[News] First look at 'Warrior Baek Dong-soo'.

[News] First look at 'Warrior Baek Dong-soo'.
Cr. - 10asia

Here’s our first look at upcoming fusion sageuk Warrior Baek Dong-soo, the comic book adaptation which stars Ji Chang-wook as our righteous hero Baek Dong-soo and Yoo Seung-ho as the (seemingly Mi-shil-esque) villain/rival Yeo-woon.

To be honest, I can’t tell from these images whether the drama’s going to be awesomely action-and-thrills-packed fusion fare, or campy Peter Pan-y stuff. The plain photos make it look like the latter but I’m hoping for the former, since I’m always drawn to Robin Hood-like setups; they’re the ultimate underdog stories, aren’t they? Maybe all they need is a good Photoshop job.

Plus, I’m already looking forward to the good-versus-evil-hotness rivalry between our boys Dong-soo and Yeo-woon, which will undoubtedly be heightened by the fact that these two train together in secret practice sessions as children (as you can see in the stills below). Dong-soo becomes known as an expert swordsman, perhaps the best around — but you can bet your bottom dollar Yeo-woon’s a close second and will be challenging him in no time.

Their graduation from boyhood friends to enemies will be key to building the tension between their adult selves, as Dong-soo joins the king’s guard and Yeo-woon becomes part of a group planning to assassinate him. It’s kind of like City Hunter, now that I think of it, only the conflict is bromance rather than romance — both strong setups, both things I am an utter sucker for.

Aside from the boys, the drama also stars Yoon So-yi (Hero), who plays Jin-ju, who’s dressed in male garb below. (She’s kind of got the Peter Pan vibe going, no?)

Jin-ju has grown up as part of a gang of righteous bandits, the kind of people who are technically breaking the law but do so in the name of the greater good. She has a bright personality, who confronts the world fearlessly and with a strong sense of justice. Her feelings for Dong-soo are described as noble and pure, and their love of the “fateful” variety. (Let’s just hope that the invocation of fate doesn’t point to a tragic end! It always makes me nervous, since these Korean dramas sure love their angsty, dramatic twists of fate.)

Warrior Baek Dong-soo began filming at the end of April, and is set for a July 4 premiere (it’ll follow Lie To Me on SBS).