C-media Critiques Why The King: Eternal Monarch Ratings are Dropping with Both South Koreans and Chinese Viewer Interest

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• 7.7 on Douban is not bad exactly. By the way the ratings have never decrease if you mean as pure viewer numbers it didn't decrease exactly. They are on two platforms airing concurrently. They are hitting high in Korea is just that TV-rating is just half of of it and dosen't show the bigger picture. The other half is Netlflix as they are airing concurrently 22.00-2300

  • My exact sentiment. The drama is not doing bad anywhere commericially and in fact it's the opposite and even inside Korea it's doing great. As for Douban dropping from 9 to 7.7 is fairly decent. I myself wouldn't have given the king 9 which is way over the top rating to begin with for the king. So 7.7 is fairly decent and I would even say 7 would be good endinng

    • @ pete after pressuring my brain
      I finally found the article .It is related to CLOY finale ratings.It was posted in Kdramapal . The article said it attracted approx 6.3 mill viewers only behind Sky Castle finale with 6.5 mill.I have the link with me now but don't know how to post it here.
      And its okay. We all support it silently

    • Why are people comparing free air with private cable tho, moreover world of married couple is just remake I give credit to the actors only and not the scriptwriter I believe people are watching because they have not watch the US version. I watched it so the Korean remake didn't excite me. U can't compare remake to pure writing.

  • Nope not at the same time but it airs after one hour i.e 23:00 in Netflix and it has been discussed earlier already. And at 23:00 The World Of the Married airs in JTBC.

    • Just because you see 20% on rating you think everyone in sk is watching it. Its roughly around 2.4m over something that tones in for the World of the married and definitely not the youth. It's a Makjang show nothing surprising and it has it's own targetted audience and they are loyal. I am happy for it but it dosen't overlap share audience with the in my opinion. People in the mid to late 40s won't be into the king. Hack they shouldn't even watch that if it was even for free. The King has been #1 in SK netflix for the last few days

    • @Pete I agree that not everyone watches TWOTM and The King is also doing well in Netflix. I read somewhere but can't recall now that 20 pc cable audience could even mean over 6.5 million audience.So in SK a hell lot of people watch TWOTM.I maybe wrong cause it is an article I read quite some time ago.

    • I think we shouldn’t stereotype audiences based on age, because that’s just opinions.

      Ratings/trending on Netflix doesn’t bring joy to the network because they’re not making any extra money on it. Netflix is happy but not the broadcaster/producers. They want high ratings on the public channels as well to please their customers(advertisers). It is indeed a disappointment so far for the broadcaster and production team. Hopefully ratings grow. Let’s not stretch the truth.

    • They are both doing good but it's definitely not 6.5M for 20% more like 2.4m. As for not bringing joy I think they knew what they were signing on before they did. I don't think would come as shock to them Laura

    • @pete
      I hope you’re right. I hope they’re somewhat please with the ratings they’re receiving. I always feel sad about low ratings for any show even if I think they deserve it. Because it means there will be people losing out. There are cases in the past where drama staff and acting cast didn’t even get paid for their work because the dramas weren’t recouping enough money from their expenditures.

      Since Monarch is preproduction and has a huge budget, thankfully everyone was paid their salary. Hopefully investors/company won’t lose money.

    • @pete
      I hope you’re right. I hope they’re somewhat please with the ratings they’re receiving. I always feel sad about low ratings for any show even if I think they deserve it. Because it means there will be people losing out. There are cases in the past where drama staff and acting cast didn’t even get paid for their work because the dramas weren’t recouping enough money from their expenditures.

      Since Monarch is preproduction and has a huge budget, thankfully everyone was paid their salary. Hopefully investors/company won’t lose money.

    • @Laura yes I agree that we shouldn't stereotype audience based on age by saying that only old people watch the Makjang drama. Cause as far as I know TWOTM is at no. One followed by The King at creating buzz. These were online datas and I assume that youngsters are more into this than the older people makjang loving people. However the buzz generated alone doesn't define ratings as we saw in many cases like Extraordinary You. What I want to point out is that TWOTM is popular both among the youth as well the older people which explains the top ratings and buzz simultaneously.

