53

Giant overtakes flagging Dong Yi in the ratings

Dong Yi has been the leader in the Monday-Tuesday ratings race from the very start of its run in March, and Giant has been solidly in second place since it came on the scene in May. Both are long-running dramas well into their broadcasts, and now Giant has caught up and turned the tables.

With the most recent episode, which aired on Tuesday, Giant surged ahead of Dong Yi by 3 points, logging a 24.9% to the latter’s 21.6%. In third place was Gumiho: Tale of the Fox’s Child, which has also been picking up momentum and had a solid 12.8% showing.

So what?, you might wonder. Ratings numbers on their own don’t necessarily hold deep philosophical meaning, but in this case they reflect the viewership’s flagging interest in Dong Yi, whose numbers have been gradually decreasing over the past weeks. The story of a lowly palace water maid (played by Han Hyo-joo) who became a royal concubine and mother to a future king has elicited some grumbles from fans who feel the drama has lost its way in recent weeks.

Make no mistake, 21% ratings is still strong; it’s just a disappointment considering that it was breaking 30% a month ago. Furthermore, broadcasters had courted an extension to increase the originally planned 50 episodes when Dong Yi was doing better, and now they have to find a way to reinvigorate the show and its 14 extra episodes.

In contrast, Giant has been steadily improving, and fans have heaped praise on its lead and supporting cast, which includes Lee Beom-soo, Kim Seo-hyung, Joo Sang-wook, Hwang Jung-eum, and Lee Deok-hwa.

Via OSEN

RELATED POSTS

Tags: , ,

53

Required fields are marked *

of the 2 i am only watching currently dong yi ,i am in the episode 24 and i am enjoying all episodes so i don't know how is dong yi in the most recent episodes mayba more of 50 episodes is very tiring and the actors are fatigued of filming many scenes ? but i will finish dong yi ,i am enjoying the plot and i think han hyo joo is awesome ,i like her since i watched shining inheritance / brilliant legacy ,her characters are so kind

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

A friend of mine who was raving about Dong Yi has put it on hold for a while. I guess it's begun to get boring for some people.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

It's been boring from the start actually, except for the sparkly character of the king, played by Ji Jin-hee. From a story standpoint there's no 'there' there. I went to watching I Am Legend, another Mon.-Tues. rival of Dong Yi, out of sheer frustration

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I recall most successful long sageuks tend to hit their peak somewhere in the middle and then fall back down a bit. QSD hit the 40s but ended its last episodes back down to the 30s. Look like the same for Dong Yi, probably the 30s was its peak.

Dong Yi might have had a better chance of maintaining its high 20s to low 30s ratings if Giant wasn't genuinely a stellar drama.

Giant started quite low, 9-10 in ratings for its first 2 eps, and has increased its rating each and every week, which is a testament to its quality roping people in rather than the cast and set-up from the get go.

I think Giant's ratings will keep going up regardless of Dong Yi's bc (1) Giant's lead-in I Am Legend is also doing leaps in improving ratings, and (2) Giant's story hasn't even hit its dramatic peak yet.

The question then is: will Sungkyankwan Scandal resurrect the third player, KBS, in the Mon-Tues battle. It's been languishing in third for wayyyy to long.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

it's incredible that all of the currently airing Monday-Tuesday dramas (4!) are hits... :-)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

*high fives other Giant watchers*

*starts chanting in the style of his humble followers: ''Cho Pil-yeon! Cho Pil-yeon!....''*

0
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

*completes high five*

It's good we stuck this out. What can we say about Giant and it's greatness. It's has impeccable fashion, robots in love, torture scenes, crying men, buckets on heads, James Lee, Moms who aren't old, Stunner shades, Guns guns and more guns, and more!

Why, dear reader, you probably won't understand a word I wrote unless you watch. So you should. Then you can decode that and enjoy this legendary saga of epicness.

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

Boh? ...Chames... Ree??

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

"My plan is foolproof. Glasses on, Identity gone!"

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

HAHAHA omg...yeah...is it bad that I laughed when Cho Pil Yeon "sacrificed" himself in front of the gangsters at the protest....
I was a little irked that Jung-In couldn't recognize Kang-mo's voice when they talked on the phone...but...I'll let it slide.
Anyways, I'm so glad Giant is being recognized. Hopefully the producers/writers won't let its popularity get to their heads and turn it into a hot mess. =D

0

couldn't have said it better myself

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree with @3 Kellie. It was boring and the story is dragged over too long period.HHY is lacking in her acting-same wide eyed expression for most scenes. Somehow there is not one character that touch your heart. Maybe people are tired of it , having too many episodes. Coffee House was so much better. I wish I have not wasted so much time on Dong Yi.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I tried to get into Dong Yi because I liked the cast but I just could not make it through the first couple of episodes.

