Drama viewership ratings for the week of June 15-21, 2020
by SailorJumun
It feels like June barely started and now it’s almost over? Even more surreal is that two dramas I’ve been waiting for since their announcement are finally here! Some big stars are returning to the screen, and it’s good to see them after a long drama hiatus (or in the case of our oppas, after time away in army).
But before we get to the premieres, let’s rewind to the beginning of the week. The cable dramas were on completely opposite sides, Sweet Munchies, unfortunately, settling in at 0.6 percent with both of its episodes and My Unfamiliar Family reaching a high of 4.1 percent. The dramas midweek didn’t show much change, but healing drama Soul Repairer did show a tiny increase, perhaps due to its upcoming finale.
With one drama about mental health ending, another one begins. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay premiered over the weekend, and I don’t wanna get ahead of myself, but 6.1 percent? Dang, Show, okay. Very good news for leads Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji (so pretty). Backstreet Rookie also premiered, (with pretty, pretty leads as well), to modest numbers. About as high as The King’s numbers, which stayed around 6 to 8 percent.
Drama viewership ratings for the week of June 15-21, 2020
| Ep. # | Station | Rating | |
| Monday, June 15 | |||
| Will You Have Dinner With Me | 13 | MBC | 3.0% |
| Will You Have Dinner With Me | 14 | MBC | 3.7% |
| Good Casting | 15 | SBS | 8.1% |
| Sweet Munchies | 7 | JTBC | 0.6% |
| My Unfamiliar Family | 5 | tvN | 3.2% |
| Tuesday, June 16 | |||
| Will You Have Dinner With Me | 15 | MBC | 3.0% |
| Will You Have Dinner With Me | 16 | MBC | 4.2% |
| Good Casting | 16 | SBS | 9.8% |
| Sweet Munchies | 8 | JTBC | 0.6% |
| My Unfamiliar Family | 6 | tvN | 4.1% |
| Wednesday, June 17 | |||
| Soul Repairer | 25 | KBS | 1.5% |
| Soul Repairer | 26 | KBS | 1.9% |
| Old School Intern | 17 | MBC | 4.1% |
| Old School Intern | 18 | MBC | 5.5% |
| Mystic Pop-up Bar | 9 | JTBC | 3.1% |
| Oh My Baby | 11 | tvN | 1.7% |
| Thursday, June 18 | |||
| Soul Repairer | 27 | KBS | 1.7% |
| Soul Repairer | 28 | KBS | 2.1% |
| Old School Intern | 19 | MBC | 5.1% |
| Old School Intern | 20 | MBC | 6.1% |
| Mystic Pop-up Bar | 10 | JTBC | 3.0% |
| Oh My Baby | 12 | tvN | 1.8% |
| Friday, June 19 | |||
| Backstreet Rookie | 1 | SBS | 6.3% |
| Saturday, June 20 | |||
| Once Again | 49 | KBS | 23.1% |
| Once Again | 50 | KBS | 28.8% |
| Backstreet Rookie | 2 | SBS | 6.8% |
| Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation | 9 | OCN | 2.8% |
| It’s Okay to Not Be Okay | 1 | tvN | 6.1% |
| Sunday, June 21 | |||
| Once Again | 51 | KBS | 28.6% |
| Once Again | 52 | KBS | 31.5% |
| Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation | 10 | OCN | 2.8% |
| It’s Okay to Not Be Okay | 2 | tvN | 4.7% |
RELATED POSTS
Tags: drama ratings
![[Beanie Review] The Good Bad Mother](https://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/TheGoodBadMother_reviewb.jpg)
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Kurama
June 21, 2020 at 6:19 AM
For me, TVN is winning : My Unfamiliar Family, Oh My Baby and now It's Okay to Tot Be Okay, these 3 very different dramas are great! Good actors, interesting stories and good directing.
Backstreet Rookie is really fun and light, I don't think there is a real plot more like a microcosmos around a convenient store.
Required fields are marked *
OldLawyer
June 21, 2020 at 7:55 PM
BACKSTEET ROOKIE is indeed fun and light- which is what we need right now.
Required fields are marked *
2 Ali
June 21, 2020 at 6:46 AM
BSR is 4.8 and 6.3 for episode 1
3.7 and 6.8 for episode 2.
Average ratings are 5.5 and 5.2 respectively.
Required fields are marked *
Ali
June 21, 2020 at 6:49 AM
This time slot gas no competion
Required fields are marked *
Alin
June 21, 2020 at 10:12 PM
Variety show is a bigger competition, TV doesn't have slot just for drama.
