And the Seon-deok juggernaut rolls on
by javabeans
Dream, Hometown of Legends
I knew Queen Seon-deok was doing well, but it’s positively crushing the competition.
I wouldn’t really use the word “juggernaut” for a drama under 40% ratings (20% is popular, 30% is a wild success, and 40% — well, a 40% in this drama climate is a phenomenon). While Seon-deok‘s 30% ratings have been strong, they haven’t been that extraordinary, but as the weeks roll by the drama just keeps getting stronger. I wouldn’t compare it to the Jumong phenomenon just yet (which was also a long-running competition-killer and left a lot of rival dramas in the dust), but who knows, at this rate it may end up at the same level.
This week’s episodes of Queen Seon-deok recorded a 37.5% (Monday) and 39.5% (Tuesday). Competitors Dream and the newly premiered Hometown of Legends are left fighting for remnants, which translated into a 6.0% for Dream and 6.8% for Hometown.
Seon-deok is only about halfway through its planned 50-episode run, but if things continue along this trajectory, we can be sure to expect extensions. There’s no way MBC is letting go of a good thing easily; if Seon-deok breaks 40%, it’ll be their first in three years, since Jumong. Who knows, maybe we’ll even get our first “national drama” in a while.
Via Donga
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Tags: drama ratings, Dream, Hometown of Legends, Queen Seon-deok
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1 Alcheon
August 11, 2009 at 4:43 PM
XD
I love Queen Seon Duk. It's actually one of my fav dramas.
Now if only they would stop with the damn cliffhangers. ;__;
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2 onie80
August 11, 2009 at 5:07 PM
is it Ji suk as a vampire? it's funnier than scary
he is horrid !
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3 peanut butter
August 11, 2009 at 5:37 PM
i actually haven't seen any of those dramas but the stills for queen seon-deok look fantastic. i've always read books on her and did research on her...but dramas that long scare me. i'll start watching it after the final episode =]
too bad for mr. vamps and kim bum! they can't even wait for seon deok to be over since seon deok is 50 eps long!
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4 Annie
August 11, 2009 at 5:54 PM
I do agree that Kim ji Suk looks more silly than scary. I don't think that face of his could scare anyone! But then again, I'm pretty easily frightened.
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5 Maybl
August 11, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Woooooot go Queen Seon-deok!!!!
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6 EM
August 11, 2009 at 6:08 PM
I like Dream and its a shame its ratings are so low.
I just started Queen Seon Deok and the first few eps havent really caught my attention, I find myself constantly pausing a dozen times within an ep to go off to do other things.
But Im determined to persevere because from all the reviews it sounds fantastic and im sure its gona be addictive once im firmly entrenched into the main story.
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7 chasen8888
August 11, 2009 at 6:24 PM
I enjoy watching Queen Seon Dok, its a good story 25% fact, 75% fiction. However, I do not want an extension as it could possibly ruin the drama. Good ratings aside its the quality of the drama that's important. Sometimes its best not to extend a show despite the ratings. What I liked most about this show is the pace, an extension as I said before could ruin it as dragging could take place. Plus I have watched Dream, I like it. I do not really worry much rushing about the dramas anymore as I am currently watching about 4 for the week - Queen Seon Deok - good, Dream - fun, Style - yet to determine for continuation once I watch ep 4 and Sons of Sol Pharmacy- fun although at times I want to tear my hair out with frustration & anger at the antics of the Song mom & Dae Poong. So in essence I'm occupied with kdramas for a while.
Hope Queen Seon Dok story as the drama continues gets better.
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8 Jules
August 11, 2009 at 6:38 PM
I'm really enjoying Queen Seon-deok. I think the way the story is progressing is awesome... it's not too slow and not too rushed. I'm hoping it stays that way for the rest of its reign :) I think the acting is simply phenomenal. Especially Ko Hyun Jung as Mishil... she's absolutely perfect for the part in my opinion.
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9 Lindsey
August 11, 2009 at 6:58 PM
I am LOVING Queen Seon-deok.
At first I was barely hanging on, it wasn't that good until episode 3-4 and then really started shooting up. By episode 16, or whenever they switched to their adult roles, i was hooked. It just keeps getting better and better.
I love the child actress who played Seon-deok. She is amazing and I think an awesome actress. It's so fake though, so much drama I know did not happen.
I honestly think its better then jumong, which I'm slowly pulling through. (I cant watch more then an episode a night or I go crazy, where Seon-Deok i can pull off 3 before i run out of time.)
