By now, the reasons for choosing Go YoonJung, rather than Jung SoMin, as Cho Yeong should be obvious…and simple.
I’ll list down three since I’ve to write on other things.
1. At 33 years old, and with at least one ex-boyfriend, Jung SoMin CANNOT play the wide-eyed, ingenue. I say this objectively: she’s not that good of an actress and her eyes are a giveaway. In all 20 episodes of Season 1, the facial expressions I most associate with her portrayal of Naksu are annoyed, constipated, haughty, disgusted, cold, and disdainful.
She SIMPLY cannot play Cho Yeong the way Go YoonJung does.
From what I saw in Eps 1 and 2, Go YoonJung delivers. I’m satisfied with the way she performed. She exudes innocence, gullibility, docility, softness, and meekness because that’s how Naksu has become these three years: a compliant daughter. That said, she’s not above using her feminine wiles to get what she wants, like the alcohol from the star-struck delivery man, and a marriage from Jang Uk.
From Episode 1. I like her different faces of charming him to be her husband.
Cho Yeong: Jang Uk. Will you marry me?
Uk: What?
Cho Yeong: I want you to be my husband.
Uk scoffed and rejected her outright, calling her out of her mind. She rebutted him and cited her reasons. To her, it all made perfect sense.
Cho Yeong: I cannot believe I ran into the perfect potential husband.
She sighed in relief, then looked at him like he was God’s answer to all her woes.
Uk: I cannot believe I ran into the craziest potential bride when we met only once.
Cho Yeong: So you see me as a potential bride?
Uk: No.
Cho Yeong: (slamming the table) Look me in the eye!
The way she slammed the table and scared Uk was such a Naksu/MuDeok move.
She commanded him so fiercely to look her in the eye and reconsider that I thought Uk would for sure see the old Naksu there. This was how the old Naksu would glare at him.
Cho Yeong: Look at me and reconsider.
Uk: (quiet)
Cho Yeong: Do you not want to wed me?
Uk: Why?
Cho Yeong: Because my beauty is unmatched.
She lifted her chin and showed her cheek. She was daring him to spot any blemish or imperfection on her face.
Uk: You’re driving me crazy.
Cho Yeong: You cannot deny the fact that I turn heads wherever I go.
Lol. She really shouldn’t mention turning heads. Because I can still remember how Naksu bragged about chopping heads. Her words, “Everywhere I go, heads roll, so that’s why I chose ‘Naksu.’”
We already know that Goo YungJung could act fierce and fearsome in her 5-minute appearance in Season 1. So, her feminine and ingénue performance here is on point for this new Cho Yeong.
2. The challenge in Season 1 is different from Season 2.
In Season 1, the first challenge for Uk was to open his gate of energy. Remember? He couldn’t do anything because his gate of energy was closed, and no master wanted to defy Jang Gang’s ban and open it. He had to convince Naksu/MuDeok to help him. Naksu was his best option because Naksu is the ultimate outsider in DaeHo: an assassin. She didn’t care about conventions and rules.
In Season 2, the primary challenge for Uk and Naksu/Cho Yeong is to find each other again. Though they both survived the Queen/Shaman’s Choi and Jin Mu’s plot to steal and release the Ice Stone to the world, they lost each other.
The challenge won’t be a hardship at all if Naksu just appeared in front of him as she used to be. She SIMPLY cannot look like or act like the old Naksu. That would defeat the whole purpose of Season 2.
3. You really must pay attention to the parallel scenes or mirroring.
Uk wants to die because the burden of carrying the Ice Stone is too much for him. He would have been perfectly fine carrying it for Naksu for the rest of his life if that prevented her from turning wild. But he can’t see any good from carrying it when Naksu is already dead. As I wrote in my First Impressions, dying is preferable to him than existing in his current state of hell.
As for Cho Yeong, she’s the one now needing assistance to free herself from her prison in Jinyowon, and to open her “gate” of memory. She’s mirroring the hopeless Jang Uk in Season 1 who was desperate to find somebody — anybody — to help him open his gate of energy. Just like no mage wanted to defy Jang Gang, no mage is powerful enough to defy Lady Jin.
Except the outcast Uk.
He is an outcast like Naksu was an outcast in the beginning of Season 1. They worked alone. They were the best at what they did. They perfected their killer instincts. They were feared by everyone because they could kill with ease.
They were assassins.
Like Naksu was Uk’s best option because she was an assassin, Cho Yeong’s best option is Uk because he’s an assassin.
Didn’t you see the similarity in the way they were introduced to the audience? They were in fight scenes.
Hers:
His:
Lol. That’s the ultimate mirroring here; they’re both assassins.
Naksu was raised and trained by Jin Mu to be the assassin of mages whose souls already vacated their bodies. Naksu didn’t know that her targets were actually victims of the soul-switching.
Uk was directed by the Unanimous Assembly to be the assassin of soul-switchers. Whereas Naksu was left in the dark about her targets, Uk fully knows that these mages victimized others by stealing their souls.
It’s SIMPLY fitting to the story that Naksu be returned to her original body because of the mirroring and parallel narratives.
Thus, enough complaints about Jung SoMin being replaced as Naksu.
It’s been nice knowing her in Season 1. She did a good job. But it’s time to let it go.
If you open your eyes, it’s really simple to see that she no longer fits the direction of Naksu/Cho Yeon’s character development in Season 2. Let’s wish her and new female lead, Go YoonJung, good luck in their projects.
Kalimera @Packmule3!
I really like Go YoonJung!
She brings innocence and an airy persona in the character so far. I also like that as “Jin Bu Yeon” can tease shamelessly Jang Uk. They even drink strong liquor and she does it like a pro.
