[Drama 2020] Elegant Friends/Graceful Friends, 우아한 친구들

[Helena]

https://www.soompi.com/article/1412100wpp/graceful-friends-premieres-to-solid-ratings-as-backstreet-rookie-sees-slight-dip
“Graceful Friends” Premieres To Solid Ratings As “Backstreet Rookie” Sees Slight Dip

 

by E. Cha | Jul 10, 2020

 

 

JTBC’s newest drama is off to a promising start!
 

On July 10, JTBC’s new mystery drama “Graceful Friends” aired its first episode, taking over the Friday-Saturday time slot previously occupied by the record-breaking smash hit “The World of the Married.” The new drama tells the story of several married couples who are connected by friendships that have lasted 20 years—and how their peaceful lives unexpectedly begin to fall apart due to a shocking murder.

 

According to Nielsen Korea, the premiere of “Graceful Friends” scored an average viewership rating of 3.197 percent nationwide. Industry watchers are eagerly waiting to see if the drama will eventually be able to match the success of the ratings juggernaut “SKY Castle,” another JTBC drama that falls under the same genre.

Meanwhile, the latest episode of SBS’s “Backstreet Rookie” saw a slight decrease in viewership, scoring average nationwide ratings of 4.8 percent and 6.6 percent for its two parts.

 

Source (1)

[chickfactor]

On 7/9/2020 at 4:51 PM, brooksmom said:

 

 

I found it!  Sorry, I get excited sometimes.

 

https://www.ondemandkorea.com/

https://www.ondemandkorea.com/elegant-friends-teaser-2-1.html

 

It's not on Netflix

 

It's on ODK.  Same as Good Detective. If you watch ep1 one Friday there should be no problem. It usually gets subbed later in the day. One of the teasers is pretty bloody gross. Not included here unless you click the first link more than once.

 

@kmsl  @raziela  @africandramalover  @joccu  @chickfactor  

 

 

Thank you.

 

I'm looking forward to this. I really like Yoo Joon-Sang and the other actors are great, too.

 

I also love it when the story centers around older characters instead of only making it all about the young and the hot. Not that I have a problem with that, but variety is good.

[larus]

Stills

 

 

https://www.sedaily.com/NewsVIew/1Z590GRHB5

 

 

https://www.mk.co.kr/star/broadcasting-service/view/2020/07/711157/

 

 

 

 

[joccu]

the first episode was really good. in surface thinks look perfect but nothing is perfect.

I think I´m going to really like this.

 

What was intresting was that bae soo bin character (JJH) looks liked that hired someone to follow and take pictures of song yoon ah character (NJH) . Why would you follow your friends wife. It looks he hold a torch for his friend wife.

 

It was so sad and heartbroken first episode. Life is really heart sometimes. But to die like that in the bus with full of people is really heartbroken.

 

 

[0ly40]

preview ep 3

 

[Melody_06]

On 7/10/2020 at 6:49 AM, larus said:

 If you are in United States I think you could watch ODK (One DemandKorea) . I think it is available only on North/South America.

 

This is something I'm thankful for. I was crazy finding a place to watch this cuz I was afraid some websites would update this drama. Finally I could watch it on KoreaDemand. The first episode was good. I hope it would get more attention as the show goes on.

[larus]

5 hours ago, joccu said:

What was intresting was that bae soo bin character (JJH) looks liked that hired someone to follow and take pictures of song yoon ah character (NJH) . Why would you follow your friends wife. It looks he hold a torch for his friend wife.

It was obvious that he liked Jung Hae since colleage but his friend had a relationship with her and even married her. But he kept these feelings till today? It was more than 20 years. Not only he hired someone to take pictures, I have a feeling that he hired that young man to seduce Jung Hae. Now that I think about, the accident did not seem to occure from coincidence. I wonder if he is the one who Jung Hae supose to meet to help her with the promotion. Let see if he loves golf. He is a doctor and it looks like he is succesful.

If he is not the one who hired the golf instructor, it is someone else. From the preview, it looks like she will sleep with the young man and he will take pictures. Those pictures will be seen by her husband. It feels like a set up.

