While tvN drama Crash Landing on You has defied its silly set up and achieved a steady ratings rise during its airing, weekend newcomer jTBC Fri-Sat drama Itaewon Class has been nothing short of record making. The underdog Park Seo Joon drama premiered last week to 4.983% ratings which was incredible already, but each episode has risen to 5.330%, then 8.013%, and yesterday’s episode 4 hit 9.382%. For those who saw K-drama ratings are dead, it’s these kind of successes that keep the industry still believing its worth making dramas. This drama is on its way to be male lead Park Seo Joon’s most successful work to-date, and I’m super thrilled for him.
I really like this show! PSJ is good, and I am curious what his long-term plan is,but Kim Da Mi is who keeps me watching. She cannot be on the screen enough each episode.
Amazing drama. Spoiler
…..
.
Park seo joon confrontation scene with his father’s killer was award worth n how he switches to comedy is gold.
Good screenplay and great cinematographee. Lead actress is amazing! So is ex gf
Not surprised by this at all… Its been a good watch from episode 1 but this week sums it all up for, Kim Da Mi is amazing and I seriously understand Nana’s character, don’t even let me start on Park Seo Joon he’s always amazing in everything he’s in.
And seriously will this be his highest rated drama? Hands down I hope it is but PSJ dramas has always been doing well even ratings wise.
I like PSJ. He is a good actor who can deliver solid performances despite weak scripts like Dream High 2 and Hwarang. So happy for his successful ratings in IC, the whole cast is great, hope ratings will surpass 10% next 🙂
Yes, Itaewon Class is shaping up to be a really meaty, interesting drama. PSJ’s acting in the drama scenes was superb! I hope the momentum continues up to the every end.
I looove watching Crash Landing on You but if I’m to be honest here, there are scenes that are just there to entertain the audience (all these jokes about SK being really poor but just putting on a show for the NK visitors are sooo funny, but they don’t add much to the plot, but I love watching them haha). There are other shows with better scripts, but I just love, love, love the cast and the camaraderie in Crash Landing on You. 🙂 There are note-worthy scenes for HB and SYJ that showcased their acting prowess too.
Why the need to compare with CLOY? From onset, we already know that CLOY meant to be purely entainment, what with that absurd plot that many predicted would failed miserably. It however, did surprisingly well and resonated with the viewers.
Let Itaewon Class shine as it is, and CLOY as it is. They don’t even share any similarity to warrant a comparison.
People really loves to compare. CLOY and IC are totally different genres.
Haven’t checked out Itaewon Class yet though.
Was not comparing the two, hence the different paragraphs. CLOY was mentioned in this same article too, I wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise.
This is honestly so amazing and I’m so happy for the cast! PSJ is absolutely phenomenal here, and I especially loved his acting at the end of episode 1 and 3. This is my first time watch Kim Da Mi but she has really good screen presence and draws the audiences’ attention whenever she’s on. I’m so excited to see how the plot will develop!
Am I the only one who doesn’t like IC? I mean I could always guess what’s next without even reading the manhwa.
I wanted to watch esp after reading the great review and based on the ratings rise but Park Seo Joon is not the kind of actor that I can sit and watch for 16eps. I sat thru Hwarang solely for PHS. Nothing against him and he seems to be a genuine great guy, a humble talented actor but he just lack the magnetism (at least to me). Idk, maybe I will give it a try once I am done with CLOY.
I second that. I like actors who can veer off to the menacing side within seconds. Keep you guessing. Bone chilling, thrilling, unsettling then a soft, vulnerable, kind and lovable side. I love PSJ too but agree that he lacks strong magnetism and sheer charisma. He still has many years ahead to perfect his acting skills to present a tour de force performance.
He has all of that and more. And delivering great performance, that moving people. Don’t mix your own attraction to the actors (some more, some less) with their actual acting abilities. Your level of attraction to an actor makes it or breaks performance to you. But If PSJ lacked “sheer charisma” as you’re saying, the guy simply wouldn’t been where he is now. The fact, that Park Seo Joon has very few flops in his career and can attract audience says a lot about his “sheer charisma”. The ones who never make it big, despite how small minority tries to hype them up as “woozing magnetism” actually the ones that miss that IT charisma points in their acting to attract mass attention.
He has all of that and more. The guy is showing strong performance and gaining all the possible praise. Don’t mix your personal attraction (some more, some less) with their actual acting abilities. Your level of attraction can make it or break it for you someone’s performance, but that’s it. But If PSJ lacked “sheer charisma” as you claiming, he wouldn’t been where he is now in the first place. The guy has very little flop projects and can attract audience to watch him and his projects. Charisma is ability to make people feel attracted to you. It’s not like everyone would share same opinion or taste, but if he/she is very popular and beloved it’s funny to call that person as “lacking sheer charisma”. The ones that actually miss IT charisma factor are actors, that minority hype up us “wooozing magnetism”, but they can’t even attract attention of mass audience.
