My Demon
Contrary to its dismal domestic ratings, which hovered below 5%, My Demon became a hit across Asia. The drama captivated audiences with the stunning visuals of its lead pair, Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang.
Despite its regional popularity, the show struggled in Korea, with the final episode garnering a nationwide rating of just 3.5%. This was a disappointing outcome for a prime-time weekend drama on SBS. The lackluster performance was attributed to its drawn-out and predictable storyline. Moreover, the acting of the lead duo received criticism; Kim Yoo Jung seemed overly tense in her portrayal of an elegant heiress, while Song Kang’s stiff performance further underwhelmed viewers.
The finale offered a happy ending with Jung Gu Won and Do Do Hee reuniting. However, the resolution was criticized for being incomplete and even harsh to the characters. It mirrored the ending of Goblin, where Gu Won resumed his immortal life as a demon, while Do Hee, as a mortal, had to face the inevitability of death. This setup implied that Gu Won would eventually experience the heartbreak of losing his loved one again, leaving viewers feeling unsatisfied.
Chicken Nugget
Unlike My Demon, Kim Yoo Jung played a supporting role in Chicken Nugget. Her character created chaos and added complexity to the plot. Initially praised for its quirky storyline—where Choi Min Ah (played by Kim Yoo Jung) is accidentally turned into a chicken nugget by her father’s mysterious machine—the drama took a bizarre turn.
The series faced backlash, especially from Arab viewers, for disrespectful depictions of cultural elements. The ending, involving time travel, failed to resolve any key plotlines and lacked coherence. The overarching message of the drama was ambiguous, if not entirely meaningless.
Dear Hyeri
Dear Hyeri was a missed opportunity for Shin Hye Sun, a beloved actress known for her strong performances. The drama started as a healing story about a girl with dissociative identity disorder. However, the script gradually turned the protagonist into a shallow character, juggling romantic interests irresponsibly.
Critics lambasted the male lead’s toxic behavior and the unrealistic way the female lead forgave him. Meanwhile, the supportive second lead endured unfair treatment despite his innocence. The controversial finale featured a romantic scene in a field of reeds, which had earlier been the site of a disappearance case involving the female lead’s sister. This insensitivity sparked outrage among viewers.
Sweet Home 3
As the third installment of the Sweet Home series, this drama exemplified a franchise overstaying its welcome. While the first season adhered closely to the source material and was celebrated, the third season suffered from lackluster storytelling and weak character arcs.
The drama’s rushed conclusion and gratuitous sacrifices of secondary characters were widely criticized. The writing lacked the emotional resonance of the original, leaving fans disappointed.
Queen of Tears
Despite its star-studded cast, featuring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, Queen of Tears fell short of expectations. Written by Park Ji Eun, the mind behind hits like My Love from the Star, the drama initially generated immense buzz but faltered due to its overly drawn-out narrative and implausible plot devices.
While the finale presented a “happy ending,” it felt unconvincing and disconnected from earlier character development. A particularly jarring scene showed Baek Hyun Woo visiting his wife’s grave as an elderly man before reuniting with her in the afterlife. This unnecessary addition detracted from the intended emotional impact, leaving audiences unsettled.
Something in the Rain
From the first episodes, Something in the Rain attracts the audience with its compelling “noona” romance and a charming cast led by Son Ye Jin and Jung Hae In. Originally a “slice-of-life” series, but later on, Something in the Rain wastes too much time on dramatic, tragic details of romance, not to mention the supporting cast’s complicated stories. As a result, regardless of the sizzling chemistry between Son Ye Jin and Jung Hae In, the drama fails to keep the audience hooked until the final episode.
Penthouse
Without a cast lineup filled with A-listers, Penthouse still became a major hit across Asia through three epic seasons with a thrilling plot that centers on the elite. Despite being one of the highest-rated dramas in 2021, Penthouse still faced fierce controversy over the “downgraded” script towards the end. The ratings and impact of Penthouse saw a gradual decline after 3 seasons. This is due to the fact that Penthouse constantly killed then revived characters, exaggerated various details without focusing on the drama’s logical flow.
Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class ranks 6th place in the list of Korean cable dramas with the highest ratings of all time with 11.8% after 16 episodes. Although Itaewon Class premiered to a good start thanks to its exciting plot about the revenge and start-up journey of Park Sae Ro Yi (Park Seo Joon), the drama was later criticized by many viewers as it ended on a bad note, as the characters’ storyline and loveline went downhill and became awkward.
Cheese In The Trap
One of the most regrettable Korean dramas in recent years is Cheese In The Trap. Cheese In The Trap has attracted audiences since its debut, thanks to the webtoon’s large fan base. Thought it would give the melodrama genre a new lease, but as the story progresses, the film’s content becomes increasingly out of sync with the original. Even the male lead, Park Hae Jin, gets less screen time than Seo Kang Joon‘s piano.
The Legend Of The Blue
The Legend Of The Blue owns two famous actors, Lee Min Ho and Jeon Ji Hyun. However, for a long time, the success or failure of Korean dramas has not been determined by the main actor’s reputation. The audience had high expectations for the strange love story between a mermaid and a scammer in the first episodes of the drama. However, as the drama progresses, Legend of the Blue Sea becomes increasingly tedious.
