Thanks to the cast and their acting, these dramas got fair ratings and many achievements.
My Roommate Is a Gumiho
At the beginning of the project, “My Roommate Is a Gumiho” drew attention for having Jang Ki Yong and Hye Ri as the lead actors of the drama. They were capable actors respectively, so the audience had much expectations for the series. Had it not been the for the lead couple, viewers would not have been able to pull through 16 episodes of the series, and overcome a lackluster plot. As the series wrapped up, it received a fair viewership rating, and never left the top 3 dramas of tvN in 2021.
My Sassy Girl
When “My Sassy Girl” starring Jun Ji Hyun received a period drama adaptation, viewers were eager to see how their favorite movie would turn out with a completely new take, through a new set of characters. Anticipation was built when Joo Won was announced a lead actor.
However, throughout the drama, it was only thanks to the chemistry between Joo Won and Oh Yeon Seo that the audience remained hooked throughout. Other than that, the plot was said to be a major setback compared to the original movie. The drama series luckily wrapped up with a rating of 11.4%.
Hwarang
By gathering a stellar cast, such as Park Seo Joon and Park Hyung Sik, “Hwarang” was thought to be foolproof. However, once the drama was aired, it came under fire for a supposedly terrible plot, and much more for its historical wardrobe.
Nonetheless, thanks to a natural acting style and a tremendous support from fans, “Hwarang” received a fair rating and many nominations for individual acting.
Squid Game
At the beginning of its broadcast, “Squid Game” was met with various controversies surrounding its plot, and plagiarism of various survival series and movies from Japan. Moreover, the survival games within the drama were also remarked to be boring, unappealing and lacking in originality.
Nonetheless, the cast of the series remarkably saved the drama. From Lee Jung Jae to Park Hae Soo, to Gong Yoo and Lee Yoo Mi, as well as Jung Ho Yeon, the Netflix’s original series was nominated and won many categories at global awards shows.
Penthouse
When it comes to “The Penthouse,” writer Kim Soon Ok was frequently caught in criticism of driving her script through unreasonable path. Too many times she resurrected the dead, which lowered significantly the quality of the drama. Nevertheless, it was the immersion of the cast, with Kim So Yeon being a notable example, that allowed “The Penthouse” to maintain a stable rating throughout three seasons, frequently breaking into the top 10 most-watched dramas during the course of airing.
Source: K14
