SBS’ new variety series "Island Hero" is proving a breakout hit just two episodes in.
The show cracked Netflix’s Top 5 TV (Korea) right out of the gate and has stayed there for two straight weeks. It’s also ranked No. 1 among Tuesday variety programs for two weeks running, with steady gains in the key 20-49 demo, signaling strong traction with younger viewers. Flooded with raves like "We’ve never seen Lim like this" and "Their best-friend chemistry is pure comfort TV," "Island Hero" has quickly become one of the buzziest titles on the slate.
Billed as an unplanned island-life hangout for Lim Young-woong and his close friends, the Sept. 2 episode marked the start of their full-on island routine. After dark, a sudden bug invasion sent Orbit and Lee Yi-kyung screaming and scrambling―TV gold―while Lim coolly took charge, quipping, "In my world, these two are the abnormal ones," a deadpan zinger that stole the scene. The next morning, the crew tried fishing for the first time; Lim pulled in back-to-back rockfish on just two bites―a tidy twofer―and joked, "If I ever get stranded, I’ll survive," cementing his do-it-all island-guy status.
Episode 3, airing Sept. 9, teases a crisis as an unexpected downpour threatens to shut down filming. Tension rises when a mystery "island friend" fights through the storm to make a surprise visit. Who’s the secret guest, and how will a new member shake up the trio’s dynamic?
"Island Hero" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on SBS.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)