Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won, who headline TVN’s Flower of Evil, had a hilarious
time interviewing each other to promote their drama. Being playful and jovial, they projected the
image that they were at ease in each other’s presence. The subjects of interest
that were raised gave the viewers an interesting glimpse into the duo and the drama.
LEE
JOON GI
THE
INTERVIEW
Moon Chae Won posed a lot of probing questions and the viewers
got a valuable insight into the actor and the character he portrays. Lee explained
that his choice of Flower of Evil was based primarily on his conviction that it
was a thriller and equated it to a puzzle game.
Lee describes Baek Hee Sung as a warm-hearted and loving
husband who eventually turns out to be cold-hearted. One could imagine Baek
as a heartless inhuman being who lacks the capacity to love.
When Moon Chae Won asked him to compare himself with Baek
Hee Sung in terms of percentage, Lee was smart enough to turn the
question around for Moon Chae Won to answer.
Moon says she would like to say 100% but she gave him 97%
instead. He was ‘delighted’ with her implied compliment.
At this point, some viewers are perplexed; they do not
understand Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won's perception of the Baeks; the viewers are certainly not on
the same page as them.
Baek Hee Sung, as the viewers know it, wears
a mask and has two opposing faces. He initially comes across as a loving and
warm character but later probably due to some extremely stressful situations, the psychopath
in him surfaces. It is impossible for Lee to be rated 97% unless they were
discussing the positive aspects of Baek
Hee Sung’s character.
Are they talking about something that the viewers are not aware of?
Perhaps, they were giving the game away. Could it be that Baek Hee Sung is, in fact, a good man
but is falsely accused of some heinous crimes? What about the other 3%?
Asked whether he was a good liar in real life, Lee immediately indicated that he was not. Moon Chae Won playfully challenged him to look her in the
eye when he repeated his answer. He explained that if he lied, it would show
clearly on his face. Asked whether he could maintain a poker face, he, with deadpan wit, made his ‘No’ loud and clear, but she doubted his answer. Probably, she was convinced that he, as Baek Hee Sung, could maintain
a straight face in tricky situations.
Moon analysed Lee’s ‘Happiness quotient’ and she rated him '100% happy'.
When questioned about whether his awesome 'action' performance in dramas was due to his innate ability or constant practice, he skilfully avoided
giving a direct answer and rambled off that he loved action since
childhood. She pressed him further to give a straight ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer to the question of his competence. Neatly trapped, he could not but laughingly confessed that he is indeed competent. It is common
knowledge that Lee Joon Gi is awesome in the field of action / martial arts,
having garnered accolades for his various dramas and movies. Lee is expected to showcase his
dazzling action / martial arts skills in Flower
of Evil.
Lee sang praises of Director Kim Cheol Gyu. He admitted that he
loves being on the set because working with the director is a breeze. Director
Kim is very gentle and when he is satisfied with a take, he shows his ‘Cut! So good’ approval.
He also lets on that the cast comprises pure-minded people so the filming process is without the
complications that afflict other productions. Pure-minded. What does he mean exactly?
When Moon Chae Won asked who he was thinking of specifically, he playfully pointed out that she
was one of those he has in mind. It was at that moment when it seemed that time stopped. Stifling her laughter by pressing her
question script to her mouth, she tried but failed to hide her embarrassment.
One is unsure whether it was Baek Hee Sung and Cha Ji Won or Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won who were
flirting with each other.
When Lee Joon Gi promised he would show an impressive ‘Melo Joon Gi’, she teased him for being
‘on fire’.
For the first time in the interview, Lee stumbled and fumbled for words when Moon asked him for a
nickname for the Baek Hee Sung-Cha Ji Won
couple.
Don’t worry. Look no further. Methinks, the nickname for
them should be BAEK CHA. It
means Bite Cha (Ji Won).
‘Baek Hee Sung’ sounds like ‘Bite Him
Soon’. Cha Ji Won is instructed to
bite him soon.