Required fields are marked *
Ali
June 21, 2020 at 6:49 AM
This time slot has no competion
Required fields are marked *
3 panshel
June 21, 2020 at 6:52 AM
It's Okay to Not Be Okay is off to a great start. I hope the ratings increase every episode.
Required fields are marked *
4 bips99
June 21, 2020 at 7:22 AM
It's ok not to be ok - I LOVED IT!!!
... does a voodoo dance to ward of evil... Stay this good till the end
Required fields are marked *
5 bips99
June 21, 2020 at 7:28 AM
Backstreet rookie - i sat through the first episode because of wookie.... But the second episode i saw with the fast forward button... I cant believe I'm going to drop another JCW show... Like whats happening..
Mystic pop up bar- is this fun warm show that on the surface is nothing special but every episode touches my heart...
Required fields are marked *
Selena
June 21, 2020 at 8:10 AM
I would feel bad for JCW, because I actually think some of the drama are good, i.e K2 , and enjoys few of his drama like Suspicious Partner, but I just cannot fathom reasons why he took this type of drama in the midst of Nth Room scandal and aftermath of Burning Sun in SK.
It's not like someone points a pistol at JCW and forces him to take this drama, so I can't.
Required fields are marked *
jane09
June 21, 2020 at 12:54 PM
He needs to change his management team if they cant offer him better roles than this. There is no reason for him to regress like this as an actor. This cant be the same person who went from series like K2 and Healer to now select an absurd drama with no plot based on a webtoon. I'm still trying to figure out why a big network like SBS even selected such drama to broadcast.
Required fields are marked *
Screentime
June 21, 2020 at 5:22 PM
To me K2 has all the issues that are in his current dramas, just it took a few more episodes to become fully evident.
Sadly, this may not be a late day anomaly, it is more a trend that has snowballed. I don't think it is just that the stories don't have legs to get through the episodes, personally, I also think he has lost some of his micro-expressions. He was so good at that and it enabled him to convince us/suspend disbelief when the story faltered.
Required fields are marked *
nerdy
June 22, 2020 at 3:48 AM
I agree. K2 was terrible. Its bad writing wasn't as obvious because of huge budget and well shot action scenes.
Screentime
June 22, 2020 at 7:26 PM
@nerdy
Ep01 was so well shot.
Once the latter eps came, you could see how much care the director took in staging shots (staging/framing, editing and lighting) to work with Yoona's range.
It could have made a really interning movie or 8 episode drama that retained the 1st ep quality and construction.
LucyM
June 23, 2020 at 8:16 AM
IMO K2 would have been so much better with the second female lead as the FL. Anna just wasn't necessary (or interesting).
Required fields are marked *
Vespertyne29
June 23, 2020 at 12:12 PM
Word.
When I discovered Asian dramas - 2 years ago, July 2018, thanks to Netflix thinking I would like Meteor Garden 2018, which led me immediately to Kdrama BoF (and a huge lifetime crush on LMH) - most of the actors I was immediately attracted to (LMH, PSJ, JCW, JIW) were already in their 2 year military stint. Of course, as a newbie, I had all their old dramas to watch.
Thankfully, unaware of IMPENDING DOOM, I managed to finish City Hunter, binge-watching it from when I finished work on 10/14/18, and staying up until the wee hours of 10/15/18 to finish it. Thankfully I binged it, because I turned on my Roku Sunday 10/16/18 to find that DF had disappeared, with no explanation. (And merely a month after I'd bought a year membership!)
After a google search, and going through at least 2 of the 5 stages of grief (getting stuck on ANGER), I resigned myself to what, at the time, looked like a pretty modest lineup of dramas on Viki. But I was only able to watch only two other LMH dramas - LoTBS, which I loved, and Heirs, which was meh in part due to the FL. I only liked LMH and KWB bromance.
But City Hunter led me to Healer, and I fell for JCW. Went on to watch SP, and as I like law dramas, I enjoyed it despite my distaste for the FL. Loved the male characters. The villain was actually the best actor.
But I had older dramas to watch. I avoided the sageuk, since I read about the ending, but saved K2 until I was really missing JCW. And what a letdown. Worst FL, and a missed golden opportunity for a sizzling hot noona romance. So I've really only really liked one JCW drama, and liked a second one. MMS was unwatchable.
Iamelise
June 23, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Healer was my first JCW drama and remains one of my top 10 (maybe top 5) favourites. Suspicious Partner was tolerable. But I just couldn’t get past the first two eps of Melting and Backstreet. I feel really bad for him. Why can’t he get better roles?
Required fields are marked *
sojuanju
June 21, 2020 at 9:42 PM
I completely agree about Backstreet rookie. From the first two minutes in the first episode, I could tell I wouldn't be able to watch the drama. JCW is such a good actor, but even he can't pull this drama off unfortunately.
