[Drama 2016] W-Two Worlds 더블유

[gangurhar]

MBC Presents 

W-Two Worlds

 

 

PROFILE

Title : W-Two Worlds
Hangul :  더블유
Romanization : W (deobeul-yu)

Genre : Romance, Drama 
 

Director

Jung Dae-Yoon

(She Was Pretty, Arang and the Magistrate(Assistant Director), Jung Yi Goddess of Fire ,The King 2 Hearts)

Writer

 Song Jae-Jung

(Queen In Hyun's Man,Nine: Nine Times Travel, The Three Musketeers, Coffee House)
Episodes : 16
Network : MBC [ Website | Facebook  | Instagram  ]
Broadcast Period : July 20, 2016-Sept. 8, 2016
Broadcast Time : Weds. & Thurs. 22:00
Preceded By: Lucky Romance

Watch online brought to you by Cassiopeia Team of Viki

ABOUT THE SHOW

A romance takes place between Kang Chul (Lee Jong-Suk), a Fictional Character who is super rich and exist in the webtoon “W,” and Oh Yeon-Joo (Han Hyo-Joo) who is a surgeon in the real world ;"W" Webtoon is created by Oh Yeon-Joo's (HHJ) Father.

Spoiler

About "W" Webton in The Drama

Spoiler

[Eng.trans] Drama_mbc post on Naver

Source: http://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?volumeNo=4605260&memberNo=25909715

Trans:  Lee Jong Suk JSHINE ‏

 

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Lee Jong-Suk - Kang Chul
Han Hyo-Joo - Oh Yeon-Joo
Jeong Eu-Gene - Yoon So-Hee
Lee Tae-Hwan - Seo Do-Yoon
Lee Si-Un - Park Soo-Bong
Kang Ki-Young - Kang Suk-Bum
Kim Eui-Sung
Heo Jung-Do

PRODUCTION TIMELINE AND INFORMATION

May 23- Script reading Photos Released

 “The gathering of the cast, including Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo, Writer Song Jae-jung and Director Jung Dae-yoon showed their wholeheartedness to present a good TV drama and will unite together.” He also stated, “The combination of the strongest acting team and the best production team gave the strongest team cooperation. This is what you can’t see in other TV dramas. We are sure that we can bring forth to the world a brand new work with breakthrough. I hope everyone will long for it and support it.” - PD Jung Dae Yoon

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Official Posters

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Trailers 

First Teaser

Second Teaser

Third Teaser

Fourth Teaser

Long Trailer

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Illustration ID teasers
 

 Sentimental ID teasers

 

Extras

‘W’ Character Descriptions

 Characters Descriptions

Spoiler

‘W’ Character Descriptions (1)

Source: MBC Homepage
Translator: hitoritabi; please take with credit 

Kang Chul (30 years old) - Lee Jong Suk

His is the gold medalist for shooting sport at the Athens Olympics. Representative of JN Global and owner of broadcaster ‘Channel W’. With personal assets reaching 800 billion won, he is the youngest chaebol, incomparable to all others.

Is that all? He also has boyish looks that incite the maternal instinct in every woman and a model aura that comes with his perfect proportions. Couple that with his genius intellect, determination, manner and humour, he is a man who is perfect beyond reality.

One day, a woman appears in front of Kang Chul. She saves his life and then disappears. He has a gut feeling that this woman is the one who can solve all the mysteries in his life so he decides to search for her. All he has is her name,  Oh Yeon Joo and a fake phone number on a fake name card, declaring that she is the resident doctor in the thoracic surgery department, plus that crazy and unpredictable personality of hers, that also cannot be found anywhere else.

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Oh Yeon Joo (30 years old) - Han Hyo Joo

She is a 2nd year Resident Doctor at the Thoracic Surgery Department of Myungsae Hospital. After her mother forced her into medical school, she has never once thought that she is talented or suitable for this job. Everyday, she gets picked on by the ‘Crazy Dog’ professor; she always too busy working night shifts or napping to ever consider going out on a date. While she is rotting away her youth at a hospital, she insists that she has hidden beauty that will drive everyone insane.

Her heart dictates her actions before her brain does. Although she wished to be an arrogant and chic doctor, she is a woman that is always apologizing for not being cool enough. She would love to try ‘push and pull’ with men but because her heart is easily softened, her romances always end up directed by the other person, even though she does have quite a pretty appearance.

It seems that being too emotional is Yeonjoo’s whole problem… until one day, a man who purely 100% matches her ideal type appears before her eyes. It goes without saying that her life is going to be consumed by him from then on. 

 

Trans By:  hitoritabi

‘W’ Character Description (2)

Source: MBC Homepage
Translation: hitoritabi
Translation note:  SPOILERS!!!!!!! These have been deleted from the homepage now, so if you want to avoid spoilers, please avert your eyes.

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Yoon Sohee (30 years old) - Jung Yoo Jin

Kang Chul’s secretary and oldest friend.

She is a competent secretary who can quickly decipher what Kang Chul wants and also deals with issues with efficiecy; however, her chic looks actually conceal an aggressive personality that is easily heated. She often forgets her role as a secretary and even nags or speaks informally to Kang Chul. Although she has the arrogant and sensual appearance that every man dreams of, she had set her sights on her friend Kang Chul since high school. Until one day, a mysterious woman named Oh Yeonjoo appears in front of Kang Chul and starts to annoy Sohee.

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Seo Do Yoon (31 years old) - Lee Tae Hwan

Kang Chul’s bodyguard and martial arts coach, was once famous for being Korea’s best martial arts athlete.

A simple and direct guy who is full of manly machismo. Once he has decided on a goal, he would run directly towards it. A few years ago, upon Kang Chul’s personal invite, he decided to give up his life as an athlete without regret to follow Kang Chul. He has since become one of Kang Chul’s best friends and displays perfect sychronized rhythm when working with him. He doesn’t speak much, but the few words he says are quite humorous. He’s seen through Sohee’s feelings for Kang Chul and cannot help but be affected by it.

~*~*~*~*~

Han Chul Ho (55 years old) - Park Won Sang

Congressional Senator that began his career as a prosecutor, a hopeful candidate for Shinmin Party in the upcoming elections.

Ten years ago, he was the prosecutor who handled the murder case of Kang Chul’s whole family; at the time, he had named Kang Chul as the murderer and got him a death sentence. He is the puppet master behind ruining Kang Chul’s life. A ambitious man with no scruples, Chul Ho believed that if he could tear down Kang Chul, who was at the peak of his popularity from the Olympics, it would be a great opportunity for fame. 

Through sacrificing Kang Chul, Chul Ho received the support of the public and successfully made it into politics and rose to his current position. However, a few years ago, the Kang Chul that he thought had been left for dead suddenly returned as the representative of a publicly traded company; this sudden and dramatic turn of events is causing Chul Ho many headaches.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Seo Hyun Suk (58 years old) - Cha Kwang Soo

The director of a crime investigation show and the main editor of Kang Chul’s broadcasting network.

He is the best friend of Kang Chul’s late father, so Chul respects him as a father figure in his life. He had always believed in Chul’s innocence, thus has dedicated the rest of his life to join forces with Chul and find out who had murdered his best friend. 

Now he helps him by running the broadcasting channel ‘Channel W’, which focuses on unearthing crimes and investigating wrongdoings. His long career of criminal profiling has allowed him to be even sharper than the average prosecutor or police detective. Kang Chul trusts him a lot and sees him as a guidance counselor – whenever he is troubled by a particular situation, Chul would come to Hyun Suk for advice.

 

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Oh Sung Moo (62 years old) - Kim Yee Sung

Oh Yeonjoo’s father and a famous manhwa artist who is currently publishing a hit series. He has a selfishness and arrogance that is typical of an artist, but also the inferiority complex that comes the long period of time when he was a struggling unknown artist. He is angry about his wife, who had divorced him when he was most impoverished; the long hours and great pressure he is under to draw a serial work has caused him to become increasingly sensitive and touchy.

He keeps strange habits and is often lacerating with his words. Known to be a severe alcoholic, he can’t even draw a single frame without getting drink. He holds the key to the secret between Kang Chul and Oh Hyunjoo.

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Park Soo Bong (27 years old) - Lee Shi Un

Oh Sung Moo’s apprectice. Though one can’t tell from his intimidating looks, Soo Bong is actually a gentle and naive guy from the countryside, full of sentimentality. He looks like he’s much older than Yeonjoo but is actually younger, so he relies on Yeonjoo like a cute younger brother. He loves manhwa – it is the only thing he is interested in and the only thing he lives for, it is the reason he left home for Seoul.

After becoming the apprentice of his longtime idol Sung Moo, he has spent the last three years catering to his teacher’s every whim, learning how to draw on the side. One day, Sung Moo goes missing all of a sudden, so Soo Bong has no choice but to contact Yeonjoo out of desperation. He is swept into the unexpected events that follow due to Yeonjoo but feels even more stressed than her; he is an unlucky man who finds it hard to fall asleep every night since he is so afraid of what might happen.

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Gil Su Seon (54 years old) - Nam Gi Ae (omo it’s mom from OHY!!!)