Giant on the other hand...had me hooked since the first epiosde. Giant just keeps getting better and better and at it's halfway point you'd expect it to drag but no. I'm loving Park Jin-Hee's character by the way.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

From the looks of it, good thing I stopped watching Dong Yi after 10 episodes. Partly because I understood less than in nonsageuk dramas, mainly because it was boring. Not even HHY attractiveness could keep me for another 40 episodes (when I dropped it...now 54..)

I have yet to watch Giant. I want to mainly because of Hwang Jung Eum.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am currently watching and enjoying both Dong Yi and Giant. Warning from now, there will be spoilers here.

Its understandable why Giant's rating has increased as its story lines has build up momentum therefore there is more interest. They have reached the point where the leads are actively carrying out their revenge, as well as the transformation and change of the female leads. This is the mid point of the drama with a lot more to come. If they are consistent in telling the story the way they are doing it now, the rating is likely to go higher. The acting is great. Please go to

http://thundie.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/giant-2010-mid-point-review/

which gives a complete overview and reason as to why there has been an increase in Giant interest.

Dong Yi on the other hand storyline has somewhat stayed along the same line, its still interesting but due to its limited movement which I believe was contributed due to the extension of the drama the reduction in ratings is bound to happen. However, I think its about to be reactivated due the new arc which is the return of Dong Yi, son 2 YeongJo (future king) and Cha Cheon Soo (for those not familiar with the story- sorry about that, please catch up on dramatomy.com if interested - Jackie does great summaries) back to the palace, new fights, the destruction of Jang Hee Bin & her entourage and other stuff.

So therefore my Mondays & Tuesdays are full with these shows. I like I am Legend but I think I have to watch that set later.

To me both Dong Yi and Giant are good and strong stories in their own way. You get to watch both historical and contemporary (70s & 80s) with fairly good to amazing acting on these shows. Its going to be a tough race between these two for the next 2 months for the top spots, they are likely to alternate during this time.

Mondays and Tuesdays are difficult days to watch dramas because there are many good stuff to enjoy.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I dropped Dong Yi all together after watching 40s episodes. It is the same story line over and over again..I can't stand it any more. I totally agree with you, Birdie. "HHY is lacking in her acting-same wide eyed expression for most scenes". This's been a laugh line for our family whenever we watched the show..

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Surprisingly, this weeks episodes of Dong Yi actually went somewhere. I officially gave up on it a long time ago, and I am only watching the Korea feed because my parental units are watching on MBC America, and they WILL ask questions about it. So I'm skimming the episodes when they come out.

JJH and the guy playing the police inspector are the best things about this show. (alas BSB, once again you are the second lead and have the lamest second lead role in all of saguek-dom) It has dragged, been boring and, even worse, has boring bad guys. (I mean, right now I'm rewatching Shin Don and EotS - whose evil ladies ooze the evil)

So I'm stuck skimming the thing until the run finishes, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone to be perfectly honest. It's just meh. Go watch virtually any other saguek instead.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

awww I love Dong Yi!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i like both dramas but DY getting boring in acting and plots , all predictable ,sometimes not logical . Honestly casts in DY acting skill are not so great , same expressions over and over again , the King is not acting as benevolent ,
smart King , all the guys there none of them as smart as two concubines and they all depend on two concubines for getting , keeping their power .
Contrary , giant plots are logical and interesting , acting of all casts are excellent , believable and realistic . This is a fight between smart people , amazing drama .
I really like love stories in this drama , not single minded , not dying for first love in the ridiculous way .
I think this drama and Comrades are the best drama so far .

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Dong Yi is like a roller coaster... It has draggy episodes at one some point.. However, it has really good episodes too... Therefore, you must watch to see what happened.. As it will get boring to great back to draggy to great again.... As for Giant, I am really behind watching it.. However, it is like DY great casting and awesome music and great scenery too...

It will be really tough competition as I am Legend is starting to get interesting and also once Sungkyunkwan Scandal starting in two weeks.. It will be the Big 4..

