While the storyline about women coming together and growing together amidst conflict and competition was praised, the character’s repeated “annoying” actions are seen as breaking immersion in the story.
In “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born”, the character Jeong-nyeon often comes across as irritating. With her scheming and self-centered personality, she often causes trouble for those around her, yet she is described as a natural genius. While leaving her country home, leaving her mother heartbroken, is part of her journey, her bumpy journey as an actress in the Gukgeuk (traditional Korean opera) troupe is less easy to cheer for.
In her quest to find her way, she skips a week of group rehearsals before a show, ignores guidelines by requesting the audition script, and even upstages the lead, disrupting both narrative flow and balance on stage . If such a person existed in real life, he would probably be widely criticized.
In recent episodes, Jeong-nyeon is hurt when her best friend chooses someone else as her audition partner, and she struggles to concentrate. Ignoring warnings about vocal strain, he practices in a cave, eventually collapsing from the vocal strain. His journey seems closely linked to his disruptive behaviors.
Industry experts believe that changing social attitudes contribute to viewers’ discomfort with the character. “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” follows a classic coming-of-age arc, depicting an undisciplined protagonist’s path to maturity, a popular cliché in the past. However, standards have changed over time. Characters who lack consideration for others are no longer as widely liked.
However, the show’s popularity can largely be attributed to the actors’ outstanding performances and Gukgeuk’s captivating stage presentation. Kim Tae-ri’s portrayal of Jeong-nyeon, complete with heavy dialect and singing ability, is flawless and brings the character to life so vividly that some viewers find her even more irritating.
Gukgeuk’s engaging scenes, which take up a lot of screen time every week, have also captivated viewers, especially with performances of classics like “Chunhyangjeon” and “Ja Myung Go” becoming weekly talking points.
However, the character’s “annoying” traits make it difficult for viewers to empathize, leading to mixed reactions and even comments labeling her as a “stress-inducing character”. Adding to this challenge, SBS’ “The Fiery Priest 2” will premiere on November 8, potentially further influencing the show’s audience.
With only four episodes left, the final chapter of Jeong-nyeon’s journey awaits. It’s also time for the production team to grow in their portrayal and editing of the character.
Source: Naver
