MBC extends Mon-Tues leader Light & Shadow
by javabeans
Showbiz-centric series Light and Shadow has been holding strong on Mondays and Tuesdays as the ratings leader, and MBC never met a successful show it didn’t want to extend, so the period drama is getting a whopping 14 more episodes. The Ahn Jae-wook / Nam Sang-mi vehicle will now end with a total count of 64, up from the originally planned 50.
That… is a lot of extra episodes. On the other hand, at least the broadcaster made the decision with over a month to go, so the production won’t be scrambling to find enough story to pad out the extension, as often happens when the extra episodes are given too close to the originally planned ending.
The drama has been steadily reigning in the top spot for a while now, and next to two weak performers it has been pulling ratings numbers in the low-20% range. (It was briefly overtaken by Salaryman’s latter weeks, and then reclaimed its place as ratings leader.) Good news for MBC, bad news for Fashion King (hovering just under the 10% mark) and Love Rain (back up to 5.4% after dipping to a low last week with 4.4%). Light and Shadow has generally been met with favorable reviews, and seems to have tapped into the public’s fond sense of nostalgia for the ’70s and ’80s in a way that Love Rain hasn’t managed. Maybe it’s because the latter has focused most of its hype on the star casting and the first-love theme, which hasn’t found purchase with the viewership.
With the extension, MBC has basically secured the #1 slot through the end of Light/Shadow’s run, which will now come at the end of June rather than mid-May. This pushes back the premiere of its successor drama, Golden Time, the (terribly named) medical drama starring Lee Seon-kyun.
Via Osen
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Tags: Ahn Jae-wook, drama ratings, Nam Sang-mi
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1 Mystisith
April 10, 2012 at 5:27 AM
THAT is a show which flew under the radar of everyone despite the ratings.
Anyone knows if there is a place with all eps subbed? Anywhere i go i only find the first 2 eps translated. I really would like to marathon this.
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angelpur
April 10, 2012 at 7:08 AM
same here. I wanted to watch this months ago but didn't know where to find english subs for it!
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nomu nomu nomu
April 10, 2012 at 7:08 AM
I don't think any subbing group is still taking it up. I was curious a couple of days ago and did some sub searching. My top ten drama sites I check, only had up to two episodes subbed. If I find more subbed, I'll reply back here
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eucharis
April 10, 2012 at 7:24 AM
guys, try darksmurfsub.com
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redpill
April 10, 2012 at 7:58 AM
From what I hear, it's being edited and worked on to be uploaded onto Hulu, if you're in the States.
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Molly~ my heart is burned by the Phoenixes #ningyizhiweiforever
April 10, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Awww no! That means theres no way I'll find it! (from the UK)
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Shiku
April 10, 2012 at 8:22 AM
I would also like to marathon it but I can't get find subs *frowny face*
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jumbalaya
April 10, 2012 at 3:06 PM
kimchi drama?
i dunno i have never really seen it around. why so popular?
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sunnyl
April 10, 2012 at 7:14 PM
For me it is nostalgia factor. I just love all the songs and music (including classical music). I am familiar with most of songs (uptil ep 35 for sure). It also deals with real events happened in Korea that time - Drug roundup, Power struggle between Korean Intelligence Chief and President Park Secretary. GwangJu killing etc. And it has a plot - success story along with revenge like the drama 'Giant'. Even though I am a little concerned with exention, I have a faith in the writer (One of My fav. to this date includes HuJoon with same writer).
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2 ionizable
April 10, 2012 at 7:01 AM
there's 4 episodes fully subbed at darksmurfsubs, the rest aren't completely done yet.
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3 Cynthia
April 10, 2012 at 7:03 AM
It's amazing to think of a Kdrama being extended by 14 episodes - although here in the States,we'd just call it 'Season 2'. MBC will be having their strike scabs working 24/7.
I'm not watching Light and Shadow but am watching the other two, and liking both of them.
Love Rain has no surprises, other than the surprising fact that both leads are turning in good performances - mostly due (I would imagine) to the Four Seasons PD. There's only one driver on the Love Rain train and it's not JGS. It's the first time I can actually watch a drama with him where I don't want to slap the screen or cut his hair. His acting is toned down and he's GOOD. Same for Yoona. She's doing a fine job in bringing her character to life - and this is coming from someone (me!) who couldn't stand either one of them.