As for Wednesday/Thursday It will big 3 of My GF of Gumiho/Baker King/Playful Kiss (sept 1)....

Therefore, it will be great drama weekdays... =)

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

IAL is airing an hour before Giant/DY/Gumino Child (and its follow up Sungkyungkwan Scandal), so it's still the Big 3. :-)

However, IAL and Giant's improving ratings likely will bolster each like, like a cycle of good.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I watch both shows, and the result is not surprising. The last couple of weeks, Dong Yi's story was getting very draggy while Giant was making paces. However, it's become reversed this week and I struggled to stay awake while watching this week's Giant episodes while Dong Yi kept me on my toes.

I agree that HHJ's acting was very lacking for a great portion of DY, but lately she's suddenly shown leaps of improvement. I'm curious as to what happened to bring about such sudden improvement. Perhaps Director Lee Byung Hoon finally had a talk with her?

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

"Perhaps Director Lee Byung Hoon finally had a talk with her?"

Nah, the director's been pretty happy with her performance. It's just the Dong Yi character was stuck in a kind of ingenue/Nancy Drew doe-eyed reaction shot limbo for a good 30 episodes, cycling between being sad and being ill advised. Which worked best as long as the show focused on the ups and down of Dong Yi and The King's courtship. Only the last 2 weeks had Dong Yi actually been written as someone aware of and proactive with her authority. DY barking at her maidservants? Why she's grown up!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think some people should take note that I am Legend is not a direct competition of the shows mentioned above because it's in a different time slot. As of Dong Yi, I like it, a lot and I'm kind of disappointed that the new episode aren't as exciting as weeks ago but I am loyal and ever hopeful, so I'll watch it to the end and maybe this show will triumph over my emerging doubts.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love Giant. currently in eps17 and the siblings has already met in re-union. thank god they didn't drag the re-union until the end eps. now it's totally a re-birth for the Lee family on their revenge.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i'm just hoping dong yi will have a hope for revival now that prince yi geum is born. ;___;.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hmm. I like Dong-yi and I still watch it, the only thing is, I used to refresh WITHS2 page like mad to get the subs as soon as they were released, but in the last few weeks I find myself snagging the subs and not watching the eps right away. Then, when I watch them, I do like them. It's just that I'm not as addicted as I was before. BTW, it's not exactly draggy, but IDK, it lost its momentum and storyline got less charming? Something like that.

For sure, I wanted to see a lot more BSB and I had hoped he had a more significant role. I wanted to see more interaction between him and the King for example. Ever since I heard about Dong-yi and its cast I had envisioned Chun-soo to play, say, a much bigger role in the triangle with Dong-yi and the King, to be conflicted about his duty as "oraboni", his love for Dong-yi, his duty as officer and as a King's subject. For some reason, I was *sure* he was going to have all sorts of issues and inner turmoil, but as it happens, he seems to be ok to just play the role of Dong-yi's protector. Such a bummer. Such a waste of BSB's acting skills!

I'm so not thrilled Dong-yi got an extension. I do hope TPTB find ways to work a bit more plot for Chun-soo because gah! I started watching this drama for BSB. I admit I fell for the dorky!king and his cute and entertaining relationship with Dong-yi, but...where are the cute and funny moments that got me intrigued in the first place?

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Dong_Yi/Episode_Ratings
2010-08-17 44 24.8 (1st) 26.6 (1st)

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Giant/Episode_Ratings
2010-08-17 28 24.0 (2nd) 23.8 (2nd)

javabeans, i think your bias toward sageuk is showing

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

There's TNS, and then there's AGB. I'm sure javabeans is going by AGB. And she's shared the source of this here article -- it's from OSEN, so, what bias?

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

er, huh?

I have no idea what this comment is saying.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

JB,

Clearly the comment meant to say the Korean newspaper OSEN has a bias towards sageuks, since you were merely reporting on that article.

Oh my, I suggest an investigation be launched. We all know how accurate wiki d-addicts is. ;-)

This thread was wayyyy to civil, I was wondering when the tomato flinging would start.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

She better counter this all with a Han Hyo-Joo pictorial telling us about her "honey thighs" or whatever (man, I really hate those body-food related phrases) quick or her server will burn to the ground. To. the. ground. (What do you mean that's not possible?!)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I didn't see both, but now I understand why CH didn't do well. These two dramas are solid enough to keep most of the viewers occupied.
I have a habit avoiding long drama however, congrats to both!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

CH slot is before this 2 drama's so their ratings low is not because of Giant nor DongYi. the other drama's competing with this 2 monsters is Gumiho child and even that drama beats CH's rating.