    • @May I have seen that. TWOTM is generating buzz also and is doing good on all fronts. It's a fact. I am not downplaying it by any means. I am actully watching it myself and loving it. It is a great show. Not a soap opera like the King which I am also watching and enjoying it. It has more serious tone and more grounded tho not a spectacle like the King but it tackles real people issues and most people can relate to that. It's success is not a fluke. I happy for that Show. I support them silently

    • @ pete
      I replied at the wrong post earlier.
      So yeah I finally found the article which said about no. Of viewers ,after a lot of thinking?.It is a Kdramapal article regarding CLOY finale ratings. It said CLOY attracted approx 6.3 million viewers on the last epi only behind Sky Castle which garnered 6.5 million fo its finale.Thats why I assumed TWOM viewership must be high. I have the link with me but don't know how to paste it here.And I guess that site must have showed the number of viewers of King's premier episode as well.
      And sure TWOM is a great drama which is supported by many people.

    • To me this drama is doing pretty good. Many viewers are enjoying it.

    • Yes, but Hyena has great ratings and is one he later in Netflix. The problem is there is no chemistry, story is confusing and I watch first episode and it took me two weeks to watch second. I'm not going to denied that is getting better. Both leads are too woody, she doesn't show emotion and she is one of my favorite actresses.

  • 7.7 in douban, consider it good.

    douban is stingy on rating

  • It was not only number in netflix korea and other countries but also number one on korea's number one streaming site for 2 weeks which saw 56% increase this week. They have made 30% profit already preairig but by releasing at 2 biggest streaming platforms . People need to factor those.

    • Clearly the only problem is that there is NO CHEMISTRY with Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun... Kim Go Eun does not suit the character at all... Action stuffs are really not for her.

• I remember reading few weeks and people were saying that WDH is going to steal the show in this drama. Whereas other party was arguing that a B lister can't overshadow a hallyu star.
  But why do I feel that the 3rd lead played by KKN is stealing the show . Untill now(Don't know about future episodes) majority of the people are saying that Shinjae is the most nuanced character and they are really intrigued about his story. WDH still do not have enough screentime so can't tell about that but LMH is definitely disappointing many people with his acting. Hope he does better in the next episodes.
  I m saying this with the pov of a neutral cause I m not a fan of either of three. But KKN really stood out and even if the story sucks further I will tune in to watch him only.

  • @May

    You are right. KKN has been a scene stealer so far.

    • What show stealer? His part is considered the most boring by viewers, lowest rating when he took 90% of screen time in first half of episode 3 and his arc recorded lowest rating in episode 3. Too much screentime for his no screen presence. He deserved to be side kick

    • Oops I forgot to exclude the oppa fan girls in my OP,who always have their eyes on King Tan only. Obviously they would like their oppa to be on the screen for the entire episode with dozens of slo-mo and closeups and when other characters are shown they are bound to feel bored.
      King Tan is already a superstar in their fans eyes and nobody can change it even if he acts against a veteran they would still be pressing that he would outshine them..But the general unbiased audience seems to like KKN's portrayal a lot. Go to any site and people are commenting that how he managed to grab their attention. And those who didn't ,I already told you about the oppa fans ryt who are blinded with love.
      And isn't it the case that first half episodes are anyways lower than the second half. KKN maybe in 90pc of scenes in epi 3 first part but what about other episodes.It just happened that epi 3 had to be the worst written out of the three and that's why its ratings for both parts were low. As far as I remember KKN had quite some screentime in epi 4 as well involving his mother .People loved that and epi 4 had greater ratings as well.I know it hurts when truth is smeared on your face. And regarding WDH , till now,he is a meh for me in TKEM. King Tan will always be a star bagging big projects but I see KKN hitting big this time if the writer gives him enough storyline. Don't be jealous of a sidekick it will only show your insecurity .They also deserve some praise. He may be not much of a value right now as opposed to ur god but that guy has got the potential in his acting.Remember episode 3 felt boring due to the way his story was portrayed and not his acting cause he managed to shine in episode 4 during that gambling scene.
      Feel free to hate and welcome back to this forum

    • Rofl oppa fangirl is better than typical oppa hating loser.
      Noone cares about that sidekick exoect audience like u.
      Fact is his arc is lowest rated and he slowed down whole episode he has zero screen presence. Born to be side kick and will forveer remain one.
      Thid comment proved how big lmh hater u r!
      And fourth episode highest rating came with the last ten minutes and second half. So take that truth in ur face oppa hater typical edgy hater
      You deserved the truth hating loser. The day when ur sidekick bring 30% profit preairinh then talk. He is born to be sidekick and lick shoes of actual stars.
      Positive comments i can find u on other s too. U have no point there
      And regarfing 4th episode rating it came with lmh scenes thord episode he has less screen time with likes of kkn taking scren time anf episode suffered!