Maybe it is revenge from Joo Kang-San (golf instructor).

 

 

I feel sorry for Goong-Cheol because he loves his wife and he is not neglacting her. He is hard working man at work, he has a sense of humor and he is romantic at home.  And from the fist scene, he will fight with someone in the bathroom (I assume it is the golf instructor). That person was alive and than he died (probably he hit the head on the sink).

Knowing that he is a hot tempered guy, there was a high chance that he will fight with Joo Kang-San.

His friend died, his wife had a one night stand with a younger man, he cause the dead of that man..... many bad things will happen to Goong cheol.

Now I am currious what happend in the past. I remember that I read about a secret that they share from the past. We`ll see.

 

 

[Melody_06]

1 hour ago, larus said:

INow I am currious what happend in the past. I remember that I read about a secret that they share from the past. We`ll see.

 

I'm curious about this as well since in the first episode, during the death scene of his friend on the bus whilst he was driving his wife home in the car just adjacent to that bus (I'm now trying to learn these characters' names, just too many), the unspoken thought ran "Keeping a secret more horrifying than death to himself" and the camera spanned to his friend. I have no clue about what this line referred to what event in the past the friends shared.

[larus]

38 minutes ago, Melody_06 said:

I'm curious about this as well since in the first episode, during the death scene of his friend on the bus whilst he was driving his wife home in the car just adjacent to that bus (I'm now trying to learn these characters' names, just too many), the unspoken thought ran "Keeping a secret more horrifying than death to himself" and the camera spanned to his friend. I have no clue about what this line referred to what event in the past the friends shared.

If there is a terrible secret between friends than I assume that Joo Kang-San (the young hot golf instructor) is connected with it. Then I understand why he targeted Jung Hae and send the pictures right away to  Goong-Cheol. I don`t know if he is alone in this (probably not) and we`ll see more of the friend`s connection. It reminds me of SBS Return a little if someone will provoke now the friends after so many years. The intro reminded me of Secret Mother. And a little of Sky Castle with all the families problems (in this is the middle class people) .

 

I will watch episode 2 when subtites are available. I am ready to know more about those friends and their family life. Things will become complicated.

[joccu]

@larus I thought the motorcycle accident wan´t a coincidence. I thought it was planned by someone. And Kang San for in my mind is going to be part of some revenge. Maybe he was relative of the person who died in the past or someone hired him to seduce Jung hae and terrorize Goong cheol and his friend.

 

I going to wait for subs before watching ep 2 but there seems to be bad blood between Jung Hae and her friend Heasook who looked liked had the hots for Goong cheol.

[brooksmom]

Man Sil  Ep2

 

We learn about "the blue pill". It falls out of Man Sik's pocket when he and Goong-Cheol are in the men's restroom. Goong-Cheol snickers when he sees it. Man Sik is embarrassed and tells Goon-Cheol to keep it. The blue pill, also known as Viagra, is heart medication that makes the vessels dilate. It became famous for it's side effect. It can make a man last for hours in the bedroom.  But since Man Sik died of a massive heart attack, the blue pill was his heart medication and not the other. That pill is still in Goong-Cheol's pocket.

 

Poor guy. He got yelled at at work everyday and in front of all his coworkers. It appears he did give all that money to that woman. That woman, the one that was crying a lot at his funeral. Who is she? Sister?. His mother's caretaker and friend? Is this another case of this poor helpless woman needs the money more than my wife and  child  because my wife is strong and they will find a way to make it on their own. Why was his wife depressed and seeking treatment. Finances? Our posts are going to have a lot of question marks.

[thistle]

I'm giving this drama a try.  It's interesting but there are So Many people!  A little confusing--I can't keep track of all the names and relationships.  And, unfortunately, there's no one who is exactly likeable.  Obviously the golf guy and Hae Sook are setting people up.....but why?

[larus]

13 hours ago, joccu said:

I thought the motorcycle accident wan´t a coincidence. I thought it was planned by someone. And Kang San for in my mind is going to be part of some revenge. Maybe he was relative of the person who died in the past or someone hired him to seduce Jung hae and terrorize Goong cheol and his friend.

