The highly anticipated tvN Monday-Tuesday drama Nice to Not Meet You has failed to sustain its initial buzz, despite boasting one of the most luxurious casts in recent memory. Hailed as a “30% potential hit” before release, the show’s actual ratings have been sobering. After a promising premiere, the series has seen a steady drop over three consecutive episodes, now falling into the 4% range.
According to Nielsen Korea, the third episode of Nice to Not Meet You, which aired on November 10, recorded an average nationwide viewership of 4.2% and a peak of 5.2% on paid platforms. The Seoul metropolitan area matched the 4.2% average, retaining the No. 1 spot in its timeslot but continuing a downward trend from 5.5% in the first episode and 4.8% in the second. With a third straight decline, the drama urgently needs a rebound to maintain momentum.
Nice to Not Meet You follows a righteous journalist and a typecast actor who clash over truth, fame, and integrity. Beneath the glamorous surface of celebrity life, the drama delves into human insecurities, misunderstandings, and the blurred boundaries between fact and fabrication. Critics have described it as a sharp satire of the entertainment industry’s moral and emotional complexities.
Viewer reactions, however, remain divided. Some praised the acting and dialogue chemistry between Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon, while others criticized the pacing and emotional restraint. Comments ranged from “The performances are perfect but the story feels slow” to “The romantic tension finally comes alive in episode 3.” Others lamented that “The drama lacks the punch its title promises,” and “The plot density doesn’t match the star-studded cast.”
On online forums, fans debated whether Nice to Not Meet You’s complexity is hindering its early impact. One viewer noted, “The acting ensemble is strong, but the story’s rhythm is off,” while another wrote, “The third episode finally ties the emotions together I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Meanwhile, TV Chosun’s new series No Next Life, which premiered the same night, reached a segment high of 2.6%, adding fresh competition to the Monday-Tuesday drama race. As the battle for ratings heats up, all eyes are on whether Nice to Not Meet You can recover from its early slump and rediscover the spark of its ambitious premise.
Featuring powerhouse stars Lee Jung-jae, Lim Ji-yeon, Oh Yeon-seo, Kim Ji-hoon, Seo Ji-hye, and Na Young-hee, Nice to Not Meet You remains one of tvN’s most ambitious projects of the season. The production and performances are strong, but the drama has yet to achieve the explosive popularity its cast promised. Whether it can regain momentum and deepen its emotional core will likely become clear in episode four, airing November 11 at 8:50 PM KST on tvN, with replays available on TVING and Wavve.
tvN “Nice to Not Meet You” Ratings (Nielsen Korea, Nationwide):
Episode 1 (Nov 3): 5.5%
Episode 2 (Nov 4): 4.8%
Episode 3 (Nov 10): 4.2%
Sources: wikitree
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