Required fields are marked *
6 uzistar
June 21, 2020 at 8:17 AM
It's Okay to Not Be Okay is off to a really good start. With how interesting the first episode is, I wouldn't be surprised if its ratings will still increase in the succeeding episodes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed =))
I haven't seen last week's episodes of Mystic Pop-up Bar yet (a part of me still doesn't want it to end), but I'm glad its Thursday rating finally reached 3% =D
Required fields are marked *
Screentime
June 22, 2020 at 11:43 PM
Okay to Not Be Okay Ep2 ratings...ouch!
Required fields are marked *
7 Selena
June 21, 2020 at 8:19 AM
Backstreet Rookie is probably gonna either maintain or decrease as it goes for its rating. Knetz are rightfully mad at this type of drama, as any other human with morals and basic common sense should be. Except for some of international fans.
I love My Unfamiliar Family, so I'm happy that it goes up.
Also, expecting influx of Moonlight KYJ fans incoming, considering they think that BR would get double digits. Like??! Perhaps, BR is double digits if you takes off decimal point in between 6 and 3. Not to mention, ep 2 begins w/ lower rating with 3. something.
Required fields are marked *
Hanabi
June 21, 2020 at 11:45 AM
We are talking about adult characters (and actors/actresses for that matter) in a consenting relationship here. pc culture is going so far that it is not even enough if you are legally an adult, your s.o. can't be older than a few years. Let consenting adults love. If it is not a toxic, harmful relationship, then let people be happy. When did it come to that point when we are shaming others for liking a freaking rom com?
(also, I don't think I am a person without morals or basic common sense)
Required fields are marked *
rubytuesday
June 21, 2020 at 3:00 PM
I don't think that liking Backstreet Rookie means that you have no morals or basic common sense (you'll be pressed to find any piece of media without at least one problematic element, after all). Here though I understand where people are coming from- even if a couple are both technically of age, when one is so young compared to the other, it still feels predatory, at least to me. I don't mind age gaps (like you said, let consenting adults love), but in this case, it's the difference in life stages that bothers me. (Not to mention the version in the OG webtoon has been circling around and YIKES)
Required fields are marked *
Selena
June 21, 2020 at 3:16 PM
Backstreet Rookie has KYJ's character, a highschooler making moves on adult male in early 30s and kissing him. Then you have erotic comic book artist who sexually exploit young school girls, and also blackfaced actor with fake-ass dreads.
If you want to convince yourself that there is nothing wrong BR, go ahead.
But you wonder why people find BR racist and sexist. Blackface during BLM and blatant sexism during Nth Room scandal.
Required fields are marked *
Selena
June 21, 2020 at 3:20 PM
If you feel like being called out by my comment of "some of international fans," good, you should be concerned why you defends racist actions like blackface and sexually exploiting teenage girls in Backstreet Rookie.
Particularly, the blackface and fetishism of young girls in BR. Good luck in defending that part.
Required fields are marked *
Hanabi
June 21, 2020 at 4:21 PM
Interesting of you to think that I feel called out for being an international fan. Why would I be mad at that? I reacted to the part where you call those people who are okay witht age difference bad people. I had not seen this drama when I wrote my comment and yours didn't indicate any of those things you listed..that said, point me to the part of my comment where I defended this drama for anything than age difference.
Required fields are marked *
OldLawyer
June 21, 2020 at 11:15 PM
In fact the age difference of the characters is not that great- apparently only 7 years. Nor is the actress a teenager.
Required fields are marked *
8 mmmmm
June 21, 2020 at 9:05 AM
My Unfamiliar Family tugs at my heartstrings. Sometimes, it just hit too close for comfort, but I was already glued to the screen. The show has something that draws me in of which I can't give the explanation of.
Required fields are marked *
9 Nhatz
June 21, 2020 at 9:29 AM
i am watching it's ok to Not Be Okay and so far i'm liking it I like Kim Soo Hyun and i'm also interested in the story. I do hope that its rating will continuously increase until its last episode.
As for Back Street Rookie? i watched episode but droppped it after 10mins. I felt that BSR 's not just for me.....
Required fields are marked *
10 No name
June 21, 2020 at 10:42 AM
Jcw last year drama wrong , this year drama maybe wrong !
But it's okey u have OPPO eh eh sorry Oppa is mine ! ᕙ(͡°‿ ͡°)ᕗ
Required fields are marked *
11 franseca
June 21, 2020 at 11:18 AM
All the noise, hype and outrage around BR did they do it to push up the ratings? How bad does a drama have to be to need that kind of media play?
