MBC’s big war drama Road No. 1 turned out not to be so big after all, and ended this week with a 5.3% rating (AGB Nielsen). It’s been averaging 4% to 5% for its entire run so this is no surprise, but it is a big disappointment, especially given its whopping 13 billion won budget.
Supposedly the response from viewers who stuck with the show was positive, but the problem is, there just weren’t that many of them. The viewers didn’t respond to the melodramatic line, but the stronger moments came when the camaraderie between the soldiers was depicted. (It’s too bad there wasn’t more of the latter and less of the former.)
[SPOILERS] The last episode:
There are a lot of factors that may account for the poor showing: For one, its competition has been strong, with Baker King Kim Tak-gu emerging as the biggest drama of the year with 40%-plus ratings. SBS has provided solid second place offerings with Bad Guy, then My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho.
On top of that, there’s the drama’s subject material. The Korean War is a big topic in entertainment this year, which is the 60th anniversary of the war’s outbreak, but perhaps it was just too heavy for a Wednesday-Thursday television show. Furthermore, Road slipped into melodramatic excess and placed a lot of importance on its tragic romance, rather than the realities of battle. Plus, there’s that other war drama, KBS’s weekend series Comrades, which is by far the superior show in terms of writing and directing.
Then, we also have the “MBC curse” — it really shouldn’t have any effect on a drama’s performance but has produced a curious pattern nonetheless. The broadcaster has not had a hit in the Wednesday-Thursday timeslot in years, and in fact has failed to produce more than one show that has managed double-digit ratings since 2008. (That show is Personal Taste. I mentioned the full list of Wednesday-Thursday flops in this post.)
Now eyes turn to Road‘s successor, Playful Kiss, to see if it will fare any better.
RELATED POSTS
- Halftime report: Road No. 1
- First impressions: Road No. 1
- Road No. 1′s premiere numbers lower than expected
- Road No. 1 wraps filming
- The many faces of Road No. 1′s So Ji-sub
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Here we go… moment of truth next week for Playful Kiss. I hope it has a fighting chance and post a solid number.
I don’t believe in “curses” but poor MBC. That is a pretty long list of “flopped” dramas especially with their recent one, Road #1, and the money that was poured into it. At least they have Mon-Tues which have been good to them.
Yes,But They shouldn’t be confdent,SBS is Stealing their momentum on Monday/Tuesday Block.
Plus the Fact that KBS2 is the Most Improved TV Channel lately,They are much better now compared to the 80′s and 90′s.
Road No. 1 really never stood a chance. I didn’t have high hopes for it anyway, but I do feel bad for MBC, since the production was so huge. I don’t have any doubt though, with all the serious hype surrounding Playful Kiss, that they’ll start to pull up in the ratings.
i feel really bad for the production and the actors who worked in this project…it was a project that everyone was looking forward to
I only watched the first 2 episodes of “Road No. 1″ and decided it was not my cup of tea. Too serious and boring for me.
I followed “My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho” from the start and still find it funny and entertaining. Adorable leads!
When I heard “Baker King Kim Tak-gu” had reached national drama status, I decided to give it a try and I caught up on the first 20 episodes in 3 days. It’s fast-paced with an addicting storyline. What a great surprise!
And I’ve been looking forward to watching “Playful Kiss” starring the cute couple.
Choices Choices! Love it!!!
I don’t believe that it is necessarily a curse but I do believe that the pattern for “flops” is no coincidence.
If you look at a company like Pixar that has had such good attention in profit and critic-wise. They are a company that cares about the story. Every movie they do has dived deep into story, plot direction and trying new things/pushing the boundaries in terms of technology.
Of course they have flops too (Cars) but when a company doesn’t care enough about writing a good story or trying to make a connection with the audience and it focuses only on profit. Well, it doesn’t always end up well.
Anyways, my point is that this “curse” may actually be a self inflicted wound that they have to figure out how to heal and nurse back to health instead of blaming it on some outward force.
Forgive me but I will have to disgree with you about Cars being a flop. None of the 11 Pixar movies was ever considered a flop (not even close).
Cars made 461 million worldwide and 244 million domestic. It’s production budget was 120 million. It made a huge profit just like every single movie they made. The critics gave it a 74% (lowest rating for any Pixar movie) but still pretty darn good imo.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that Cars was a flop on all levels.
Certainly it was still a profit in terms of revenue. However, they did (in my humble opinion) fail to capture the magic and boundary pushing that they do in all their other movies.
