Fantasy Sageuk Drama Queen Cheorin Premieres to 8.030% Ratings, the Second Highest tvN Weekend Premiere After Mr. Sunshine

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• That's why you should never underestimate a drama which leads by the lesser known, but talented and capable lead actors.
  I enjoyed the 1st episode a lot. Both leads performed very well in their roles. I'm impressed with everything about this drama. There is no acting hole here.
  Can't wait for next episode!

  • ^ I second every word of this comment, the leads of this drama might not be as "big name" among international fans as the actors in certain other hyped dramas, the writer might not be the kind of big name that gets hyped.....but the ratings numbers tell their own story and internet hype isn't everything.

    I just finished ep 1, and was laughing till tears came out of my eyes. It's so much fun! Sure there is the usual sageuk plotting stuff but the actors are great, Shin Hye Sun is rapidly becoming my new fav haha. I can't believe it took her till 2017 to break out, this is why producers need to actually take a chance on talent and not just keep chasing idols for lead roles.

• The first episode was hilarious and refreshing. Shin Hye Sun is such a talented actress..One of my fave ever since I watched her in The Hymn of death..Kim Jung Hyun did well too..
  The ratings were daebak for the first episode!!! Tbh I didn't expect it to go this high..
  It is too soon to predict anything but tvn will finally get a double digit in its prime time sat-sun slot...
  Also, exactly one year later, in the same time slot, it seems like repitition of CLOY'S trajectory in terms of ratings.Good for the channel , especially KJH.

  If the plot is consistent ,ratings can go even higher as COVID cases are rising in SK and people are advised to strictly follow the guidelines and encouraged to remain at home .

• Are those investors who are complaining about a dearth of 20-30s actors in lead roles watching this? Is Shin Hye Sun a hallyu queen? No. Is Kim Jung Hyun a popular hallyu star? No. Did mister sunshine or hotel de luna need a in 20-30s popular oppa to deliver such rating in its premiere episode?

  This is what we are talking about in the previous article. Give talented actors(especially actress like Shin Hye Sun to lead), writers and directors an opportunity to shine and a good script and the results will speak for themselves.

  • Mr.Sunshine had an A-list male lead, who can act and popular female lead, who can act with A-list writer, who most of the time has an it factor. What you talking about.

    • I agree. Mister Sunshine had a lot going for it. But you should have seen the casting and promo trail before it aired. It was so negative. People didnt want Lee Byung Hun. Kim Tae Ri came off Handmaiden movie and she has positive reception but as a movie actress than kdrama actress.

      My point is simply yes popular 20-30s oppas are good for buzz and international sales but overall ratings game is not dependent on them being leads these days. There are other factors that need to come together.

    • I get it what you are saying, especially when Mr. Sunshine had 2 talented and famous stars and a star writer to top it, thus it was a bad example...but the op was somewhat correct in her stance..Look at this current drama for instance.. Without popular Hallyu leads or other famous names, this drama still did wonders. I m not saying it always happens..but sometimes , good scripts >> bankable stars.

    • @RubyRed, I wrote myself under some articles, that writing and directing means more, than leading couple, but let’s not pretend, that Mr.Sunshine and Hotel Del Luna one of those examples. Both dramas had popular casting choices. Something like Sky Castle would’ve been a better example, when power of storytelling and cast that can act overtakes ratings by storm. And initial negative comments just rarely truly affect ratings if drama is anticipated.

  • Haha, both Mr Sunshine and HDL had A-list leads actually. Mr Sunshine had Lee Byung Hyun who is definitely A-list in both chungmaro and dramaland too. Don't forget LBH's mega-hits IRIS and All In. Kim Take Ri is also considered as A-list in chungmaro.
    HDL had IU who is top star, everyone in SK loves IU. YJG was well-loved child actor too.

    • @Jenna I get what you are saying and you are right. But I also recall Hotel de Luna aired around the same time as Arthal Chronicles. I didnt follow the promos of both dramas so take what il say next with a pinch of salt. I heard there was a larger investment and more promos on AC than HDL but AC did average and HDL was a hit.

      Again IU as an artist/musician and all her other ventures is a guaranteed success. But as an actress, she had her highs(Producer) and lows(Pretty Man). People started to recognise and respect her acting ability after My Mister(another drama that was dragged before it aired because of her age gap with her co-star). Same with YJG, loved and mega talent with high like (Crowned Prince) and low(Circle, Orange Marmalade).