    • Oppa hating edgy hater ur sidekick and lmh in same scene he ate him alive and this is general reception? U r bot general audience to pass ur opinion as fact. Insecure of sidekick? Nope. Just seeing through ur typical hating attitude. Some people are born to be sidekicks.
      When ur sidekick can bring 30%profit preairing to 30 million usd drama then talk him as some star. Till then he is no body! Born to be sidekick
      And nope his arc was lowest rated!
      Fourth episode picked with actual lead in screen time in both episode 3 n 4.
      And yes ky oppa will keep getting offers bco he bring profit already. When will ur sidekick?

  • He ruined whole episode 3 with his arc. When they gave him screen time in part1. It recorded lowest rating with his screentime being the most. Go n watch it again. He was bland.
    The way you guys praised him, i though he is korean tom hanks. He had no screen presence at all. And proved why will he always remain a side kick.

  • I personally think that WDH is way overrated just because he did well in Save Me.

    His follow-up performances be it as leading man in The Great Seducer and as a co-lead in My Country have been underwhelming. The same can be said with his performance in TKEM.

    I would say he is an average actor. Still lacking charisma and screen presence and skill.

    • he is wooden showpiece

  • I honestly can say LMH is a very good Actor . I blame the writer I wish someone else had written for his come back drama. Writer always uses famous Actors but her scripts are boring and the Actors becomes Stoic in the drama. I really feel bad for LMH. I just watching because I am a loyal fan but I'm so disappointed with the lack of chemistry the confusing plots the over dressed clothes and focusing on his appearance rather than acting . LMH will always be my K drama Prince I just wished he had a better drama ?❤??

    • Fans can judge him better so I guess he may be a good actor but other people like us are judging him based on his current performance only .I first watched him in Personal Taste where SYJ stole the show for me. That's why didn't bother to follow his work. I tuned in due to the hype and interesting premise only but so far although the story is good ,the storytelling part is weak along with some mediocre acting which doesn't convince me the reason for their certain actions. Actually I m not able to connect with the characters yet ,nor understand what are their motivation. It feels like they are keeping everything in their mind talking to themselves and giving us disjointed hints only.Thats why I m not able to figure out whose fault it is ,the writer's or the actors. Many people who are not familiar with the actors' previous work are dealing with this. However it is too early cause the plot has just started to become little bit interesting and episode 4 was the best so far and it gave me a glimmer of hope that I m up for a thrilling drama. And fans should welcome constructive criticism because it would ultimately benifit the actor itself.

    • @astar i wont like but i m disappointed by director. Too slow paced. Last episode ten minutes have raised jopes though. Naver got many comments n views and many r saying it felt like first episode. Heirs stayed in low range for few weeks before it picked up. So lets hope for d best

    • @ ady yup ,the last 10 min of epi 4 was great hope they maintain this momentum and pace up a bit in the upcoming episodes.

    • astar i dont know what happened to director? scenes r misplaced and sometimes ruins the flow of story. Product placement is so obvious but well they need to make money and many of them have signed the leads as ambassadors, so maybe thats why

  • I agree, for now I'm really enjoying KKN character, don't know what they will do with him in the future but his acting is already really good. I'm actually watchimg him in special inspector Jo and his hilarious in a comedic role, I'm also hoping woo do hwan gets more stuff to do, which I assume he will but I guess that waits to be seen.

    Honestly like you I'm at the moment watching for Shin Jae.his ep 4 performance p really hooked me. The fact they are giving him more connection to corea is interesting as they could have left him being a sidekick with a crush on the female lead.

    Also the C Netizen comments are pretty on point. I believe the chemistry between the leads improved in ep 4. But I'm neither here or there about them.

• A slide from a nine (excellent) to a 7.7 (average) rating shows that this drama is nothing but a mere hype.