And he arrived just to save Jung-Hae from those two guys who stole her bag. And Hae sook met Jung hae and told her that she knows what she did in the past. We found out that Man Sik talked with Jung Hae in the last six months and Man Sik`s wife thinks that they had an affair. I really don`t believe it is the case. I believe that Man Sik and Jung Hae were involved in the incident in the past or, at least, she knows more than her husband. How Hae Sook got involved we`ll find out later. Everyone thinks that she might have killed the professor.

 

I also wonder if Jung Hae had a secret relationship with Jae hoon when they were in college. Jae hoon was in love with her that`s for sure but I wonder if there was more. He still has feelings for her. It became an obsession?

 

 

 

[nat_phoenix88]

Interesting progress. I also had a slight thiught that maybe Kang San is a son or relative of the professor that died and it has something to do with Hae Sook appearance. Hae Sook conversation with Jung Hae alarms us that there was something in the past. As if Jung Hae was the killer. Also Man Sik and Jung Hae? I'm not sure if they really had affair. Maybe the writer wants to trick us and then surprise us later. I'm waiting for twist! I love twist!

[Yippeun_eonnie]

Many reviewer waiting for this drama... and many said that the drama is another "Sky Castle" vibe.... I am one of those who is waiting for this drama. 

And no disappointed at all... first scene is an accidental murder happen... but I guess the bff's will save GC from end up in jail. 

MS hide secrets ... not one but a few and how GC end up marrying JH if he is blabbering about HS in his drunk dream... and what is the secret between the two ladies....

 

Surprise to see Lee Tae Hwan play the bad boy role... but excited at the same time.

 

Love drama that serve friendship the best like them... and can't wait to find what happen next this one is another must watch on this year's list. 

[larus]

Graceful Friends: Episodes 1-2 Open Thread

by missvictrix

As expected for a tangled story and ensemble cast, we get a lot of introductions in our opening week — strategic glimpses of our graceful friends, their wives, their workdays, and most importantly, the dynamics of their friendship. I came into this drama expecting high-style suspense, but Graceful Friends is more intrigue than suspense, and certainly more relationship-driven than I was expecting. It’s a bit heavy, but I’m not complaining. On the contrary: I’m hooked.

 

 
EPISODES 1-2 WEECAP

We’ve been told Graceful Friends is something of a murder mystery, so when we open our drama at the scene of a murder, it’s effective to jumpstart the plot, and also to introduce us to our main players. Our ajusshis are a group of friends that have stayed close since college. But while their relationships look ordinary from the outside, there’s actually a bottomless well of intrigue around each character. The storytelling is tight and dense, so while there’s a lot to take in (especially during all the early exposition), it’s also pretty compelling.

The man at the scene of the crime is our lead, AHN GOONG-CHUL (Yoo Joon-sang). He’s clearly committing a crime of passion, but we don’t learn much more than that. It a rough scene to begin a drama with, but it’s tempered with cuts of his friends talking to investigators about what a kind person he is, and how he would never be capable of murder. And true enough, the Goong-chul we meet this week is all dimples and heart. He’s a devoted husband to psychiatrist NAM JUNG-HAE (Song Yoon-ah)… but perhaps too devoted? They seem like a happy and compatible couple, but nothing is as it looks on the surface — this drama makes sure we realize that right away.

more https://www.dramabeans.com/2020/07/graceful-friends-episodes-1-2-open-thread/

[chickfactor]

I haven't figured out if I love this yet. The storyline is so makjang! I'm having trouble keeping track of who is sleeping with who. I guess I better find one of those K-drama character diagrams. 

 

Yoo Joon-Sang sings one of the OST. Yay!

 

And they found the absolute perfect actor to play the younger version of him. He looks just like Yoo Joon-Sang and even sounds like him.

[Melody_06]

On 7/12/2020 at 7:12 AM, Yippeun_eonnie said:

Many reviewer waiting for this drama... and many said that the drama is another "Sky Castle" vibe.... I am one of those who is waiting for this drama. 