I’m on the other specter, I felt a lot for PSJ and PHS’s seriously bored me to death with his acting. Skipped all his scenes xD
As for lacking charisma and magnetism… That can be only referred as personal view and never as fact, because he is extremely popular and successful in such a competitive industry to even fill into that narrative in any way objectively. Unlike women, there is too many actors, that want to be next best thing and only few of them actually able to reach level in SK, that PSJ reached. People wouldn’t watch his work, if he wasn’t charismatic male lead.
@great, man, thank you for saying it for me;)
Calm down kiddo, don’t have to hide behind multiple usernames to give the illusion that you are many different people. Just be honest and present your opinion once. You don’t have to be insecure when people don’t share your opinion. Learn to listen to other people and agree to disagree graciously. This is an important life skill and maturity that will carry you far in life. For example, the other nominees didn’t throw a hissy fit or tantrum when Boon Joon Ho won Oscars’ Parasites. Just enjoy your own oppa without attacking other people. An actor’s attraction is a very subjective matter. Some people like oranges, others like apples more, both are good fruit full of vitamins. Chill. Peace off.
Never been a fan of PSJ. As you said, I didn’t feel any attachment to his acting nor his character. I tried Whats wrong with secretary kim and couldn’t finish the first episode.
@kimchi ajumma, I didn’t attack you nor made any personal remarks. The one who can’t agree with another opinion is you, who stated to get right into defense mode over “opinion”. Did it hurt you, that someone showed disagreement about actor without using any personal remarks? Think about it lol And I didn’t hide behind “several nicknames” lol I posted same exact comment using different usernames and admired it. There were some site/web problems most highly, but I thought something wrong with my nickname. The one person with whom I agreed is not me lol Sometimes several people can share similar ideas lol Surprise, I guess XD
He has all of that and more. The guy is showing strong performance and gaining all the possible praise. Don’t mix your personal attraction (some more, some less) with their actual acting abilities. Your level of attraction can make it or break it for you someone’s performance, but that’s it. But If PSJ lacked “sheer charisma” as you claiming, he wouldn’t been where he is now in the first place. The guy has very little flop projects and can attract audience to watch him and his projects. Charisma is an ability to make people feel attracted to you. It’s not like everyone would share same opinion, but if he/she is very popular and beloved it’s funny to claim that person “lacking sheer charisma”. The ones that actually miss IT charisma factor are actors, that minority hype up us “wooozing magnetism”, but they can’t even attract attention of mass audience.
He has all of that and more. The guy is showing strong performance and gaining all the possible praise. Don’t mix your personal attraction (some more, some less) with their actual acting abilities. Your level of attraction can make it or break it for you someone’s performance, but that’s it. But If PSJ lacked “sheer charisma” as you claiming, he wouldn’t been where he is now in the first place. The guy has very little flop projects and can attract audience to watch him and his projects. Charisma is ability to make people feel attracted to you. It’s not like everyone would share same opinion and taste, but if he/she is very popular and beloved it’s funny to call that person as “lacking sheer charisma”. The ones that actually miss IT charisma factor are actors, that minority hype up us “wooozing magnetism”, but they can’t even attract attention of mass audience.
I didn’t say PSJ lacked complete charisma dearie. I said sheer charisma. That’s a few levels up from charisma. Don’t have to twist my words and misunderstand where I am coming from. I also said I love PSJ. Different fans have different types of love and admiration for their oppas. I am the mature ajumma fan who thinks of him like my son and how well he’s doing academically in high school. In my assessment of his acting acting skills, PSJ is in the middle phase now and hasn’t given me sheer charisma level yet. Maybe in 5 years time or when he reaches mid-30s or late 30s, PSJ will reach sheer charisma level when he adds diverse roles to his filmography. For example, Jang Hyuk in 2002 (Successful Story of Bright Girl) gave me a different vibe than Jang Hyuk in 2008 (Slave Hunters) and Jang Hyuk in 2017 (Money Flower). An actor’s progress is like peeling an onion, revealing different layers as time goes by. I am the long term fan. See you again in 2024 to discuss PSJ’s sheer charisma, I will still be here if this blog exists.
I hope you could give me lotto winning numbers!!
Nah, buy gold and silver mate. Fiat $ doesn’t last. Me just an old nana rambling on. Cheers.
The last episode was the best. The 3 first were like a long introduction. There are a lot of usual tropes but in 4th, the story becomes more interesting.
Nah, people acting like “twists and turns” what makes good drama good. There are plenty “twisty” dramas, that fail to deliver and mediocre at best. What makes drama interesting to viewers are: strong idea and message, interesting characters, solid acting and directing, steady script and storytelling, ability to create own atmosphere. That what makes good drama good. So far Itaewon Class have all those things, that listed above.
lmfao, I tried to leave comments several times and thought something wrong with my internet, nickname or everything else, even had to write and re-write after it not appeared…now all of them decided to finally get threw and embarrass me lol
With Hot stove league coming to an end ,IC it’s my new fix. I love it and hope it continues …So much dramas begin with solid plot to end badly.
I agree cahill. Hot Stove League has got some great reviews and ratings. Honestly, I have struggled to watch some big name stars dramas lately. Lost steam and my interest after a few episodes. Quite disappointing really coz some stars are my faves. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.