Rookie actors have successfully led ‘Girigo,’ with only one noticeable flaw.
Released last month, the Netflix series ‘Girigo’ follows high school students struggling to escape a curse from a wish-granting app of the same name. The show is receiving a great response, even climbing to number one on the Global Top 10 Non-English shows list in its second week.
The success of ‘Girigo’ was driven by fresh faces. The lead actors, including Jeon So-young, Kang Mina, Baek Sun-ho, Hyun Woo-seok, and Lee Hyo-je, are all rookies with limited acting experience.
Jeon So-young, who is in her second year since debut, took on ‘Girigo’ as her first lead role.
Jeon So-young’s character, Se-ah, is central to the plot. By interacting with all the characters, she stably portrayed the character’s evolution. Kang Mina brought a fresh perspective by perfectly depicting a teenage girl’s feelings of inferiority. Some critics suggest that Kang Mina is the biggest beneficiary of ‘Girigo’ thanks to her recognized acting skills.
Baek Sun-ho and Hyun Woo-seok are also praised for their immersive performances, portraying everything from ordinary teenagers to the extreme situations they face while uncovering the secrets of ‘Girigo.’ Lee Hyo-je, who played a key role in the early part of the series, left a deep impression on viewers despite not having a large part.
Noh Jae-won’s performance as a supporting character also shone. Playing the role of Bang-ul, who supports the protagonists during their crises, he perfectly captured the character’s comic vibe and played a significant role in refreshing the mood of the series.
However, Jeon Soni was a different story. While she visually fit the character, her acting did not. Since her character, the shaman Haet-sal, was a crucial “fixer” in ‘Girigo,’ the role was important, but she could not avoid harsh criticism. Her emotional acting and vocalization left much to be desired.
