Chapter 299
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 299
[So hyped for Dead after Hope]
As the production intent, character list, and relationship chart for Dead after Hope were released, drama fanatics began to buzz.
From the main PD and the screenwriter to the camera director, lighting director, art team, music team, and costume team—according to information dug up online—every single one belonged to a production company they had heard of at least once. For drama buffs, it was impossible not to be excited.
[The Hit-Maker Min Ji-heon is here]
To top it off, the lead was Min Ji-heon.
He was a man who could make an audience sob even back when he was playing a mad scientist who loved frogs in a tiny theater troupe. Moreover, Min Ji-heon had never once failed at the box office, earning him the title of the "Invincible Actor."
[But the production intent is a bit vague lol. Feels like it might not be a mainstream hit...]
【Highly intelligent, but not straying far from the norm.
Quick-witted and unerring in judgment, yet ordinary.
Possessing a slightly greater degree of altruism.
When an ordinary person, living day to day like any other, encounters a disaster beyond imagination, what path will they take?】
However, the production intent itself seemed plain, lacking any particularly unique elements.
[Why feature an ordinary protagonist in a post-apocalypse?]
[LOL, well... he’ll probably swing a baseball bat a few times and then have an awakening.]
[Why even look at the production intent? They always write stuff like that and then the drama ends up being totally different.]
[But this post is hilarious.
First of all, Min Ji-heon’s face isn't "ordinary."
└ That’s why there’s no mention of his face.
It probably should have said: "Incomparably / blindingly more handsome than a commoner."
└└ LMAO, damn, that’s accurate.]
While everyone said they would wait and see, the majority didn't have high expectations for the drama.
However, Dead after Hope, which had been the talk of the town solely because of Min Ji-heon’s involvement, received a 180-degree shift in reviews after the first episode aired.
【Help me! Please, please help me!】
In an instant, the city transforms into a scene of carnage, becoming a world where everyone is too busy saving their own skin.
Min Han-jun, played by Min Ji-heon, was no different.
As Min Han-jun searched for a place to hide, a slightly dull yet delicate voice reached his ears.
The child looked to be about ten years old. Two of the Infected were frantically pounding on the window of the car where the child sat, face smeared with tears and snot.
【Ha, haha. This is driving me crazy, seriously….】
Min Han-jun lets out a distorted laugh.
The possibility of dying while trying to save the child, versus the guilt that would haunt him if he turned away. He seemed to be wandering somewhere between the two.
In that brief moment of hesitation, tens of thousands of emotions flash by, and ultimately, Min Han-jun chooses to help.
Because he knows the terror of being left alone.
Scanning his surroundings, Min Han-jun grabs a large stone and first smashes the head of the nearest Infected. Immediately after, he swings his arm to the side to attack another Infected lunging at him. Despite a direct hit to the face, the creature only staggers slightly before rushing back to bite him.
Just as he squeezed his eyes shut, thinking this was the end—
Thwack!
【How can you close your eyes there?!】
At the sound of a voice right beside him, he lifted his eyelids to see a familiar face with a gentle impression. It was a person who had been among the group of survivors Min Han-jun had first discovered.
The man introduced himself as Kim Woo-hyeong while shaking off the blood that had splattered on him while he was crushing the Infected's head with a bow.
One of Kim Woo-hyeong’s arms was in a cast. Min Han-jun judged that since it would be difficult to receive such professional treatment in this situation, the injury wasn't recent, and therefore, the man likely wasn't infected.
【Whew…, are you okay?】
Kim Woo-hyeong picked up and comforted the child, who had cautiously opened the car door.
Afterward, the two traveled together only until they could find a safe shelter to leave the child. This was because Kim Woo-hyeong had to leave immediately to find his older brother.
【Hyung, let’s meet again. Stay healthy until then.】
【Yeah, thanks.】
Min Han-jun couldn't move from the entrance of the shelter until Kim Woo-hyeong’s back was no longer visible. But before long, Min Han-jun had to leave that place as well. The Infected had broken through the crudely constructed barriers and invaded.
Thus, the role of ‘Kim Woo-hyeong’ left a short but powerful impression on the viewers.
[Wow, this is seriously so good ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ This drama is insane.]
[I know, right? A masterpiece has finally arrived after so long. The scale of the sets is overwhelming.]
[Plus, the acting is incredible... I hope they keep this tempo until the end ㅠㅠ
└ We’ll have to see about Seo Ho-yun... Looking at the foreshadowing about the brother, it seems like his role will be huge.
└└ Lol....... Filtering it out...]
A week after the trailer for Episode 3 was released.
People assumed that the primary message of Dead after Hope was the hope that sprouts even amidst the humanity and despair depicted throughout Episodes 1 and 2.