Required fields are marked *
Kairoskat 💐
June 21, 2020 at 3:34 PM
I'm so curious. Where did this idea of noise marketing come from? Do people really think the dramamaker/cast/crew want to drag their own drama in a mudpile to make a bigger mudpile? The drama has issues, I agree with that....but thinking the crew mediaplaying negative comments to push up the ratings doesn't make sense to me. This isn't a simple case of bad publicity is still publicity and people will try to tune in...this bad publicity is making people drop and petition for the drama to be canceled. Hmmmm.
Required fields are marked *
franseca
June 21, 2020 at 7:53 PM
This noise marketing/bad publicity is apparently making the drama popular. I don't know about mudpile but that's the impression I've gotten from a lot of posts.
Required fields are marked *
Suzy
June 22, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Noise marketing to increase curiousity and attention to the drama? IF THAT is true, that will be pathetic and embarassing.
Anyway, im not watching the drama because I cant take Chang wook doing this role. Sorry but he looks like a Pervert.
Required fields are marked *
Vespertyne29
June 23, 2020 at 12:25 PM
The drama has always sounded like dreck, but seriously, where does this "petition for TV station to drop it" come from??
I personally get annoyed with people who tell me that if I hate/dislike a drama, I have NO RIGHT to comment on it, and explain why I hate/dislike it. I get to have an opinion, too. (For example, I absolutely loved the mind-twisting time-travel and literary themes that ran throughout TKEM. Those are the reasons the writer is one of my favorites. She's so damned smart. And I LOVE to work at understanding a drama for those reasons. It's why I loved Goblin, and think that Taiwanese drama Someday or One Day is one of the best dramas produced in any country). But people are free to hate it, even though I will defend it. It doesn't affect my enjoyment.
However, trying to censor what other people are watching is problematic to me. Like, the way stupid people in the US lobby to ban books that offend them for ridiculous reasons. (Huckleberry Finn racist?? It's JUST THE OPPOSITE, dumbass people who don't understand that. GWTW is what's racist, and bravo to streaming services who are yanking it from their lineup).
I think the only valid reason to protest to get BR off the air is the insidious racism, not the raunchy, lowbrow content. There are plenty of people in the world who prefer dramas that don't make them think, and that are tacky. I mean, look at the films the US produces annually. Total crap, aimed at teenage boys.
Required fields are marked *
Minni
June 24, 2020 at 4:18 AM
Raunchy low brow content should be rated 19 and put at a later time slot which what people are saying. This didn't need to be airing at the prime time slot and the director actively promoting it as a family friendly drama which it isn't.
Required fields are marked *
Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Fair enough. It looks as if, as of yesterday, the Korea Communications Standards Commission had over 6000 complaints filed against the drama, regarding the show's "inappropriate sexual nature."
A little different than getting complaints because a fictional building in a fictional world in the opening credits looked too Japanese.
12 FiyaShady
June 21, 2020 at 11:27 AM
Love TVN dramas by far. They are like having goose that lays golden eggs. Love so much in current drama, Its ok to not be ok. Eps 2 really tug my heart with OJS brilliant acting. He really can depicted Autism Disorder character very well. Sadly, people always forgot to see both side of coins when dealing with bad situation (during the signing event). Yes, people usually do staring at Autism person like they are crazy. Hope more people will pay more intention and gave more sympathy/understanding rather than staring weirdly towards them. Let's keep the drama rating soaring high, fighting 💪💪💪.
On the other side, Mystic Popup Bar finale is just around the corner 😭. Totally a keeper for me. Rating just don't do justice on it but I can understand.
Required fields are marked *
13 jane09
June 21, 2020 at 12:14 PM
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is absolutely the one. These TvN-Netflix dramas are just working so well for the network, best thing that's happened to K-drama world in a while in my opinion. JTBC have a few great ones too but i just find TvN so comforting when it comes to dramas, it's a good movement in the industry. Thank god for cable because the main networks i just dont get them anymore when it comes to their dramas.
Required fields are marked *
14 Marina
June 21, 2020 at 2:58 PM
I had high hopes for Its OK - this summer turn out to be soo boring and there are no exiting TV shows. After watching the second episode... I can almost smell the rabbit boiling in the pot by the sexy Cruella in red shoes. Unfortunately, the rabbit in this show looks like Kim Soo Hyundai, not your usual pet rabbit from Fatal Attraction.
Required fields are marked *
Marina
June 21, 2020 at 3:02 PM
The autocorrect turned the handsome actor into a car all on its own.
Required fields are marked *
Kairoskat 💐
June 21, 2020 at 3:26 PM
The Kim Soo Hyundai autocorrect made me lol 🤣🤣
Required fields are marked *
iamdeb
June 21, 2020 at 3:47 PM
Oh his name is Kim Soo Hyundai from now on...Hyundai stock prices just rose a little.