The chemistry she has with Jang Uk is pretty solid. She also found her way with Seo Yul and we are waiting for her encounter with the Crown Prince.
I am glad YJ is having the screening time she deserves. Her facial ministrations are beautiful to watch!
Dear @Packmule3
I am ok with whatever the story demands. I am no expert on acting and I don’t want to be one, so am ok with any actor (mostly).
However, I do ask that did our main heroine have to change so drastically? Amnesia means a character change to that extent? Memory loss means a complete change of character? I haven’t met anyone with amnesia so I don’t know.
I mean, she literally toes the line and doesn’t even think of doing anything different because she feels a lot. Feels bad for her mom so won’t even leave her house for anything but an outing. Doesn’t consider her room a prison. It seems that she wasn’t even given new clothes or fed properly (??) in the Jin household and she doesn’t resent it?? She now has a strong sense of compassion and is extremely emotional. People say that this is what she would have been if she had not been taken in by Jin Mu. But Mom Jin is a bad parent. If we are speaking about nurture over nature then Mom Jin is the not a great influence. Specially when our heroine sees everyone else having magical abilities that are nurtured (?) in the same household. She has no feelings of jealously against her sister who can move around freely? I guess, my imagination is running wild while given that this is just fiction so I will just see what the creators give me.
Oh and for someone who was publicly cremated, no one seems to remember her face except the villain?
Unpopular opinion but to me, UK’s transformation isn’t as drastic as it was hinted at in the trailers. Barring the fact that he more powerful now, feels more tired and weary, drinks (too much) alcohol (I was wondering about his liver health) and the lightness in his character is gone, he is actually kinder to the heroine now than he was to MD in the first few episodes. He literally told her that he would sell her if she bugged him. I thought he would hold the world at arms length.
I really liked his exchange with the crown prince and the small sequence when he stops pouring alcohol on the soul shifter’s body when he hears Naksu’s name, him emoting when he acknowledges that though she is gone, he has still not been able to clear her name.
Also, for me it isn’t about actors (I think) but episode 21 and 22 missed something. I do not know what. I wish I was good at analysing but as am not so like I said, I will just watch and read.
Technically their editing isn’t great. In multiple spaces their match cuts are plain bad.
In Uk and Lady with no memory’s scenes there is unnecessary blank spaces which don’t allow a free flow of conversation. An example to the case is: Dangu and Yul empty teaching hall conversation, ends with them speaking about Naksu — there are some 5 seconds focus on the backs of the two young men and then we cut to Naksu’s pretty face and stay for another 2 or 3 seconds before she speaks. Conversation between Uk and CY continues but in multiple spaces (in this conversation scene and others) the editor likes two face expressions so uses both as they look good however, it breaks the flow at times. And this is why I think that at times the poor actors are not at fault but it is the direction and editing.
This is just my take. Please don’t hate me for it.
@wapz,
I’m going to move your comment and @Noone’s to the Open Thread.
Pm3
@No one,
I’m going to move your comment and @wapz to the Open Thread.
Pm3
I think Go Yoon Jung must be a good actress, since I’ve had trouble believing the same person portrayed Assassin Naksu at the beginning of Season 1 and the child-like husband-seeker in Season 2. I’ve had to compare stills, yet have moments of skepticism because they seem so different in essence. One is a leopard, and the other a kitten.
I like Naksu here than in S1. I find that her interactions with JU is more natural.
I can’t wait till JU realises that she is Naksu.
Thank you for this. Honestly I’ve gotten tired of the complaints about the casting & you’ve perfectlt articulated some of my thoughts.
Hmm rare for me to be on a diff page as you.
But I still don’t feel GYJ’s acting. I’m not saying she’s terrible; because of course she isn’t. In fact she’s doing better than I thought she would.
However, She lacks (for me and my preferences) the micro-expressions and naturalness in acting. Being pretty or a similar age as the ML isn’t enough for me.
This isn’t about comparing her to JSM, but rather others on the cast too. LJW of course. Or for example, take the actress playing So-Yi. So far, I find her a more talented actress in this season than GYJ.
With GYJ her face feels frozen to me – her lips are fairly static and the expressions don’t quite reach her eyes. Maybe it’s fillers or maybe she’s not as expressive.
Whatever the cause, what happens is I can’t get a good gauge of what she’s thinking or feeling when I look at her face. I have to listen for her words.
This stands out because she acts opposite some incredible acting talents – LJW nails every look, expression and sigh. You see it all. You feel along with him. Words aren’t even needed. You’re right there with him. Immersed.
This obviously is not a debate you welcome here nor one I intent to continue; however it seemed like this would be the post to voice this take on. Especially since there’s a a fair amount of folks who also feel similarly.
Feyi aka Luwa,
You’re using three different names. So I took the liberty of changing this to the name that you used previously. Please be consistent so you don’t clutter my blog. Thanks.
I want to say so many things about JungSomin but i didn’t have the heart to do it. I fear people will branded me as a hater. I like her in Secret Forest show. She’s such a softie and pretty over there.
JungSoMin has more chemistry with Crown Prince GoWon, in reel and real life. So i thought JungSoMin will at least stay as JinBuyeon and marry with Crown Prince.
Also, JungSoMin and LeeJaeWook visual isn’t visualising. Maybe its the age gap or the set up as master/pupil.
As for GoYounJung, i only knew her in School File Nurse so i was not prepared on how decent she is as an actor. She as far as being called a blue chip of ChungMuro? Also casted in LeeJungJae directorial debut Movie Hunt.
This is one of many reason i only watch part 2. She can play many expressions with her eyes so i can immersed into her feelings. Really can formidable match to LeeJaewook who like to express most of her feeling with his whole face. Haha. Can’t helps she looks fresh and pretty too. Truly an unmatched beauty.