Sungkyunkwan Scandal, episodes 1 and 2
I was never really interested in the premise of this drama because I’m feeling quite blah at the thought of another cross-dressing girl drama. I was willing to by-pass that and watch this if it had a good cast, and I thought that Song Joong-ki and Yoo Ah-in were good choices.
What wasn’t, is Yoochun and to a lesser extent, Park Min-young. I’m very irrationally angry at dramas that cast idols with no acting experience to take on big roles. I know there does exist a number of people who are of one profession, who go into another without ever having done it before and end up being good at that other profession as well. But from what I can tell of the dramas I’ve watched with idols taking on really big roles is that they’re better off as idols.
If they were really better off as actors, they would probably debut as an actor first, then randomly get plopped into idoldom as to boost their popularity, and then go back into acting once they’ve reached that level of popularity (ie, Sulli and Heechul). It makes me angry because it’s not like there’s a lack of good actors in Korea who can do the job a thousand times better than the idols that are chosen for the parts.
More ramble on casting after the jump.
And then on the Park Min-young front. She’s alright, but not the best. She’s better than Yoochun, but it’s really hard to have a good drama with two fairly weak leads. This looks like it’s going to be a comedic drama, for the most part, before getting deeper into the heavier, more dramatic stuff and you need at least one lead who can do transition nicely from goofy to intense (ie, strong Jang Geun-seok + weak Park Shin-hye).
I guess I’m just mostly disappointed because Song Joong-ki and Yoo Ah-in’s roles aren’t as hefty as I wanted them to be (and in a drama with BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER, guh). I’ve been following the both of them for a while now and I definitely think they both have what it takes to take on bigger, heavier roles that require more of them, especially in a drama geared towards the teen audience.
Song Joong-ki has an eternal baby face and I guess he’s naturally suited for light, cheerful, cute-as-a-button roles, but I think he’s capable of more. I think that he does suit his role in this drama, but I’m dissatisfied as a fan :P
But look at him! He’s just so fucking precious!
Same goes to Yoo Ah-in and after watching these first two episodes, I’ll go as far to venture that I think he would’ve played Lee Seon-joon (Yoochun) much better than Yoochun can. He hasn’t done a whole lot but he was one hell of a scene stealer in Strongest Chil Woo and completely fit for his role on Antique. He’s really the only one compelling me thus far in the drama so far and he’s only had like 0.3234 scenes out of two episodes.
So to wrap this up: DNW Yoochun and Park Min-young. DW Yoo Ah-in and Song Joong-ki. Also, DNW the horrible soundtrack with a bad song from Jaechunsu :(
Amanda Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 2:40 am
I’ve noticed that the DBSK members so far (Jaejong in Sunao ni Narenakute, Yoochun in Sungkyunkwan Scandal and Yunho in Heading to the Ground) have not improved their acting after all these years. I wouldn’t cast JJ for anything until he takes some lessons but seeing how Japan loves him regardless I doubt that’ll happen (Case in point: Yamapi).
Yes! I was so happy with Hongki in You’re Beautiful especially after having been forced to sit through a BOF marathon *shudder*. I mock Hyunjoong’s acting every chance I get but even I have to admit that he improved. I still wish he wasn’t cast as the lead because he still isn’t that good but at least this time it isn’t painful to watch.
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