A little drama poll

[dangermousie]

Am still in great mood from perfect Chuno ending, so have a poll.

[Poll #1543088]

As for me, there are pros and cons for all of them hitting the ratings jackpot.

Cinderella Unni has a writer of big emo hits (Spring Day, Piano), a very A-list leading lady in Moon Geun Young and is Chun Jung Myung first project in 4 years. It also has popular Seo Woo and Tec of a boyband for the teenybopper factor. Plus, if you want emo melodrama, it's your bet of the season - the rest of spring dramas look pretty light.

But CU has some big shoes to fill - its predecessors IRIS and Chuno were huge critical and ratings hit (both are nominated for multiple Baeksangs and had ratings of 30+%). But they are different genres - spy thriller and a fighting-heavy period drama. Both are innovative, violent, and a world away from the traditional melodrama genre. Not to mention that MGY's last drama, Painter of the Wind, may have been acclaimed but didn't do so well in the ratings and the writer's last drama was Robbers, which I adored but which ended with abysmal 5% ratings. Plus, it's spring! Will a lot of people want a heavy melodrama?

Personal Taste - it looks light and funny, tries to capitalize on Coffee Prince vibe (fake gayness), is based on a popular novel and stars the huge superstar Son Ye Jin (in her first drama role in years) and Lee Min Ho who wowed teenyboppers in Boys Over Flowers and has a huge fanbase of loyal viewers but also happens to be a darn good actor. I honestly think that if this has a halfway decent script, it's going to win the ratings war.

But that's the big if - LMH couldn't save BOF from awfulness (not that it affected BOF's ratings) and if the script and PD suck, this drama will sink like a stone.

Prosecutor Princess - I think it's the underdog drama here. I happen to adore the three leads - Kim So Yeon, Park Shi Hoo and Han Jung Soo but they are nowhere near the super-A-list level of the other 2. Plus, lawyer dramas haven't bee hits for a while. But you never know - it looks bubbly and fun and all 3 leads' last dramas were monster hits (IRIS, Family Honor, and Chuno respectively) which presumably got them extra visibility and extra fans. Not to mention the writer wrote the biggest hit of last year - Brilliant Legacy which was not just successful but incredibly good. I am rooting for PP, I confess - I love the underdog.

Comments

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Lee Min ho? may be?? But fake gayness in Korea? Not sure.

Moon Geun Young seems to be an actress that can't do wrong with Korean public ("Painter " had all sorts of issues that don't fly well in Kdramas - lesbians, age differences, etc. and still the ratings weren't too bad) so goes my vote (and they like traditional melodramas - "Temptaion of.." are a proof). These things are so hard to predict - my guess is that the popularity might split.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

My prediction (hope?) is that Ji Min Hee in a 50+ ep romantic sageuk (his first since DJG?) will slaughter everything.

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

I'm just hoping to be pleasantly surprised by Prosecutor Princess, since it's not something I would normally check out. I really don't want to be bored because I kind of love Kim So Yeon after IRIS.

[popaddict.livejournal.com]

I think Cinderella has the lead in the ratings battle. Koreans love their MGY and it's a melodrama. My one worry for PT is the writing; I expect the acting to be solid but my trust in the writer is missing.

If this was here though, I would watch PT and tape CU & PP. I will be checking out all 3 though, for sure.

[syrenstar.livejournal.com]

Personal Taste is going to have the BOF fangirls out in force even if it's bad, and I half except it to be bad, it's going to win in the ratings.

I really want Cinderella to be great, writing, acting, directing I want greatness across the board. I adore reinterpretations so I have my fingers crossed.

Laywers? Meh. It might as well be about sports cause I ain't watching.

[ifruity.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, Personal Taste will lead. It has pretty much everything everyone wants -- a quirky storyline and cute leads who are very capable of acting.

