Prior to EXO's debut, Kai was the face of the group due to his multitude of teasers and dancing prowess. After debut, Luhan's manga-like features literally made headlines.

KpopStarz's Adrienne Stanley recently wrote an article "Is Chanyeol The Savior Of EXO?" This is partially in response to that, but also a general piece about D.O moving up from "the member with the big eyes" to the member who is most likely heard and seen on Korean television.

This year has been a difficult one for EXO, filled with a member leaving and another member causing controversy by dating one of K-Pop's favorite darlings. Kris and Baekhyun definitely are out of the running for EXO's "poster child of the year."

But many people have looked to Chanyeol; he has become a mainstay on both Laws of the Jungle and Roommates, partially acting as a bandage to sooth over EXO's cracked image. It would make sense for Chanyeol to continue pursuing his career on television, and become an actor. He would just be one of many idol actors who have turned to television to solidify their careers, most prominently Big Bang's T.O.P.

Instead, rather than focusing all of the Korean entertainment industry on a funny rapper, SM Entertainment snuck in almost overnight with D.O.

When it was announced that D.O would be appearing in It's Okay, That's Love with Jo In Sung, star of That Winter, The Wind Blows, and Gong Hyo Jin, of The Master's Sun fame, it appeared that SM Entertainment had called in some favors to get another idol-actor on television.

However, D.O.'s acting surpassed many people's expectations, especially when it turned out that his character was far more important than initially perceived to be. His natural wide-eyed expression has aided in his acting, and he certainly has room to improve, but D.O is one of the best rookie idol-actors in a long time.

Taking into account the fact that he was trained to be a main vocalist rather than an actor (most idol rappers are the "visuals" or "actors,") it is very impressive that D.O's acting  is impactful, and that the rookie is able to keep up with an actor like Jo In Sung.

Had D.O not been up to par, the drama would probably still have flood properly- D.O's character, while important to some degree, is only in a few scenes. But, in those scenes, D.O has made quite the impression on the audience.

This impressionability, where D.O steps outside of the usual typecasted idol-actor role, gives D.O a step up to other idols, including EXO's other members.

The fact that he also is a double threat, thanks to his vocal talent, means that D.O could essentially appear in dramas and provide the soundtrack for them (EXO's Chen sings the title song of It's Okay, That's Love.)

Between Chanyeol and D.O, EXO has almost every platform of the Korean entertainment industry covered- acting, singing, rapping, and variety.

But while Chanyeol's personality made him an obvious choice to pursue a career on variety shows and become the mood-maker of EXO's reputation, it is an unlikely choice to have D.O step up and represent the idol group in dramas.

Dramas are much more popular in Korea than K-Pop, which is aimed at younger people. Variety shows, while well received, tend to flounder in relation to dramas. Idols who make themselves known in the idol world almost always inevitably become the face of the group.

The face in It's Okay, That's Love, is a pitiful yet determined teenager, someone who is trying to do what's right in awful situations. His acting is so intense that it's hard to separate D.O's character from the idol himself, which means that it is separate that character from EXO. Chanyeol may be the one keeping the humor, but D.O is the one gaining sympathy.

D.O made a name for himself as a singer, so even two months ago it would seem odd to be saying that he is one of Korea's up and coming acting-idols. But D.O's appearance on It's Okay, That's Love has shown that the singer is very much able to stand his own both on stage and behind the camera.