Definitely a good script,..the writer manages to incorporate something that remained relevant to the Korean folks via folklore and society ills.

I read that article and I just do not buy into it, for a simple reason: These are actually very high ratings for a romcom. In short, a whole lot of people are enjoying this show.

I would think that it would be appropriate to point out to the writer of that story that THE REAL HAS COME was extremely timely and topical- and absolutely not out-of-date yet is drawing far lower ratings for a weekender than the relatively recent weekender YOUNG LADY AND GENTLEMAN which was dramatic nonsense featuring not one but two Amnesia Arcs- timeworn tropes indeed. YOU LADY AND GENTLEMAN drew very high ratings for a weekender despite the time worn nonsense.

I personally think Allkpop is not a reliable source. They tend to sensationalize, pick sides, or quote negative comments to back up over the top headline.

The ratings might go down because it is uncomfortable to watch intimate scenes on television with your family. The ratings went down right after episode 8 where the kiss scenes start. Just after the broadcast ended the new episode is already on Netflix. I would prefer to watch and swoon and blush in private.

KTL's broadcast ratings have utmost dipped 1%. I hear ratings around 10 are good enough for cable TV romcom.
On Netflix this week KTL is the #1 show globally beating even the Netflix originals (including English shows).

Dramas typically receive their highest ratings during their final week, like with REVERENT. Debut dramas usually have lower ratings.

Thus the need for more than just kisses and romance in a romcom. It can't stand alone, after the couple meet and fall in love. Cant exprct life to be all lovey dovey all the time.This is why Crash Course in Romance, Crash Landing On You, Hometown ChaChaCha do well in terms ratings.

I wouldn't put too much stock on KTL's ratings dip. It was the #1 show globally on Netflix (#1 in Netflix Korea too), topping both Non-English and English shows. It was featured in Gallup Korea’s ‘Favourite TV Programs’ survey, with its viewership demographics ranging from teenagers to middle-aged people in their 50s. Junho and Yoona have also topped buzzworthy actors lists for 6 weeks in a row. People aren't uninterested in KTL; they’re just watching online.

I know most people here don't think much of KTL (I personally enjoy it and find it quite fun to watch after an exhausting week), but let’s face it, local viewers like it just fine. 10% ratings is really good for a cable channel rom-com. JTBC hasn’t had a rom-com do this well since Strong Girl Bong Soon, which KTL already surpassed in ratings.

Are these different opinions rooted in hate or simply personal perspectives?

Here we go again. This is a place for kdrama discussion and that means everybody is free to speak as long as they are polite and respectful. YOU are free to love or hate any kdrama and talk about it. Everybody ELSE is also free to do the same.

They can have thousands of reasons to keep posting about a drama they hate, it can be cathartic, therapeutic, and even fun. They don't need permission or judgement.

Every year this happens, most beanies won't like a particular drama and will be very talkative about it. The drama itself has some kind of quality that makes people keep watching, it's usually easy to imagine and explain what they are, and this will bother those that do like same drama. Please don't let your appreciation for a drama make you try to censor other people's behavior.

This kinda reminds me of the "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all" and honestly, that frustrates me.

Like I'm not saying it's okay to be cruel or disrespectful to people but, for me in particular, I'm not a "positive" person. I can have more critical or negative thoughts and if I weren't allowed a space to share them, it legitimately makes my body hurt.

I try not to be too critical of a show because I know the cast and crew didn't *intend* for it to have whatever flaws but sometimes frustrations with a project need to be shared. Even if it's get another perspective or to vent. Also, sharing thoughts, whether they're positive, negative, or neutral, can make another person feel seen and less alone. There are folks who come on this site and don't post things because they are shy or self conscious about having opposing thoughts to the "norm". Using KTL as an example, the show is successful and for some, it could be totally baffling why considering it's just a basic romcom without much substance but they don't feel comfortable saying such a thing because it's popular and the idols' fans could jump down their throats. In that instance, it's validating to have other people who are like "yeah, I agree. The show is blah blah blah".

😭😭😭😭
Let’s just say we are the minority group enjoying this drama. I don’t expect anything to change for heartbeat.

Love Heartbeat. Maybe the low ratings are just the curse of its mid-week programming placement?

It is okay, we are a small group but we love. Heartbeat is an absolute JOY.

It is for taecyeon fans and those into vampire/slapstick humor dramas.

@ruhi0101 I don't think anyone who didn't like the show at Ep 4 answered your question. I'll try because even tho I wasn't grossed out by the show, I wasn't in luv-luv by Ep4, and may have even dropped later down the line. What changed? As I mentioned, the romance arc picked up. So, if you're a fan of slow burn romances with tough-to-soft females and adorable male leads, I'd say watch till Ep 11 at least (where we are now). It delivers!