Oh Yeonjoo’s mother. Determined and capable with all sorts of life skills, she had worked every kind of job when she was trying to maintain the family for her useless husband. Since she’s had a very hard life due to Sung Moo’s alcoholism and sad excuse for a career, when she saw that Yeonjoo also had the ability to draw like her father, she pushed Yeonjoo into medical school in intense fear.

After Yeonjoo got into medical school, she immediately divorced her husband and left home with her daughter in tow. She thinks it is the best decision she has ever made so she left without a single regret. Ironically, not long after Su Seon departed, Sung Moo became a popular manhwa artist, accumulating wealth in the billions. Although she now slightly regrets the divorce, she can’t say anything since she wants to maintain her dignity in front of her daughter.

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Park Min Soo (42 years old) - Heo Jung Do

Specialist doctor of the thoracic surgery department at Myungsae Hospital. Professor.

His standards are as high as his level of professional skill, with a zero tolerance policy towards idiots. When he is angry, he will zone in on a person and tear him apart, bringing credibility to his nickname ‘Crazy Dog’. One of his chosen targets is Oh Yeonjoo, but their relationship suddenly changed one day.

Although it doesn’t seem to fit his personality, this Professor Park actually a crazy fan of webtoons. Once he realized that Yeonjoo is the daughter of Artisy Oh Sung Moo, their relationship changed from the professional mentor-mentee to one between a fangirl and a fanboy, always engaging in juvenile discussions.

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Kang Suk Bum (30 years old) - Kang Ki Young

2nd year resident doctor at the thoracic surgery department in Myungsae Hospital. A long-time friend of Yeonjoo – they’ve been friends for so long that they’ve seen everything that should or should not be seen between them… to the point where they treat each other with no concern of gender at all. Always exhausted and always complaining, so much so that you want to punch him. Yet even when he he’s lost the energy to do anything else, he’s full of enthusiasm when he makes fun of Yeonjoo.

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Gil Su Young (49 years old) - Lee Se Rang

Yeonjoo’s aunt. Works at the real estate agent that Su Seon has opened, walks in and out of her sister’s house like it was her own. Since she only has two unaffectionate sons, she treats Yeonjoo like her own daughter and always take her side for everything. When she sees Oh Sung Moo’s huge success, she actually hope her sister would swallow her pride and go back to Sung Moo.

 

Trans By:  hitoritabi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Character Chart

 

 

SECOND WINNER OF SOOMPI K-DRAMA CONTEST 2016

FIRST ROUND ENTRY

Spoiler

W TEAM: PROLOGUE

 

GIF Credit: http://kangcheoljoo.tumblr.com/tagged/gifs

At its heart, W - Two Worlds delves at the difference between fiction and reality. Why, as real people living in the real world, do we spend so much time immersed in their fictional stories? Because even though fiction is imaginary, there is something real in it that affects us. That teaches us, or gives us courage, or somehow changes us. Our favorite moments in W center on that interchange between fiction and reality. 

We still think this drama is one of the most beautiful, mind blowing, clever and is way ahead of its time. We will have to wait years for something like this again...

@maryofbethany @lovely_skham @frozentundra @monjiji @polar15 @kembie @skittles87 @shishi101 @tenten0227 @snowglobe147
@alleram95 @ibru

 

FAVORITE SCENE 1. EP.1: WHERE AM I?

GIF credit: http://triangularlily.tumblr.com/post/147817857468/w-two-worlds-episode-1-where-am-i-whats-going

The first amazing scene we chose was when a dying Kang Chul pulled Oh Yeon Joo into the manhwa world for the first time. We chose it because it was an amazing moment to experience as viewers when a person from the Real world enters her favorite comic. This is not only the first meeting between the two main characters, but also the start of their fated connection. Yeon Joo learns that Kang Chul has “warm blood and a beating heart,” that even though he lives in a comic, he is somehow real, and so she cannot stay silent when her father tries to kill him again and again. She becomes the key to Kang Chul’s life. 

“Sometimes fate or life or whatever you want to call it, leaves a door a little open and you walk through it. But sometimes it locks the door and you have to find the key, or pick the lock, or knock the damn thing down.” ― Gayle Forman, Just One Year.

 

FAVORITE SCENE 2. RECAP EP. 4, 5

What is reel and what is real?
What responsibility does a writer hold for the characters s/he creates, even in the K-dramas we also watch?

 

 

The moment the main character realized the lie, the world inside the comic stopped.

Only Kang Chul, in the world where time stopped, survived alone.

As if it was a punishment for the person who realized the truth.

 

"I have come here. To Oh Yeon Joo’s World."

“And I never would’ve known the reason, running after a killer who could never be caught, suffering from insomnia every night, getting hurt and broken. Endlessly suffering and repeating it over and over. Do you even know what I’ve been through? Things that you would never be able to endure. You made me go through it all, thinking yourself a god with that tiny finger, without any responsibility, while I remember every single moment of pain.”  -Kang Chul-

 

"You’re just a character! You understand?! A fantasy that I created! You’re telling me that you’d shoot me with that?

Go ahead and shoot, if you’re going to.."

 

 

“To the main character who become a murderer while looking for a murderer,

there couldn’t be a more suitable ending”

 

 

 

GIF credit: feii1effect: heartou: todramas: @jeonghyang

We chose this scene for both the questions it asks, and also the outstanding, heart-wrenching performance of Lee Jong Suk.

Drama after drama, we ask the writer nim, why can’t you just let the protagonist be happy?
“Things that you would never be able to endure. You made me go through it all, thinking yourself a god with that tiny finger, without any responsibility, while I remember every single moment of pain.” – Kang Chul.

We cry along with the protagonist as the writer inflicts pain on him/her with a cruel pen. Is it really all right for a writer to do this? If it’s not real, and only for art’s sake, is it okay to cause pain and even death to a character?

"W’ asked a lot of questions. It’s not an easy drama. Can a writer be responsible for both what is Reel, and what is Real? Kang Chul’s words still echo in our mind: “While I remember every single moment of pain…” Don’t we also remember the most vivid moments after a drama ends? Those moments when our hero was found dead, or our OTP separated, leaving us depressed? Isn’t Reel supposed to comfort and inspire us as we go through the challenges of Real Life?

 

FAVORITE SCENE 3. Ep.7, Handcuffs Kiss.
The best kissing scene in the history of K-dramas!
The prison confession leading up to the kiss. Both KC and OYJ realized how much they love each other.

 

GIF Credit: itsloveitsokay: seoulgifs:

Our reason for choosing this scene is that it is the best kissing scene in the history of dramaland! Reel and Real are inseparable.

Oh Yeon Joo is self-sacrificial for Kang Chul. She sees beyond what is real and what is superficial. While his identity is Reel, his feels are Real. While his life basically is created by a stylus-pen (Reel), what he goes through is Real to him. And Yeon Joo recognizes this. His agonies, his mourning, his fighting spirit, his intelligence. But above all, his interaction with her is Real, his trust towards her is Real, his protection over her is Real, his growing fondness is Real, his emotional wounds are Real... not to mention the beating of his heart, the warmth of his touch, that thrill of his lips, that gaze of concern - all Real.

In the real world, if Kang Chul never walked back into her life, Yeon Joo could get a license, open a hospital, marry a doctor, have children with him, etc. But that is not what the 'REAL YEON JOO' wants. This world of Chul helps her to realise she would rather experience a real and shattering love with someone with a fake identity than someone who may be Real but who does not truly understand her. She realizes she has fallen in love with Kang Chul the man, not the idol. When her words to him cause her to disappear back into her real world (profound emotional impacts to Kang Chul end the “episode” and send her back), it proves that her feelings are reciprocated. As he continues to think of her, he summons her back to the W world, where their acceptance of each other’s confessions gives us the most sizzling and rewarding kiss in recent drama history.

 

FAVORITE SCENE 4. EP. 10. "Who are you?" - Kang Chul

 

 

 

GIF Credit: withlee:

Our fourth scene is the moment Kang Chul becomes aware (for the 2nd time) that there is a world outside the one he lives in. He may have had a memory reset in the Reel world of the manhwa, supposedly forgetting all about Yeon Joo and her world, but he still cannot leave the Real world alone. We chose this scene for his moment of realization, and also for Han Hyo Joo’s perfect performance showing love, concern and self sacrifice of the main character Oh Yeon Joo.

From the moment his memory is reset, he keeps running into the mysterious Yeon Joo. He goes from “Why do you keep looking at me like that? to “Do you know me?” to  “Who are you?” to “Oh Yeon Joo shi, where are you?” His questions evolve to show the changes in his heart towards her, from curiosity at their first meeting (why does she look so sad?), to troubled and suspicious (why does she know so much about him when he doesn’t remember her at all? What was her ramyeon outburst about? What does he mean to her? How does her missing husband fit into the equation?) The motel kiss was her fifth, but it was his first between them after his memory reset. Her uncontrollable tears are the answer he needs. She trusts his innocence when no one else does, promising that she will clear his name. “I am one of those people who want your life to have a happy ending. Our parting should be worth something.” Yeon Joo’s confession is the last push to wake him from his slumber. A déjà vu kiss, backed up with the warm tears of undeniable pain, perseverance and passions on her face, melt through his heart. He allows her to kiss him without the slightest objection, even knowing how she pined for her missing husband. The fact that the kiss sends her back to the Real world is a sign that he has fallen for her all over again. That even as Kang Chul 2.0, he is again destined to meet her, know her, and love her again.

