Originally, it wouldn't have been such a highly anticipated highlight.
However.
"I heard Jo Ha-rin is leaving the show today?"
"Huh? Really?"
"So what happened with Park Min-yul?"
To the public,
The funny thing was that the buzz started from a single movie.
"Ah, are you doing a live watch party today too? Of course I have to!"
1.4 million subscriber YouTuber Han Bong-sik nodded repeatedly as he looked at the camera.
Whatever else he might skip, how could he not do a live watch party for
'I really rode the wave perfectly.'
Han Bong-sik let out a hollow laugh as he looked at his subscriber count.
This was because his subscriber count, which had been stagnant at 1 million for a long time, had noticeably increased recently. 1.4 million.
This all happened after
The number of people who came through the algorithm after searching for reviews of The Chaser or a certain character who commonly appeared in Dream Future.
Bong-sik was already among the top three movie reviewers, but now he was undeniably the second.
If he overtook just one more person, reaching first place was also possible.
Because of that, the actor who made him who he was today.
'I really love you, Joo Seo-yeon.'
His internal affinity for Seo-yeon was at its peak.
In that sense, his expectations for today's
'To be honest, I wished she would appear more.'
But they said the script was changed, so it couldn't be helped.
He just hoped that even if she left, she would leave as spectacularly as possible.
And.
"...Hmm."
Jo Seo-hee narrowed her eyes as she waited for the start of
'But this isn't just a one-time thing, right?'
Whoever planned this drama, it felt like it reflected the latest trends well.
Like waiting for a real audition program.
The drama broadcasting simultaneously with the real-time internet reactions going up.
"Indeed..."
Jo Seo-hee personally waited for
It was because of
Since a romance story would inevitably be included, it was to see Seo-yeon's romance acting style in this
'I heard from Senior Jung-woo that it'll be more subdued.'
That was the script.
But would Seo-yeon be satisfied with just that?
She's a strangely cool girl whenever she meets her, but isn't she also serious about acting?
"..."
But why is she really only cool towards me?
While wagging her tail at others.
'This is why people need to watch what they say.'
...She's definitely still holding a grudge about the parachute remark I made when we were young.
Yeah, that must be it.
Jo Seo-hee convinced herself of that alone.
Actually, Seo-yeon didn't think deeply about the parachute remark.
Honestly, she had almost forgotten about it by now.
The reason she treated Seo-hee awkwardly was purely because of her impression.
Because her face, one way or another, was as sharp as a villainous young lady's, Seo-yeon, who was clumsy at dealing with people, couldn't help but feel burdened.
"Anyway."
Jo Seo-hee focused her gaze on
The protagonist, Song So-ha.
With the finals at stake, the two girls faced off in their final match.
"I, actually. I was a little jealous of you."
Jo Ha-rin said with a bitter smile.
The inner thoughts that the usually lively Jo Ha-rin had been hiding from Song So-ha all along.
The viewers knew, but it was Song So-ha's first time hearing Jo Ha-rin's inner feelings.
"Because your appearance when singing was so dazzling..."
Idols are ultimately singers.
Singing has to be more important than dancing.
Jo Ha-rin was definitely a better dancer than Song So-ha, but her singing skills were significantly inferior.
As time passed, the gap had narrowed, but Song So-ha was still superior.
'How ironic.'
Seo-hee became lost in thought as she watched their conversation.
Song So-ha and Jo Ha-rin.
In the drama, Jo Ha-rin was the one who was jealous of Song So-ha, but in reality, it was the opposite.
Park Jung-woo had said as much.
"Na-hee is too conscious of that kid."
"Conscious?"
"Obviously. She's worried that if Joo Seo-yeon's screentime increases, she'll be overshadowed again."
Cha Na-hee barely regained her presence as the lead when Seo-yeon had less screentime.
From episodes 1 to 3, the reactions were mostly about Seo-yeon.
So after the script was revised, she had been working hard not to fall behind.
"As expected, Seo-yeon's acting surfaced."
"And Na-hee's acting controversy was reignited."
Seo-hee knew this as well.
In truth, she wasn't being torn apart like during Ma Yeon-woo's time.
It was just at the level of 'it's a pity'.
But it was her first leading role.
From Cha Na-hee's perspective, it must have felt like a stake driven into her chest.
"So I know she's desperate, but..."
"Hmm, there shouldn't be a need to worry too much."
"It's different for the person involved."
"Ha, even Senior Jung-woo was overshadowed by Joo Seo-yeon."
"..."
Jung-woo was about to say that his role wasn't that big anyway, and his character's color was too mild to stand out... but it sounded like such a lame excuse that he decided to drop it.
"...I'll be watching you during your next movie. It's called
"Yeah."
Anyway, just like the conversation with Park Jung-woo.
This 14th episode dealt with the match between Song So-ha and Jo Ha-rin, while also showing Song So-ha's proper impact as the female lead.
'Otherwise, the ending will feel anticlimactic.'
However, this also depended on Seo-yeon.
Seo-hee recalled
The role Seo-yeon played back then was Hong Jung-hee.
It was a role that had to elevate the female lead.
Seo-yeon had performed her role excellently back then.
But unlike a play, in a drama, it was inevitable to feel greedy.
Moreover, since everyone considered Jo Ha-rin to be half a female lead, if she awkwardly stepped back, it would cause a controversy.
'The conflict between the two dealt with in the drama.'
This episode focused more on the story of Song So-ha and Jo Ha-rin than on the romance conflict.
It was the right decision.
Jo Ha-rin, revealing her inferiority complex.
Song So-ha, accepting such Jo Ha-rin.
At the same time, Song So-ha also secretly admired Jo Ha-rin's bouncy charm and dancing skills.
That was why she was shocked when Jo Ha-rin said she was jealous of her.
"...I can't lose."
Song So-ha said.
"But isn't it the same for you?"
The strong will shown by the once-weak Song So-ha.
And the semi-final stage unfolds.
"In the semi-finals, you will compete twice."
The MC said.
The semi-finals consist of two matches.
They sing one song together to build harmony.
In the next song, they each sing their individual songs to determine the winner.
"Are you confident?"
It seemed like she was asking Song So-ha.
But to Seo-hee, who was watching, it felt like she was asking Cha Na-hee.
If she was confident to face the 'acting' that was about to unfold.
"Yes."
Song So-ha's concise answer.
Then, the music flowed out, and their song began.
'As expected of an idol, her skills must be superior.'
Just like Ma Yeon-woo.
However, Ma Yeon-woo was able to do so by matching the character to herself.
How would Cha Na-hee be able to fill the stage as the character 'Song So-ha'?
And.
- Cha Na-hee is better than I thought?
- Definitely, when the two are together, she does look like the female lead.
Such internet reactions started to go up.
It was the first time they stood on stage together, except for the beginning.
Comparing them like this, Song So-ha was still better in terms of skills.
'Something feels off.'
1.4 million subscriber YouTuber Han Bong-sik felt that way.
'This hasn't even started yet.'
Jo Seo-hee stared at the screen carefully.
She couldn't feel the desperate emotion that should be there if it were an audition.
And she wasn't the only one who felt that way.
'Why did they air this as is?'
Director Kim Il-soo, who was watching Episode 14, frowned.
As someone with a keen eye for directing, it was something he couldn't miss.
It was the acting.
Yes, it felt too much like 'acting'.
It didn't feel like an audition program.
The viewers' reactions were fairly okay, but...
But then.
Jo Ha-rin stepped forward, one step ahead of Song So-ha.
- Huh?
At first, it was simple doubt.
But at the sight of Seo-yeon starting to sing on her turn.
Song So-ha's eyes contained panic.
'It's not acting.'
It's real.
Right now, Song So-ha was genuinely flustered.
Because Cha Na-hee didn't have the skill to express such an emotion through acting in the first place.
So she brought out the real thing.
- Wow
- Isn't Jo Ha-rin's skill also higher here?
- Isn't the actress playing Song So-ha an idol? What if her skills are lower than the actress?
'Was it intentional?'
Kim Il-soo blankly watched the scene.
This was probably Seo-yeon's independent action.
Looking at Song So-ha's reaction, he knew.
Seo-yeon's explosively pouring emotions filled the screen.
As if erasing Song So-ha's presence.
'She knows.'
Director Kim Il-soo knew how to bring out Song So-ha's potential.
Stimulating the actor's emotions.
'Cha Na-hee is an idol, and her pride in that is much stronger than her pride as an actress.'
But Seo-yeon shows a stage that overwhelms her?
Maybe that could inflict a huge wound on her pride and break her.
'Method acting.'
If completely immersing oneself in a role is called method acting.
What would you call this?
Making someone who was giving an ordinary performance fall into their role.
She was inducing emotions.
By making her opponent immerse into her role.
The pride of an idol.
By scratching at that, strength entered Song So-ha's hand holding the mic.
Cha Na-hee was an idol, and she had stood on stage countless times.
Then she couldn't help but know.
How she would look when this was caught on camera.
'It's the same as Ma Yeon-woo, but different.'
If Ma Yeon-woo acted like that on her own.
This became 'a direction that inevitably forced it'.
A desperate stage ahead of the finals.
The moment the emotions of Song So-ha and Cha Na-hee aligned.
Even though it wasn't method acting, it could look like method acting.
Seo-yeon's eyes turned red.
She smiled as she faced the pouring emotions.
Towards Song So-ha, and towards the audience.
It was probably a smile that each person would feel differently.
Looking at that smile, the viewers and Kim Il-soo clenched their fists.
Strength entered Song So-ha's hand holding the microphone.
And.
Explosive emotions erupted.
***
"How long has it been?"
A PD from the KMB Drama Department said so.
"For a drama's viewership ratings to be swayed by a single actor."
He didn't know exactly how much that was.
But it was clear that it had a huge impact.
"I did rate
The episode dealing with the final confrontation between Song So-ha and Jo Ha-rin.
Its viewership rating was.
"23 percent."
He could feel the drama department buzzing.
This was understandable, as it was the highest number among the dramas that had aired in roughly a year.
About 10 years ago, it would have been a figure that people might call "quite decent," but currently, it was a viewership rating that was hard to even dare to reach.
That was close to the highest record for a youth drama.
There had never been a case of a youth drama exceeding 20 percent viewership ratings, even 10 years ago.
"Yesterday's Episode 14... honestly, there were some risky parts."
"Was that actress Joo Seo-yeon's intention?"
"I don't know."
In the first place, Seo-yeon had said nothing about that acting.
It was just that those who saw it vaguely guessed her intention.
"If it was intentional..."
"That's the level of playing with emotions."
Was it possible because she had rich emotions?
Or was it possible because she understood other people's emotions so well.
It made him wonder how much she must have observed human emotions for that to be possible.
Originally, Seo-yeon's weapon was emotional acting.
Anyone who had been in this field to some extent knew that.
It was like that during
And recently, she had clearly shown that aspect in
In
"The new drama...
"Yes, I heard it was originally a scenario for a general programming channel."
"By Writer Min Se-hee."
"Yes."
The reason they were here today was for a meeting regarding that
"Will it be her first lead role?"
"Without an audition?"
While they were having that conversation, the door to the meeting room opened.
A middle-aged man with a good impression.
He walked in slowly and took a seat.
"We will hold an audition."
"Pardon?"
"But there's no need to..."
Ha Tae-oh, the Drama Department Head, smiled at them.
"By any chance, do you think that actress will fail?"
"Well..."
"An audition is also to reduce noise, and young actors are sensitive about these things."
For example, thinking of her as a 'parachute'.
"Come on, she already has recognition."
"But it can also serve to seize the initiative."
What kind of presence befits a lead.
This was also Ha Tae-oh's consideration in his own way.
A consideration not for Joo Seo-yeon, but for the actors who would be participating with her.
"Ah, and. Regarding the OST for
No one in this room could refuse the words of Drama Department Head Ha Tae-oh.