Latest news with #BeMelodramatic
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
In ‘Way Back Love' The Grim Reaper Calls On An Old Friend
Kim Min-ha and Gong Myeong play classmates in 'Way Back Love.' High school student Jung Hee-won bubbles with enthusiasm. She loves life, delicious food and April Fools Day pranks. Hee-won, a character in the k-drama Way Back Love, stands up to bullies by drawing not-so-intimidating tattoos on her arms with sharpies but somehow they are still no match for her spirited attitude. She also intimidates her classmate, transfer student Kim Ram-woo. Their first interaction involves her asking him to change names for a day. That will confuse their new teacher who is not yet familiar with students' names. But the name switching somehow lasts longer than April Fools Day, which does not make Ram-woo happy. His name embarrassingly comes up when Hee-won asks to go to the nurse's office for cramps and when the Boys Love novels she ordered at the library are ready for pick-up. Ram-woo, played by Gong Myeong (Lovers of the Red Sky, Be Melodramatic), is mortified by her behavior but also intrigued. Hee-won is certainly different from anyone he's ever known. Hee-won, played by Kim Min-ha (Pachinko, Light Shop), asks him to permanently switch names because using his name has improved her luck. He refuses yet the joke continues for so long he starts to respond to people calling her name. He doesn't have many friends, having moved a lot, and they grow close enough to develop feelings for each other. Years later, when she's practically a hermit, he shows up at her door. Having someone from your past unexpectedly turn up is surprising enough, but in this case it defies explanation. Ram-woo died years ago. And yet he shows up at her door with a mission. As he's now the Grim Reaper it's his duty to tell her that she has just one week to live. He suggests she come up with a bucket list and he has a few suggestions. He still has some experiences left on his own bucket list. Is there any chance that Ram-Woo dying and Hee-won's iminent death is some kind of supernatural prank? To find out how they ended up this way, the characters will have to remember what happened way back then, when they first fell in love. The fantasy romance is directed by Choi Ha-na, who directed More Than Family, and is based on the novel A Week Before I Die written by Seo Eun-Chae. Way Back Love, which also stars Jung Gun-woo (Check in Hanyang, Extraordinary You), airs on in the U.S.
Korea Herald
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'Way Back Love' to explore human life with kind-hearted grim reaper
'Extreme Job' star Gong Myoung and 'Light Shop' star Kim Min-ha join hands for a fantasy romance drama Tving's upcoming original series, "Way Back Love," delves into love and the human experience through the story of a compassionate grim reaper guiding souls to their final moments, the cast shared Tuesday. The six-episode fantasy romance follows Hee-wan (Kim Min-ha) and her first love, Ram-woo (Gong Myoung), who mysteriously reappears — not as the boy she once knew, but as a supernatural being tasked with leading the deceased to the afterlife. Last year, "Way Back Love" was invited to the Busan International Film Festival's On Screen section, which spotlights highly anticipated series set for streaming release. Gong Myoung, known for his endearing performances in "Be Melodramatic" and his comedic turn as a detective in box-office hit "Extreme Job," said he drew inspiration from iconic grim reaper portrayals in Korean media. "I had many discussions with the director about how I could be portrayed as a grim reaper. While referencing the characters of my seniors, I thought about how I could bring a different feel to the role. Since the grim reaper in 'Way Back Love' is different from existing characters, I studied the script extensively," Gong said during a press conference in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. He cited the performances of Ha Jung-woo ("Along with the Gods") and Lee Dong-wook ("Guardian: The Lonely and Great God") as key references. Director Kim Hye-yeong described Ram-woo as a reaper unlike any seen before. "Kim Ram-woo is a grim reaper who gives people a chance. Our story features a kind-hearted grim reaper who provides an opportunity to fulfill unfinished memories and love while being with them for a week," he explained. Kim Min-ha spoke about capturing the emotional complexity of Hee-wan, a once-outgoing woman whose personality shifts drastically after Ram-woo's departure. "The character has both bright aspects and deep, dark extremes coexisting. I wondered how to portray this naturally, but since I also have those extremes within me, I was able to relate to Hee-wan more," she shared. Kim, whose latest projects included blockbuster Disney+ series "Light Shop," also reflected on her tendency to choose work centered around love. "The projects I want to work on always seem to have 'love' as their foundation. 'Light Shop' explores crossroads and the courage of making choices in the afterlife. It was a story I had been contemplating and wanted to express, so I was grateful when it came to me in script form."