 

FAVORITE SCENE 5. EP. 16 HAPPY ENDING: 

“I am someone who wishes your life to have a happy ending” - YJ

 

GIF Credit: withlee:

 

YJ: “Kang Chul’s story in the manhwa was a happy ending, but the real-life Kang Chul's and Oh Yeon-Joo’s ending is still unknown. But…”
KC: “The two of them no longer stand at the crossroads of life and death like a manhwa, and although boring and ordinary, we hope that they will get an ending that lasts fifty years. Like other ordinary couples.”

As our fifth favorite scene, we chose the ending scene to celebrate Kang Chul and Yeon Joo’s ultimate happy ending, but also because it echoes our own feelings about our favorite dramas.

This scene actually shows all the themes of Reel versus Real, sad endings versus happy endings, artistic value compared to simplicity. When thinking of the dramas that we love to pieces, whether it’s W or DOTS or SHR or Doctors, all fans want the same thing before the last episode - for our favorite characters to have a happy ending. And not just the characters. What Yeon Joo and Kang Chul want so desperately reminds us of the simple reason why we watch Kdramas: for the hope that happy endings can be Real for us, too.

 

SECOND ROUND ENTRY

Spoiler

1. Title: W - Two Worlds

STARS: Lee Jong Suk,  Han Hyo Joo, Kim Eui Sung

GENRE: Sci-fi/fantasy drama which also includes elements of many other genres as: thriller, romance, horror, melodrama. 

SETTING: It takes place in 2016 in Seoul—however, one “Seoul” is the real world we live in, and the other version of “Seoul” exists within the comic book entitled W. The two worlds are connected by the comic writer's drawing tablet.

WRITER: Song Jae Jung

DIRECTOR: Jung Dae Yoon

2. Plot summary

Webcomic artist Oh Seung Moo is horrified when his popular comic, W, takes on a life of its own, with the main character Kang Chul rejecting his plot ideas and changing the story. Worse, Kang Chul seems way too aware of the fact that there is something beyond the bounds of his world. Oh Seung Moo attempts to end the comic by killing off Kang Chul, but his plans go awry when Kang Chul pulls Mr. Oh’s daughter Yeon Joo, a cardiology intern, into the comic in order to save his life.

With each new violent attempt to end his character, Yeon Joo shows up in the comic to thwart her father’s plans. She knows that Kang Chul has “warm blood and a beating heart,” and cannot stand by and let him die. The two fall in love and even marry within the comic, but happiness does not last long, as her father’s poorly-written villain, a faceless man who killed Kang Chul’s family and framed him for the murder, sees Yeon Joo as the next member of Kang Chul’ls family to exterminate as part of his character setup.

Things go even further when this faceless killer follows Kang Chul into the real world via the portal of the drawing tablet, and begins killing there.

In order to save both the people of Yeon Joo’s world, and his friends in the comic, Kang Chul asks Yeon Joo to draw a new scene in which all of their experiences together are turned into a dream, thus pulling the killer out of her world. But even with a memory reset, Chul is destined to question his existence, and he and Yeon Joo are destined to meet again. Kang Chul, Oh Yeon Joo, and Oh Seung Moo must use all of their brains and abilities and endurance to stop the out-of-control villain and find a way to be together in the same world.

 

3. Discuss acting, directing, writing. Give examples.

3.1. Writing:

W is a well-written drama.

But it’s also a meta discussion on what makes good writing, and an allegory of a lazy writer who does not even define the face of the villain or give him any reason for being the villain.

(Villain without a face or identity. Just as a plot motif)

As the characters are all either writing the comic book or actively participating as characters (or both), the rules of good writing are actively discussed.

 

(Oh Yeon Joo trying to choose between a gun or lingerie ultimately choosing the latter, thus changing the genre of W from action to romance)

- Is it necessary to fully develop your antagonists, give them names and faces, give them motives? (All of W’s characters would give a resounding YES to this question.)

- Can a character truly stand on their own if they have only one reason for existing? (No. They must have multiple reasons for existence.)

- How do you know when an episode is truly over? (The main character must experience a strong change in emotion, be it surprise, fear, a new realization, or love.)

- What internal rules govern the logic of the story? (Yeon Joo and Kang Chul had to consciously discover the rules for moving between one world and the other.)

The script itself is neatly divided into two halves that echo each other, but with changes that come as the characters learn and grow, such as Kang Chul’s very different reactions each time he becomes self aware and enters the real world. Many times, the two main characters experience similar circumstances that mirror each other. (For example, Yeon Joo first got to know Kang Chul by reading the comic. After his memories were removed, Kang Chul also got to know Yeon Joo by reading about her in the comic.)

The script also takes pot shots at common drama tropes, such as the hero surprising a pop-eyed heroine with a kiss (the heroine in this case does this to the hero), or amnesia (making it all a dream does not actually solve your plot problems).

Writer Song Jae Jung is excellent at both telling us a story, and showing us how such a story is constructed.

3.2. Directorial analysis:

W-Two Worlds is a drama that is driven by tight, impeccable writing. The writer thoughtfully planned out all of the clever, mind-blowing plot twists, conjured up the many complex variables between the manhwa world and the real world, and wrote a story of a how the love of a real woman and a fictional character with an intense will to live defied predetermined fate and fulfilled a love that was proven to be meant-to-be.

However, the person who takes the words off of the paper and gives them life is the director, whose job is to visualize the scenes the writer imagined up in her head. The best part of having a good director is that every time you rewatch a scene, you notice something you completely missed before.

And our director has done a lot, starting from the flickering of the screen in episode 1, which first raises our suspicions that the world we are seeing might not be all that real. One of the most beautiful directorial touches in the drama is when the moment when Kang Chul becomes self-aware, the manhwa world freezes and a glowing portal appears in front of him.

This portal appears again later in the drama when Chul learns how to bend the rules of the manhwa world to confront the killer. The CGI effects such as the portal and when the Killer reaches through the tablet to choke Yeon Joo and her dad, respectively, is the work of the special effects director, but the one who guides the actors and the setting to make the filming believable is the director.

The color filters used to differentiate between the two worlds are applied by the cinematographer, but the director is the one who keeps the transitions from feeling choppy. The flawless transitions between the two worlds are shocking and spectacular—from Yeon Joo entering the manhwa world's Han river through the restaurant washroom, to the moment when while she talks to her dad, the background flickers and fades, replaced by the manhwa world. It is the director's job to keep everything cohesive, from the acting to the editing to the overall tone given off, and this director pulls it off seamlessly. The action scenes are very well co-ordinated under his direction b it outside-Kang Chul fighting in street; or in an enclosed room against the villain.

One of the most spectacular scenes directed is the massacre in the news room, which is very impactful in its intensity and suddenness.

The director also managed to neatly digest all of the various genres the writer threw at him, from squeal-inducing romance to heart-stopping thriller-suspense to laugh-out-loud comedy. All of these genres were perfectly executed, not one of them seeming out of place under the director's expert hand. The writer must be credited for her intricate and elaborate plotting and planning, but the director must also be credited for putting all of her plots and plans into action, while adding on his own directorial touches to keep it all cohesive and put together. W-Two Worlds is truly a work of art.

3.3. Set Director: 

 

W is rich in its mis-en-scenes. From Kang Chul's lavish penthouse, to Oh Sung Moo's room designed with webtoon arts on the wall and a table full of sketches, even Goya's "Saturn devouring his son", a perfect allegory to the 'creator destroying his creation' myth; A wide range of props, intricately designed sets help enrich the the drama. Indeed it is a thrilling ride where the vibrancy of the webtoon meets the dankness of the real world.

3.4. Acting:

The cast is simply stellar in W. The script provides certain key emotional moments that give meaning to the story, and the actors are excellent at bringing this moments to life. Two moments that stand out in particular include the moment where Kang Chul first arrives in the real world and goes to confront his creator over the misery Oh Seung Moo has caused him. The confrontation in the artist’s studio is gripping. 

Lee Jong Suk is simply heart wrenching as he lays out all of his suffering and demands answers. Meanwhile, the artist has no good solutions for him. “It’s just fiction,” he explains. “The misery of losing your family in an unsolved murder? Just a setup, to make you an interesting character.” Lee Jong Suk’s anguish is palpable; this is no scene pulled off with a few artificial eye drops. You can see the real snot of real crying coming out of his nose as his character is completely devastated by the news that not even the killer is real. If there is one actor who can pull off existential misery, it’s Lee Jong Suk, and he is at his finest here.

Han Hyo Joo shows a very wide range of acting ability in this drama, with perfect comedic acting at the beginning, and truly heartrending sorrow later on. She also deftly handles how a character might deal with a family member suffering from mental illness and committing acts she finds morally wrong. Somehow she's able to both show how Yeon Joo loves her father, yet still follows her own moral compass. Her character, Oh Yeon Joo, is strong enough to sacrifice everything she has to protect the people she cares about. Much as she loves Chul, she recognizes the truth of his plan—that the only way to save all of the people they care about is to give up their own happiness together, and turn it into a dream. Her crying is never overdone, but just enough to hurt your heart as she suffers the consequences of her husband’s disappearance.  Nevertheless, her character doesn’t give up, but continues to use brains and endurance to save her man, even if he can’t recognize her. Han Hyo Joo is excellent at bringing to life a character we can relate to, care about, cry for, and cheer on.