Funnily enough for a fantasy show, this is one of the most relatable, down-to-earth, honest couples I've seen in dramaland. You worried about consent (rightly so) but as the episodes progress, they become one of the most balanced relationships I've seen. With the power, arguably, in the FL's hand. They even equitably divide house chores! (Catnip to some of us.)

The comedy gets toned down a lot, and the vampire focus is almost absent (to the chagrin of some). As for blood, well, it's about vampires; it's their defining feature. However, until now, no exchange (consensual or otherwise) has happened till now. Blood does play a role, but as you noted, it's about the past life connection, not vampire lust. I don't want to give anything more away. Will that change? Probably. So keep that in mind. But if you do decide to watch, that's where the show is *at the moment.*

Happy drama journey, whichever direction you choose to take.

What does MT mean?

After exit of teen actors METS pretty much became KSH's one man show and people mostly kept watching it: a) for him, b) out of fond memories of young characters, c) to clown FL actress' flatter than my curves in middle school performance. So yeah, it may be considered classic because it's a certified hit and drama everyone knows, but its overall longevity is debatable at best. Perhaps we can classify it as semi-classic.

I'd say one needs to have ratings, buzz and longevity to be a true winner. Most hit shows settle for two of these factors max. There's also a critical acclaim, but that's a completely another beast...

Lately, JTBC has been doing a good job promoting their dramas and placing them in the right time slot. It looks like KTL is hitting the spot for a lot of local viewers no matter how we judge it. 10% on cable channels is pretty good.
https://www.soompi.com/article/1603973wpp/revenant-rated-most-buzzworthy-drama-lee-junho-and-yoona-top-actor-list

Back in 2012, there were just three sageuks. MOON/SUN cleverly premiered at a time with no rivals. The remaining two came out seven months later, which made them compete against each other even though they weren't airing at the same time.

@linarrick Certainly King the Land has no critical buzz, and it won't make anyone's list as one of the all time great rom-coms--it would need a little more writing (or even, dare I say, some writing) to have that.

But what do you mean there is no buzz around it? Do you mean in Korea itself? Its the top international series on Netflix, those sites that select "buzzworthy" actors have picked Junho and Yoona the last six weeks in a row. I was thinking the opposite that, there was a really surprising amount of buzz around it, given that its essentially just a vehicle for its two stars to show that even if they aren't dating in real life, they should be.

In fact, I'll make two predictions based on buzz:

1. We are going to see more rom-coms whose main attraction is spotlighting well known stars. (As a romance fan, I'd like to see more rom-coms with clever writing and lesser known stars, like Won-Ji An, or Kim Da-mi--but I'll still watch these shows I'm predicting will happen.)

2. To reassure @gikata, based on the success of Revenant, we are going to see a lot more supernatural horror, with inferior writing and definitely inferior actors to Kim Tae-ri. (I'm not going to watch those.)

On the other hand, I'm not exactly on the cutting edge of television viewing, so it wouldn't surprise me if my predictions of buzz go bust.

I'm not sure how it can be called a flop. It appears to be consistently getting about half of the total audience for Mondays and Tuesdays to tune in. And because there are only two shows airing that night in SK, and currently, the other one is drawing only slightly more viewers to it, I think the only logical thing we can conclude is simply that not a lot of people in SK are watching cable TV at the beginning of the work week.

I love this show and appreciate DB's lively commentary on it, but I don't think it's fair to try and extrapolate or theorize what the "problem" is because it's not at all clear to me that there *is* any real problem here that has anything to do with the show or its stars.

It's hard to judge but ENA is doing better and it's not a public channel.

I think dramas with a touch of fantasy are not the ones with the best ratings except when they are written by famous writers. Neither of the leads are strong. Taecyeon has not a great reputation as an actor and Won Ji-Ahn is a newcomer.

Unpopular genre (not just vampires, fantasy romances in general long have long fallen out from k-viewers grace) + unfortunate timeslot + leads lacking ratings attracting power (Taec IS popular, but not that much as an actor - all his shows that did better needed other reasons aside of him for success). I'd also add not that catchy initial episodes, but I'm clearly in the minority here with such opinion. But mostly first 3 factors.

KBS awards every couple 😅

It does seem like the day of the week matters (if dramas have taught me anything, it's that their work schedules can be pretty killer so that would make sense)

I’ve tried to find this drama on legal streaming sites in my region but have failed so far. I love the idea of making poetry a central visual element in a drama.

I hope it stays this way, with the Korean audience first and foremost in mind, because then it will remain authentic and local. The moment they start catering to the broader audience with little to no knowledge of the local nuances, the shows will inadvertently stray into areas that will chip away at the original draw of these shows, making them homogenous. As it is, when I watch Korean movies, I feel I am watching a different society.