Cinderella Unni, I'm not so sure. Because it's a melodrama, that might turn some people off. I think that the ratings will be pretty good and the fanbase will be strong, but I don't know if it'll appeal to people as much, even if it does have Moon Geun Young and Taecyeon. Even if Taec is in the drama, it doesn't usually mean that the ratings will soar. Heading to the Ground, even if it had Yunho from DBSK, which has the HUGEST fan group ever (it's even in the record books, not even lying), the drama still have abysmal ratings. Then again the really great cast's fanbase may prove me wrong.

Honestly, I have no real interest in Prosecutor Princess. I like the heroine's character. I'm gonna check the first episode out (mostly because one of my favorite KPOP groups is gonna gueststar. I'm a shameless fangirl.). For me, this drama depends on the hero's character. If he's mean, then I have no interest. If he's nice, then I'll watch more.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I'm checking out all three, because I love the people staring in the roles, the writers, etc. I'm really glad I don't live in Korea, because I'd hate to have to chose.


I think Cinderella's Unni may have high ratings, because people usually stick with one network and will just keep watching the same network. A spy drama followed by a historical drama - ratings through the roof. Maybe the people watching that network love more intense dramas? They may want to stick around for the melodrama of Cinderella's Unni.


It's true that the spring season is full of romantic comedies. Spring and summer seems to be the time of romcoms in Korea. So, Personal Taste and Prosecutor Princess may do well.


I don't think the casts or writers will matter in the end. How many people have come off of huge hits only to be in a low rated show following? Look at Lee Joon Ki - he did Time Between Dog and Wolf, which ended at 16.1%. Then Iljimae, which was a monster hit ending at 23.4%. Then came Hero (which granted was full of issues) that ended at a mere 4.9%. And, he's rather popular. Fans and past drama ratings aren't everything.



At the end of the day, I do hope that all three do well and maintain 15% or above throughout their runs. I doubt it will happen that way, though.

Oh, FYI: It seems that Shin Se Kyung may have been casted in that new Hong sisters drama.

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be rooting for Prosecutor Princess. It's got a good writer, promises some great character development and great actors so I think it'll be good.

I want Personal Taste to be good but it could really go either way. I hope they handle the fake gay thing the way Coffee Prince did instead of playing it up in a way that'll make me want to stab everyone involved in the drama.

Cinderella Unni I'm sure will be popular but I'll only be watching it for the cheese so I don't really care.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

Definitely rooting for Prosecutor Princess as well, simply because I love the cast. I still haven't gotten around to finishing Brilliant Legacy, but hoping the PD/writer duo reproduces that same magic!

Interest for Cinderella Unni disappeared the minute I found out it was going to be a silly angstfest, and I'm kind of ehhh about the fake gay plot for Personal Taste.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The fake gayness thing worked for Coffee Prince so we'll see. I think they can deal much easier with fake gayness than the real thing (though apparently a weekend drama Life is beautiful has one of its main characters be gay).

That's true, Koreans love their melodramas, the more OTT the better (the Temptation ones were horrific). But I don't know, I am just not feeling it.

My genuine prediction - Princess to get the ratings in high single-digits - 8-9%, Taste and Cinderella Unni get mid-teens. None of them are to have the huge Chuno/IRIS numbers. I think the blockbuster of the spring season is going to be the period drama Dong Yi on Mon/Tues.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I love the cast of PP the best as well (plus, imagine the amount of kick-ass, Sunhwa of IRIS, Gen Choi of Chuno and Shiho of Iljimae can unleash on the world :P)

Plus, the writing was SO solid for BL.

Re: Cinderella Unni. I prefer serious dramas to funny ones and I am generally fond of emo melodrama but even with that, CU just looks plain bad. My remaining hope for it that it's bad in the vein of Bad Love, the Kwon Sang Woo/Lee Yo Won trainwreck that was so bad it went into 'so bad it's good' territory.