The third actor who just really shines is Kim Eui Sung. He plays two characters, actually—Yeon Joo’s father, the comic artist Oh Seung Moo, and also the killer. Without costume changes, Kim Eui Sung is fully convincing in both roles, at one point changing visibly from one into the other purely by acting. It is chilling. His role at showing a cold blooded killer as well as a man suffering increasing mental distress is brilliant. It is easy to hate him during much of the drama, but his ultimate choice with regards to his daughter and his character will reduce the viewer to tears.

Finally, we cannot forget Lee Si Un's wonderful comedic contribution to the story. There are a considerable number of sad moments in this drama, but without the balance of comedy, they would not have the impact that they do in the end. Lee Si Un is all of us as we gasp in shock, scream in terror, sigh in wistfulness, and cheer on our favorite characters. He is the fanboy in all of us, and he nails his performance every time.

 

4. Discuss cinematography. Cite examples.

4.1. Graphics and artwork:

W is a comic book, and the artwork produced for the drama is top notch. Each page of the comic that shows up in the drama was actually hand drawn by a team of illustrators, including one artist whose entire job was to draw the kissing scenes. The artwork is perfectly rendered to both look like a high quality comic, and to also resemble its live action counterparts. The manhwa is so beautiful that many viewers have wished there was a real-life version they could own. The cinematography handling the comic and the real world and the transitions between is extremely well done.

4.2. Cinematography:

The dichotomy of the two worlds is established visually through the contrast between the webtoon and the real world. W is groundbreaking not only in terms of writing, but also because of its cinematography in terms of filters, special effects especially CGI, and graphics, and also the luxurious lighting and camerawork. Here are some techniques used to great effect in the drama:

- CGI

BULLET TIME EFFECT 

We’ve loved this technique since the Matrix introduced it. W uses it at the scenes where the manhwa world freezes, such as when the truck of doom is about to hit Kang Chul, and later when and Kang Chul comes out to the real world. It is elaborate, usually used in big productions, because about 20-25 cameras have to be lined up in a semi circle. Many static photos from different angles are used, giving the impression that time has indeed stopped. We were really impressed to see it used here.

  

 

FILTER The contrast is most visible through the diffusion and color effect filters. In the webtoon world, brighter filters, mostly mid-yellow or light red/deep pink are used to produce warmer and flawless landscapes which defined the manhwa world initially. For instance in episode 2 when Yeon Joo kisses Kang Chul in the shopping mall, the pinkish filter gives a rosy hue to the scene, making it almost cartoonish.

But in ep 4 when Kang Chul comes out to the real world, the blue filter adds to the dank, dark, grimy, narrow streets, grey skies, and a rooftop full of useless junk. The rose-lenses are shattered for Kang Chul and the viewers and both realise that his world was a chimera, and that the real world is flawed and dark. It’s a tremendous realisation for him to know that he isn't real, and the filter reflects his mood as well.

CAMERA MOVEMENTS 

Steadicam(hand-held, lightweight) is used for tracking shots, during Yeon Joo's escape when persecuted by the police in ep. 4, and Kang Chul's escape from the police in ep. 10, which creates a claustrophobic and intense panic in the viewer. Drones are used for aerial shots, in ep. 2 when Kang Chul directly asks 'Who are you?' looking skywards and in ep. 4 when Kang Chul realises his world isn't real and time stops.

Dolly and pan are used for motion of cars, trucks, and people from a distance like the truck of doom in ep. 2. Most conversation scenes are medium shots. Racking focus is used very effectively when in ep. 7 Kang Chul ties Yeon Joo's hair, and we get to feel the sadness in both of them.

 

5. Discuss costumes and background music. 

5.1. Background music:

 The revered music director has outdone himself again. The BGM captures the mood of the scenes perfectly. From the thrilling bgm played during the introduction of Kang Chul when he is speeding through the highway in his flashy red car, to the heart fluttering music during their first kiss, it is captivating. During ep.5 in the 'creation meeting creator' scene, the creepiness of the music as Kang Chul comes out into the semi lit room, is chilling. The music during fight scenes is fast paced to induce an adrenaline rush in the viewers as well. Musical motifs in the drama help create reactions in the viewers, such as the Meaning of the Ring bgm, which plays at romantic moments, but also extremely tragic ones (the blood running down Yeon Joo’s ring).

OSTs: There are 10 OSTs which defines the narrative, genre and the relationships of the characters. The following selections in particular give us insights into the characters/story.

OST 1 : Where Are You - Joon Joon Young 

Maybe that will be the line that connects you and me
You’re someone I’ll meet some day,
We just don’t know, no one does

I only look at things I want to look at, I only search for things I’m curious about
But that was you, It was you

We’re walking through the same time, Connected to each other

Whether I go to you, Or you come to me
Let’s be under the same sky

We kept meeting, continuously
Maybe we’re actually close, and know each other really well
But we still don’t really know that truth, no one does

The Korean title literally means ‘Whether I go to you or you come to me.’

Since the first episode, Kang Chul knows Yeon Joo is the 'key to his life', his reason for existence. At the end of the episode, he asks 'Where are you?'. They are from different worlds, but their fates lead them to each other again and again. Kang Chul doesn't know the truth of his creation yet, and he is searching not only for his savior Yeon Joo, but also for a context which would explain the inexplicable; Yeon Joo doesn't know why she gets pulled in the manhwa world... and in the midst of not knowing, they fall in love. The OST captures this painful yet beautiful sensation of the dangers and the sorrow in their lives, and their finding comfort and solace in each other's presence. Even after the reset, through the lingering memories lost in his subconscious, Yeon Joo is pulled into his world again and again and they keep meeting. Kang Chul has forgotten her, but he feels that he knows her and his need for her and their attraction is even stronger than before, he is searching once again for his key..........

OST 2: Park Bo Ram – Please Say Something, Even Though It Is a Lie

Is this what love is?
I didn’t even know that
It was you who made my heart pound
I thought I had a fever because of a cold
I thought I tossed and turned all night because I was sick

Because of the love that you gave me
I can’t even fall asleep, what do I do?

Tell me, even if it’s a lie
That you love me too
My heart is racing too much
Something’s gonna happen
Please do something

This is Yeon Joo's theme.The tune is melancholic, poignant and the words speak of her sadness .She is Kang Chul's fan, and she wants a happy ending for his life. She may not remember now, but she had Chul in her mind even when she was young. She cares a lot about him, not as a character in comic book but as a person. Eventually  she starts to fall in love with him. During their meetings, Chul show that he cares for her, but has he told her that he loves her? Even before the reset, Chul hasn’t said it. The OST captures the suffering the Yeon Joo endures, being in love with a person from another world, a person who her father wants to kill. After the reset,  its even more painful for her when Kang Chul looks at her but cannot recognise her, she is the only one carrying their beautiful memories in her heart.

OST 3: Basick, Inkii – In the Illusion

You’re a strong perfume
You covered up my life
Your scent moves me
You’re so close yet so far
I love you and I will have you

A very powerful track which combines the rap of the male vocalist  which destroys you, followed by the soft chorus of the female vocalist which soothes your pain, much like the character's journey in W and the viewer's journey as well. This song describes Yeon Joo’s confused feelings. Is this a real love? Or is it only affection between a reader and a character in a comic? Is Kang Chul real? Does Chul’s world really exist? But at the same time it echoes Chul's feelings as well- not knowing what lies next, not understanding who is controlling his destiny. Yet both falling for each other's charms. Is it a chimera, a smoke which has covered their senses? Or is their love real?

OST 4: KCM- Memory

At the place we met
Your scent is right here
I can’t forget, I can’t forget
The memories still won’t go away

OST 5: Jo Hyun Ah – Falling

 

When I close my eyes and breathe
It feels like you’re in front of me
I’m afraid that you’ll disappear
So I pray that time will stop

I’m Falling I’m Falling
I met you like it was destiny
I’m Falling I’m Falling
Like a dream

Delicate and healing, this song captures Yeon Joo’s feelings for Chul, her fear that he will disappear but at the same time her falling in love with him. It also describes Chul just before the reset. He knew the danger that the culprit posed in looking for him, and he also knew about the existence of the real world. Even though they only had a short time, he tried to fulfill his promise of option 3 and spend the time they had as husband and wife as the best they could.

Part 6:
Jeon Woo Sung- My Heart

Part 7:
Ahn Hyeon Jeong – You And Me (그대와 나)

Part 8:
Navi – Draw A Love (사랑 그려요)

Part 9:
N (VIXX) & Yeo Eun (Melody Day) – Without You (니가 없는 난)

 

5.2. Costume

                          

Even though W is not a period drama with lavish costumes, the clothing worn still has meaning within the drama.

Kang Chul has the widest variety of costumes, beginning as a wealthy chaebol in the comic, becoming a man on the run, and eventually traveling to the real world. Many of his outfits within the comic are a simple black and white, suggesting the line drawings in a comic book. Aggressive Chul wears blue, like when he kisses Yeon Joo in the bathroom while holding a gun, or later when he kisses her fiercely in the prison. When he confronts the killer, he is often dressed in black. When his own blood is about to be spilled, he is in white, like the stabbing on the rooftop, when the police shoot him, or when he is tortured in the warehouse. When enacting sweet romantic scenes, such as the hair-tying scene or the imaginary date scenes, he wears matching couple clothes with Yeon Joo, such as the famous pink sweatshirts.