It does suck for the other dramas though, who have to suffer through the times. They kind of screwed, even if they are good dramas.
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10 jo
August 11, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Didn't Seon-deok break the 40% mark with yesterday's episode?
I love Queen Seon-deok,and I think it definitely has the potential to get extension. Not that i want it, but it's just getting better.
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11 sue
August 11, 2009 at 7:13 PM
dang, the thing that shocked me most is hearing that jumong was 3 years ago...
time flies.
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12 seung
August 11, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Hi everyone, we uploaded the first 20 episodes of Queen Seon Duk on DramaFever today with the always great subs from With S2. It's a very good drama, and if you are in US/Canada, you can watch it for free in high quality on our site. We will be adding additional episodes as they become available to us. Enjoy!
Seung Bak
Co-Founder
DramaFever.com
sbak@dramafever.com
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13 cecee
August 11, 2009 at 7:36 PM
@12 seung
I just logged onto dramafever and it now has QSD! OMG! I am so addicted to this drama! I have to watch it every Monday and Tuesday. If only dramafever shows it concurrently but this is sufficient too. I can watch the new ones and rewatch the old ones in better quality.
I am so loving this series! I love all the characters, plot, storyline. It all progresses so well. I hope they keep up the momentum!
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14 ndegeocello
August 11, 2009 at 7:47 PM
i love qsd! it's just getting better and better. it has developed into a serious addiction. =)
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15 loveydovey
August 11, 2009 at 8:08 PM
grr i wish i could stick through a segeuk . >=[ i couldn't even watch jumong the whole way through, i skipped through o many parts and episodes just to see the end. i have to build up my attention span because this drama is sounding better and better!
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16 Jo
August 11, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Well, its obvious why. Seon deok really has great pacing and writing UNLIKE most other sageuks. Every episode is obviously well thought out, without random fillers etc. Plus, just look at the competition. Dream is boring as hayul and hometown is like a joke...for slumber parties or something
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17 more
August 11, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Queen Seon-deok is to me is like every other historical drama nothing special
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18 mimmay
August 11, 2009 at 8:48 PM
I recently finished Jumong and loved it. I was so hooked, although it did start to drag towards the end. Surprisingly, the 81 episodes flew by smoothly, whereas some dramas with only 20 or 24 episodes seem much longer (I guess it really depends on how good the story is). I will definitely check out QSD once it's done with all the episodes. I love to watch a good saguek once in a while.
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19 rainey
August 11, 2009 at 9:31 PM
What is a 'national' drama?
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20 all4movies
August 11, 2009 at 9:55 PM
After many stops and starts, I finally finished Jumong today. If QSD turns out to be anything near the epic proportions of Jumong, which it already has the potential to be, I will definitely be adding this one to my collection of must have sageuks.
Fighting!!!
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21 cloud
August 11, 2009 at 10:10 PM
What would be the requirements for a national drama? I would think shining inheritance would have achieved that already with a final viewer rating of something like 47.5%. Jumong ended with 51.9% from what wiki tells me. Has there been any others that have achieve this level of success?
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22 Brockade
August 11, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Javabeans, maybe you should do some research before making these posts.
"40% in this drama climate is a phenomenon.."
"...wouldn’t compare it to the Jumong phenomenon just yet (which was also a long-running competition-killer "
As stated in a previous comment above, Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy had over 40% in FIVE of it's episodes, and stayed ABOVE 30% for over half of it's run.
Also, it was NOT a long running series (or historical for that mattter) like Seok deok and Jumong. No, it was a family drama that only ran 28 episodes, and finished less than a month ago. Why no mention of this drama?
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23 Javabeans
August 11, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Brockade, exactly how is my post wrong?
40% in this climate IS a phenomenon. Jumong was a phenomenon that averaged in the 40s and broke 50%. MBC hasn't had a similar hit in years -- Brilliant Legacy is another recent 40% topper, but it's SBS. (Other 40% series in the past year -- yes, I did the research -- were all KBS, like Mom's Dead Upset, You're My Destiny, and Likable or Not, except Wife's Temptation, which was SBS.)
Why should you be so angry that a post about Seon-deok did not talk about Brilliant Legacy?
A drama usually earns the designation of "national drama" once it breaks 50%, although I have seen some instances where it was used for dramas in the 40%s. I haven't heard the term used to describe Brilliant Legacy, though (or Likable or Not, etc). The last one I can recall is Jumong, and before that Samsoon, but I may be forgetting one or two.
