This week I was lucky enough to be able to see Yeo Jin Gu in Hwayi: Monster Boy. I’ve known Yeo Jin Gu was an up and coming young actor, I’d even heard he was worthy of the title and not your typical, idol turned wannabe actor. I’d just never had the chance to see him in action before.
Heh.
I was really blown away by his acting skills! So when word was released that he’d signed onto a lead in an upcoming drama? Woot! Internal happy dance. Don’t get me wrong, for the most part, I don’t have anything against idol actors if they can, you know, act–but isn’t it refreshing when we get someone who is, off the bat, exceptional at his job?
The drama is called Orange Marmalade (mmmmm….) and a fantasy romance featuring a vampire. Now, before you groan–“Ugh another blood sucker?” this time they’ve taken a different spin and the vampire in questions is the heroine! I’m not sure why we haven’t had one before now, but for some reason it makes the old trope a little fresher. Thinking back–isn’t always the men who have the super powers and time travely whatnots? (Yes, in Faith the heroine time traveled but only with the help of a vortex, nothing she did herself, it was the hero who was magical.) It seems like the only special powers given to girls are if its a Guhmio. Or that one where she was a mermaid.
Well, that was a tangent.
Of course, this leaves our hero, Yeo Jin Gu with the sweeter than pie, nice to everyone, looks both ways before crossing the street personality, which does give me a little bit of a pause. Not because I don’t like my betas, because, trust me, I totally do, but this actor is capable of so much more! In Monster Boy, the plot had him playing essentially all sorts of different characters, action star, awkward teenage boy, deranged killer, and other things that if I were to mention would ruin the plot (you’ll just have to read my review for that). I’m afraid that he might be underused here. I’m crossing my fingers that he is not.
On the power of this casting alone…and let’s be honest…the super cute title, Orange Marmalade is officially on my horizon. Let’s see if this changes before the show premieres in May.
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I’m looking forward to this too. He was so very good as the child version of the king in Moon Embracing the Sun, I was sorry when the characters grew up and the adult actor took over.
How funny! I actually read about Orange Marmalade earlier today and have already added it to my To Be Watched list. I think I’ll probably simulcast it.
Yes. He was exceptional in Moon-Sun and in I Miss You. He is as good as any of the adults actors. I would love to watch him in what ever he is in next.
I’m looking forward to even though this isn’t one of my usually drama watches but for him, I will try.
I’ve also been looking forward to this drama. I don’t believe that Yeo Jin Goo has ever been an idol though. He’s rather been a child actor coming into his own. He’s been acting in dramas and movies since he was eight and has lately been gaining more attention as he has shown acting maturity far beyond his age. He is also now of legal age and can headline dramas as the male lead, whereas before he was cast in younger roles or as the child/younger version of the male lead. He is definitely someone with maturity and gravitas and good looks to boot ^^