Yeon Joo does not get to wear many pretty clothes, as she spends much of her time either in hospital scrubs or in a prison uniform. However, three outfits do stand out: the $3000 dress wealthy Kang Chul buys for her, the pretty party dress (worn mostly in her imagination, but she did get to show it off to Chul), and the poor man’s version of the $3000 dress that Chul buys for her when they are on the run. She never gets to wear this last dress, but the significance of him buying a dress for her yet again, even in his poverty, means something to her.

Some amount of product placement is also involved in costuming, for example with the “My Will is Good” shirt (a t-shirt design for charity) or the many items from None of Your Business (a company Lee Jong Suk is affiliated with). Additionally, the makeup used by Yeon Joo is from Sooryehan (a sponsor for whom Han Hyo Joo models). The product placement is not intrusive, however, and fits logically within the bounds of the story.

 

5.3. Makeup 

Yeon Joo , So Hui , Kang Chul and everyone in the W world have impeccable makeup. Even when they are hurt, they are neat and flawless. Contrast it to the first scene when Yeon Joo wakes up in the clumsy state with saliva on her face

 

6. Discuss characters.

Our hero

                              

Kang Chul is the hero of Korea’s most popular webcomic. At age 17, he wins an Olympic gold medal for shooting, but shortly afterwards, his family is killed with his own gun, making him the prime suspect. Due to lack of evidence, he is released, but not before making an enemy of the prosecutor who uses the case to promote his own political ambitions.

Chul may have been acquitted, but his neighbors cannot see him as innocent. In despair, he attempts to end his life by jumping off the Han River bridge, but at the last moment, decides he would rather live so that he can catch the real culprit. With his iron will (“Kang Chul” literally means “steel”), he fights back, becomes a wealthy chaebol, and founds a broadcasting company to unravel unsolved crimes and hopefully catch the real culprit in his family’s murder. He begins to sense that something or someone outside the world he knows is controlling his life, and struggles to change the fate his creator has predetermined for him. When a mysterious attacker stabs him on the roof of his hotel, he reaches through dimensions for help and pulls Oh Yeon Joo into his world.

Our heroine

Oh Yeon Joo is a second year cardiology student in the real world, and the daughter of famous cartoonist Oh Seung Moo. When Kang Chul’s hand comes out of the tablet screen and pulls her literally into the comic, she becomes a character as well as a person in the real world. Instead of just being a pair of eyes through which the viewer can ogle the male lead, she actually DOES something in the plot. She’s strong, she’s inventive, she’s persistent, she’s self sacrificing, but she can also stand up for herself (such as when she lambasts Kang Chul for suggesting she draw yet another dream sequence.) She’s awkward and beautiful, heart wrenching and hilarious. She is trapped between saving her man and respecting her father (a particularly difficult conundrum in a confucian context, and one that was handled masterfully.) She manages to uses all of her skills to save her husband, staying true to her character while at the same time, actually changing things in the plot and therefore becoming a true heroine.

Other key characters

Oh Seung Moo is a successful cartoonist, but a failure as a human being. Depression led to alcoholism, which led to his wife and daughter leaving him, and so he poured his energies into creating Kang Chul, a youthful alter-ego who is everything Oh Seung Moo is not. He becomes terrified, however, when Kang Chul starts to fight back against his storyline, and tries to kill him off in the comic. Oh Seung Moo may be a brilliant artist, but he is a terrible writer, and his poor life and writing decisions spawn havoc both in the cartoon world and in the real world.

Park Soo Bong is the comic relief in the drama. He is one of Oh Seung Moo’s assistants, hired to draw environments for the web comic. (He draws the hospital and the penthouse.) Soo Bong respects his boss so much that he backs out of the office like some kind of ancient Joseon servant who won’t turn his back on his master. He is the only other person in the real world aside from Yeon Joo and her father who know that Kang Chul is real, and he sees far more action than his poor heart can handle. His hilarious and terrified reactions to everything that happens form a perfect foil to the serious undertones of the drama, and he gives voice to the reactions we viewers have as we watch it unfold.

7. Interpret the drama message, how it is conveyed.

 

Kang Chul’s character arc is an existentialist one—what is “real”? What is a person’s purpose for existing? Is fate truly fixed? Or can we fight back, and change our future? Plato asked these questions centuries ago, and in W, we find them again. As we watch Chul’s search for answers, we learn many things:

1. Never give up

 

The drama deals with death both literally and literarily. When a character loses purpose, they literally disappear. When full of sadness, they may want their life to end. Full of despair, Chul tries to kill himself twice. The first time, he saves himself, and the second, it is Yeon Joo who pulls him out of the water. In the real world we live in, South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and the Han River bridge records the highest suicide rate every year. The drama points out the damaging effects society’s image of a person can have, but it also emphasizes over and over the hope for a better way. If you have lost your purpose or goals in life, you can find a new one, as Yeon Joo gently tells Chul. You can find happiness again if you don’t give up.

2. Be bold and take risks

 

Thinking ‘here goes nothing’ could be the start of everything. When faced with a dying Kang Chul on the roof of a hotel, Yeon Joo doesn’t feel particularly confident. But she decides to take a risk, and she saves him with whatever she can find on hand. She wants to escape the manhwa world, so she takes risks and slaps Chul, kisses him, shows her underwear, and confesses her love to him. She throws away her pride and endures embarrassment when some of her attempts fail. But in the end, it’s worth it—Chul loves her back!

3. Take control of your own destiny

 

Your life may have been predestined, by how and what route it takes are all done by yourself. “When a variable presents itself, the course of one’s life is changed”—like when Kang Chul met Yeon Joo, and chose her of his own free will. Like Chul, we can control our destiny.

4. Learn from your mistakes and try again.

 

“Chul was foolish. How could he do that to his wife?”
“I’m not going to shoot him again; I’m not that stupid.”
“I don’t want dreams, I want reality.”

Kang Chul 2.0 is not the same as Kang Chul 1.0. He has truly learned from the past. We likewise don’t have to keep repeating the same mistakes. We can learn wisdom and make a better choice next time around.

5.   The pen is mightier than the sword.

Over and over, from that first pen Yeon Joo swipes to stab Kang Chul with, to the ending actions Oh Seung Moo takes to ensure a happy life for child and character, all of those are done with a pen. It was through reading the comic that Yeon Joo first got to know Kang Chul, and how he got to know her after the memory reset. Art can literally save people. It can give them hope and new insights and ways to look at situations differently; to learn and make better choices in the future. Art can comfort and cheer us. The pen is mightier than the sword.

6.     The power of true love.

 

True love is stronger than memory resets or different worlds or even death. And it’s built on a million small, everyday things—cooking together, shopping together, talking together, appreciating each other’s skills and working together. A lover’s love, a father’s love, a creator’s love—all of them have eternal impact on another person.

7.     Endure to the end.

If you are sick, and think that there is no way out of this situation, look at the example of Kang Chul, who was fighting till the end to save Yoo Joo. It might take all you have, but it will be worth it.

 

8. Give your opinion on  the drama quality  and include  as well your recommendations for potential viewers. 

When you are watching W, it feels like you ride a roller coaster. From its meta hi jinks to 'genre bending', It's a brilliant thrill, but you will end up a little bit dazed (and confused at the end).

We are amazed at the great care and effort that went into producing this top notch drama. All of the team involved, from the writer to the director to the cast and crew and artists and editors are to be highly commended. The plot will have you on the edge of your seat, and there is something for everyone—mystery, suspense, romance, horror, comedy, and melodrama. It engages the viewer both mentally and emotionally. This is a drama for someone who thrives on a strong plot and well-developed characters; who wants to be entertained, but who ultimately will appreciate the deep themes that linger long after the final chyron  “끝” has faded from the screen.

 

W-TEAM

@frozentundra  @Riman Rakshit @polar15 @maryofbethany @kembie @skittles87 @snowglobe147
@alleram95 @ibru

 

FINAL  ROUND  ENTRY

Spoiler

 VILLAINS

“A villain must be a thing of power, handled with delicacy and grace. He must be wicked enough to excite our aversion, strong enough to arouse our fear, human enough to awaken some transient gleam of sympathy. We must triumph in his downfall, yet not barbarously nor with contempt, and the close of his career must be in harmony with all its previous development.”  ― Agnes Repplier

1. PROLOGUE

W-Two Worlds scriptwriter Song Jae Jung: 
"I began putting together Oh Sung-moo writer’s story after first obtaining his motive from a Goya painting."

The painting Song Jae Jung referenced is one called "Saturn Devouring His Son," where the Roman God Saturn swallows up his child in the fear that he may one day overthrow him. This sparked in her the idea of writing a villain who feared his own creation, and that was the moment W was born.

