"He is the one behind the highest viewership!"
Actor Ahn Jae-wook is showcasing his undeniable presence as the 'original romantic comedy master' in KBS2's weekend drama comeback after 9 years, leading a rapid rise in ratings.
KBS 2TV's weekend drama "For Eagle Brothers" (written by Kwon Hyun-sook, directed by Choi Sang-yeol and Lee Jin-ah, produced by DK E&M) is a drama that captures the well-ripened family story of the eldest brother, who unexpectedly becomes the head of the family after his husband dies ten days into their marriage, showcasing the unique five brothers from the traditional brewery. With a tightly woven story and the excellent performances of the actors, the show has received positive reviews and has achieved a milestone by breaking its own viewership ratings for two consecutive weeks, continuing its successful momentum.
Ahn Jae-wook plays Han Dong-seok, the chairman of LX Hotel who was born with a 'diamond spoon' and is a grumpy, aloof, and sensitive boss, who has been widowed for 15 years in "For Eagle Brothers." Ahn Jae-wook convincingly portrays Han Dong-seok's character, showcasing his transformation from a grumpy demeanor to a more open-hearted person influenced by Ma Gwang-sook (Um Ji-won), proving his worth as the 'original romantic comedy master.'
In this regard, Ahn Jae-wook has sparked a 'Dong-seok fever' in the home theater, establishing himself as the 'weekend drama unicorn male lead' by summarizing four 'sweet-sour-sweet-sour' moments.
▲ Sweet moment 1. "Who goes on three blind dates?" Unintentionally showcasing Um Ji-won's talk.
The first sweet point features Han Dong-seok (Ahn Jae-wook) becoming distressed after witnessing Ma Gwang-sook going on three blind dates in episode 14. When the subject of blind dates arises, Han Dong-seok, who usually behaves differently to the point that his children are surprised, falls back into thoughts of Ma Gwang-sook. He suddenly asks his children, "Is it possible to go on three blind dates... at the same place, on the same day, but just with different partners at staggered times?" and "You guys think it's excessive, right? It's definitely not normal," revealing his growing interest in Ma Gwang-sook. Here, Ahn Jae-wook portrays Han Dong-seok's desire to maintain his image in front of his children while being increasingly distracted by Ma Gwang-sook, adding a boyish charm.
▲ Sour moment 1. "I'm not interested in remarriage!" Discrepancy between words and actions! Imagining Um Ji-won while watching a flower snake.
Han Dong-seok's explosive sour moment reveals his underlying humanity, making the character even more attractive. Particularly in episode 13, Han Dong-seok, who mistakenly suspected Ma Gwang-sook as a flower snake, was left shocked and amused as he observed the flower snake targeting a frog on TV, constantly recalling Ma Gwang-sook who seemed to be the flower snake. Although he firmly told his daughter, "I'm not interested in remarriage!" he grumbled, "I can't stop thinking about that snake all day, and it's all because of that woman, Ma Gwang-sook!" providing a mix of absurdity and subtle excitement. In this scene, Ahn Jae-wook maintains the balance of comic performance that could otherwise be overdone with his delicate expressions.
▲ Sweet moment 2. "I'm not a nuisance." A sweet remark towards Um Ji-won + a slight smile.
In episode 18, Han Dong-seok demonstrated the archetype of a 'tsundere charming man,' shaking the hearts of viewers. The 'good morning greeting' at the end of episode 18 heightened the romantic sentiment. After Ma Gwang-sook, who mistakenly got into his taxi while drunk the previous day, came to apologize at his office, Han Dong-seok curtly said, "It's not a very good morning; I didn’t sleep well." However, he quickly showed a different side when Ma Gwang-sook apologized, saying, "It’s true that Ma representative is a nuisance. But you’re not a bad person," as he gently smiled, infusing warmth into his expression while enhancing anticipation for Han Dong-seok's next actions. Ahn Jae-wook delivered the line with an added touch of sweetness, naturally evoking excitement.
▲ Sour moment 2. "Nice posture." Um Ji-won focusing too much leads to a swing and a fall! Physical comedy.
In episode 14, Han Dong-seok showcased his clumsy side with physical comedy in front of Ma Gwang-sook. Invited to an event with Park Sang-nam (Gong Jung-hwan), a golf pro and one of Ma Gwang-sook's blind date partners, Han Dong-seok was supposed to demonstrate his swing in front of many people but lost his balance and fell flat on the golf course, distracted by Ma Gwang-sook's gaze on his lips. Ultimately, witnessing Ma Gwang-sook burst into loud laughter left Han Dong-seok feeling embarrassed and helpless, generating laughter. Ahn Jae-wook emphasized Han Dong-seok's vulnerability with courage and boldness, successfully doubling the charm.
The production team stated, "Ahn Jae-wook reveals Han Dong-seok's evolving emotions as the episodes progress, allowing viewers to feel Han Dong-seok as more approachable and warm," adding, "The firepower of the original romantic comedy master is expected to grow. We hope for much anticipation."
Meanwhile, actor Ahn Jae-wook is actively engaged in KBS2's "For Eagle Brothers," which airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.
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