That said, Cars was still a good movie. The thing is Pixar has set the bar up so high, even for themselves, that anything less than that seems lackluster.
Now, if Cars had come from another studio… say maybe Dreamworks… then it would have gotten better reviews in my opinion.
I think I understand where you re coming from
. I agree that Pixar set the bar so high for themselves. Most of their movies scored 100% and high 90s with the critics. I guess anything less than 80% might be disppointing but on the other hand the money they make from one movie plus related merchandise is insane. Cars total sales was 5 billion +.
cars was a flop
“Plus, there’s that other war drama, KBS’s weekend series Comrades, which is by far the superior show in terms of writing and directing.”
Oh, honey, AND superior in terms of acting, soundtrack, editing, sense, sensibility, historical accuracy, maturity, realism… They are as day and night. Road Number One is infinitely mock-able (and indeed I have mocked the first four episodes on Thundie’s Prattle, haha) but after a while the unintentional hilarity gets old and I haven’t watched beyond ep6.
http://thundie.wordpress.com/author/serendipity010/
Comrades, on the other hand, I feel overwhelming respect for. It has frightened me, made me cry, made me think about the moral dilemmas of war, and moved me with the compassion of common man.
I would saying that everyone must watch Comrades, because it’s so good. Except that I know that not everyone can watch Comrades, because it’s so good. It’s so good it brings the realities, horror and heroism of war right into your living room, but it also makes you care and is therefore a heart-breaking and gut-wrenching watch…
IT IS SO GOOD!
IT IS SO GOOD!
IT IS SO GOOD!
Amen…love how they show the reality of war from the soldier’s point of view. I love Comrades and I’m not even a war movie/drama fan.
Ditto!
im so happy that people watched it! I didnt think people would want to stomach it, nor delve into such a thoughtful drama when they have cotton candy dramas out there (always sugar…-_-). Im soo happy! Because I dont want it to go unappreciated nor unrealized.
HIGHLY recommend COMRADES!! Up to episode 12. Much more war oriented and gets into what soldiers were feeling after fighting so much. There’s alot of emotions the audience feels in this. I think its pretty underrated.
WAY better than Road No. 1 IMO.
COMRADES is the epic war drama Road No. 1 tried to be.
When it comes to Historical TV Dramas,KBS1 Drama are Hard to beat.
I absolutely agree about Comrades. Huge surprise for me. Spectacular production and emotional.
Even for someone not Korean like me, it made me appreciate all the sacrifices made by those who defend their country.
I’m especially sorry for SJS.
and it means that beloved and famous actors are not always guarantee for high ratings. it needs a whole package, hah?
by the way, I’m also curious about Baker King because of its high ratings but I’m still not sure about watching it.. :S
whatever..
I hate that things turned so sour for this drama. I had every intention of giving it a chance despite my discomfort for war dramas, however when I read all the bad reviews, it began to remind me of America’s Pearl Harbor, which was a disgrace. Couldn’t stomach that for 20hrs.
Poor cast, crew and company. I hope there will be something to turn things around before year’s end.
I feel bad for So Ji Sub and Yoon Kye Sang and everyone else who has worked on this drama since it looks like it took a lot of work to produce a war-period drama (with period costumes, set designs, physically draining action sequences). I guess this proves that star power is not as important as a good story. Best of luck to everyone for the next drama.
Playful Kiss will definitely get double digits. I don’t think it will be as big as BOF since there is only one hot guy (as opposed to 4) and every other guy is supposed to pale in comparison- but i feel like the fun storyline will bring in a lot viewers. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t hit 20% for the series average.
But then again, if Playful Kiss does remain popular, MBC will try to milk it by doubling the series length. Good thing there is a lot of material- but I’m in the camp of “don’t push your luck”.
we will now see the numbers beginning next week when Playful Kiss starts its broadcast..
personally, I think the ratings battle will only be between MGIAG and PK since both have the same audience and let’s just admit it.. Baker King’s ratings right now IS UNTOUCHABLE. It is over 40% with its story line almost at the end.
This battle would be for the 2nd place.
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho VERSUS Playful Kiss.
BRING IT ON!!!!
My vote: I will watch MGIAG on the initial broadcast THEN watch PK AFTER.
I am not surprised about the low ratings. I regret wasting 3 hours watching the first 3 episodes. It was boring and the acting from the leads was disappointing. Yes,there were many war scenes,as in any war story. Big budget,poor production equals low viewership.
I feel sorry for all the actors and crew in this show. It must have been tedious, dirty, unpleasant to shoot.
The material was too heavy, there was hardly any light hearted moments in the show. I didnt think the romance was rather heavily emphasis. Kim Haneul’s appearance was minimal.
It should probably be filed as a documentary or text book material on korean war or how to shoot a war drama that failed.
I really think Playful Kiss will be a success. Well, unless they somehow really fudge with the storyline, but I somehow doubt that.
It really does get a lot better later in show and I feel bad for all the actors who worked so hard. I blame it on the writer for entirely screwing up the beginning and losing all the viewers.
I think Playful Kiss will be popular.
I said it before and I’ll say it again. In my opinion Kim Ha Neul is not that strong of an actress. Most of her work as a lead actress has been a flop. And the funny thing is that she never really ends up with her male made lead. SMH. I used to be a fan, but what a shame.
I had hoped that this drama would be a huge success but I guess not. >……<, I remember being so fired up about this drama. When I heard the cast I was like, it's meant to be!!! How…sad…a waste of hot males. Noo.
Comrades was by far the most superior korean war drama I have ever seen. It just really shows the realities of war, the psychology and just the whole wretchedness these men faced. It was great. Just great.
I totally agree with this. Everyone should watch COMRADES if your’re into this stuff.
Inspite of the low rating got by Road No.1, i still believe on the quality of dramas that MBC creates.
Best of Goodluck to Playful Kiss next week.
yep this was just hopeless. it was either like watching a headless chicken running amok, or a mutant, 2-headed chicken with 1 head swollen up twice the size of its neighbor.
(too much drumsticks last nite:P)
Hmmm….on the contrary, i enjoyed Road No.1…haha sucker for melodramas, anyway am really impressed with the actors and actress…espically Yoon kye Sang,…sooo HOT…:)
, though im quite sad with the ratings…expected it to be higher since it was quite a big production…..but nevertheless i guess its not everyone cup of tea….more spoiler please??? the eng subs are not out yet :/…..To those who like to give this drama a second chance when the dvd is out…i would say go for it! though some parts are pretty long winded…hehe Aja Road no. 1! Moving along….nowwwww its time for Playful kiss
can you tell kindly tell me who ended up with whom??
I like Comrades and Giant , both amazing solid in acting , storyline, directing , realistic , touching , believable .
Baker King , ok to me , the young actress , Eugene ,
character is not realistic , a smart , strongwill top student will follow the path as brainless blond using her body not her brain to achieve her goal , too cheap , quite a waste .
Playfull Kiss , i’m not sure , just wait and see .
I don’t wanna be optimistic but the curse will continue even with Playful Kiss, cuz MGFIAG ranking No.2 after KTG is not easy and the rating is good as well, so my assume is that it will just top the rating after KTG end, Playful will have to continue the disappointing rating for MBC Wed-Thu dramas.
But whenever the drama got low rating DOESN’T mean it’s poor in writing, directing, etc… but it’s the viewers choice after all, let’s remember You’re Beautiful, it didn’t do well with rating but it was good.
Next week, I’m curious what Playful Kiss can bring to the table.
it’s not a curse, it’s crappy programming. i am sure if king of bakery is on mbc, the ratings would still hit 40′s.
I think Road No. 1 is good, in the sense of good actors and the message the drama wants to bring about. In the last episode, I deeply feel the sorrow suffered by the Koreans in the War. Many lives have been sacrificed, but in the end, it is only a pause, rather than end of the war. The old Shin Tae Uk said that he hoped that the new generation would not suffer the sufferings they had in their days.
Although I must admit that there are some illogical story plots in the drama, but for those who have watched the drama to the end would not disagree that we would be touched by the love and trust among the soldiers. I cried for them more than the melochanic love of So Ji Sub and Kim Ha Na.
And I found I start to be a fan of So Ji Sub after this drama!
Oh yes, I’ll bet my kimchi that Playful Kiss will do well.
i agree with Sharon , SJS is great actor but as i mentioned previously love story in this drama ruining
this drama , KHN acting is lack of sincerity , her character is confused character , the most hated character in this drama .
Before watching this drama i thought this is a meaningful war drama ,but it turns out to be weeping
soldiers , especially SJS crying , holding KHN shoes scene , i can not tolerate that scene .
Comrades is much better war drama , very logical , touching drama .