Success takes hard work and 2018 saw the first time that cable K-dramas fully dominated the landscape over Big Three network dramas, in both critical top 10 lists and comparative adjusted ratings. After nearly a decade of concerted effort to focus on K-drama quality production, the cable networks tvN, jTBC, and OCN have much to be proud of this year with massive hits including Mr. Sunshine and Sky Castle as well as breaking their own network ratings records. Other critically acclaimed offerings include My Ahjusshi, Mother, Voice 2, The Guest, Miss Hammurabi, with popular fluffy dramas such as Why Secretary Kim and 100 Days My Prince providing a taste for every viewer. The only notable prime time drama to speak of in 2018 were Return and currently An Empress’s Dignity but both are flawed with either controversy or a ridiculous storyline that people are watching for the crazy factor. I don’t see a turnaround in sight for the Big Three networks and frankly as a viewer I don’t care as long as the cable networks continue their streak of producing great K-dramas.
Just for info
Whats Wrong Sec Kim start at 5.8% end at 8.6%
Miss Hamurabbi start at 3.7% end at 5.3%
Mother start at 3% end at 5.3%
My Ajushi start at 4% end at 7.4%
Mr Sunshine start at 8.9% end at 18.1%
Prison Playbook start at 4.6% end at 11.2%
The Guest start at 1.6% end at 4%
Lawless Lawyer start at 5.3% end at 9%
correction: Mother start at 3% end at 5%
Thank you @mistyeyes for the ratings because Lawless Lawyer did really well in the end to secure 9% yet still goes under the radar and is unrecognised in a lot of posts. However it was a good yarn and both LJK and SYJ along with the supporting cast and crewworked their backsides off to give us one of the best OTP this year!
All of these dramas were actually consistent in the rating including Lawless Lawyer except for the time during the World Cup with Argentina being a very popular football team, and with Mr Sunshine that it went really low to 7% the during Asian Games.
The guest is the best!
100 days my prince is good too, I like the plot, but DO’s acting just… he always look like he want to punch someone. Always angry ?
LoM is my fave! I didnt watch or keep updated with the other cable dramas except for sky castle and MotA.
But i do find public broadcast dramas fun too. I like the miracle we met and the latest gem of 2018: Just Dance. The miracle we met ratings were good, it is actually one of the most viewed dramas of 2018.
This is crazy. I remember when breaking 2% in cable dramas was considered a feat. I’m so happy at how much viewership have changed.