Required fields are marked *
Marina
June 21, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Can’t. Stop. Laughing. At least, it’s Korean made car, not Japanese. Autocorrect does get things right once in a while
Required fields are marked *
Kurama
June 22, 2020 at 1:43 AM
I was at work, it was really difficult to keep me from laughing!
Required fields are marked *
PakalanaPikake
June 22, 2020 at 2:51 AM
@Marina,
I laughed out loud at "Kim Soo Hyundai" -- AutoDreck strikes again!
By the end of ep. 2, I'd say that Cruella de Vil [devil -- how apropos!] is well and truly stewing in her own juices over the lanky hasenpfeffer she's intent on bagging. ;-)
Required fields are marked *
15 iamdeb
June 21, 2020 at 3:48 PM
Wow, Good Casting had pretty good ratings especially in comparison to other public channel dramas. I didn’t care for what I saw but good for Choi Kang Hee, my girl will stay booked.
Required fields are marked *
16 bong-soo
June 21, 2020 at 7:49 PM
The Nielsen ratings are out for episodes 10 and 11 for little TV Chosun’s S/S sageuk: WIND, CLOUDS, AND RAIN/KING MAKER: THE CHANGE OF DESTINY:
Episode 10: 4.903%
Episode 11: 5.263%
Source:
https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Wind,_Clouds,_and_Rain/Episode_Ratings
Required fields are marked *
OldLawyer
June 21, 2020 at 11:18 PM
It is a great drama.
Required fields are marked *
PakalanaPikake
June 22, 2020 at 3:42 AM
Thanks for the latest episode ratings for KING MAKER: THE CHANGE OF DESTINY / WIND, CLOUD, AND RAIN, @marcusnyc20 bong-soo. I was stoked to see that ep. 8 had hit 5.384% nationwide according to AGB Nielson, per AsianWiki. It seems that TV Chosun's subscribers appreciate their sageuks as the viewership numbers for GRAND PRINCE set a new record, which was then beaten by those for SELECTION: THE WAR BETWEEN WOMEN. Fingers crossed that that trend continues onward and upward with KING MAKER. The cast, production values, script, locations, and soundtrack are very good. I love the lilting main theme.
I have been enjoying this sageuk greatly, in no small part because of the dandy reunion of Buyeo king and seja Jeon Kwang-leol and Kim Seung-su from JUMONG. But now they play adversaries, and it is delicious to watch them in action. (I'm a bit boggled whenever ruthless Finance Minister Kim Byeong-woon pops up as shaggy peacemaking PD Lee Sang-young in SWEET MUNCHIES.) The rest of the Andong Kims make my blood boil. Arrrgh! Jung Wook is doing a wonderfully dignified job as King Cheoljong. The only thing I can be picky about is his reading scrolls because in real life, he was illiterate, and probably had to have someone read for him, as in THE CROWNED CLOWN.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cheoljong_of_Joseon#Life
I have a feeling that Sung Hyuk's Lt. Chae In-kyu is going to meet his match in Lim Hyoun-soo's badass swordsman "The Wolf of Baekdusan," Yeon Chi-sung, who looks like he could have stepped out of MY COUNTRY. I still haven't gotten around to watching THE PRINCESS'S MAN, but now I'm going to have to get on the stick. In-kyu is such a creep, I'm glad I first got to see Sung Hyuk play the honorable gelato vendor General Winter and his Taoist fairy sister the bartender in HWAYUGI / A KOREAN ODYSSEY.
Required fields are marked *
bong-soo
June 24, 2020 at 8:27 AM
Hi @pakalanapikake. Like you I really am enjoying KING MAKER. Lol. Recently running concurrently I was watching: THE KING, THE KING’S FACE (thank you for the recommendation, loved SIG) and KING MAKER. Now it is only KM.
KM found its audience right at the beginning and on the ratings front I anticipate that it will best Q: L&W’s highest rating of 6.348% for episode 16 (final).
Good catch on King Cheolong’s illiteracy. You are right. He should not have been able to read the scroll or other documents.
Isn’t interesting that Queen Cheorin is not a character.
(Maybe on a handshake certain Producers agreed to leave her out of this one. Lol who knows.)
As you pointed out the cast is very good. The ‘heavies’ are chewing up their scenes.
I am really enjoying the performance of Jeon Kwang-leol. The young actor Park Sang-hoon playing his son and future King Gojong is also terrific.
Now let me go on to Im Hyun Soo playing ace swordsman Yeon Chi-sung. He joins a long list of great sageuk bodyguards if you will. I am having a little problem though.