  • I second you. up to eps 4 it's all hype.

    • U shpuld worry about kim yoo jing next 1% drama lmaoo

    • @ ady
      im not worried at all. it will surely be a hit drama. you are the one who seems to be worrying a lot- wanting the rating of Lee Min No drama to cross twenty percent. Im pretty sure that would happen, in the Republic of Corea and not in south korea.

    • Yeah like her last drama.1% always remember. That is her stat power.
      She cant being profit like lmh did already for this massive drama!
      I m not worried at all. He brought the initials. It is upto script and director.
      I wont predict the future. Heirs jumped later as well. Worry about next flop drama of far girl

    • -joanae bcoz of his star power drama got double digit opening as well as made 30% profit pre airinf. Mearly 50 advertisers xame on board for his drama. Channel has already made bank. Now storyline isnot in his hands
      But dont worry he will never have 1% rating. Worrt about ur girl 1% rating power

  • Agree

• The Article could have been alot fun if you could hide your intentions behind it. It would have had impactful meaning but not now. You didn't do proper research on the ratings and just blasted them up so that it would justify your own opinion about the drama. Hahaha. Koala is hilarious but I love your blogging and articles. You got exposed here but it's O'right we all do once in awhile.

  There are alot of other good Tv-shows airing now Koala you should probably check them out and drop this one. If you didn't like it by now you probably not gonna like it later. This my advice to everyone drop a dead horse before it becomes a burden. This belongs to your bin and you should throw it

  • Everyone have their own motivation in continuing to watch a show even if they don’t like it from the get-go; it may be due to supporting a particular actor they like(so they must support the show by watching it in its entirety), or for curiosity since story is intriguing although execution is terrible, or even having the manta of having to finish a show no matter how bad(finish what you start, a little ocd), or even the pure pleasure to see how bad the drama can get.

    There’s no real wrong reason to keep watching a show despite having a sour first impression(s). It’s their life and time, let people do what they please and be entertained however they want.

    I’m still watching this show because of my love for lmh and parallel universes. I’m mighty disappointed in execution and romance and characters motivations but im still going to keep riding Maximus and charging forward unless we fall into a ravine of no return, then I’ll drop the series LOL

    • Well said... as for me I m watching it due to the curiosity about the two worlds and the plot build up. The story telling and acting maybe weak but the story is interesting as well as some secondary characters. Moreover in this lockdown I have nothing much to do.Usually I don't drop a drama so soon. I go upto around half of the series and then decide whether to watch or not. These days I only watch currently airing dramas as I went in a big slump and can't bingewatch anything.

    • @ astar
      I feel you, I feel like I’ve been in a slump as well.
      I’m looking forward to checking out Mystic Pop-up Bar in May, it’s flying under the radar but it’s giving me a Hotel Del Luna feel but much lighter. I hope that’s the case since I love HDL to bits.

    • I love this comment me two I'm watching to support LMH despite the fact that this drama is not what I expected. I love his horse and him so I will keep riding to to support him ?❤??????

  • @Jess
    You're confused, this is her site, her blog. She can write her opinion here with absolutely no consideration to you. She's not writing anything to make you happy.

    Exposed for what? That the show is crap? She's not the only one saying that. I say that with absolute yes. It's not even boring, it's beyond boring. The female lead overacts, the male lead is like a wooden ornament. The writing is crap. There's zero chemistry bw the leads, which means the casting director did a crappy job. The only interesting story on this show is the guy cop and his gambler mother. You know why it's interesting? It is the only clear story on this show that you can follow. Everything else is muddy. The horse is the only thing here that grabs your total attention.

    So she exposed that this show is crap? This show is crap. They exposed it themselves.

    • Exactly found some other kdrama sites publishing articles about the lukewarm response this drama is getting. I guess they are not oppa haters cause their earlier posts were drooling in anticipation for oppa's comeback.

    • @may those sites r run by edgy haters like u!, stay pressed oppa hater

    • Liking another actors' performance over your bias doesn't make me a hater.It is called preference.I just said so far until epi 4 his character is interesting and layered whereas other characters felt one dimensional .And I m not generalising my opinion,go to any forum, people are praising his performance including this one . If you go on name-calling people then surely you can turn me into one i.e a hater. Then carry that sin with you for making a person hate ur oppa without any apparent reason..
      But I know it won't affect you and nor your oppa so leave it.
      I doubt why those same kdrama sites who go ga ga over the hallyu star became a hater like me as you said..?