With ‘BAEK CHA’ and ‘BAEK HEE SUNG’, the picture of the sexy and delicious couple is
complete.
Baek Hee Sung and Cha Ji Won are hot; they
seem to have a sizzling attraction for each other.
Baek Hee Sung might say to Cha Ji Won, ‘Baek Me If You Can’ (Bite Me If You Can).
We think of a Love Baek (Love Bite) when the couple Baek each other (bite each other). It would
be ‘A Baek To Remember’ (A Bite to
Remember).
It is certainly A Romance
with a Baek’ (A Romance with a Bite).
Without a shadow of a doubt, Baek Hee Sung and Cha Ji
Won’s love story is ‘A Romantic
Tale Worth Tasting’.
MOON
CHAE WON
THE
INTERVIEW
When Moon Chae Won was asked to describe her character in Flower of Evil, she painted Cha Ji Won
as a passionate homicide detective who shone brightly at work but not at
home.
When Lee Joon Gi queried her about the reason why she chose
Flower of Evil, Moon Chae Won divulged that she thought that it would be
meaningful for her to be working with him. It was indeed a bold confession. While
stressing this point, she stretched out her hand to touch his hand. Lee,
after all, is a legendary actor whose formidable reputation has been forged
by his 10 million The King
and The Clown audience.
It was not flattery. The hand gesture was a reassurance of her
sincerity. The mischievous Lee Joon Gi shimmied gleefully showing that he was
‘over the Moon’ with Moon Chae Won’s confession.
It is unmistakable that Moon Chae Won had
called Lee Joon Gi ‘Oppa’. It is music to everybody’s ears. ‘Oppa’,
like ‘Abang’ in the Malay world, means ‘older brother’.
Unlike Abang which is also a term of endearment (associated
with a husband), Oppa might not have such romantic
connotations. A wife who is older can also address her husband as Abang out of respect. It seems a bit difficult to figure out what ‘Oppa’ actually means to different people.
Director Kim Cheol Kyu was the other reason for her drama choice.
Lee Joon Gi could not resist commenting that their fate in the drama was due to
the director. It was ‘A Match made by
Kim Cheol Kyu.’
Moon Chae Won was convinced that the Cha Ji Won has a ‘Fatal
Attraction’ to Baek Hee Sung. Some women just fall head over heels in love with bad boys. The
attraction is ‘Like a moth to a flame’. Cha is destined to be scorched.
‘Thus hath the candle singed the
moth.’
(William Shakespeare in The
Merchant of Venice)
They both agreed that Cha
Ji Won had to endure a life of great pain and suffering.
Moon Chae Won then declared that Flower of Evil is 80% melodrama and 20% suspense.
Lee Joon Gi pointedly probed her feelings about working with
him again after their Criminal Minds collaboration. Though Moon teased him
about his zeal in ferreting out a favourable answer from her, she obligingly conceded
that she loves working with him.
It must be highlighted that it was the second time during the
interview that she impressed upon him that she enjoys working with him which, in itself, is an interesting revelation.
They were profilers on the same team in Criminal Minds but they
have this time around made a big leap by portraying a married couple with a
daughter. What was Moon Chae Won's opinion? 'I love it!'
Lee Joon Gi, in turn, also disclosed that he was personally delighted
that ‘Chae Won’ was enthusiastic about teaming up with him again for Flower
of Evil. When he cheekily pressed her for a reconfirmation that she was truly
happy, she fought shy of complying with his request.
They then discussed why Cha Ji Won was attracted to Baek
Hee Sung. It was because he was handsome. Outwardly, he seemed cold but he was, in fact, quite warm. Probably,
she was drawn to his superficial charm.
Moon complained that the Baeks’ daughter prefers her
father to her mother. It was inevitable since Baek was her primary
caregiver and attentive playmate. His constant presence in his
daughter’s life has led to a close bond between father and daughter. Cha Ji Won,
being a dedicated career woman, neglected her duties as a mother.
Later, the duo played a ‘Mystery Box’ game.
Flower of Evil highlights 3 significant ideas: The Chase or Hunt,
Transformation and Melodrama.
THE
CHASE OR HUNT
Baek is handcuffed by his
homicide detective wife but he will probably escape. This will steer chaos
into their lives. There will be a riveting and dramatic chase or hunt for Baek Hee Sung by Cha Ji Won, probably
across a diverse and interesting landscape.
If one’s imagination is correct, during his escape, a dramatic
transformation might occur. Baek Hee
Sung, the ‘beautiful human being’
will morph fully into an ‘ugly beast’
- a psychopath.
A battle will ensue between husband and wife. Imagine the prey,
a ‘wolf-in-sheep’s clothing’ will
be pushed to transform into a vicious, creepy werewolf if cornered. Baek will
be trapped like a fly in a spider’s web. Will the ferocious ‘eagle’ who hunts
her husband back off? Who will come out of the fight alive to tell the tale?
TRANSFORMATION
Lee Joon Gi plays Baek
Hee Sung, a psychopath, and Moon Chae Won portrays Cha Ji Won, his wife who is a homicide detective. The drama will
show the drastic transformation of the two characters.
Is Lee expected to show the full spectrum of human emotions in his portrayal of Baek Hee Sung? The psychopath will be able to imitate normal human emotions even if he is unable to feel them. A con man’s charm. The love of a nurturing father. The passion and tenderness of a loving husband. The vulnerability of a human being hiding a dark past. The tide turns, and the
ugly side of a psychopath is exposed.
Moon Chae Won will demonstrate her skills of portraying a naïve
and gullible woman who has not the foggiest idea that she has fallen
helplessly in love with a suspected serial killer. But, when the reality
strikes home, she turns 180° to be the realistic, pragmatic and hard-nosed
homicide detective who will hunt down her husband.
Another heart-wrenching problem for Cha Ji Won is that they have a cute, lovable daughter together.
MELODRAMA
Kim Cheol Gyu, the director, has described Flower of Evil as a melodrama in the guise of suspense and
mystery. Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won agree with the director. Their opinion
is Flower of Evil is 80% Melodrama
and 20% suspense.
Lee Joon Gi is confident that the unique and entertaining melodrama is one that none has ever seen before. The viewers will cry and laugh with them.
In fact, Director Kim, himself describes Flower of Evil as original, refreshing and thrilling.
Shall we call it a Psychological Thriller-Melodrama?
The drama is about a love that has gone sour. Love and trust fly out of
the window when one partner is suspicious of the other. Cha Ji Won has unearthed some disturbing evidence about her husband.
The past is a huge yawning black hole that Baek Hee Sung does not want to be sucked into again.
When he came into her life and she fell for him, they, like all couples, probably made vows of eternal love. Would she be able to fulfil those wows? Perhaps, their love seems like a great eternal love which is everything that Cha Ji Won wants love to be. But, one can sense her yearning of lost love, the melancholy, the nostalgia and the
love-hate feelings. It is heart-breaking that Eun Ha, their innocent daughter, is
unexpectedly caught up in their bitter conflict.
Flower of Evil will burrow into the mind of the ice cold, hard and
emotionless Baek Hee Sung and it is hoped that it will examine key
questions pertaining to him. ‘Is Baek Hee Sung put on earth without a
purpose?’ ‘Is Baek’s life less important than another life?’ Is
he a different species altogether?
Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won, the gorgeous, talented and charming actors are inviting the public
to watch Flower of Evil.
CHANGE OF SCHEDULE
There is a change of schedule for Flower of Evil in the following regions.
Flower of Evil is now a Thursday-Friday
drama and it will premiere at 21:45 p.m. (9:45 p.m.) KST on 23 July 2020
(Thursday).
Flower of Evil, the most highly
anticipated drama of 2020, is written by Yoo Jung Hee, directed by Kim
Cheol Gyu, and produced by Monster Union and Studio Dragon.
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