【Fuck, get lost!!】
However, from the beginning of Episode 3, someone was betrayed or victimized every thirty seconds, and every minute, someone was bitten by the Infected, causing the virus to spread rapidly.
[LOL... ah... ah... I’m literally holding my head and muttering "Is this right?" Fuck, Writer-nim, PD-nim, Actor-nim, did you really have to do this to me?]
[But this is more realistic... It hurts, but still..]
In front of the rations, the weak were gradually excluded.
A world where physical strength became the law and power.
It had barely been a few weeks since the Infected first appeared.
[The writer just smacked me in the back of the head.]
[No, no, no, no, you were on our side! You were a good person!]
[Look at him smiling at Min Han-jun, it’s so chilling;;;]
At that moment, when the realization that humans could be infinitely cruel depending on the situation wrapped the entire drama in frustration and gloom—
【Why should I?】
Kim Woo-ho appeared.
[Ah, it’s Woo-hyeong’s brother!!!]
Unlike Kim Woo-hyeong, who always had a smile on his face and took the lead in saving people, he was—
【Dumbass.】
Coarse,
【I don't want to.】
Lazy,
【Why should I?】
And calculating.
[How did that guy become a national athlete? He disgraced South Korea's honor, that son of a bitch.]
[I bet he fluked it. Fuck, he probably has no skill.]
[The only good thing about Kim Woo-ho is his face.]
[He—he’s the worst, seriously lol. Look at him keeping his mouth shut and acting all indifferent. Ugh, so annoying.]
[Seo Ho-yun is acting so well... People are doing nothing but talking about how annoying Kim Woo-ho is lol.
└ Oh, you're right lol. I wasn't even thinking about the acting.
I just wanted to smack Kim Woo-ho in the back of the head..]
Criticism poured in for Kim Woo-ho and the new group of survivors who had rapidly emerged as the villains of Episode 3.
[Aaaaah, our Han-jun is a good kid!]
[There’s no way Min Ji-heon dies like this.]
With about ten minutes left until the end of the episode, Kim Woo-ho aims his bow at Min Han-jun, who has been accused of being infected.
【That’s right. I fell like an idiot while riding a bike a few weeks ago.】
【…….】
【So? Obviously, I can’t use a bow.】
Muttering softly, Kim Woo-ho’s eyes sparkle as if he’s heard something amusing. He draws his bow and then turns his head to the side.
【In that case, who would the liar be here?】
At the same time, he swings the bow he was holding downward, crushing the head of the person who had actually turned into an Infected.
【……No, you have a bow, so why didn't you shoot…?】
【Arrows are a waste.】
When Min Han-jun, who had stopped in shock, asked in bewilderment, the corners of Kim Woo-ho’s mouth curled up playfully.
The villain who had been tormenting Min Han-jun was quickly exited by Kim Woo-ho’s hand, and Episode 3 came to an end.
[Wow, the pacing at the end was insane.]
[Crazy, lol. No, but since when was taking out an Infected a one-handed job?
feat. All the hardships Min Han-jun went through until now....]
[LOL, it was weird how they kept calling Min Han-jun "ordinary," but in the DAH universe, he really is ordinary lol. Fuck, the strongest person in this world is Kim Woo-ho!!]
[But Kim Woo-ho is a bit suspicious ㄷㄷ]
[I feel like he’s going to betray Min Han-jun and bolt.]
[Exactly lol. Is this the appearance of a full-fledged villain?]
Reactions were split between extremes, but everyone agreed on one thing: Seo Ho-yun’s acting was incredible.
[Seo Ho-yun is acting soooooo well. People aren't even talking about the protagonist right now, they're only talking about Kim Woo-ho.]
[Whoa.... Did you see his eyes change in an instant? That was insane.]
After Episode 4 aired, Seo Ho-yun’s popularity rose even further. This was because the likability he lost by ignoring or picking on the protagonist, Min Han-jun, was refilled by the glimpses of him remembering or mentioning his younger brother, ‘Kim Woo-hyeong.’
The way the always-composed Kim Woo-ho would wear a desperate expression upon finding a trace of his brother, or how his gaze would waver when meeting a survivor who had crossed paths with him.
【Pfft, he’s always been a bit slow.】
Or how he would chuckle while sharing his brother’s embarrassing past—like the time he fell down a hill while jumping rope as a kid and lost his front teeth.
Before they even had a chance to deny it, people were dragged by the hair into falling for the character of Kim Woo-ho.
[Wow, this guy is seriously driving me crazy.]
[You started as a bad guy, so just stay a bad guy until the end, ugh ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ah, I’m seriously losing it ㅠㅠ]
Even within the drama, Kim Woo-ho’s attitude toward Min Han-jun gradually changed.