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24 jiawern
August 11, 2009 at 11:27 PM
but the vampire is so......funny? just like comedy...
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25 michi
August 12, 2009 at 1:03 AM
QSD totally rocks!
And I am a new fan of Go Hyun-jung ^^
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26 mcjayjay
August 12, 2009 at 3:16 AM
yea i don't understand why you never mentioned brilliant legacy, i mean the finale was 47.4%. For some reason i am quite disappointed of you never mentioning brilliant legacy. Do you not like the drama? I don't mean to be rude or anything, i'm just wondering.
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27 deeta
August 12, 2009 at 3:28 AM
Pardon me for being OT, but OMFG!!! So Drama Fever has finally reached Canada! I cannot express just how ecstatic I am. Yay for English subbed dramas!!
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28 cecee
August 12, 2009 at 12:01 PM
@22 how rude! Java is very very thorough!
Brillant Legacy was not mentioned in Java's thread so why even bring it up? Ratings? Is it going on now? It has ended so leave it be. QSD is a great drama and I hope it does become a "juggernaut.”
btw, java did mention Brillant Legacy before; perhaps you just did not read it when it was mentioned! SO leave it be!
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29 Javabeans
August 12, 2009 at 12:35 PM
If you want to read about Brilliant Legacy, here are its posts: http://www.dramabeans.com/tag/brilliant-legacy/
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30 goldlilys
August 12, 2009 at 6:18 PM
QSD is one of the best dramas out right now, but I can't say it's the best saeguk drama I've seen. My favorite will still be Dae Jang Geum and Jumong. So far QSD hasn't quite reached those levels.
The best part about QSD is the storyline and Mishil. While I think the main characters are doing okay in their portrayal, they're acting just doesn't match that of Song Il Guk in Jumong. Plus the king of QSD is a total weakling. I am, however, loving the girl dresses up as a guy and finding out that she's a princess storyline. I also love new characters like Bidam.
As for Brilliant Legacy, I wouldn't call it in the same levels as "national" drama either because it didn't really revolutionize dramas. It seems too cliche and it probably only had good ratings because there was no competition during that time.
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31 Jenna
August 12, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Coz Kim Bum's hair is so wrong and vampires should only look like Robert Pattinson..
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32 D
August 12, 2009 at 11:25 PM
jenna @31
now that's really funny, but on second thought, maybe true? kekekeek
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33 cloud
August 13, 2009 at 10:30 PM
thanks for info java, great as always. I have difficulty watching saguek dramas for some odd reason, they interests me but I have trouble sitting through a 2 hour movie let alone a 50 ep marathon. Well hopefully they continue to do well. ^^
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34 Ranting
August 14, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Why is that it's usually the cliche, dramatic, over-the-top script/acting that gets all the good ratings, but the more revoluntionary (by industry values, not popularity or Hallyu-wave standards) productions are often left in the dust? Is it that the Korean audience just love drama, cliche, and unrealistic themes?
Sorry, just lamenting on some of the superficialism that gets to me. But maybe they need all this, and all the material possesions - S. Korea ranked #1 in the world for the most workaholic country, surpassing the 2nd place country by over 30% - and it looks like they'll be maintaining the record for several decades.
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35 Plum
August 27, 2009 at 10:29 PM
After reading the plot summary, and seeing the promotional stills I decided to give it a try when it first aired. I'm very picky with watching historical dramas since my Korean isn't 100% good so I tend to get easily lost ^^;; I really like the characters and the acting, it's an interesting watch, plus it's not overkill with the dramatics compared to some dramas I've seen =/
I'm kind of surprised by the ratings :o! 50 episodes is a lot...and I kind of hope they don't extend it lol. I feel bad for the ratings on other dramas though, looking on conversations on Soompi, people say not to rely on ratings and that they're not always correct, but I have no interest in ratings that much... only on the drama's plot, and acting XD
Isn't there more dramas airing soon? The ratings will probably change...
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36 nena from the philippines
October 29, 2009 at 1:08 AM
yes, it is true that jumong is phenomenal here in the phils. and i can't wait to watch queenseondok soon here, but for now, we are trying to view this drama in the internet every week... it's really frustrating and exciting as well.... like jumong i've seen it for three times the whole 81 episodes. and i found MBC is very good in showcasing the literature of korea through this dramaseries... also the writer is excellent since i have seen also the jewel in the palace wayback three years ago.. excellent!
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37 Ryu
December 2, 2009 at 11:59 PM
I enjoyed Queen Seondeok very much. Love especially Deokman.
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