Currently Watching: The Great Seducer

The Great Seducer follows the story of Kwon Shi Hyun, Choi Soo Ji and Lee Se Joo, all byproducts of wealthy families with too much time on their hands and a conflicted set of morals. When Choi Soo Ji is humiliated by a young man that she had grown fond of, she and her friends devise a plan to settle the score. Part of their plan involves setting up playboy Kwon Shi Hyun with the plucky and naive Eun Tae Hee. Kwon Shi Hyun’s orders are to steal Eun Tae Hee’s heart, sleep with her, and then quickly and abruptly dump her. What will happen when the typically unmovable Kwon Shi Hyun starts to develop feelings for the new scholarship student?

Loosely, and I mean loosely, based on the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, it seems thus far this drama is tending toward the 1999 Cruel Intentions route since it focuses on students. This adaption seems to have taken a much lighter spin on the original source material. 

Here are five reasons for you to pick up The Great Seducer if you haven’t already:

5.  Angsty Marshmallow Fluff

As a person who typically avoids melodrama and angst-laden storylines, I am as surprised as you that this made the list! Since The Great Seducer focuses on the lives of wealthy university students, this drama capitalizes on the conflict created by their wealthy and manipulative families. Within the first four episodes, we have already touched on the following topics: illegitimate children, arranged marriages, and dark family secrets. I am sure that as the drama continues, it will have more of our favorite K-drama cliches and tropes in store. 

As conflicted university students, our protagonists become the primary victims of their parents’ political maneuverings. Used as pawns to provide an illusion of a traditional family or as bargaining chips in company mergers, it’s no wonder that our trio has such a jaded concept of life and love.  

While these three are quick to pass harsh judgment on the outside world, within their inner circle they have a surprisingly deep care for each other, even if it’s a bit twisted. I actually wasn’t expecting to sympathize with this trio so early on in the series. These adorable angst-ridden marshmallows just need a little extra love!

4.  OT3 Potential

Starting this drama, I had no idea how compelling the main trio would be. Kwon Shi Hyun, Choi Soo Ji, and Lee Se Joo form a strong bond right from the start. Being lifelong friends, they function almost like a family — a very possessive and dysfunctional one but a family nonetheless. The relationships depicted here are intense, complex, and extremely conflicted. I see big potential for this trio to become an OT3 of epic proportions! Thus far, I have been extremely impressed by the young acting talent of the supporting cast. 

Choi Soo Ji played by Moon Ga Young has stolen a lot of hearts. Multilayered and surprisingly fragile, she has both Kwon Shi Hyun and Lee Se Joo wrapped around her little finger. Since the boys are the one thing in her life she can control, she tends to be rather possessive of them both. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic will develop as Kwon Shi Hyun's attention is focused elsewhere. Choi Soo Ji is absolutely striking as a character.

Lee Se Joo portrayed by Kim Min Jae is quite the show stealer. His playful and impish demeanor is extremely attractive here. His chemistry with both Kwon Shi Hyun and Choi Soo Ji is perfection. He is quickly becoming a show favorite. He definitely gives off the vibe that he is living life on the wild side and quite apt to getting himself into trouble. Uncharacteristically, Lee Se Joo has such a sweet, distant love for Choi Soo Ji.  For now, he is content with admiring her from a distance knowing that he is not Choi Soo Ji's first choice, yet I anticipate that this will become a strong plot point moving forward in the drama.  

3.  Joy as Eun Tae Hee

So I know this will be a bit of a more controversial choice, but I personally have really grown to like Joy in her role of Eun Tae Hee. The Red Velvet member plays the naive and good-natured Eun Tae Hee, an art student that just received a full scholarship to go to university. She’s a hard worker and has a good work ethic. Even though she has a strained relationship with her mother, Eun Tae Hee seems fun-loving and surprisingly perceptive.  

While initially, I was very concerned about Joy portraying the role of Eun Tae Hee, I have been pleasantly surprised by her character here. Honestly, I couldn’t handle her aegyo in the teaser trailer -- just painful! So far, Eun Tae Hee is very likable and has a surprising amount of spunk. At least in these first episodes, she’s been able to go toe to toe with Kwon Shi Hyun and easily see through every trick he throws at her. I hope that throughout the series, Joy will be able to keep up the good work and that this role will be a good fit in spite of her greenness when it comes to acting. Overall, I think Joy is a pretty good fit for this role. Besides, she is so very lovely!

2.  Hot and Heavy Makeout Scenes

I personally have high hopes that this drama will deliver on a bit of the edge that they promised us. Due to the source material, most are anticipating a sultry love story, right? Even in the first episode, there is some promise that this drama will not dissolve into silly fish kisses. Though overall, I do see a bit of a softening to the characters and the premise, I still have high hopes that this drama will deliver on some good ole skinship. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

1.  Woo Do Hwan as Kwon Shi Hyun

Okay, so now the real reason you are all here! The Great Seducer picked up a lot of traction once it announced that Woo Do Hwan would be given the part of the male lead, Kwon Shi Hyun. Woo Do Hwan gained a lot of popularity after his performances in Save Me (2017) and Mad Dog (2017). He has such a knack for playing darker, more complex roles. That he would be cast in the same role that was granted to Ryan Philippe in Cruel Intentions seemed like a fitting match to me.  

Kwon Shi Hyun is the heir of JK Corporation. To the outside world, he has it all: money, notoriety, dashing good looks, and enough sex appeal to make the ladies melt on the spot. Even though it appears that he wouldn’t have a care in the world, Kwon Shi Hyun has a terrible relationship with his father, who wants him to settle down, fade into the background, and not cause any issues for JK. Since his mother passed away, he’s been looking for love in all the wrong places apparently… the poor dear!  

Woo Do Hwan is at his best when he is acting the brooding puppy role. I mean, who else would be a better match?! After watching the first week of episodes, I have to admit, I completely underestimated the power that is Woo Do Hwan! Just hearing his melodic deep voice makes me go weak in the knees! Four months doesn’t seem like that long, but wow, it is great to have Woo Do Hwan back on the small screen! Queue shameless fangirling! Who’s with me?! 

Though The Great Seducer has had a few early issues and inconsistencies, some strange editing choices, a bit of a choppy first couple episodes, and a much tamer main cast than expected, I would argue that this drama has a lot of potential. I have been extremely impressed by the supporting cast, especially Moon Ga Young and Kim Min Jae. Though Woo Do Hwan is probably still the biggest draw, I can already tell that he won’t have to support this drama all on his own. Even though the drama seems to be significantly lighter than most of its previous adaptions, it is laying a strong foundation to be a worth-while watch. 

Are you watching The Great Seducer?  

If not, are you planning to pick it up? Why or why not?