      Anyway, I used HDL and Mr Sunshine because they have been mentioned here but also to make a point about the previous article.

  • Mr. Sunshine and Hotel de Luna not only had A-list leads, but also very famous writers that contribute to the high ratings in its premiere episode. The general public are different from netizens who hate on celebrities because of scandals. If the drama is something they like, they don't care about the actors' personal lives such as LBH and that rapist dude that starred in a weekend drama with very high ratings.

  • I get your point, but those examples aren't the best since Mr. Sunshine had everything to become successful: S-tier cast in Lee Santa and Kim Taeri, S-tier writer in Kim Eun Sook. It was also promoted as tvN's blockbuster of the year and most expensive drama, at the time. As for HDL, it had the Hong Sister, who are hit or miss but still have a large following that check out their dramas; IU coming off the critical acclaim of My Ahjussi and Yeo Jin Goo's successful Crowned Clown, which was still fresh in peoples' minds. Their appearance as Baeksang Best Actress/Actor nominees brought in buzz before the show, so people were anticipating it.

    Better example would have been shows like SKY Castle or even Uncanny Counter with much lesser known cast and writer. Both rose steadily due to the quality script and acting. Mr. Queen is largely due to Shin Hye Sun. She's not as popular internationally, but she is HUGE in Korea. Almost all her dramas have done well in ratings ever since her breakout success in My Golden life.

    • I don’t see My Golden life’s success as due to Shin Hye Sun. It has a large cast and I think there are so many leads on this drama that success can’t be credited to just one or two persons the same thing with Sky Castle, Once Again, Reply 1988, Homegrown Love Story, Penthouse etc.

    • sorry, I mean 2 people.**

    • 2 people.**

  • Your drama examples aren't the best (I agree with @N that Sky Castle or Uncanny Counter are better examples of drama that did well even without the Hallyu star leads or star writers)

    But your point still stands. This drama is doing 2x the ratings of the drama that came before it.... Fans need to realise that just because an actor is cute and popular it doesn't mean their dramas will live up to the hype, and "investors" need to realise that in drama land, well-supported talented actors can being much better results than mediocre but hyped ones.

• I just finished ep 1. It's so fun and hilarious, I can't stop laughing.
  Congrats to the whole team! It's such a surprised hit. No one thought it would be a hit when everyone is busy hyping over Start-Up, TONT and even True Beauty.

• I was kinda worried for cloy second leads, after the cloy fame, what could they do to keep up their game.
  Seo Ji Hye didn't really do that well with Dinner Mate, I was hoping at least Kim Jung Hyun would do well.
  Now, I'm so happy for KJH. He seems so much better and healthier in his personal lives too.

  • Actually i feel bad for Seo Ji Hye..MBC dramas are under a slump these days , no matter how good they are ..and the plot of Dinner Mate didn't help either.
    Wish she stayed with Cable ..Kim Jung Hyun chose his project wisely..
    Anyways , Ji Hye is having another project with Sung Hoon..Hope it does well.

  • I liked Dinner Mate...it was a really well done show that gave us a mature couple. Seung Sung Hoon's character was awesome, decent, kind, smart guy who makes smart decisions. And he had great rapport and chemistry with Seo Ji Hye.

• Such a surprise when an underdog does so well!
  It has famous director and writer?? No.
  A-list Actress?? No.
  Hallyu King? No.

  • It reminds me of that time, exactly one year ago when a certain drama had all the three elements...
    A-list Actress? Yes
    Hallyu actor? Yes
    Star writer..? Yes
    But the irony being people were still surprised when it did well ratings wise..??..Can you guess the drama??

    I think, surprises can come in any form ..

    • Which one do you mean? CLOY?

    • Yup , i was talking about CLOY..
      My point is, we should always give a chance before judging something, whether it is underdog or not..

      On a side note..I can't be more happy for KJH, as he bounced back with 2 back to back hits..Shin Hye Sun's career is also flourishing.

    • Yep, I am so happy for Kim Jung Hyun. Everyone predicted that his career was over when he went through health problem and depression. But, he really come back well.

  • #Do not underestimate an underdog.

• Congrats to Queen Shin Hye Sun and King Kim Jung Hyun! So deserving ???

