Stepping on land mines and stripping on airplanes in Missing 9’s latest teaser

Monday, January 16, 2017

In a last-minute round of promos, more posters and a second teaser for MBC’s Missing 9 have been released. And it’s left me so confused because the tone of the teaser conflicts with all of the previous buildup for the redesigned drama. Originally touted as a thriller-mystery, Missing 9 will depict how nine plane crash victims become engaged in a savage battle for survival on an uninhabited island.

Jung Kyung-ho plays a has-been idol band leader, and Baek Jin-hee plays his rookie stylist. Jung Kyung-ho’s management agency, Legend Entertainment, and some other of his more successful labelmates are onboard the plane with them when it crashes. But the story of their life on the island is told months later by the only known survivor, Baek Jin-hee. The previous poster that was released talked about an unidentified corpse, and the first teaser had an spectacularly suspenseful vibe which made me excited for some murder-mystery action. But this newly released teaser has thrown me for a loop.

It starts off with Jung Kyung-ho’s fall from glory, showing flashes of him getting into a police car, throwing a tantrum on set, and drinking soju like a pro. Then we see him crying crocodile tears while apologizing to his Chinese fans. After his stylist is introduced, it’s clear that he doesn’t like her, and he orders that she be fired immediately.

Despite all that, as soon as they realize they’re stranded on an island, his approach toward her changes 180 degrees. Telling her to just believe in him, he starts to kindle a fire and chop up wood, only to fail and end up stepping on a land mine. But like a leopard can’t change his spots, Jung Kyung-ho’s spoiled celebrity attitude shows as he continues to yell about his unlucky streak after encountering numerous frustrations.

Throughout, clever hashtags like “#BesidesPopularity_DidYouHave_AnythingElseToLose?” punctuate his adventure. At the end, the group discusses their situation, wondering whether they really are the only survivors. Baek Jin-hee asks Jung Kyung-ho, “We’ll probably come out of here alive, right?” And he replies, “Let’s believe that we will, together until the end. Okay?”

In contrast with the new teaser, the new official posters have kept consistent with the chilling, desperate atmosphere that I was drawn to initially. In the first, Baek Jin-hee stares straight into the camera with grave eyes while Jung Kyung-ho is sprawled on his back, unconscious in front of her. The caption reads: “I believe that we’ll leave here alive.” The second looks like a news clipping with information on the plane crash and its victims. Its headline says, “‘The missing 9…’ The investigation for the hidden truth begins.” Both look promising, so I’m hoping the drama will stay dark and foreboding as promised, perhaps with interspersed bits of gallows humor instead of going the wacky comedy route.

MBC’s upcoming drama Missing 9 starts airing this Wednesday on January 18.