinese markets so the addition of Lee Jong Seok confirms that the one-two punch … Continue reading →
I’ve finally fallen for the charms of Lee Jong Seok despite years of wondering what exactly makes his fans gaga over him. It’s probably the height of irony that I actually grew to like him after Dr. Stranger, a troubled drama with a polarized audience base which plenty of his fans probably want to erase from his resume. I still … Continue reading →
Recapping a drama from start-to-finish is a genuine commitment. It’s not like dating and requires a break up since eventually the drama will finish on its own. But if the drama derails then the process takes on a a surreal meta quality of trying to muster enthusiasm and the analytic urge when none exists. That didn’t happen with Dr. Stranger … Continue reading →
Now that the torrents of frustration and/or vitriol towards Dr. Stranger has been unleashed, I’m rather curious to hear from folks who actually enjoyed the drama. I honestly have no jeers for anyone who liked it, the enjoyment of media entertainment is subjective and everyone’s got a guilty pleasure or ten in a hidden away in a video folder titled … Continue reading →
The door closes on one project and opens on another. Park Hae Jin showed up at the drama wrap party for Dr. Stranger as news broke that he was headlining the upcoming cable network OCN drama Bad Boys. Woo hoo for him! He’s not just getting a prime headlining role, he’s playing a genius IQ level serial killer. The youngest … Continue reading →
We can all safely agree that we need more Dr. Stranger like we need a collective outbreak of syphilis. Or a mass food poisoning with violent diarrhea. You get my drift, and if you’re bored you can have great mad libs fun with the above sentence and choose your own suffering ailment. The sad part is we’re getting more Dr. Stranger … Continue reading →
I’ll admit to being disappointed initially with Lee Jong Seok‘s headlining of Dr. Stranger, especially followed by Park Hae Jin signing on as the second male lead. My like for these two actors are reversed from the importance of their roles in DS so I would have preferred more Park Hae Jin over Lee Jong Seok. Six-episodes into DS and … Continue reading →
I thought maybe my inexplicable excitement for Dr. Stranger was the result of my last crack drama ending in Bride of the Century and nothing on my plate currently that captures my full attention. But with so many K-dramas line-up on the starting gate for this week’s premiere central I’m still really looking forward to Dr. Stranger so my anticipation for … Continue reading →
Okay, I’m totally ready for my allergy to Lee Jong Seok to get cured. Not sure it will, but if it happens after I watch Dr. Stranger then so be it. I still think he looks weird but I’m quite liking his character in this drama and a good character plus performance can always win me over. The production of … Continue reading →
I like Kang Sora a lot because she’s one of the few among the young actresses that doesn’t rely on the cute or the charm to buoy her acting. That’s not to say she’s not cute or charming but merely an appreciation for how she acts first and then her natural ease on the eyes is like the cherry on … Continue reading →
I find myself increasingly interested in the upcoming SBS drama Dr. Stranger genuinely because of the plot. It sounds so wacky but might be wacky enough to work. Lee Jong Seok plays a South Korean born but North Korean educated genius surgeon who escapes the regime and ends up working in a top notch hospital in Seoul. He’s been recruited … Continue reading →
All I have to say about the upcoming SBS drama Dr. Stranger is that it feels rather haphazard and whiplashy in terms of the sudden transitions between moods. The second video preview is out and this one features only Lee Jong Seok and Jin Se Yeon. In the drama, Jin Se Yeon plays two characters – the first is Lee … Continue reading →