W -Two Worlds is a story within a story. It's about a webcomic writer whose characters become self aware and begin interacting with the real world. The subject of villains is complex in this drama, because there are of course villains written into the comic. But the storyline of the drama includes both the comic storyline, and the storyline of the real-world people who read the comic. So, there must be a villain that can affect both real and comic worlds. Because of this, the villains in W don't fit into any one particular box. They're not typical, convenient cookie-cutter characters. The writer put special thoughts into the development of each villain. "When I write, I always struggle with whether the objects of my expression will be my tools or if they will have their own souls."  In W she doesn't use her villains as mere devices to carry out the plot, but instead gives them the freedom of self-awareness that they are key players within a larger story.

In this world the hero can defy the choices of the writer and the villain can become the protagonist of a manhwa if he wills it to be. This is a world where both the villain and the hero can have an identity crisis and come back stronger than before. This is a world of ever-changing variables where nothing is set in black and white. This is the world of W.

2. NO FACE - SERIAL KILLER

W - Two Worlds includes both the plot of a popular manhwa, and also the real world reaction to and interaction with it. The author/artist, Oh Seung Moo, created a faceless culprit to play the villain against the hero, Kang Chul. In the manhwa, this mysterious, black-cloaked figure killed Chul’s family, a scene Chul (and the audience) can never forget.

 Then, he disappeared, leaving Chul to be framed as the culprit. OSM created the culprit to make Chul become a stronger man. But Chul with his iron will and determination to clear his name and get justice for his family, continues to search for him. He wants to know who this person is - what traits he has, what connections he has to Chul’s family - as well as why - what motives could he possibly have for this horrific act of serial killing? But despite launching an entire television broadcast to discover the answers, Chul comes up empty. Since the night of the murders, the culprit has not reappeared- until the night he meets Chul on the rooftop, and stabs him.

Both Chul and No-Face find proof that night that the world is bigger than they thought, and that someone is controlling their actions from the other world. Both of them end up traveling to this other world, and what they learn about the culprit surprises and disappoints them.

“The culprit is physically unsubstantial, so he doesn’t have face or any identity,” Chul learns. “He was created to kill my family. He doesn’t have any sense of guilt of his doing. He doesn’t feel any sadness or pleasure over it. It’s because he doesn’t have personality. His only role is giving me a trauma and making me engage in solving crime. He appears only when he is needed for the story and disappears when he isn’t needed. Anywhere and in any way. If the creator wants, he can appear any time without any reason/context and commit murder.” - Kang Chul

As for No Face, he also becomes self aware, and begins to control his own actions. Just like the hero Kang Chul, he is struggling against an existential crisis. For No Face, it is even worse, since unlike Chul, he literally does not have a face as the result of lazy writing. His purpose in the comic world is to kill the hero's family (so that the latter has a tragic past which would drive him to success) and to hunt and kill the hero and anyone he loves.

In a way NF is a tragic villain, he was born under the pen of an alcoholic who did not even care to define him physically or otherwise. And he is fated to be an evil character. But like Chul, he too is determined to find out the reason for his existence, and because of his will he bends the laws of the comic world to his benefit and declares open war against his creator. Oh Seung Moo fears Chul, but it is No Face, another “Saturn’s son,” who literally devours his face in a scene we (and also poor Soo bong) find impossible to forget. With this face, he shoots up the broadcasting station in W: 

"Kang Chul! Are you there? Can you hear me? I heard you were looking for me, so I came here, to show you my face. You've been suffering for 10 years while looking for me, right? It was painful for me, too. I wanted to appear in front of you, but I hadn't any way to do so. This is me. How is my face? I love it so much. Let's see each other often."

And he frames Chul yet again. He is no longer just as the common villain. He becomes one of the main characters of the story who can change the plot. OSM may not have afforded him much, but drama writer Song Jae Jung allows him to take on a soul of his own.

3. HAN CHEOL HO - PSYCHOPATH

No Face isn't the only villain in the webtoon W. As in other works of fiction, there are larger villains, and there are smaller ones. While he may not be the dark and terrifying kind of villain No Face is, Han Cheol Ho is still a key antagonist in the manhwa. Looking to make a name for himself with Kang Chul's famous case and believing that Chul killed his own family, he is willing to try anything to get Chul charged as guilty. When Chul is released due to lack of evidence and becomes a multimillionaire with his company, JN Global, Prosecutor Han keeps his grudge on him. He is obsessed with Chul and will do whatever it takes to put Chul in jail, where he adamantly believes he belongs in. 

Han Cheol Ho's one and only purpose in the manhwa is to create a tragic backstory for Kang Chul, the hero, and present a few stumbling blocks every so often in order to enhance Chul's path to victory. The only reason HCH hates Kang Chul to such an extent is solely because he is programmed to. Creator OSM didn't bother to give him purpose or plausible motives, so as the result, HCH became a monster with a fondness for hidden cruelty, a one-dimensional psychopath who finds glee in torturing his prearranged nemesis: Kang Chul. 

Just as his character is one-dimensional, Han Cheol Ho's goal is singular and very shallow: to get rid of Kang Chul, the one obstacle in his climb up the political ladder to become the nation's president.

Han Cheol Ho's simply-written and simple-minded character has only a few traits, and OSM never bothered to give him depth or develop his personality to fully flesh him out. First and foremost, he is filled with an insatiable greed for power, and no price is ever too high for him if it gets what he wants. However, though his ambitions are lofty, he is rather dull-witted, and easily falls prey to Chul's well-laid traps. He epitomizes the brand of irrevocably evil villains of dramaland who are laughably dumb and aren't able to keep up with the smarts of the heroes. 

Han Cheol Ho is a secondary antagonist for most of the drama and the manhwa, but he eventually becomes self-aware as well. No Face isn't the only villain the protagonists have to overcome. Once No Face is eliminated, he eagerly slides into the slot of prime villain to oppose Chul. His greed is so overwhelmingly consuming that he is desperate to enter the other world and try his fortune there; so desperate that he falls for Chul’s plan to bring the tablet to the real world so that OSM can revive Yeon Joo with it. His most memorable and iconic moment is when he has complete power over Chul, and like a psychopath, abuses it to its full potential, torturing him in the warehouse basement with a maniac grin and a wicked glint in his eye. 

4. MINOR VILLAINS

There are other “villains” in this story, depending on one’s point of view. Not all of them are developed—the nurse who attempts to kill Chul via a potassium injection is a good example of non-development. Soo Hui is another antagonist, as she is jealous of Chul’s attention to Yeon Joo, and wants to eliminate the competition and regain her role as lead heroine. And even Yeon Joo can be seen as an antagonist, at least in the eyes of raging fan Dr. Park, who cannot stand “that piece of trash” Oh Yeon Joo messing up the perfect OTP in his eyes, and even changing the genre from thriller to sweet romance.

But the most interesting kind of antagonist when considering point of view is Kang Chul himself. When he shows up at the artist’s studio in the real world, he is anything but the righteous hero. He is a villain intent on revenge, emerging in chiaroscuro from the shadows, gun in hand. He terrifies OSM. Even Yeon Joo, listening over the phone, sees what he is capable of. He wants justice for the pain he’s had to endure, and he is desperate to break free of his presets—so desperate that despite his setup, he still manages to draw the gun and pull the trigger. Like No Face, trying to become the protagonist, Kang Chul in this moment becomes the antagonist. “This must be a perfect ending for someone who was looking for a murderer and became a murderer himself,” he says as he throws himself off the Han River bridge afterwards. Even righteous Chul has dark streaks in him, because even Chul is connected irrevocably with Oh Seung Moo. Which brings us to the source of all of the villains.

W—Two Worlds is bigger than the manhwa W. And as such, it requires a villain that overarches the entire storyline, from the opening pages to the final showdown. And that villain is the creator himself.

5. TRAGIC VILLAIN OH SEUNG MOO: 
“...but I ended up killing everyone”..

Finally, we come to the root of all of these villains, the creator-villain, Oh Seung Moo. All other villains are but extensions of him. Oh Seung Moo is the creator of the popular webtoon W, but he is also a tragic villain who drives the antagonizing power of the drama.

5.1. Background and traits

He is a gifted artist but a terrible writer; a creator, but a terrible father; a man who can attract the focus of all of Korea, yet cannot keep his own family together. His villains in the manhwa are symptoms of his own insecurities. No Face killed Kang Chul’s whole family, leaving him alone - a reflection of OSM’s entire family leaving him. Just as there is no apparent reason for the killer to eliminate Chul’s family, OSM cannot seem to take responsibility for losing his own family. According to how the manhwa is written, there is no possible end to the struggle between Chul and No Face, which reflects OSM’s endless emptiness and misery. When Kang Chul becomes sentient, fights for life, even breaks the fourth wall and arrives in the real world, OSM cannot take pride in the growth of his creation. Instead, he is only a victim.

Plagued by mental illness, OSM makes truly horrific choices that cause pain and suffering in both his webcomic and the real world. The webcomic is supposed to be a world he can control and succeed with, but when his main character Kang Chul starts to come alive and fight Oh Seung Moo’s plot choices, the artist becomes frightened and attempts to end Chul’s life.

5.2. Relationship with main character(s)

On the surface, Oh Seung Moo’s real-life daughter Yeon Joo joins Chul against OSM when Kang Chul pulls her into the comic and she saves his life. However, OSM’s role as her antagonist began even before the creation of W. In the drama, we see a flashback scene of a young Yeon Joo drawing tearfully as her parents fight over her dad’s alcoholism. Her drawing is of a heroic, gun-holding figure who can defend her against her erratic, frightening father.