    • Those drama sites have hated him for years anf then started anticipating him suddenly. Lol. Their intentions have always been the same.
      And if people werent liking it, it wont have been number on koreas biggest stremaung site whwre it saw rise of 56% this week.
      You started oppa fangirl thing to mock fans. So u must be hater.
      Oh pls u like him bcoz u need to 0ut him down. Anyways his arc stil is lpwest rated. Hope no more screen time to that sidekick!
      And those people were praising even before the start of drama lol. They always wanted to push sidekicks to put lmh down. His arc was terrible so waa his acting!

    • Better to hate him then acting like fake critic! I can see through u

    • Hahaha! I so like your comment!

• I kinda wait for it to end for rating, perhaps it's satisfying at the end but my complain is KGE, call me anything but she really doesn't match the role and so annoying, her character and her acting just like "calm down, slow down" or just she doesn't even look like the ace of her job.

  • LOl blaming the girl acting? She is best actress proven and tested. Even lee min ho admit that. Why you always blame the female actors.. even I love lee min ho i must admit his acting is always the same since BOF. Don't put the blame to others expecially the girl just to justify or praise your dream oppa

    • how it is same? he was different in faith, won acclaim for his movie which was dark. lotbs he stole show under jjh's nose. pls get ur facts right

• If I don't like a series or drama I geninuely drop them. I am a purest consumer if it dosen't speak to me I am out. I dropped high profile dramas before without looking back. I was not drawn in by the hype or histrionics. I am averse to hype. I strongly follow my interest. I am actully loving this drama but if i didn't I would have dropped it in the blink of an eye ruthlessly.

  But I am relieved that you are also loving this drama and yes I agree it has interesting plotline and world-buildings. It's enjoyable in that sense. I am also enjoying the actors and actresses involved in it not the biggest KES fan but I am digging this one

  • @jules
    Yes! Honestly, I’m lukewarm but I’m still optimistic and there are ingredients in the show that I enjoy vastly. I hope the future episodes will spend more time investing in world-building and explaining more of the science behind the parallel universes. I’m looking forward to seeing other alter-characters like Luna. She’s suppose to be the most powerful character in the drama. So color me intrigued. Also I think Lee Min Ho alter character is still alive, at least he should be to help make things more interesting haha

    I just checked out the hype(only due to high ratings debut) Good Casting, I was so bored and I fast forward some scenes and it was very over the top although it was intentional, it was too much. The fight scenes in the prison was fun to watch tho.

• I don't know how this place works but this was a reply to @Laura

• I finished ep 4 yesterday, and I will say this drama is hard to watch. No chemistry, gezzt, thats the most important thing in KES drama. I understand why people critizing KGE in here, her character is not lovely. I dont know is it about the script or her acting? KGE act like she has grugde to LMH. She kept mocking him, and act so hateful to him. And for me LMH is stupid for liking a girl like her. I dont like the pair.
  I dont know if I will kept watching this or not.
  But I like the ost, nell gravity is good.

  • Episode 4 last ten minutes give change in future. Lets wait it. I was bored in epiaode 3 with sidekick actor taking all screen time with his zwro presence

  • The drama is not real life. Bot everyone or not all the time lee min ho should be put in a pedestal especially in the drama. Remember gum jandi hates him so much but a lot of people love that story. Dont look on to the actors but to the stories. Lee gon is not lee mim ho. Also, KGE is a detective in the drama she should be tough especially when someone whom she doesn't know suddenly appear and hugged her and told her he wants her to be his wife. And what do you expect her reaction will be if someone keep on telling you that he came from parallel universe? Do you expect her to kiss and hug lee min ho or say i love you? Watch the Behind the scene or the making of the drama instead.. their you'll see how close the two if you cannot stand watching drama that the lead actress is not head over heels(like you) to LMH

• How do people even access Douban? I can't even open it in my country

• Hmm I'm actually surprised with the lower ratings when I find that the story, concept, and characters came together (while still having a lot of room to explore for the mysteries) by episode 4, which was the strongest episode by far.

