Lee Young-ae’s Return to KBS Faces Disappointing Ratings Despite Thrilling Plot Twists in ‘Eun-soo’s Good Day’
Despite a highly anticipated return to KBS after 26 years, actress Lee Young-ae’s new drama, “Eun-soo’s Good Day,” is struggling to capture a significant audience, falling short of key viewership benchmarks. The 12-episode series, which premiered on November 20th, began with a 3.7% viewership rating and has largely remained in the 3-4% range, with a peak of 5.1% during its fifth episode on December 4th.
The drama centers around Kang Eun-soo, portrayed by Lee Young-ae, a mother driven to protect her family, and Lee Kyung, played by Kim Young-kwang, a complex character described as a “two-faced teacher.” Their lives become dangerously intertwined after inadvertently obtaining a bag of drugs, setting the stage for a desperate and risky partnership.
This project followed the less-than-stellar performance of “Twelve,” a previous KBS production involving actor Ma Dong-seok, which garnered a 2.4% viewership despite a substantial production budget. KBS reportedly hoped Lee Young-ae’s star power would revitalize ratings, particularly given her immense popularity in the 1999 drama “Invitation.” However, initial results suggest the series has yet to break through the critical 5% viewership barrier, often referred to as the “Demon’s viewership rating range.”
Recent episodes have escalated the drama’s intensity. Episode 8 saw Lee Kyung escalating his revenge plot against Kang Hwi-rim, placing Eun-soo in peril, while shocking developments included the reawakening of Jun-hyeon and the unexpected involvement of Eun-soo’s daughter, Su-ah, in drug trafficking. The narrative is increasingly exploring complex moral questions, such as whether crimes committed to protect family can ever be forgiven.
Looking ahead to the December 18th broadcast of episode 9, viewers can expect a tense confrontation between Kang Eun-soo, Lee Kyung, and Jang Tae-gu, as Eun-soo uncovers a secret affair. The storyline reveals Lee Kyung continuing his dangerous collaboration despite threats from Tae-gu, deceiving Eun-soo to pursue his revenge. A pivotal moment arises when Eun-soo withholds promised funds, jeopardizing Lee Kyung’s plans. The choices of these characters, all driven to crime by a desire to safeguard their families, promise a dramatic escalation of events.
Stills released ahead of the episode depict a fraught standoff, with Tae-gu brandishing a weapon and Eun-soo engaging in psychological warfare. A surprising turn occurs when Tae-gu lowers his gun, prompted by an unexpected remark from Eun-soo, leaving audiences to speculate on the reason behind his sudden change in demeanor. The episode will also delve into a past incident involving Hwi-rim from ten years prior, revealing the origins of Lee Kyung’s vengeful motivations.
The series has been praised for its gripping cliffhangers and unpredictable plot twists. Episode 5, in particular, delivered a shocking ending with a life-threatening situation for Lee Young-ae and Kim Young-kwang, as Eun-soo grappled with the implications of a police investigation. Similarly, episode 7’s revelation of Detective Jang Tae-gu as the antagonist created significant suspense. His chilling demeanor and corrupt actions have been described as sending “goosebumps” to viewers.
Notably, Lee Young-ae previously achieved phenomenal success with the MBC drama “Dae Jang Geum,” which reached a peak viewership rating of 58%, highlighting her potential to captivate audiences when the right project aligns. Whether “Eun-soo’s Good Day” can replicate that success remains to be seen as it progresses into its second half.