• Look at how quick Koala was to post about this drama's ratings. Where was this enthusiasm during Start Up? Hahahaha

  • Lmao..I noticed it too..Seems like she had a soft spot for the actress or the writer of SU..??..

    • Or it is because she falls for NJH? Clearly she was in team dosan, lol.

    • After leading the snark campaign against some dramas here, she tried to protect Start Up and its mediocre ratings from the ratings monsters she herself created. Hypocrisy at its finest. Lol

    • Whether she likes suzy or not, this is HER blog, of course she is being subjective, and wont pleasent all of you. Imagine if you had a blog, it's normal if you prefer specific thing and being bias. Please use basic common sense

    • Having bias is fine as long as you admit it and don't pretend to be all impartial lol. I don't think anyone would have a problem if koala just said "yeah the ratings for this one are just average but I love it" etc etc.

  • Exactly! I still remember how she posts very quickly about Start-up in every week in its run, even though there was not much important content, lol.

  • It's all up to her, this is HER blog. she can post whataver she wants

    • @Haeki

      Are you Koala's agent by any chance? Why are you getting your panties in a twist? Lmfao.

  • I looked at the ratings for Startup...4-5 percent range? In 2020 that's ok ratings for tvN but plenty of less hyped dramas like Flower of Evil and the gumiho drama got the same or higher ratings. So much for some stans' claims lol.

    8 percent for a premiere is really solid though. Congratulations to the Queen Cheorin team.

  • She has never claimed to be unbiased. Take it with a grain of salt, this is a personal blog btw, not entertainment news site.

    • I think it's ok to have bias, but I also think it's ok to point it out. It's just a bit funny to see the yawning gap in the tone of coverage lol.

    • I mean she has been pretty snarky about Shin Hye Sun and Seo Ye Ji when they were struggling as well...I remember those posts very, very well. Almost looking down on their projects knowing full well good roles don't go to good actors necessarily. So, I just laugh now at this full 180 degree reversal.

    • Did anyone say this was an entertainment news site? (Ha, as if there's no bias there.) Of course it's her personal blog. But it's a public blog. With ads, if I might add. She's entitled to mock a drama and its low ratings if she wants...just as she can also choose not to post the low ratings of a drama she really likes to protect it from mockery. But readers are also free to point it out when they see it.

    • @Gem

      It's all in good fun. Nothing serious. And we're not even calling it out as aggressively as a certain Hallyu actor's stan who's been MIA around here for awhile now would have done it. With swear words and all. Hehehe... good times. Lmao.

• I get with the rating. How about buzz and popularity? Is it really popular?

• where is marie? marie look at the premiere rating of Mr. queeen?

  Does it mean that knetz did not want to watch your "cant act" actress? Your faves drama was a F. L. O .P . Big F. L.O. P.

  Soop must be so devasttated. imagine two their talents were in a F. L. O. P PHR drama

  and where are the fans of the its okay? waahaah. your drama did not even reach 8%. delusional fans thinking that its okay was a hit.

  • happy of this ratung..slap on zzzzzzuzzzzy fans and the its okay fans.

    • The It's Okay fans are still happy with their drama being selected as one of the best tv series of 2020 (in any language) by the New York Times, thanks.

      And ratings in the 6-7 percentage range with no star writer is good news too.

    • Hahahaha... both those dramas STILL beat your fave's second worst drama of 2020 Backsh!t Rookie and 1% CWPFN. After such terrible flops, no wonder you were desperately begging for her upcoming drama to do well. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

  • Oh please Joane..get lost with your fake appreciation..You are even worse than Marie..

    I still remember how you called Shin Hye Sun old , not good looking and a flop actress in previous Koala posts..And now you pretend to be a saint.

    I know you must be reeling with jealousy..Just wait for some time, Karma will bite you even more ...Every other actress that you insulted will bounce back .

  • @Joane

    Yeah keep going you’re actually entertaining.

    I’m a fan of IOTBNO and your so called flop of this drama is far from it. Unless you have been hiding under a rock IOTBNO is actually touted as a huge success nationwide and internationally. It might not have hit 8% in the ratings but it definitely hit critical acclaim and sustained massive popularity to this day.

    I suggested in the Moon Chae Won post that you practice the Butterfly hug I guess you should do the same here.