lime_pickle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731

Goodness, what a boring, pedestrian premise if you've previously helmed Mr Sunshine and Sweet Home,

It's not egregiously bad but I think it very much betrays its UK reality show origins, particularly in that the production company clearly focused on getting as many 'characters' (e.g. dislikeable people) on board as possible. Also, for the diary segments, they keep interviewing the same, tedious people over and over again (the frat boy, the old gimmer, the louder girls). Where is this 'international' cast? All you're giving us is Americans. And a couple of (very) short lived Brits.

It's a British company making the programme, but 99% of the contestants appear to be American, I don't know why. And the guy 'stealing' food is Italian. I've only heard a couple of English accents so far, e.g. contestant 200.

Hello Mr Hong.

And this is why unattractive women write to serial killers in prison.

From 1.97 to 1.53 is a drop of nearly a third (29 pr cent). That's sharp.

C'mon it's going to be a misunderstanding, we both know it. If it's not then it means either he, or she, did Something Bad and we can't have that for our hero or heroine.

"After she reconnects with Jae Won, she becomes jealous of her near-perfect life. Jae Won’s life soon changes as she is betrayed" So the art school friend will make a move on her husband?

I liked season 1 (but then I like task-based reality shows, as long as the players are engaging).

'Stunning transformation' from someone who looks like Song Kang to, um, someone who looks like Song Kang, but with a sulk on.

I loved HCCC. I'm looking forward to this. It's not a nil-sum game unless you're a creepy, menopausal Ji Chang Wook obsessive.

Hometown Cha Cha Cha was a big hit. And, although I'm sure this will be different in many respects it does share some key similarites (seaside setting, homebody male lead, ambitious - but disappointed - female lead) etc. It also shares the 'all the actors can actually act' thing. So the comparison is flattering, if anything. Imagine if it was being compared with that recent garbage about the vet and creepy female cop?

Wikipedia has a more up to date cast list (e,g. Kang Young-seok is not 'unknown' on this version). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_Samdal-ri

I'd be surprised. Even modern dramas have FLs to be virgins in their 30s and 40s.

Yeah, I can see the appeal of a 'person out of time' storyline but 15 years is too short a time, particularly the gap between 2007 and 2023. It just makes the writer look thick. Lets hope they don't spend too much of the comedic/dramatic effort on a clumsy "what is this thing you call kiss?" conceit.

What struck me about his Empress Ki role was how much you rooted for an annoying, cowardly , whiny character. Now that's skill. Since then he's clearly doing 'acting' but he often seems to be playing himself - e.g. the physical tics like the rubbing of the back of his neck and the 'aw shucks' noises.

I don't have 'personal' problems with him, I don't know him from a bar of soap, I'm only commenting on his acting.

He's a decent actor but he's never surpassed his role in Empress Ki.

I'm guessing that Kang Young-seok will play the adult Eun Woo?