Oh Seung Moo may have created the webcomic W, but the kernel that became Kang Chul was Yeon Joo’s creation, built to protect her from that chief antagonist, her own father.

5.3. Motives

Oh Seung Moo’s motive in the beginning is to gain control over his creation, and by extension, control over his life. He tells Yeon Joo: "Did you tell me it would be a murder? I drew it. It’s my work. I can do whatever I wish to it when it comes to my webtoon. I created everything in my webtoon. And how could it be murder if the creator destroys his own creation? That’s not murder. It’s called judgment. He’s a monster. I didn’t know it at first, but I created a monster. So I decided to judge him. It was my mistake to create him. How can I let him be when he is going to eat me up? I should have finished this a long time ago. Right there on the Han River bridge."

5.4. Goal

His primary goal is to eliminate Kang Chul, and end the comic. If he can only kill off his main character, he will be in control of his life again.

5.5. Impact on plot development

A very large part of the drama plot is about characters developing self awareness. As they realize they are characters within a comic, they become aware of the larger world outside themselves. It is then that they gain the power to truly change the storyline instead of being driven by the narrative imposed on them. Not only that, they begin to re-recreate their creator. He no longer stands outside the manhwa, but becomes a villain within the story itself.

As he interacts with the manhwa, OSM becomes more self-aware of his own real-life problems as well. OSM’s traits are clearly the opposite of Chul’s. OSM is cowardly, selfish, unhappy, and turned in on himself. Where Chul relies on his friends, OSM withdraws from people, spending his time with his bottle of alcohol. OSM has spent much of his life hiding from his shortcomings. Drowning reality in drink, drawing exciting adventures for the alter ego he can never be, convincing himself that Chul is only a character, so it’s okay to kill him off. But over the course of the drama, he becomes aware of his own failings. He acknowledges that he has really messed up, that he’s broken inside and can’t go back because there is something wrong with him.

"I can't return to how it used to be. If I stop doing bad things, I'll disappear. Even if I return, I can't go on like this. I'm too damaged already. I've killed scores of people with my hands. I remember everything. And I killed someone this morning. I'm not leaving this place. I can't leave. How am I going to face my daughter and go on living? My life already ended a year ago. Let me die here before I get a happy ending. I'm begging you. Bury me inside the comic book."

It is only when he fully faces his problems, ie, becomes self aware, that he is finally able to change the plot. Only then is he able to truly eliminate the villain and free Chul and Yeon Joo from the constraints of the comic. While earlier in his life, he contemplated running away via suicide, his ultimate sacrifice at the end is anything BUT suicide. At the final moment, he must deal with the battle inside his own head. He knows this choice will eliminate him, but is willing to pay that sacrifice to make things right. Ultimately, when he is most self-aware, he IS able to change the entire outcome of the plot. He goes from trying to kill Chul, to literally exchanging his life so that Chul can become a real person: "You are to enter into reality, while I end my life here. You'll become a real person, and I'll stay here as a comic book character. You'll break out of the world I've created, while I'll die in the world I've created. Life is interesting, isn't it?"

5.6. Iconic scene

While there are many iconic scenes with Oh Seung Moo (stabbing Chul, smashing his tablet to stop the comic, fighting and losing to the No Face killer still living inside his head), the strongest image we are left with is that of him watching Yeon Joo from his car as she cries over a dying Chul. He has paid the price, given up his shot at a happy ending, and given it to Chul. In the end, this Saturn (OSM) was willing "to be eaten up by his son," and to stay behind in the W world, to allow his “son”' to live.  We loved the moment when finally this “Saturn” villain became a “real father” to his “fake son.” By giving Chul life in the real world, OSM finally became a worthy father to Yeon Joo.  Dad no longer saw Chul as the villain that evolved from protagonist to antagonist to rebel against his creator, and he didn’t see himself becoming the victim of his creation. To dad or to Song Jae Jung, it’s not about creator or creation any more. It’s about life, and everyone’s right to a happy-ending in the 3rd world, our meta-world.

"사랑해 내 딸. 안녕." ("I love you, my daughter. Good bye.")

W is a story where antagonists can become protagonists. The character who creates the most lasting change, who once and for all settles the main problem of the plot, is by default the main character. And it is ultimately this villain, Oh Seung Moo, who does this. In the viewers, it creates a sense that something is off, because after watching 16 episodes with Kang Chul and Yeon Joo as the main characters, it is difficult to suddenly re-see the entire storyline and transfer main character loyalties to someone else. While they have certainly suffered enough and fought enough, we miss seeing Chul and Yeon Joo be the ultimate characters to change their destiny. But within the rules of W, this kind of change is possible. And perhaps this was the intention of the writer all along—to pull yet one last surprise on us.

6. THE 3rd WORLD CAN KILL TOO 
“People are not born heroes or villains; they’re created by the people around them.” - Chris Colfer
In the old days of dramas, villains were our familiar aliens, Dracula, tyrant kings, or those jealous second female leads. Those villains wore black and were easy to spot. And they stayed safely within the boundaries of the story, never wandering out into the real world to bother us. But W is about letting fiction walk around in the real world and change us. Writer Song Jae Jung seems to have something to say about the interaction between our real world, and the world of dramaland. After all, we live in a world where fan rantings and low ratings can cause writers to change the plot mid-airing. It is interesting that Song wanted to reveal her own script right as W finished airing. Is it the voice of Song Jae Jung protesting against the world itself? Likely she is aware of the burden and responsibility of being a writer in a cruel society, where both praise and condemnation come quickly, depending on how closely what you have written matches the audience’s expectations.

As an audience or as a society, we place a lot of demands on each other and on our fiction. Sometimes we are more concerned with being titillated or shocked than with actual truth or lasting value. We are quick to judge, like the society in W, and we are quick to drop our loyalties in favor of the new hot thing, like the reading public in the real world of the drama. In a way, that makes us villains, too. We celebrate villains and encourage tragedies. We seek thrills, we celebrate when villains prevail, we don’t mind separated OTPs or tragic endings, “as long as it makes sense.” We also are cruel online, criticizing this actress's nose, mocking that actor's performance without even watching, just because we have pre-decided we don't like him. In our search for thrills, we forget that we live in the real world, and that the fiction we love so much is brought to us by real people, with "warm blood and beating hearts." Instead, we force writers and actors to give in to our demands, inflicting sometimes huge judgments on real life individuals. As long as we get the thrill we want, any evil can be tolerated. Soo Bong explained in voiceover after the manhwa ended in episode 16, “the majority of people did not find the conclusion strange. Even though it was sad, it was already predestined to be a sad ending.” The numbness and indifference of even longtime fans was chilling. Hardcore fans just moved on in life to search out another webtoon thrill the next day. We Kdrama fans also do that. “It’s just a tragedy, what drama should I watch next?” It is interesting that Song Jae Jung did not allow these undeserving thrill-seekers to experience the gratification of seeing Chul's happy ending.

What kind of ending do we want? Do we seek one thrill after another, without meaning or loyalty? Or do we hold out for some kind of meaningful happy ending? We live in the real world. Are we self aware enough to know that our actions as fans have real life effects? What demands do we place on the people and stories around us? We are the authors of our own meta 3^rd World. It’s our choice what kind of characters we’ll be—if we’ll choose to become villains, or protagonists.

W-TEAM

@frozentundra  @Riman Rakshit @polar15 @maryofbethany @kembie @skittles87 @snowglobe147
@alleram95 @ibru

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Edited August 16, 2017 by gangurhar
adding entries

[pandalover1]

Thanks for making this thread! I'm super stoked for this!  They've both been away from dramaland for very long.. especially HHJ! and sukkie, hope he announces his new agency soon.. 

[Rania Zeid]

Hey Guys ...and thanx for the thread let our journey beginssss 

[Rania Zeid]

Lee Jong Suk and Han Hyo Joo Team Up for Drama Comeback

crystalcove March 28, 2016

 

Actors Lee Jong Suk and Han Hyo Joo are returning to the small screen!

The two stars are confirmed for the upcoming MBC drama “W.” “W” is written bySong Jae Jung and directed by Jung Dae Yoon. Song Jae Jung previously wrote “Queen In Hyun’s Man” and “Nine: 9 Times Time Travel,” and Jung Dae Yoon lead “She Was Pretty.” “W” is a romantic, suspense melodrama, slated for 16 episodes airing after MBC’s “Lucky Romance.” “Lucky Romance” premieres in May.  For Han Hyo Joo, “W” will be her first drama comeback in six years.

Source (1)

http://www.soompi.com/2016/03/28/lee-jong-suk-and-han-hyo-joo-team-up-for-drama-comeback/

 

 

_____________________________________________

Han Hyo Joo and Lee Jong Suk cast as the two leads in drama 'W'!

By beansss 

 

Have you ever wanted to see what kind of chemistry Han Hyo Joo and Lee Jong Sukmight have together?

 

SEE ALSO: allkpop is Now Hiring: We're looking for writers!

 

 

Well now you can! Both Han Hyo Joo's and Lee Jong Suk's labels have confirmed that the actress and actor will be taking on leading roles in upcoming MBC drama 'W', a romantic suspense piece.

 

'W' will begin filming in May and air some time in July, following 'Lucky Romance' starring Ryu Joon Yeol and Hwang Jung Eum.