And no disappointed at all... first scene is an accidental murder happen... but I guess the bff's will save GC from end up in jail. 

MS hide secrets ... not one but a few and how GC end up marrying JH if he is blabbering about HS in his drunk dream... and what is the secret between the two ladies....

 

Surprise to see Lee Tae Hwan play the bad boy role... but excited at the same time.

 

Love drama that serve friendship the best like them... and can't wait to find what happen next this one is another must watch on this year's list. 

I do not hold any expectation in the respect to comparing to another drama. I do think each piece is unique and if it is comparable, it's not interesting and intriguing to watch at all. Nonetheless, the fact is that Sky Castle indeed needed some time to pick up the rating; it sprinted at the last minutes. The World of The Married is a wholly different story. After all, I still have faith in jTBC and thee castings. Biased for Song Yoon A obviously.

 

Lee Tae Hwan, I have never heard of this name but undoubtedly he's so handsome and playboy at the same time.  

[Helena]

https://www.soompi.com/article/1413492wpp/graceful-friends-ratings-jump-to-all-time-high-as-backstreet-rookie-finds-its-footing
“Graceful Friends” Ratings Jump To All-Time High As “Backstreet Rookie” Finds Its Footing

 

by E. Cha | Jul 17, 2020

 

 

JTBC’s “Graceful Friends” seems to be on the rise!

 

On July 17, the new JTBC mystery drama—which some have been referring to as the next “SKY Castle“—reached its highest viewership ratings yet for its third episode. According to Nielsen Korea, the latest broadcast of “Graceful Friends” scored an average rating of 4.1 percent nationwide, marking a significant increase from the previous episode (which earned an average rating of 2.7 percent).

 

Meanwhile, after setting both new all-time highs and lows with its viewership ratings over the past couple of weeks, SBS’s “Backstreet Rookie” appears to be stabilizing: the drama’s latest episode scored average nationwide ratings of 6.1 percent and 7.7 percent for its two parts. Although the ratings mark a slight decline from the previous episode of “Backstreet Rookie,” it seems as if the romantic comedy’s roller coaster ratings ride may be over for now.

 

Which of these dramas are you watching? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Source (1) (2)

[brooksmom]

Watch and enjoy this drama without worrying about anything else.  Later on, we can tell our friends what we liked about it or what we didn't like about it. 

 

I watched ep3    these are a few highlights

 

Motorcycle guy(Kang-San) has got an ax to grind with the doctor or he is insane, putting it mildly. He has that look in his eyes of hatred and pleasure as he taunts the doctor.

 

Goong-Chul went to meet Man-sik's widow. She told him that his wife and her husband were meeting secretly and shows him the proof, texts transcript(I didn't know one could get those). That's wild. Goong-Chul's wife and Man-sik having an affair? I would think that Man-sik was secretly meeting the doctor for treatment. She would also go with him to help out patients  at a care facility. I'm not quite sure of the story here. The crying lady at the funeral is there and so is the old woman with the crazy hair. 

 

Seems one or two of the friends are having men problems and seek professional help from their friend the urologist. So far, the urologist friend doesn't seem to be a bad guy. Pompous maybe.

 

 @nat_phoenix88    " I actually had suspicion that Hae Sook and Kang San works together (I thought Hae Sook accidentally kills the professor and maybe Kang San is a family of the professor and he wants to ruin Jung Hae), but I guess I'm wrong on this one. "

 

to shed some light on the above's suspicion: toward the end of ep3 we see Jung-Hae (young) standing with flowers visiting her mother's ashes(seo kyung hee). She's telling her mom that she's sad that Hae-sook is dating Goong-chul but that she should congratulate them. Next we see her driving when she spots Hae-sook and the professor Han Eung-sik walking  into a hotel. Handy camera near by, she starts clicking. Later we see someone reading  the headline, "professor ...found head in his office." The person reading the artice is the professors wife. Maybe not, maybe it's someone related to Hae-sook.  And next to the newspaper are the photographs that Jung-Hae had taken and probably sent to this woman. Next scene, we see the woman  hanging from the ceiling.