After criticism, Jisoo’s performance in “Newtopia” newest episode receives praise

Among the four BLACKPINK members, Jisoo has taken the most unconventional career path since going solo. Rather than pursuing music like her members, she has chosen to focus on acting. Her return to the screen after three years, following her debut in “Snowdrop,” has generated considerable buzz online. Many are eager to see if she has made any progress.

In “Snowdrop,” Jisoo’s performance was criticized for her weak vocal projection, unclear pronunciation, and stiff facial expressions. These issues made it difficult for audiences to fully connect with the drama. Now, with “Newtopia,” she takes on another lead role, hoping to showcase her growth as an actress.

“Newtopia,” a Coupang Play series that generated excitement before its release, offers a fresh spin on the K-zombie genre. It follows a couple, late-blooming soldier Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung-min) and his long-distance girlfriend Kang Young-joo (played by Jisoo), as they fight their way through a zombie-infested Seoul to reunite.

However, since its premiere on February 7, the focus has shifted from the show’s storyline to Jisoo’s performance. While reviews about the plots were mostly positive, the only problem pointed out was Jisoo’s acting. Jisoo plays Young-joo, a new employee who joined a company and has worked for a month after graduating from an engineering university. Youngju is described as a woman who owns a beauty that everyone envies and irresistible charm. However, Jisoo’s lacking acting failed to capture these traits properly. Even her visual, which has shone brightly on the stage, now seems exaggerated because of her excessive facial expressions.

Some viewers compared her vocal delivery to Ji Ye-eun from “SNL Korea,” criticizing her unclear pronunciation. Online communities were flooded with harsh remarks, with comments such as, “Isn’t she just a tongue-tied Ji Ye-eun?” and “Her pronunciation is completely mumbled.”

This criticism mirrors the feedback she received for “Snowdrop.” Despite having three years to refine her skills, Jisoo still struggles with unnatural facial expressions and unclear articulation. Even in emotionally charged scenes that require confusion, shock, or sorrow, her expressions often fall flat. In short, Jisoo has shown no improvement in acting ever since “Snowdrop”, and still receives bad reviews, such as weak vocalization, unstable voice tone, unclear pronunciation, and unnatural facial expressions.

Her shortcomings become even more apparent when placed alongside her co-star, Park Jung-min. Widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of his generation, Park Jung-min has been praised as a “genius” since his university days. His compelling performance further emphasizes the gap in Jisoo’s acting ability, making her the weakest link in an otherwise well-executed production. Many negative comments suggested that she should stick to being an idol or a model rather than pursuing acting.

Surprisingly, after 5 episodes, Jisoo’s performance in the newest episode has received praise. In a pivotal scene where her group of friends is fleeing from a zombie attack, one unfortunate member fails to escape through a door and is surrounded by the undead, meeting a tragic fate. The moment Jisoo’s character stands helplessly behind the glass, watching Alex—her comrade who had fought alongside her—die right before her eyes, her acting unexpectedly received a flood of compliments. Many viewers noted that Jisoo’s crying scene was particularly impressive, feeling much more natural than her previous performances. She successfully conveyed the pain and helplessness of her character, even moving some viewers to tears.

On the platform X (formerly Twitter), images from Jisoo’s performance garnered massive engagement, with nearly 7 million views. Many comments praised and encouraged her, suggesting that if she maintains this level of performance, she could avoid unnecessary criticism. Notably, in her debut drama “Snowdrop”, Jisoo also received praise for an emotional crying scene where her character witnessed her lover being killed. It seems the issue lies in script selection—Jisoo might have chosen roles that didn’t suit her abilities, leading to discomfort for viewers. However, when placed in the right emotional context, her acting appears much more convincing.

Viewers’ comments:

• Is this performance enough to silence the haters?
• Here comes actress Kim Jisoo!
• How can anyone still criticize this performance???
• Jisoo’s acting… OMG, I’m shocked.
• Turns out Jisoo does better in emotional scenes than exaggerated comedic ones. If she picks her roles wisely and hones her skills, she can definitely be a great actress.