The Glaring Shadow of 'Taxi Driver 3': Is it a Crisis or an Opportunity for the SBS Friday-Saturday Universe? A new work, I'm Human From Today, has taken the mound in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama lineup, often called the pride of the network. Since it aired immediately after its predecessor, Taxi Driver Season 3, left after hitting the nation hard with tremendous viewership ratings and buzz, the weight of the crown the successor had to bear must have been heavier than ever. Was the expectation too high, or was it the genre gap? The first broadcast received a somewhat shocking report card of 3.7%. This corresponds to the lowest record among recent premieres of SBS Friday-Saturday dramas. To the existing audience who expected the cool action and satisfying plot of the previous work, the genre of fantasy romance might have felt unfamiliar, or the initial build-up process might have felt somewhat loose. However, it is too early to discuss the success or failure of this drama simply by numbers. Because this drama possesses a definite weapon called 'Kim Hye-yoon'.
Trusted Actor Kim Hye-yoon, The Meaning of Her Chosen Comeback Work The most powerful viewing point of this drama is undoubtedly the female lead, Kim Hye-yoon. She is imprinted on the public as an actor who makes "choices without failure." From stamping her presence on the public as Kang Ye-seo in the syndrome-inducing SKY Castle, to Extraordinary You where she stepped up as a lead, and her immediate previous work Lovely Runner, she has proven acting skills and buzz beyond expectations in every work. In particular, the pan-Asian fever caused by Lovely Runner put her on the list of undeniable "Rom-Com Queens." The fact that I'm Human From Today is the next work chosen by such a Kim Hye-yoon after deep consideration makes it a work worth waiting for. Her eye for scripts includes not just the fun of the script itself, but the cleverness of calculating how to explode the charm possessed by the character.
Small Giant Kim Hye-yoon, Overwhelming Acting Spectrum Regardless of Genre The biggest advantage possessed by the actor Kim Hye-yoon is her wide acting spectrum and solid basics. Her filmography, which she has stepped up step by step from minor roles to supporting roles and then to lead roles, does not allow for gaps in her acting. She left a strong impression not only in dramas but also in independent films like The Girl on a Bulldozer, proving that she is not an actor specialized only in romance. However, the point where the public is most enthusiastic about her is the fantasy romance genre where her unique loveliness and energy explode. Among actors of her age, she has top-tier skills that are unrivaled in "diction" (pronunciation) and "emotional delivery," so she has the power to make even somewhat cheesy settings convincing. In this work as well, she plays the role of an eccentric Gumiho (nine-tailed fox) who refuses to become human, presenting lively acting that no one can replace.
'Kingmaker' Kim Hye-yoon, Will She Make the Male Lead a Star Again? There is a saying in the entertainment industry that "if you do a romance with Kim Hye-yoon, you become a star." In fact, the male actors who worked with her rose to stardom after the work. Rowoon and Lee Jae-wook of Extraordinary You were like that, and Byeon Woo-seok of Lovely Runner literally caused "Sun-jae fever" and became a top star. This is because Kim Hye-yoon has excellent ability to maximize chemistry with her co-stars. She is a wise actor who knows how to do "acting that makes the partner shine," accepting the other person's acting well and doubling the charm of the male protagonist through reactions, rather than trying to stand out herself. Therefore, the interest focused on rookie Lomon, who became her partner in this work, is bound to be immense. Can Kim Hye-yoon exert her "Star Maker" ability again this time and make Lomon the next Rom-Com King?
Rookie Lomon's Challenge, Leaping form a Visual Prospect to a Lead Actor Her co-star Lomon (Park Solomon) might still be an unfamiliar face to the general public. Although he made his mark on global fandoms through works like All of Us Are Dead, this is practically his first time as a sole lead in a terrestrial prime-time drama. He is a prepared rookie equipped with tall stature and visuals that are exotic yet full of boyish beauty. Considering that most of Kim Hye-yoon's partners exploded their potential at the rookie level or rising star stage, it is highly likely that this work will also be the biggest turning point in Lomon's acting life. The combination of Kim Hye-yoon, who returned to the small screen after 2 years, and the spirited rookie Lomon is a passing grade in terms of freshness. However, how much of his charm he can radiate as an unpolished gem under Kim Hye-yoon's seasoned lead will be the key to the drama's success.