Same for Fashion King - all fashion/melo, all the time. The fashion is good, the acting is fun to watch. I only wish that Yoo In ah was still rocking his Mane of Glory - that shaved mullet kind of hairdo only shows off those trophy-cup ears of his. Who knew?
:)
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makgolli
April 10, 2012 at 9:33 AM
Really? Just saw them in the hot spring FULLY CLOTHED with winter scarf?? Did they even take a shower first lest they pollute the waters. yikes :( grossssss.
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Cynthia
April 10, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Heh. They ran out of gas. It was snowing. He's frozen, with a fever. So, hot springs for him. She fell in. So, hot springs for her (and her scarf). Context is everything.
:)
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gala
April 10, 2012 at 12:40 PM
they can't show nudity on screen. plus the hot spring is in the middle of a snowy mountain-esque (they're in hokkaido, i think).
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4 sherry
April 10, 2012 at 7:41 AM
Yeah I am really surprise that this show is not subbed !!! It's really a pity though ...
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5 hpn88
April 10, 2012 at 8:40 AM
happy for the production but that means I have to wait that much longer to see the Voice back in scrubs
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WM
April 10, 2012 at 12:21 PM
I was thinking the same thing. lol I was looking forward to seeing The Voice on screen again, now we have to wait. :(
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6 leonardswench
April 10, 2012 at 9:13 AM
It deserves the extra episode, though I would have said 14 is pushing it, there's miles to go in the storylines if the writers and production team can keep up. The entire cast and crew will be so exhausted, I hope everyone can keep up the pace and quality without dropping dead from exhaustion. Love-hate the extension, as always.
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7 taraLuvJJ
April 10, 2012 at 10:19 AM
reading this news make me dispointed cuz i heard song seung hoon and kim jaejoong's drama, time slip dr.jin, will broadcast after this light & shadow.. it means that mbc will push away the broadcast date of time slip dr.jin..huh..
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taraLuvJJ
April 10, 2012 at 10:26 AM
it's not that i don't like light & shadow.. it's good drama but sometimes when drama get more extends eps it ruined the story itself like mbc did on queen seonduk and dong yi..
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8 goldenkiwi
April 10, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Ooh, this is nice to hear.
I'm enjoying this drama a lot!
The cast is superb, and I love underdog stories, so...
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9 Noelle
April 10, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Golden Time? Sounds like something Gold Member would say as a catch phrase.
I was thinking of watching this when it was completed. I'm really interested in that time period in Korea.
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10 milkmustache
April 10, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Aw, Love Rain is my favorite drama of the three and it's not because I like Yoona or JGS. I agree that the first 4 eps were slow and irritating, but now that the modern parts have come out, I'm finding it adorable and awesome. Yoona has seriously improved in her acting (she isn't amazing, but she's decent) and JGS is great as usual. The story may be cheesy, but I hope people will try it, even if they don't like Yoona and/or JGS.
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Ondubu
April 11, 2012 at 2:58 AM
Mm the first few episodes were too slow for my liking, but I'm definitely looking forward to watching their modern counterparts. Thanks for the heads up.
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belleza
April 11, 2012 at 3:37 PM
More or less, Love Rain goes into rom-com mode (with EXTREMELY beautiful scenery) starting with Episode 5. Frankly, it just feels like the show has now officially started.
Jang Geun Suk preens like a J-rock star, and Yoona plays standard Bright Girl mode. THIS casting works, and it looks like they're winking at the Winter Sonata audience with the lush snowscapes.
Sadly, 2012 Kim Si Hoo is a total dork (as opposed to his handsome 70s character), so you know he doesn't have a prayer.
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11 me
April 10, 2012 at 3:46 PM
soooooooooooo happy it's being extended and very happy also for ahn jae wook cause his last sarang hae yo drama didn't do well & as a result i read he felt so down but now i think he must be full of smiles and i'm loving this drama too! congrats and thnx to DB site for all the juicy news! :)
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