I am Legend is the successor of CH, and I heard that i'ts doing pretty well, even better than CH. due to this it's also impacted on Giant as I am Legend & Giant are back to back 2gether.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I wonder what happened to those folks who rioted against Kim Myung-min taking up the lead role in Giants, because they claimed it was hidden praise & propaganda for the current Korean president.
Are they still rioting, or did it turn out they made all this trouble for nothing to deprive us from 50 drama-epiodes of KMM?

0
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

WHAT?!?! This is the first time I have ever heard of this.......I like Lee Bum Soo a lot...but Kim Myung Min?! T_T
oh well. Kang Mo wouldn't be Kang Mo without LBS.

but still.........KMM.................

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm really enjoying the recent Dong Yi story arc.

The introduction of the new inspector moves the story away from "villain by committee" and toward a more integrated court intrigue power struggle. Lady Jang is actually taking care of her business! Also, we got to see a sustained lover's quarrel, which made me realize that we don't often see real domestic arguments in K-dramas, trendy or sageuks.

The show's kinda quirky, in that the royal romance is severely hampered by one character being, well, a royal. The King's stationary mantle necessitates that we can only see substantial scenes between Dong Yi and Sukjong when Sukjong isn't being a King, or if Dong Yi explicitly needs a King to bail her out. Except Sukjong is strangely emasculated to do anything to help. Still, I love when Ji Jin Hee hams. He's the best ham next to Kang Ji Hwan, so delightful and mirthful and sweet.

It's also been very interesting to see each actor compete with each for Best Stare/Evil Eye. BTW I think Jung Jin Young is winning. He has 3 lines per episode, but dude can stare without blinking for minutes. And I could be mistaken, but there may be some lazy eye going on there.

Choi Jong Hwan (also of this year's Jejoongwon) has only been on the show for 2-3 weeks, but I think he's close to Sageuk Heavy territory, if not already. He's great here, and his character is auditing the ad-lib villainy with extreme prejudice.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

:) LBS is an amazing actor, that much is for sure! It would be interesting to see him and KMM acting together.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

What?? Is THAT why Kim Myung-min backed out of the project? What on earth are those claims? The characters and their stories are purely fictitious. Sure the historical events in that era have been real and covered pretty decently (yes, even the 'document') but definitely nothing to do with the characters.
Still, I agree, Lee Beom-soo is just perfect as the reckless Gang-mo, LOVE him. I just can't imagine anyone else playing him either, especially not Kim Myung-min, though I would've loved seeing him reunite with the Bad Family director. Are you sure he was meant to play Gang-mo and not Seung-mo? He would have been more suited to playing Seung-mo -- but then Park Sang-min (of The General's Son) is just... sigh, perfect here (the eyes, the eyes… the aura, the presence… His and Kim Soo-hyun's both ).

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, sadly it was:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/01/kim-myung-min-eyes-television-return-with-giant/

and some details about the activities the Korean fans started:
http://mmi.myungmininternational.com/node/780

It didn't even die down when the PD wrote an open letter in KMM's DC fanclub. :/

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for enlightening me, Bee.
Wow! Wow! Netizens, honestly! At that time I had no idea what Giant was, so I was blissfully unaware of all the KMM noise.
My interest was only piqued as soon as I heard news that Kim Soo-hyun had been cast, and bam! Thanks to him, I discovered a goldmine.
I wonder where these people are now? Argh! I feel bad for the guy, that has got to be unfortunate, missing out on such a hefty project.

But still, there's no way I can imagine KMM playing beloved little brother to PSM. As cocky and gangsterly LBS has been in previous episodes, he still has an inherent vulnerability and naivete about him that brings out the same fierce protective streak in us as we had for his younger version Yeo Jin-gu (lovelovelove this shoe-shiner).
So, whatever happened, happened for the best, I suppose.