  1. I quite agree with this point, but for me, I don't see the need for chemistry yet because the romance hasn't started. Yes, there was the proposal but it didn't came off as romantic but more like the way of an awkward king to get to know his savior or someone related to his savior that he's been idealizing, even fantasizing, and waiting to meet for so long. But I saw hints of the chemistry with the last scene of the episode 4. I think people are used to the writer's style of infusing crackling chemistry and romantic banter early on like in DOTS. I see the chemistry here to be more like Goblin where it started later.

  2. I think the confusion stems from the writer having not just 1 but 3 central mysteries that she has yet to explain: (a) the exact mechanics of the parallel world travel and a possible time travel aspect, (b) what exactly the villain has been doing all these years (a point some viewers seem to miss is that the seemingly case-of-the-week story in the republic of Korea is actually closely tied to the villain), and (c) the parallel world counterparts that we have yet to see, their motivations, and how they will affect the characters and story. I actually like that they don't explain everything early on unlike for example in W where the twists and rules they add in the later episodes felt forced and needlesly convoluting to the story after brilliantly building up the world in the first episodes. In The King's case, it honestly makes for an entertaining and exciting watch for me because it's unpredictable.

  3. Hmm I think most of the actors are doing well but that's just my opinion. Lee Minho's not the best actor especially compared to other Hallyu star actors, but in my opinion, he's charming and charismatic.

  4. Now this is what I most disagree with. I actually appreciate that songs aren't blaring in the background for most scenes like in many kdramas. In fact, we barely hear them except for the end of each episodes? It's a welcome change from the writer's usual fare; I find that her lines tend to be more cringeworthy and cheesier when "Love is the moooment" or "I love youuuu" play in the background especially when the couple has just met and barely know each other. But that's just my preference, and I know that catchy songs in the background are part of the charm of kdramas.

  5. Now that I think about it, a lot of my favorite dramas are actually really tropey lol. I don't mind them since they're part of the escapist factor of kdramas. So far, the show hasn't really emphasized the wealth gap of the characters and why they can't be together because of it, which is the standard conflict for this trope in kdramas. The conflict so far is more like in time or dimension travel dramas where they can't be together because they're from parallel worlds. I'm actually really curious how they will resolve this (if there's even going to be a happy ending for them) with the added problem of both characters having counterparts in the other world. It's a refreshing twist to the trope especially when we don't how their counterparts are like. There's also the genius aspect of the male lead which I thought was just an added background to be the typical perfect kdrama hero. But it's nice to see that it actually comes in handy in exploring the parallel world and time travel with real-life mathematical concepts and theories about them. Also how his mathematical interests is tied with the Crown Prince in history whose life was the key divergence in the parallel worlds.

  I think people have high expectations because of the hype with the writer and this being the main actor's comeback drama. So far, I'm surprised with how much I'm loving this drama and am intrigued by its mysteries, which is a first for me when it comes to this writer. It's fun to see how polarizing it is to kdrama fans and commenters and the lively and even heated discussions it generates.

  • Finally someone I agree with. I think what majority of the people who dislike the drama have a problem with is that they aren't understanding the hints that are left in each episode. After looking on some comments I realized that a lot of people aren't following the story, which shocked me because it isn't hard to follow. For example, many people think lee hon saved himself when he was a child when nothing has indicated that. It is highly more likely that the female lead's partner was the one that saved him because he somehow knows the royal symbol and they keep mentioning these nightmares that he had in the past. It's also slowly becoming obvious that lee Ron's uncle is somehow involved in the murder the detectives are trying to solve. I think the public's problem is that they expected a romance or something easy to follow.

    Also, do they expect the leads to just fall in love immediately? For lee hon, he has been looking at a picture for 25 years, imagining what she would be like so it's understandable that he's in love with image that he has of her. However, eul taek has no reason to like him, in fact I completely understand why she treats him like that. A strange man hugs her, says he's from a parallel universe and says he's the king of the country he's from,has no history in her world and will not leave her alone....

    The scandal that the actress was in was from years ago and it's was resolved so I don't see what that has to do with anything. The only thing I agree with is that lee minho is kinda stiff, this is my first time watching a drama of his, but I'm willing to overlook that since it's his first drama after discharge and I love Kim go eun