Older and Younger Romance Rush With "Melancholia" and "Now, We Are Breaking Up"

Romance that will melt the cold of late autumn heats up the small screens.

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It ranges from thick genres to pleasant human dramas and romance and mellows with pounding hearts. Among them, romance between top actresses and rising youth actors, is also waiting to appear.

First of all, tvN's "Melancholia" which premiered on the 10th, is Lim Soo-jung's return to the drama in two years. Against the backdrop of a private high school, a hotbed of preferential corruption, the ambition is to contain a more beautiful story than mathematics that goes beyond the conventional wisdom and prejudice of math geniuses and teachers. Lim Soo-jung plays the role of Ji Yoon-soo, a math teacher. It is her first school drama in more than 20 years since appearing in the KBS "School" series in the past. Lim Soo-jung was a student at the time, but now she is a teacher.

Lee Do-hyun stars alongside Lim Soo-jung. Lee Do-hyun, who proved his star quality and acting skills with Netflix's "Sweet Home" and KBS2's "Youth of May", has transformed into a math genius. "Melancholia" which heralds the chemistry of a teacher and student, goes beyond chemistry and predicts romance. The romance between the two young men and women raises expectations, but it is also true that concerns arise from the perspective of romance between high school students and teachers. Attention is focusing on whether "Melancholia", confident of consensus and healing, will be able to change even the gaze of concern to excitement.

Song Hye-kyo had a welcome return. Song Hye-kyo returns to SBS's "Now, We Are Breaking Up" which premiered on the 12th. "Now, We Are Breaking Up", a sweet, salty, spicy, and sour breakup version of "Love Actually" is more of a melodic narrative than romance. In the drama, Song Hye-kyo appears as the head of the fashion company's design team. A love story with Jang Ki-yong, who appears as a freelance photographer will unfold. It is said that the two have already completed their chemistry only with still cuts and previews released even before the broadcast, and even in official posters where they are in close contact.

Expectations are high in that it is Song Hye-kyo's first return work in two years and Jang Ki-yong's last work before joining the military. If "Melancholia" exudes the sensuality of autumn, "Now, We Are Breaking Up" is a work that feels the sorrow of early winter. Coincidentally, they are made up of two sets of top actors and rising stars with similar careers and ages. In response, Lim Soo-jung said, "These days, there are a lot of romance work. It's encouraging. I'm glad everyone is doing well", she said.

TV dramas are in a relatively difficult situation due to the rapid rise of various OTT platforms. However, Lim Soo-jung and Song Hye-kyo have already successfully completed dramas in which the woman is older than the male. Attention is focusing on whether the older-younger romance will be able to save ground-wave dramas in crisis.