 

Who do you want to see join Han Hyo Joo and Lee Jong Suk in 'W'?

http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/03/han-hyo-joo-and-lee-jong-suk-cast-as-the-two-leads-in-drama-w

 

[Rania Zeid]

Lee Jongsuk Confirmed for ‘W’!

Lee Jong Suk will be acting in the new work of ‘She’s Pretty’ PD Jang Daeyoon.

His representative has confirmed on 29th that ‘Lee Jong Suk-ssi will take the role of male lead in the drama ‘W’. He will start filming for the drama officially in May.”

‘W’ is set to air on MBC in early July and is slated fro 16 episodes. It will be written by Song Jaesong, the writer for ‘Nine’ and ‘Queen Inhyun’s Man’.

Lee Jong Suk expresses, “I am delighted to join a project as excellent as ‘W’. When I heard the synopsis, I immediately became enamoured with it. I was particularly attracted to the charismatic character.” He also said, “II am preparely wholeheartedly for the people who have paid close attention to my previous works and the fans who have been highly interested in my follow-up project. For those who have been quietly waiting for me and patiently supporting me, I will repay them with my best acting.”

Lee Jong Suk will return to Korea in May and start filming for ‘W’.

Source: OSEN via Naver

Trans By: Hitoritabi 

[VIP_Cake]

I'm so excited and hyped for this Drama!!!

But I wish that it was 20 episodes long instead of 16... I wanted to see more of Lee Jong Suk....

Thanks for making this thread!!

I can't wait for the upcoming updates and upcoming news about this drama!!

Thanks for everyone who is keeping us updated with news!!  

[Rania Zeid]

Han Hyo-joo, Lee Jong-seok confirm new MBC melodrama W

by girlfriday | March 28, 2016 | No Comments

 

Remember this? I’m sure you do, since it’s the new drama that’s been courting Lee Jong-seok (Pinocchio, Doctor Stranger) and Han Hyo-joo (Love, Lies, Beauty Inside) to headline. The new drama, called W, now has confirmations from both stars and a green light for a broadcast this summer on MBC.

 

The new project is a pretty exciting mix of cast and crew, since it comes from writer Song Jae-jung of Nine and Queen In-hyun’s Man, and PD Jung Jae-yoon of the hit com-com She Was Pretty. They’re still being very tight-lipped about the story, so all we know so far is that it’ll be a 16-episode “romantic suspense melodrama” about a thirtysomething man and woman. Heck, I don’t even know if the title is Double You or W.

Han Hyo-joo hasn’t done a television series since 2010’s Dong Yi, and has had a number of successes in film that have kept her busy since. She’s really grown on me in the last few years, and I especially loved her in her recent movie Beauty Inside. Lee Jong-seok doing a new drama is far more common an occurrence around these parts, but I’m excited for the team-up since I think they’ll make a good pair, and they’ll be working with a strong writer who will actually deliver on the romance and the suspense.

Shoots are scheduled to begin in May, and W is slated to follow Lucky Romance on Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning in July.

Via Hankyung, Osen

 

 

http://www.dramabeans.com/2016/03/han-hyo-joo-lee-jong-seok-confirm-new-mbc-melodrama-w/

[mygirls]

@ Rania.  I find you here.. Can't hide from me... Okay let's rock and roll baby... ... JS finally on kdrama land... Welcome back and welcome home baby......

so will this be pre production then?  

[irenetan]

@Rania Zeid 

[shin.u]

23 minutes ago, irenetan said:

@Rania Zeid 

 

 

 

damn this is so exciting. i woke up and saw the korean news, u knew wat i though i was dreaming ... hahahahah 

[vanillatwirls]

Yay! Such a great news that JS finally confirmed taking this role.  Looking forward to seeing this pair as Han Hyojoo is one of the great actresses I know  

[Rania Zeid]

welcome hereeee guysss    where are the others ?? 

let's start the partyyyyy hhhhhhh

btw: @irenetan it 's ur trans right ? 

 

@shin.u welcommeeeeeeeeee hereeeeeee girlll happy to see u agaiin in soompii hugssss 

 

[irenetan]

1 minute ago, Rania Zeid said:

welcome hereeee guysss    where are the others ?? 

let's start the partyyyyy hhhhhhh

btw: @irenetan it 's ur trans right ? 

 

I translated it from the Chinese translation posted in Weibo. Sorry.. can't join you guys now... gotta work.  Have fun... hehehehehehehehehehehe!

[Rania Zeid]

7 minutes ago, irenetan said:

I translated it from the Chinese translation posted in Weibo. Sorry.. can't join you guys now... gotta work.  Have fun... hehehehehehehehehehehe!

 

thnxxxxxxxxx a lottttttttt sweetiee add ur name on th screen Cap the next time

[Rania Zeid]

[Fanedit] Lee Jong Suk & Han Hyo Joo for Upcoming Drama “W”

Cr: As tagged

[chyantrils25]

thanks a lot for making this thread for W drama

Actress Han Hyo-joo to return to TV after six years

2016/03/29 10:16

SEOUL, March 29 (Yonhap) -- Actress Han Hyo-joo will make a comeback on the small screen after a six-year hiatus, her talent agency said Tuesday.

Han will take a lead role in the forthcoming MBC TV series "W," her first appearance in a TV drama since the historical drama "Dongyi" in 2010, BH Entertainment said.

"W," a 16-episode romantic, suspense melodrama, is scheduled to hit the air in July, it added.

Actor Lee Jong-suk was cast as Han's counterpart in the new series.

Han recently appeared as a "gisaeng," a professional Korean female entertainer, in "Love, Lies," a domestic period drama film depicting the story of Korea's last "gisaengs" who dreamed of becoming top singers under Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The movie is set to open in local theaters on April 13.

 

[Rania Zeid]

Lee Jong Seok and Han Hyo Joo Both Confirm Mysterious Romance Drama W

 

Posted on March 28, 2016 by ockoala

This is most excellent drama casting news for me, not sure if anyone else finds this as promising as I do but it’s certainly big name catches for MBC. The summer 2016 K-drama season is shaping up to be intense competition indeed as Lee Jong Seok and Han Hyo Joo have both just confirmed the thriller romance W. The drama will air on Wed-Thurs and is currently slated to go head-to-head with Lee Jong Seok’s bromance buddy Kim Woo Bin‘s Uncontrollably Fondcostarring Suzy, as well as the still waiting to be cast new drama Deal by the screenwriter ofSecret. It probably won’t be as one-sided ratings wise as Descendants of the Sun is obliterating its Wed-Thurs competition, but with Lee Jong Seok and Kim Woo Bin both proffering a drama in the same time slot, I might have to go with a coin toss to decide which first episode to click play first. Decisions, decision, such happy smexy decisions.

W is the story of a female surgeon who goes in search of her missing father, and is kidnapped by a mysterious man, and thereafter they encounter a romance through various realities. It sounds insane to pull off but the screenwriter of W did Queen In Hyun’s Man and Nine: Nine Times Time Travels (and The Three Musketeers), so I have faith the idea of zapping through dimensions and whatnot isn’t something too far out of the writer’s reach. W is slated to air after Hwang Jung Eum and Ryu Jun Yeol‘s Lucky Romance.

 

koalasplayground.com/2016/03/28/lee-jong-seok-and-han-hyo-joo-both-confirm-mysterious-romance-drama-w/

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

'Older woman younger man' couples trend in Korean dramas

Tuesday, March 29, 2016 

Article: “Trust in nuna”… new drama trend ‘older woman younger man’

Source: TV Report via Naver

1. [+990, -60] Because all of the nunas are youthful looking and pretty

2. [+867, -79] Isn’t it because there’s a shortage of decent and young actresses

3. [+691, -58] It also means that the top stars are getting older… I remember Jo In Sung was in his early twenties when he shot 'What Happened in Bali’ but now he’s in his mid thirties.. ㅠㅠ time flies so fast

4. [+231, -15] Something about seeing handsome young men with older nunas makes my heart flutter

5. [+294, -47] I don’t know about Han Hyo Joo but Song Hye Gyo and Hwang Jung Eum have a way of making their co-stars shine

6. [+140, -8] Dramas really are about 50% casting..

7. [+219, -38] Can’t wait for 'Lucky Romance’!

8. [+79, -13] Really curious about how the Hwang Jung Eum and Ryu Jun Yeol combo will be like~

Source: Netizenbuzz

netizenbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/03/older-woman-younger-man-couples-trend.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[aca0508]

1 hour ago, Rania Zeid said:

welcome hereeee guysss    where are the others ?? 

let's start the partyyyyy hhhhhhh

btw: @irenetan it 's ur trans right ? 

 

@shin.u welcommeeeeeeeeee hereeeeeee girlll happy to see u agaiin in soompii hugssss 

 

Hello Rania Lets partyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[Rania Zeid]

Just now, aca0508 said:

Hello Rania Lets partyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

 

hahahahahaahahahahahah yeh let's doo thatt ...welcome here sweetie  

 

[SORA1993]

 

Hey guys!!

thank youuuu for this thread lets celabrate sukkie's back in k-dramaland!!!!!!

Im soooooo excited for the upcomming dayyyss yayyyyyy lets support and love them!!!!!!!