Re: fake gay plot. It could go either way, with PT.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

My genuine prediction - Princess to get the ratings in high single-digits - 8-9%, Taste and Cinderella Unni get mid-teens. None of them are to have the huge Chuno/IRIS numbers. I think the blockbuster of the spring season is going to be the period drama Dong Yi on Mon/Tues.

yes, I had a thought about it (what a good thing to think before going to bed) - my guess is not far too, unless one of them ends up a unpredictably crazy run-away hit as the likes of "Queen of Housewives" (but there are always good reasons for these things)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

CU just looks sooooo awful. I am not sure how much of it I'll be able to stand.

I am rooting for PP too!

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

LOL Bad Love was so, so, so bad.

I'm kind of halfway with the angst? I like my angst if I knew there'd be a happy/happy-ish ending waiting for me at the end? And if it wasn't pointless angst that just dragged on because characters are stupid (Don't Hesitate and their liver transplants, omg). Family's Honor!style angst, though? Capital Scandal angst? Even the crazy angstfests from Hateful But Once Again? LOVE.

My only peeve with PP is whoever dresses these characters. KSY's Princess is supposed to be fashionable, but I look at some of those stills and I'm like whaaattt. Same goes for PSH's lace up boots and puffy pants. WHY?! He should just remain in a suit forever.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

CU doesn't look so good (to me) from the previews but you never know.

I liked Lawyers of Korea so there is hope for PP. Sports dramas though? ugh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Who is the writer for PT? What else has she/he done?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when it's too draggy I check out - resolve your own issues, stupid people!

I have long given up trying to figure out kdrama fashion. I believe they are being dressed by the blind.

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

CU looks like it's trying too hard to me. I'm kind of getting the BOF vibe with them making music videos and stuff for drama and the angst seems just as contrived in it as well. It also seems as subtle as BOF which is never a good sign.
Maybe I'll change my mind after I watch it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I really really hope it's good. I love the writer so have hope.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am sure Dong Yi is going to sweep the floor with the other dramas with the ratings (I can't think of any period dramas that did badly except for Ja Myung Go). It's a Mon/Tues drama though so the Wed/Thursday dramas at least don't have to worry about direct competition.

Btw, a sub group apparently picked it up!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Was it With2s, or the other group considering it? I've been grabbing the raws because with 2 groups interested, chances were high that one would come through. I'm actually more interested (In context along the lines of "I like Damo more than Emperor of the Sea.") in Merchant Kim Seuk (I think I dropped part of her name there, but am too lazy to look it up) but I don't think any groups have expressed an interest in it yet.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

At least BOF was good for the first half - CU looks OTT from the start.

I mean, I loled like a lunatic at those 'fighting' stills - what? Are they deer in heat? Guerilla dancers? What?

And why is MGY character so freaking sullen. Cheer up, you are not dying of terminal illness. Though with this drama, maybe you are.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think PT would lead too but I guess CU may do well too - Koreans love their melodrama.

I remember Heading to the Ground - I tried watching it and it was so bad! Yunho was pretty wooden but that wasn't the real problem 0 the guy was cute enough to overcome that. The real problem was the writing made no sense - it was one of the worst-written dramas I've ever come across!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I want to be in Korea - the thought of so much TV I want to watch is pretty awesome :)

Maybe the people watching that network love more intense dramas?

I don't know - before IRIS they had Take Care of the Lady in that slot and that was a zany romcom.

Oh, FYI: It seems that Shin Se Kyung may have been casted in that new Hong sisters drama.

Ooooh, who is she?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The other group, I believe.

Re: Merchant Kim Man Deok. I have room for only one long traditional sageuk a season and I picked Dong Yi in part because I like the concept of poisonous court politics and because I generally like Dong Yi's cast much better, but also because I really don't care for MKMD's leading lady. She seems to lack spark to me (I've seen her in a contemporary drama before).

Does viikii sub MKMD? They are usually good at subbing everything but now with the licensing stuff, who knows.