Back in February I watched only my second reality show the 8 episode JUNG HAE-IN’s TRAVEL LOG ( available on Viki). This is a show of JHI’s first visit/adventure to New York City filmed last October. It was light but a lot of fun. (Boy how things have changed in the city since then!) At the end of ep. 2 two of his pals show up and join him for the rest of the series (Eun Jong Gun and maknae Im Hyun Soo.). When I see IHS in KM I can’t but help picturing the 3 guys at the end of a day of touring getting tipsy drinking beer. Since military service is a common denominator among SK men it is a subject that often comes up when guys are drinking.
Seems Im Hyun Soo (like our guy YSY) served in the marines. He got razzed a little about that. JHI was in the army. You might want to check it out. There are some great scenes at Niagara Falls which was a must see for the guys and I was super awed.
I should stop. I am starting to wonder.
Required fields are marked *
PakalanaPikake
June 26, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Part 1 of 3
@marcusnyc20 bong-soo, cc: @wishfultoki, @kiara
I see you've been up to your eyeballs in kings lately. LOL! Glad you enjoyed THE KING'S FACE w/ Seo In-guk. I'd love to see him in another sageuk.
Re: KING MAKER. Yes, I agree that Park Sang-hoon is giving a great performance as the future King Gojong. It's interesting how young Lee's situation parallels that of the title character. I now find myself feeling a bit more kindly disposed towards him after being royally peeved by the way his iterations in MR. SUNSHINE and NOKDU FLOWER behaved. Meanwhile, Jeon Kwang-leol reminds me increasingly of a cagey tiger – with a touch of Cheshire Cat.
As for uri Wolf of Baekdusan, Yeon Chi-sung, I can see why you're having disbelief-suspension issues with Lim Hyun-soo. LOL! Thank you for mentioning the delightful and engaging JUNG HAEIN'S TRAVEL LOG in which he participated. I don't usually watch variety, etc., so it wasn't even on my radar. I immediately tracked it down on KBS World TV on YouTube and watched all 7 available episodes with nice English subtitles last night. For some odd reason, ep. 2 was missing. What a lovely series!
It was great fun seeing the trio trekking around my old stomping grounds, especially when JHI went to Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral. I had an internship at a translating agency in RC during my senior year of college. Usually I hoofed it from Port Authority bus terminal above ground via the then-still depressingly pr0n-infested 42nd Street, then north up ritzy Fifth Avenue. A few years ago, I revisited Niagara Falls for the first time since a family vacation during high school. It tickled me to pieces to see the hyungs' reactions to it. It is a humbling and spectacular natural wonder. What a great way to wind up the show.
Lim Hyun-soo is a total cinnamon roll. What a sweetheart. Ditto for his fellow travelers. Since I hadn't seen the NYC walkabout until well after he had convinced me that he's a badass with a sword, the illusion remains intact. It did, however, cast additional sidelight on the warrior guard's appreciation for being seen and treated as a human being by Prince Lee Ha-jeon and the apothecary who will become Queen Min / Empress Myeongseong. I didn't even recognize LHS from 365: REPEAT THE YEAR. He played the female lead's cheating fiancee. Whoosh! – Yeon Chi-sung doesn't say much, but to me, he exudes a stolid, unflinching, and lethal presence. I'm willing to bet the ranch that he's going to end up as Queen Min's warrior guard, and he'll become an analogue of Kim Nam-gil's titular Nameless Sword. I've already steeled myself for that scenario.
- Continued -
Required fields are marked *
bong-soo
June 26, 2020 at 5:44 PM
Comment was deleted
bong-soo
June 26, 2020 at 5:48 PM
@pakalanapikake,
I am so glad you checked out and enjoyed JUNG HAEIN'S TRAVEL LOG. I figured you would relate. Here are a few thoughts:
1. In episode 1 or 2 I am sure JHI was illegally denied service when the Yellow Cab refused to take him to his destination. Not for any nefarious reason other than that is how some NYC cab drivers are. If they don't think it is worth it they won't take you. Totally illegal. With more experience JHI would have got in the back seat ant told the cab driver his destination. That's it. (You can tell I was annoyed when I watched that.);
2. Can he pack away the grub? He polished off 4 Shake Shake burgers in Madison Square Park with no problem.
At the Grand Central Oyster Bar I think he had 2 dozen oysters and a couple of beers. Again no problem. I did a lol when the waitress asked him if he was over 21 which is the legal drinking age in NY. (Yes, he was 31 at the time.);
3. You are right. What a sweet guy Lim Hyun-soo is. That is why I had a little problem with his tough guy persona in KM. I am totally onboard now; and
4. I did recognize LHS in 365 but his appearance was almost a cameo.
PakalanaPikake
June 26, 2020 at 3:04 PM
Part 2 of 3
PS: Methinks JHI & Friends seriously underestimated the haunted house outing. It wasn't a matter of Korean ghosts versus American ghosts – it was Korean ghosts versus Noo Yawk ghosts. In-your-face Gotham Ghosts with attitude, just like their living counterparts. – Frankly, throughout the show I was surprised by the civility of everyone they encountered. Were they all tourists and transplants – or changelings from the Twilight Zone?! There didn’t seem to be enough encounters with abrasive characters, nor homicidal motorists.