Here's one of my favourite clips of LBS, see the last part of the clip as his eyes fill very subtly with uncried tears, as Park No-sik sings Sano Ramyun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1H9XZHcNAA
(The better scenes were the ones that came after this scene, but it's still a poignant, soul-stirring, scene in itself.)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love Dong Yi, I like sageuk...I don't care about ratings, that's all :)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love Dongyi but....the last two episodes were hard to stomach with the release of Jang Hee Jae and the others from exile. You killed my mother, the queen, tried to kill the love of my life millions of times, and almost crushed my government for your own political gain but because you donated money to the poor I can forgive you?! Stupid. The framing and blackmail has been too over done. I will keep going though because King and ChunSoo are irresistable!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i love dong yi!!!...but i can understand the flaging ratings....but i think things will pick up soon...but i wished they didnt extend it...its better to go out on a high
...hmm i think i might check out Giant..looks interesting

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Started on Dong Yi cos of the 2 leads. Now, i watch it by either FF or sometimes skip a couple of eps. Its getting draggy, I guess.

Did not start on Giant although I like Lee Beom-soo, maybe will start on it someday when i am free or maybe not.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I could careless what the ratings say. As far as I'm concerned Dong Yi is a miracle worker. Ever since I gave up trying to fight my kdrama addiction, I've had to listen to my dad's mocking comments about my vice of choice. So one day I happened to be in the living room watching Dong Yi and my dad sits down. Next thing I know I'm pausing the show every couple of minutes to explain who's who and what's what. Now it's gotten to the point where my dad will not even wait for the subtitles but will watch it raw.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I didnt watch Dong Yi as I don't have that much interest in sageuks, HGD and ROI is the only one I truly enjoy and I heard they are not even consider as fully sageuk? anyways, so in the end I choose Giant over Dong Yi and am glad of my choice to this date, enjoying every bit of it, am for one is anticipating how the love story between Min Woo and Mi Joo will develop, this is the only time that am more interested in second leads!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love saeguks and I've enjoyed watching DY till lately plus the additions 14 eps is too many and it doesn't help with the pace imo. It may have worked for some but not for a drama that's already dragging and a story that is so predictable and repetitive. The amount of flashbacks annoys the hell out of me and it's not just from different eps, it's a min after you've just watched it grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. They must think that we have A.D.D or something....:p.
It's frustrating just like most saeguks but here's hoping for a good ending which is most likely since it might end with Queen Inwon and Yeongjo.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thing about Dong Yi is that there's plenty of interesting history to do another 20 episodes. Presumably, a key character hasn't yet died after the time jump (personally think it was a mistake to jump to the END of Dong Yi's exile.) Plus, you still have the ongoing power struggle (with King as enabler) between the Western and Southern scholars, which has been depicted so one-sidely.

To me, this is easily the best DY arc thus far. I felt it took too long for DY to become royal concubine, especially since her maturation was synced against each promotion (i.e. Dong Yi only became assertive/strong because she had the authority of royal concubine.)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I've been watching Dong Yi and all of a sudden I don't feel the same eagerness to watch the next episode of all sudden. I understand why the episode ratings have dropped.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i loved dong yi very much, but then i lost my interest and skipped some episdes because it has the same monotone.. everything was on dong yi's side, she always on lead. the registration book was on her hand, the king favour her and so on. i mean, dy never had real big problem like lady jang experienced. unlike dae jang geum, jang geum was always on the disadvantages side compared to lady choi.

but surprisingly, this week episodes was the first episode that make me wanna watch dongyi. at last dong yi was in really big trouble.. and it looks like the 2nd prince has been born and already 7 years without seeing his father the king. it keeps me wanting to watch next episodes sooooooo bad.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Giant is one of the best drama of 2010, for me personally it the best drama I watched since I got hooked on K-drama. I have already re watched episodes of this drama, there only been two other dramas that captivated me too re watch while still airing and that was "Flower For My Life and Golden Bride. Giant story lines is detail, intelligence and have so much depth. I think what makes it work is that it give you a balance of emotions happiness, sadness, fear, hope, frustrating, anticipation and most importantly satisfaction. One episode has so much development that it just leave you full, similar to eating a delicious meal and having just enough room for dessert it moves with a nice steady pace that don't drag or leave you lost. Giant is crazy good it's touch your heart and reach your soul and plays with your mind. It truly deserve to be a #1 drama. The casts are amazing it's seems like the Director and Screen Writer are totally in sync, the acting on "EVERYONE" part is outstanding. It's is a Korean drama masterpiece and the recognition is well deserve.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i couldn't say any better. :D this drama is very satisfying. and, joo sang-wook's acting has improved tremendously.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *