Cha Eunwoo returns quickly after 2 months, opponent is Kim Soo-hyun “MBC Friday-Saturday dramas’ crisis”

This is through the new Friday-Saturday drama “Wonderful World”. As attention is focused on whether Cha Eunwoo can wash away the humiliation of his previous work, there is a mixture of anticipation and concern for MBC Friday-Saturday dramas, which has been running on a successful path until they encounter Kim Soo-hyun as a powerful competitor.

Cha Eunwoo will take on the role of the male lead in “Wonderful World”, which is about a mother who decides to pursue justice on her own when the legal system fails her following the tragic loss of her son. Kim Namjoo’s return to the small screen after 6 years since JTBC’s “Misty” is highly anticipated.

Cha Eunwoo is expected to showcase a transformation from his previous warm and affectionate image to a powerful acting style. Even in the first still cuts released on Feb 13th, his vivid lip bloodstain, rebellious gaze and untucked shirt display a rugged masculinity never seen before, capturing attention.

The question remains about Cha Eunwoo’s acting skills. Cha Eunwoo has been in the spotlight as a leading actor since “Gangnam Beauty” and has maintained that position for 7 years. However, opinions about his acting abilities have been divided. Although he has shown slight improvement in his acting skills since “Island”, it is still pointed out that he lacks the ability to lead a work solely based on his acting skills.

Although Kim Namjoo, a reliable senior actress, holds the title role, if Cha Eunwoo fails to support her properly, his lack of acting skills may become more apparent. Choosing an original drama without a source material seems like an attempt to shed the image of being a “guy right out of an animation”, but it also poses a double-edged sword for Cha Eunwoo.

In addition, the competitor of “Wonderful World” is tvN’s “Queen of Tears”. “Queen of Tears” is about the dizzying crisis and miraculous rebirth of love between Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), the third-generation Queens Group chaebol and department store queen, and Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), the son of Yongdu-ri and supermarket prince.

Penned by Park Ji-eun, who wrote hit dramas such as “My Love from the Star”, “The Producers” and “Crash Landing on You”, and starring “trustworthy actors” Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, the drama has been attracting a lot of attention even before its broadcast. In particular, Kim Soo-hyun is acknowledged for his acting skills and has achieved unbeatable success in the romantic comedy genre, so “Queen of Tears” is chosen as tvN’s most anticipated work in the first half of 2024.

MBC dramas have begun to show signs of improvement since last year’s “My Dearest”, followed by “The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract” and “Knight Flower”, which recorded high ratings successively. However, as all three dramas were historical dramas, the success of “Wonderful World”, which continues the legacy as a mystery thriller, could be considered a critical turning point for MBC to rebuild its reputation as the “original drama kingdom”.

For Cha Eunwoo, “Wonderful World” is an important work that can determine his success as an actor and evaluate his acting skills. If he fails to gain recognition for his acting in this work, his position as a leading actor may be jeopardized. It’s time for him to show more than just a handsome face.

Source: Daum