Freeze

Cast:
Lee Seo Jin– Baek Jung Won (백중원)
Park Han Byul– Kim Ji Woo (김지우)
Son Tae Young– I Hwa (이화)

CGV official site
thread on soompi
MV
Preview
Behind the scene

There is not much information about this drama, even on soompi itself. I guess it’s because the drama is aired on a cable channel (CGV) instead of one of the three national channels. Since 2006, the cable channels have jumped onto the wagon and started airing/ producing dramas as well. But a cable channel can never compete with the national free-to-air channels in terms of viewership. So despite starring the very popular Lee Seo Jin and the rather pretty Park Han Byul, I couldn’t find much discussion anywhere on the various forums.

Freeze was done before ‘Lovers’ and in my opinion, he looks even more delicious in this drama than the latter (someone described it as a ‘ruffled, towel dried’ look. Hehe!). Chemistry wise, it’s just so-so between the leads. I think the 11 years age gap didn’t help, especially as Lee Seo Jin has a manly, matured look and Park Han Byul looks younger than her actual age of 22.

Synopsis:

Jung Won and I Hwa are 2 vampires who are more than 350 years old. But they are 2 very sophisticated vampires (and very rich as well). They operate a wine bar, have good taste and can also function during the day.

However, one thing remains unchanged- they still need blood to survive.

But they no longer kill for blood, instead they buy it both legally and illegally.

Jung Won is sick and tired of this ‘eternal’ life- the sicken feeling of having to drink blood but at the same time going wild if he could not have it. He wished he could die but there seems to be no way out. It is a cursed fate.

One day, Jung Won received a letter from his old lover. She was dying and she wanted to entrust her daughter to him. Jung Won had left her broken hearted years ago as he he did not know how to tell her about his real identity.

At the funeral, he met her daughter, Ji Woo, who is now all grown-up and different from the little girl he once knew.

Ji Woo was curious to know about Jung Won’s father (she thought it was his father), whom her mother could not forget and loved for the rest of her life.

Slowly, she fell in love with this ajushi. And yet, though Jung Won also fell in love with this rather unconventional, sunny girl, he could not open himself to her completely. He could not tell her his deep dark secret for fear of losing her.

Meanwhile, there was a spate of mysterious killings and a speculation that they may be the work of vampires. That was when they found that there was another vampire out there.

As the relationship between Jung Won and Ji Woo grew stronger, it incurred the wrath and jealousy of I Hwa (who loves Jung Won a lot), who had both saved and cursed Jung Won.

One day, whilst suffering from blood ‘withdrawal’. He decided to tell Ji Woo the truth about himself. As expected, Ji Woo was shocked and could not accept it.

By now, the police was closing in and Jung Won and I Hwa had to flee.

The ending was rather unexpected…for me anyway. But the ending was right.

Thoughts:

I believe Lee Seo Jin gave one of his finer performance in this drama. Sure I like him in ‘Boolsae/Phoenix’ and ‘Lovers’ but in ‘Freeze’, I believe he was allowed to stretch his acting capabilities. In this instance, I do wish the drama was longer than 5 episodes as I believe the character could be be even better with more time.

Once, he wanted to die as he hated this eternity life that stretches on. But because of Ji Woo, he wanted to live.

Once, he hated I Hwa for this curse. In the end, he thanked her for having lived long enough to meet Ji Woo.

Once, he dare not love, as it meant heartaches and broken promises. But with Ji Woo, he dared to open his heart again.

One of the more memorable scene was when he was begging for blood from I Hwa. He did not want Ji Woo to see him in this agony and despair. And yet, he was so very disgusted with himself for having succumbed to this desire.

There were some good moments between Lee Seo Jin and Park Han Byul..especially when they’re fighting. Park Han Byul acted well enough for her role but there was just that missing spark between the two of them. Those of you who have watched ‘Lovers’ would know what I mean by the this spark/chemistry. That is not to say they did not have any chemistry…just not the type between lovers.

And Son Tae Young was just not very outstanding but she is very pretty.

Because the drama is only 5 episodes, there was none of the usual dragginess found in many of the episodes, and the pace moved rather quickly, which was a welcome change. However, I found the whole setting rather dark (not emotionally but literally). I guess it’s because it involves vampires. Still, there were quite a number of times when I had to strain myself looking at my laptop. ^^

And strangely, the best song is not in the drama’s ost. This is Lee Seung Chul’s ‘떠나지마’, which is in his latest album- Reflections of Sound.

Is it love when you bind someone to the same fate as yours or is it love when you let go? Perhaps it’s both. But love lives on whether in this life or next as long as you have him in your heart.

Son Tae Young had no other projects after ‘Freeze’. She was in ‘Sad Movie’ though and oh…she was also in Miss Korea in 2000. Ok..she is pretty.

Park Han Byul has since appeared in ‘Fantasy Couple’ (which seems to be rather funny reading from various accounts) and the recently completed, ‘Blue Fish’.

Lee Seo Jin’s last work was of course ‘Lovers’ where he really became lovers with Kim Jung Eun. Must say I think they are quite compatible. My teacher said they both come from rich background. And oh… it seems he will be involved in another drama in September. It will be yet another drama on one of the Korean King:- Lee San- Jeongjo Tae Wang (이산-정조대왕). The PD is PD Lee Byung Hun who also produced Dae Jang Geum and Seo Dong Yao.

Hmm… does that mean this drama will be fighting with Bae Young Joon’s Great King Four Gods?

Like I said..he really looked good in this drama..