ROLES (series/drama): An overview of Lee Joon Gi's acting career

This is it fellow fans of JG Oppa. It is an overwhelming experience that many of us did read the last blog JG Philippines offered for everyone. Not to mention, ideas and suggestions came. (Thank you for those who suggested!!!)

From the last blog "Roles: The Past, the Present.... and the Future", I made a run-through of the roles portrayed by our Lee Jun Ki and made it a "past" film review (since the examples I have given is more on his participation in films). Now we are not going to think of what roles he would portray in the future.. but a review of his characters in the series he had done.

We will start with the series that he was not the main character, in short "minor roles". Yep, like some actors and actresses, majority did have their little exposure on TV series/dramas before they got their own lead role.

MINOR ROLES: Cameos, Supporting Character

Courtesy of d-addicts.com

Non Stop4

This is a sitcom series that casts teen idols as colleges students with stories that depicts everyday life with their friends and families. Lee Jun Ki participated in this program as  a guest in its Season 4 show, episode 55. He was introduced by Geun Suk as his Senior in the Academic Department to Ye Seul as her date and vise versa. Unfortunately, much to the surprise of the lead characters, Jun Ki didn't like Ye Seul and instead liked the girl Geun Suk dated.

For the video clip, see: http://www.veoh.com/watch/v17207963cyWzSZ8m

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Drama City; What Should I Do?

It doesn't seem like a minor role to me but yep, since Drama City is composed of single short story dramas (basically no in-house cast, they change the casts every week) he was given the lead role but on a day's show only. In the drama, he was living with his father while his mom is in the hospital. He doesn't get along with his dad and by having an argument, he ran out of the house to let his anger cool down using his roller blades. In a fortunate event (well I wish it is true hahaha) he was transported back to the past and learned more about how his parents met. (much like a back to the future film)

Courtesy of Yumiyo (Wordpress):
http://yumiyo.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/drama-city-what-should-i-do.jpg?w=453

Star's Echo

He is Chang Gyu on this miniseries broadcasted by MBC and Fuji TV. His role was not that defined except for being the main lead's friend. He was seen setting up a telescope for stargazing by the main lead Sung Jae, then later on chased by the lead. He is not directly responsible for the meeting (again) by the female lead Misaki and Sung Jae but if he wasn't chased by, then the magic of the leads seeing each other again would be impossible..(I think, well that's how the plot goes)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/Star%27sEcho_Poster.jpg

Courtesy of www.veoh.com

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/MyGirl_Poster.jpg

My Girl

He is always the lead's friend (well if he wasn't then it he wouldn't be a star we know right now, he is such a hardworker), He is considered a main character because of his strong involvement on the whole story but not as a lead. On this one, he falls for the lead female Yoo Rin. He is known for his role as Seo Jun Woo, Seol Gong-chan's best friend (the male lead), considered as a flirt and a son of a wealthy family (since their family is one of the major shareholders for L'Avenue Hotel. Some of the fans of the My Girl series would imagine.. why Yoo Rin settles for Gong-chan when the fact is that Jun Woo is a much better choice? I asked the same thing of course but then again that's the way the story goes.

The 101st Proposal

He appeared on this series as himself. At a party, Han Sung Ju (the female lead)  was called in by her senior to introduce to her our Jun Ki. Having talked about the radio station Ms. Han is a part of, Jun Ki proposed to be invited on the program since he was a fan of the segment where Ms. Han comforts her listeners.

FOR THE VIDEO SAMPLE: http://www.veoh.com/watch/v17207964SBYPmGe5

OK!! Now we are done with his minor roles. This time, his main lead roles! His hard work paid off! The time were he fully showcased his acting skills and attracted more viewers.

MAJOR ROLES: yey!!!

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Time between Dog and Wolf

This one is a serious role he had and the first major role he received for a TV series/drama. Here, our lead dealt with one thing only.. REVENGE..although there are factors that affects his thirst for revenge (his relationship with Ji Woo, Min Gi and his adoptive father, Min Gi's dad, Jung Ho).

 For those who like action themed series/drama, well this is recommendable.

Lee Soo-hyun (Jun Ki) was a former NIS agent, the title was stripped of him because of his grudge with the intent of seeking revenge for his mother (who was killed  brutally in front of him when he was young). He then later on uses the name Kay in order to infiltrate the gang led by Mao who is responsible for his parents death.

 http://asianwiki.com/images/4/48/Il_Ji-Mae-_The_Phantom_Thief.jpg

Iljimae

Now this is the 2nd lead role given to him after Time Between Dog and Wolf. Apart from having its timeline set during the Joseon Dynasty, it was also themed for revenge but in a different way.

The story started when he was still young, named as Lee Gyeom, from a noble family (since his father was the King's brother). His father, Lee Won-Ho, was murdered due to a belief that "two suns cannot exist on the same sky" then later on forced to throw a rock on her mother just to justify that he is not related with Lee Won-Ho family. Due to the unfortunate events happened in his life (note that he was still a child back then) he acquired amnesia as he was adopted by a thief named Swe Dol.

.gif courtesy of infinitivity (tumblr)

He grew up to be Ryung. He then started to regain his memories and after that, vows to look for the one who killed his father with only an emblem design (as a clue) he saw in a sword that was used to kill his father. In order for him to do so, he hides his identity and named himself as Iljimae, who robs corrupted officials while looking for added clues on his father's perpetrator in the night.

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Hero

On his 3rd lead role series/drama, He is known for his character as Jin Do Hyuk, started as a tabloid reporter named "Monday Seoul" famous for its scandals and paparazzi type articles. He did have a back story though.. His parents were killed of a hit and run when he was a child.

.gif image courtesy of: http://baby-jino.tumblr.com/

Much to his dismay, "Monday Seoul" goes out of business. But later regained his spirit because of a proposal made by an ex-gang leader, Jo Yeong Deok to put up their own newspaper company under the name Yeong Deok Ilbo, on Do Hyuk's advantage and in order to settle old scores with Daese Ilbo.

(Yeong Deok  is supposed to be interviewed by Do Hyuk when Monday Seoul was still operational and yet a turn of events happened, that delayed Do Hyuk's scoop)

In the process, they did uncover truths but with little support from the readers and yet Do Hyuk didn't stop exposing the secrets behind those officials and later on the dirty truth behind Daese Ilbo.. even to the extent of finding out that his parents didn't die because of an accident, but as a murder in a hit and run set up.

Arang and the Magistrate

This is the fourth and yet considered his first main lead role after being discharge from military service. The story was based on a famous folklore in South Korea.

Here, he was named Kim Eun Oh, who's looking for his mother's whereabouts. Apart from his personal mission, he is also have an ability to see and talk to spirits/ghosts but he hides that fact and pretends that he doesn't have that ability since he is also easily annoyed by the request of the spirits asking for favors. He accidentally met Arang (our female lead) in the woods while she was chased by a grim reaper, and again met her after Arang successfully escapes from the grim reaper.

Now with Arang knowing the truth behind Eun Oh's ability to speak to ghosts, she persuades him to help her with her grudge and even forcefully made Eun Oh the new magistrate of Miryang. In the event of Eun Oh finding out that Arang has his mother's hairpin, he teamed up with Arang for he believes if he help her, he might acquire info's of his mother's whereabouts.

.gif images courtesy of: http://paper-box.tumblr.com/post/29559023946

Two Weeks

The fifth lead role he had and for me the most interesting role he had ever portrayed. ( I know every fan have their favorite series/drama, and for me, this series have my love and appreciation. I favor this series/drama!)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/36/Two_Weeks_TV_series-poster.jpg

Named as Jang Tae Sang, living meaninglessly and formerly used as an escape goat for a cruel person just to evade being behind bars. Now, knowing about his daughter and her sickness made him change his ways and yet he was again used as an escape goat by the same person but without his knowledge.

Upon discovering that it was the same person and the fact that the person involve is afraid that Tae Sang will reveal the truth, he was then planned to be killed but later on Tae San escaped through it.

After meeting a car accident when he was about to be transported to the prosecutor's office, he escapes and as a fugitive, he needs to last for two weeks for him to be able to make it on the date of his daughter's surgery since he is the donor for her daughter's bone marrow transplant.

Whew!!! I made a lot of research on these roles, especially on his minor roles. I have to watch it in order to give you a valid role review so it did took me a lot of time to post this. It might not be beneficial for some fans but I want to share this to his new found fans (such as myself) for them to have a better understanding on the projects he took.

As an observer...

Similar plot were identified on JG oppa's major roles.. "Time Between Dog and Wolf," "Iljimae," and "Hero" have their similar storyline.. When he was young, unfortunate things happened to his parents.. and they were all murder cases. Either his mom or his dad or both of his parents were killed.

Well.. that's it for a review. Hope to hear from the readers their thoughts and suggestions.