A Gumiho Who Hates Becoming Human? The Charm of 'Eun-ho' Twisting Clichés The setting of the drama is also interesting. Usually, dramas featuring Gumihos often deal with "the sorrowful efforts of a Gumiho who wants to become human." However, 'Eun-ho', played by Kim Hye-yoon, is the opposite. She loves the life of a Gumiho who neither ages nor dies and can even use Taoist magic. She has absolutely no intention of becoming human, and rather, she is an extremely realistic and capitalistic Gumiho who uses her abilities to grant humans' wishes and accumulate wealth in return. The character of Eun-ho, who has perfectly adapted to modern society, enjoying luxury goods and exploring famous restaurants, refuses to follow the existing Gumiho tropes and offers bouncing fun. Kim Hye-yoon's unique sharp acting tone brings the brazen and confident charm of Eun-ho to life 200%.
Dirt Spoon Soccer Player Kang Si-yeol, Between Narcissism and Passion The male protagonist 'Kang Si-yeol', played by Lomon, is a figure standing at the exact opposite point of Eun-ho. Although he grew up in difficult circumstances under his grandmother, he is a "Dirt Spoon" (underprivileged) player whose passion for soccer lags behind no one. His skills are outstanding, but due to his poor background and lack of connections, he rarely sees the light. Nevertheless, with undaunted confidence and a bit of a narcissistic temperament, he looks like a variation of the typical Candy-type (poor but cheerful) male protagonist. As he gets entangled with Eun-ho by chance, his life faces a crisis and opportunity that turns it upside down. The purity and passion he shows become a fresh stimulant to the calculating Gumiho Eun-ho, forming a strange relationship between the two.
Wrong Wish Fulfillment, The Beginning of a Twisted Fate The full-scale conflict of the drama begins with Eun-ho's "business activities." Eun-ho, who granted wishes to wealthy or powerful people to maintain her magic power and earn money, one day grants the wish of a villain. However, the butterfly effect was terrible. Hyun Woo-seok (played by Jang Dong-joo), Kang Si-yeol's best friend who was destined to become a world-class soccer player, met his death due to the aftermath of that wish. Eun-ho, realizing that the fate of an innocent youth was broken due to her mistake, falls into great shock. To make matters worse, her magic power is in danger in the process of granting the wish. Eun-ho approaches Kang Si-yeol to resolve this situation and for her own safety.
Birth of Messi-level Talent, The Ripple Effect of a Priceless Wish Si-yeol is in despair over his friend's death, and Eun-ho is in danger of losing her powers. Eun-ho proposes to Si-yeol, "I will grant you one wish" for her own survival. Usually, she receives a price for granting wishes, but this time it was a "free service" to protect her own life (magic power). In this process, a bizarre development unfolds where the fate of the "world-class soccer star" that the dead friend should have had is transferred to Kang Si-yeol. Si-yeol, who acquired Messi-level talent overnight, and the Gumiho who unintentionally made a human man a star. The fate of the two is now tied in an inseparable symbiotic relationship. The story of Si-yeol, conflicted between the guilt that he practically stole his friend's fate and his sudden success, and Eun-ho, who will learn human emotions while watching him, is anticipated.
Fast Pacing of 12 Episodes, A Rebound in Ratings is Only a Matter of Time The low ratings of Episodes 1 and 2 are definitely a pity. The somewhat distracting character introductions and worldview setting might have been an entry barrier. However, the twist of fate shown in the ending of Episode 2 and the relationship between the two protagonists starting again from square one were enough to raise expectations for future developments. Above all, this drama is planned for a total of 12 episodes, so the development is expected to be very fast and without superfluity. Now that the initial build-up is over, the "Tiki-taka" (banter), romance, and growth story of Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon will begin to rage in earnest. I believe the formula that "Kim Hye-yoon's dramas show their true value as they go towards the second half" will work this time as well. As Lovely Runner did, we should watch the remaining 10 episodes of I'm Human From Today with interest to see if it can write a myth of climbing back up the charts through word of mouth.
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