PS2: The sniff test of NYC subway air quality should have been conducted in the pedestrian tunnels between Port Authority and Times Square, preferably on a hot summer day. They missed out on experiencing a NYC garbage strike, too. Neil Simon’s original 1970 version of THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS filmed back in the days of “Fun City” would be a bracing historical reference, even without smell-o-vision. ;-)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Out-of-Towners_(1970_film)
PS3: I just wish that someone had clued Producer Jung and the guys in to two pieces of American variety theater (i.e., vaudeville) history that would have had them laughing their butts off:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuMpcSTlB70
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYP1OBZfFK0
The wording and timing of the dialogues are masterful, but the body language, facial expressions, and vocal tone need no translation. BTW, I was mightily impressed with Park Haein’s wordless improvisation in that acting class at Pace U. Daebak.
PS4: There’s nothing like a round trip on the Staten Island Ferry – or a cruise around Manhattan on the Circle Line. A fall foliage day trip up the Hudson past the Palisades on the Jersey side and the magnificent reconstructed medieval Cloisters of the Metropolitan Museum up near Fort Tryon Park to Bear Mountain or Cold Spring Harbor would have knocked their socks off, and been a great warm-up for Niagara Falls. I have loved the Hudson River School of landscape painting all my life, and imagine the dudes would have appreciated the iconic Catskills terrain, too.
PS5: Really, Jung Haein, Bud Lite for your first beer in NYC?! Aigoo! Next time you’re in the NYC area, give Cricket Hill Brewery’s fine libations a try. Artfully fermented across the Hudson River in Fairfield, NJ since 2001. Their Belgian Dubbel is exquisite. ;-)
- Continued -
Required fields are marked *
PakalanaPikake
June 26, 2020 at 3:05 PM
Part 3 of 3
Aside: L may be morphing from a caffeine-addicted kitty into an amhaeng-eosa, a la Lee Mong-ryong in the pansori film CHUNHYANG. Watch for NEW SECRET ROYAL INSPECTOR. He did well in MS. HAMMURABI, and I think he could pull off a serious sageuk role if it were well written. RULER: MASTER OF THE MASK disappeared when Lee Gon reset the timeline back in 1994. ;-)
https://www.soompi.com/article/1409160wpp/kwon-nara-joins-kim-myung-soo-in-talks-for-new-
historical-drama
Amhaeng-eosa: secret royal inspector in Joseon Kingdom
http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2014/04/135_154998.html
[It gives a nice shout-out to Park Mun-su, late of HAECHI. One of your fave recent sageuk characters, IIRC.]
Boo-hoo! Uri Unbreakable Sword heads off to serve his country on July 6. I was hoping he could have put one more drama in the can after ETERNAL PPL before reporting for duty. I may have to offer SubWeys to the drama gods until Woo Do-hwan musters out to bribe beseech them to grant an excellent sageuk as his comeback project. And I don’t care which amhaeng-eosa overhears me. Pfft!
https://www.soompi.com/article/1408772wpp/woo-do-hwan-announces-military-enlistment-with-
handwritten-letter
-30-
Required fields are marked *
Kairoskat 💐
June 26, 2020 at 3:26 PM
The King's Face~~~ Kim Do Chi 😆😆😆
Required fields are marked *
PakalanaPikake
June 26, 2020 at 3:36 PM
@katakwasabi,
Shin Sung-rok scared the pants off me as the rival face reader. Jeepers creepers. I think I watched THE KING'S FACE after seeing him in THREE FATHERS, ONE MOTHER and/or LOVERS OF SIX YEARS, and that's why I found him so creepy. Very disconcerting after seeing him play nice guys. He got back into my good graces in the 2006 tvN production of HYENA.
Kairoskat 💐
June 26, 2020 at 4:19 PM
@pakalanapikake Being scary is one of his dramaland speciality 🤭. He was the villain for 3 dramas (MLFAS, Liar Game, KF) in 2014. He actually has more nice roles compared to evil roles, but he's known for being drama villain~
Lol. I never thought I would see Lovers of 6 years in DB comment section. I might have to rewatch it, I remember he's an author with hearing disability. I think Hyena was his first major role in a drama. Before that he was an extra. His arc in Hyena was interesting especially since the drama was made in 2006. Acting wise I think he has improved so much over the years.