If at first he was ‘a brat I wouldn't use even if you paid me,’ now he looked at him as if seeing his own brother.
【Why are you traveling with me?】
Startled as if he’d received an unexpected question, Kim Woo-ho hesitated slightly before answering.
【You... you’re a bit like Kim Woo-hyeong.】
【Huuuh?】
Min Han-jun, who had been eating cup ramen, let the noodles slide right back out of his mouth.
【Hot, hot, ah, hiss. That brother of yours, Woo-ho? Is that a good thing?】
【It’s not a compliment, so stop grinning like an idiot and wipe the broth off your face.】
Despite Kim Woo-ho’s scolding, Min Han-jun continued to beam and roughly wiped his mouth with his palm. Kim Woo-ho clicked his tongue, saying it was filthy.
【Just. You have some dumbass qualities. Like trying to save people even in this situation… that kind of thing.】
The aspect of not being able to ignore those who are weak or in trouble, being naively deceived yet easily trusting again.
【That’s not being a dumbass. It’s only natural.】
【Sure, you dumbass.】
【And you’re the same, Woo-ho.】
Seeing Kim Woo-ho’s face crumple into a frown, Min Han-jun spoke as if stating the most obvious thing in the world.
【You’ve saved me several times.】
Within his eyes, a firm trust in Kim Woo-ho had taken root.
【Right…. I guess there need to be some people who think like you.】
The long corners of Kim Woo-ho’s eyes crinkled softly.
[Kim Woo-ho....
He’s like an angel.]
[He is our South Korea.]
[I thought the setting of Kim Woo-ho being a "national athlete more handsome than a celebrity who appears in lots of CFs" was too much, but seeing him now, it’s totally justified.]
[Kim Woo-ho’s eyes when he first saw Min Han-jun vs. his eyes now.
Wow lol, the gaze really is different lol.
└ The first one was so hurtful lol.]
In the final scene of Episode 4, Kim Woo-ho stands still with his face buried in his hands after hearing news that Kim Woo-hyeong has been found.
【…….】
There wasn't a single line of dialogue, but his trembling fingertips and irregular breathing expressed his emotions in his stead.
[My heart hurts, fuck ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Kim Woo-ho is not a character who could ever be unpopular.
If I’m wrong, I’ll eat my hat.]
[Seo Ho-yun acts so damn well, seriously.... It’s crazy.... He’s a perfect fit for playing someone with a foul personality. I didn't know he was this good.. Especially when it comes to anything related to his brother, the immersion level skyrockets. His diction is really natural, too..]
[Every gesture and look shows how much he struggled and rolled in the dirt lol. Even before the infection broke out, this guy definitely worked his ass off as a national archer....]
In just four episodes, Dead after Hope reached record-breaking viewership ratings, and its popularity soared endlessly.
From behind-the-scenes videos to the staff’s Starstagrams and interviews with the main PD or casting director—the public was devouring every scrap and still clamoring for more. It was then that—
“Here are the hottest people these days! We’ve invited Min Ji-heon-ssi and Seo Ho-yun-ssi from Dead after Hope!”
Min Ji-heon and Seo Ho-yun appeared on an entertainment news program.
“Hello~.”
“Hello!”
[Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!]
Shedding their grimy appearances from the post-apocalyptic world, their properly groomed looks radiated brilliance.
[Min Ji-heon is barely human.]
[Wow, Seo Ho-yun is soooooo handsome.]
[This is insane. Their images are so different, but the fact that they both give off a sharp aura is the best, seriously.]
“I’m actor Seo Ho-yun, who played the role of Kim Woo-ho in Dead after Hope.”
“I’m Min Ji-heon, who played Min Han-jun~.”
Furthermore, Min Ji-heon was famous for giving short answers in interviews, but thanks to Seo Ho-yun playfully joking and leading the conversation, a natural dialogue ensued.
Though, for some reason, it looked like Min Ji-heon was laughing in staccato—Ha. Ha.
“As a huge fan of Dead after Hope myself thanks to your incredible performances, I’m so excited to look at the profiles you filled out in advance! Shall we reveal them now?”
“Yes.”
“First, from Seo Ho-yun-ssi… the thing he’s most confident in……. Oh my goodness!! Really?!”
“Of course.”
“Wow, what confidence!”
The reporter, eyes wide with an exclamation, took her time and slowly turned the paper she was holding.
“Everyone, Seo Ho-yun-ssi’s most confident specialty is—!!”
[Probably acting or something.]
Just as people were thinking it would be something like crying quickly, a snippet of a song, or a clumsy vocal impression at best, the reporter’s voice flowed clearly through the speakers.
“—Idol choreography!!”
[Pardon?]