The gang's back!
ivey unnie, I've missed you LOADSSSSS. Where have you been? I agree with you on the stylist. These days I'm too tired to point out his iffy fashion anymore. What exactly is the problem? Did the stylist not go to fashion school, or is she simply on bad terms with his clothing sponsors. Or could it be that she (I'm assuming its a she) just wants to keep the seung gi with a sleek image to herself and hates the idea of showing the world the handsome seung gi? Whatever it is, please please please go away! I hope they dress him well for the drama.
B unnie, this thread is still the awesome-est because you, alyssa, ivey unnie and everyone else is still here after so long!! I'm a little skeptical with his new role (just as I was skeptical of him taking up the Iljimae project initially) Anyway, what's with them changing the drama name so many times? Its confusing when they do that.
My take on the Iljimae issue is that I'm glad he didn't take up the project. Especially after seeing JIW in it. For me, it wasn't so much about taking a risk since he'd be competing with LJK's version or anything, but more of the timing. I'm sure LSG has great potential and talent as an actor, but at that point of time, his singer image was just too overwhelming, especially when coupled with his insane popularity on 1N2D. I'm not sure if it would have worked against or for him, his whole image as a singer, especially with respect to a role in a saeguk drama. The whole idea of popularity rooted in an image (here with him being a talent singer/entertainer of sorts) is kind of like a double edged sword when you think about it. People could love you when you deviate from the image and take up a drama role, and they could hate you even more for it. I was actually really afraid when he took up the Iljimae project, and I'll admit there were times when I thought it might turn out to be as nightmarish as when se7en acted in Goong S. I mean, I know LSG has acted in 7 princesses, and that sitcom and all, but his main focus has always been singing after all, and to suddenly plunge into a saeguk role would be quite a huge thing for viewers to start getting used to, especially when you're going to be compared with LJK. For JIW, there was much less of a problem here since he WAS a serious (by serious I mean main focus) actor to begin with. Haha, I can foresee a lot of people disagreeing with me on this already. The new role LSG's taken up seems to be less of a jump in image, and it'll probably be easier to ease viewers into being convinced by his acting. But this is purely my own opinion. That being said, I also feel wistful sometimes thinking about what could have been if he'd taken up the drama. LSG does have the refined, soft and quietly strong feel about him which JIW has (thereby making him a successful alternative portrayal of Iljimae), and I think he'd have done a great job too. But what's done is done, and there's no looking back.
But I'm with B unnie on the fact that 1N2D can be limiting to LSG's growth in some ways. On 1N2D, I tend to see him as just LSG. Not singer LSG, not actor LSG, not CF LSG, but just plain LSG as who he is (with a teeeeny teeeeny wee wee bit if at all, of scripting). The show gives him a chance to show us who he is as a person, the kind of random thoughts he has, the way he interacts with people, even the way he handles things at times. There is a limit to what he can show us with this. You can't see him emote in a role as he will in a drama on 1N2D. Even when he sings on the show (think the guerilla concert), it seems more laid back, casual, without the professional perfection he exudes on say, music bank. After 2 years, 3 years, or 5 years (if the show lasts that long) on 1N2D, there will slowly but surely be less and less that he can show us. This has nothing to do with 1N2D at all, its just that when you are in the same environment for too long, you will become stagnant, no matter how good or conducive the environment is. Its just how things are everywhere in life. 1N2D has managed to strengthen his likeable image and build his popularity with a wide base of viewers, and is no doubt a good supporting foundation for him to expand from, to add on to his portfolio. With this line of thought, I'm glad he's taking up a drama now. Whether or not its a hit or flop, he'd have gained something from it, and I'm sure it will be reflected in his music and his future participation in 1N2D.
One thing though. The character he's playing in the drama seems... I don't know. Could be a challenge. The character is 27 years old for one thing. That's kind of a stretch even for me to believe in, after seeing some of the drama stills. He looks like a very very very youthful 27 year old

The stills I saw weren't fantastic too. LSG and HHJ looked stiff and awkward with each other. I wonder if its the photographer, or that they simply just haven't built up enough rapport yet. And the plot, oh the plot. It sounds exactly like what's been done for the past few years in Kdramas. I'm not sure how new a spin they can put to a cliched plot like this. I'm definitely hoping that they can make it as fresh as CP was. Who's the scriptwriter? You'll realise I'm kind of iffy about things now, but I have my reasons. For one thing, if I start watching a drama with no or little expectations, its much easier for me to like the drama than if I have high expectations. And I really do want to enjoy watching LSG every weekend. Cross fingers.
Woo. That was long. Ok, I'll run along. Cya guys~~~