PakalanaPikake
June 26, 2020 at 5:03 PM
@katakwasabi,
Speaking of LOVERS OF SIX YEARS, I was floored to discover that Yoon Kye-sang of CHOCOLATE had played the insufferable male lead in the movie. I didn't recognize him -- although it had been several years since I'd seen the movie. The main reason I watched it was for the female second lead Cha Hyun-jung, who had been terrific with Jang Hyuk in "His Concern" in the omnibus film FIVE SENSES OF EROS. Their chemistry was through the roof. She hasn't been active in films or drama since 2014.
SSR was great in HYENA, and projected immense dignity in the midst of the others' madcap antics. Like Oh Man-seok and Kim Min-jong, he sang a lovely solo number. His was a very moving piano ballad that underscored the heartbreak of his relationship with the ditzy Conch. What a voice! A fervent prayer, it's towards the end of ep. 9, and starts at about 52:45. I've posted the lyrics as rendered by WITH S2 on my fan wall.
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/pakalanapikake/activity/711122/
It and the other two solo songs should have been included in the OST. For some odd reason, none of them were. HYENA had a lot of great background music, too -- and in that respect reminds me of MBC's SOUL MATE, also from 2006. HYENA was ahead of its time, and sported a wonderful cast.
17 OldLawyer
June 21, 2020 at 7:54 PM
Once Again rules.
My Unfamiliar Family deserves an even higher rating - as does Backstreet Rookie which is far better than the naysayers (who probably have not watched it) would suggest.
I am am it surprised that MYSTIC POP UP BAR and OH MY BABY are not doing better.
Required fields are marked *
Kurama
June 22, 2020 at 1:44 AM
Mystic Pop Up Bar suffered from the PD's scandal, I think.
Required fields are marked *
OldLawyer
June 22, 2020 at 7:21 AM
That is the only explanation that makes any sense to me.
Required fields are marked *
18 sojuanju
June 21, 2020 at 9:39 PM
This is going to sound random, but does anyone want to do small meet-ups for beanies? I know @girlfriday and @javabeans have done a couple, but maybe we could plan a socially distanced one sometime or even a zoom call for beanies?
Required fields are marked *
19 hEaRtEnEj
June 22, 2020 at 12:20 AM
I hope those who criticize backstreet rookie would just drop the drama and move on with their lives. I don’t want to see comments again of those who watch every episode then continually criticize the premise and rating of the drama. Seems like some beanie’s nowadays just want to find series to criticize and hate every week. It’s sad.
Required fields are marked *
OldLawyer
June 22, 2020 at 7:25 AM
At least some of those comments seem to be made by people who very obviously have not seen the show. I have watched the first two episodes and liked it.
Required fields are marked *
20 Sam
June 22, 2020 at 12:18 PM
The only problem I have with BR is the Dalsik's character. But since the drama is about growth and not judging people, I will wait until the end or a few more episodes to give my full opinion.
While we love Kdramas, we know that South Korea (and many Asian countries) is behind when it comes to racism (I mean even in America, we still have that problem). That doesn't make it okay, but you have to look at it from their perspective, their mentality. Having said that, we should educate them to be better.
Required fields are marked *
Kitty_Litter
June 22, 2020 at 6:08 PM
There is no place on Earth (none, nada, zilch).... that is Racism free.... i.e. racism, discrimination, hate, etc... of any kind. If you happen to find it....let us know so we can all move there. Just saying.
Required fields are marked *
Sam
June 23, 2020 at 11:31 AM
As a victim of racism, I agree. But I also believe in letting a story play out.
Required fields are marked *
M
June 24, 2020 at 4:22 AM
The drama isn't about judging people is that why they called him a monkey?
Required fields are marked *
Sam
June 24, 2020 at 11:12 PM
Of course that was wrong. But look at who said it? Just because they are FL's friend, doesn't they are somebody to look up to.
Required fields are marked *
21 J
June 23, 2020 at 1:17 AM
I am so disappointed with the viewership rating of Backstreet rookie. I was expecting higher. this should have gotten double digits, like more than 12% for this is a very good drama. Perfect drama in my opinion, This is an underrated gem.
Well, I hope that ratings for this drama will soar high. this better than TKEM and IC
Required fields are marked *
Vespertyne29
June 23, 2020 at 12:38 PM
You forgot that "IMO" in your comment. IC and TKEM are in a different realm than trashy BR.
Required fields are marked *
22 Iamelise
June 23, 2020 at 7:13 PM
I’m enjoying Sweet Munchies. Any thoughts why the Knetz aren’t watching?
Required fields are marked *