It’s always interesting to see dramaland take on season formats that are still considered a little unconventional in Korea, and I’ll be sure to check out the latest entry, JTBC’s Woohoo Waikiki 2. The show has recast nearly all of the main characters, save for Lee Yi-kyung (Red Moon, Blue Sun), and while normally, I would be mad about it, the new faces are promising enough for me to give this new dynamic a chance.
The cast and crew of this wacky rom-com’s second outing recently convened to hold the show’s first script reading. The director, Lee Chang-min, and writer, Kim Ki-ho, are some of the holdovers from the first season, which should help with continuity of the show’s feel and affinity for slapstick comedy. And, of course, at the center of the story is Lee Yi-kyung, returning as the struggling actor who is barely eking out a living.
He will be joined this season by Shin Hyun-soo (Twelve Nights) and Kim Sun-ho (100 Days My Prince), both friends from college who somehow get roped into running the titular guest house, which remains in a state of near bankruptcy. Shin Hyun-soo’s character is a former baseball prodigy, who’s described as clumsy and naive. Kim Sun-ho’s character is on the other side of the personality spectrum: A former idol whose group never made it to stardom, but still nurses a dream of becoming a singer, he’s also known as the world’s prickliest man, which should definitely make his road to fame that much easier (*cough* sarcasm *cough*).
Of course, all three friends share a common first love in Moon Ga-young (The Great Seducer), described as lovable and having that 4D oddness so often attributed to the adorably quirky in dramaland. At the outset, she seems to have everything, but one morning, she loses it all due to some unknown event, and ends up moving into the guest house. She’ll be joined by Ahn So-hee (Entourage), making a drama comeback after three years primarily in Chungmuro, who will play another college friend of Lee Yi-kyung. She’s a struggling actress as well, and is something of a part-time expert, juggling as many as she can in order to meet her immediate needs.
And last but not least is Kim Ye-won (Heart Surgeons), who will play Kim Sun-ho’s older sister. Known for her scathing and witty comebacks, she establishes her as the queen bee and at the top of the food chain at the guest house (lol). I’ve enjoyed Kim Ye-won’s portrayals where she’s played these types of characters before, since she somehow makes them likable despite her characters’ flaws. I hope we can expect that same likability in this youth drama about friendship, love, and taking risks for dreams.
Woohoo Waikiki 2 will air on JTBC starting next month, following currently airing The Light in Your Eyes.