The new SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'My Royal Nemesis' has signaled the start of a global hit, sweeping domestic and international viewership ratings and OTT charts within its first week of broadcast.
According to FlixPatrol as of the 10th, 'My Royal Nemesis' climbed to No. 1 on the Netflix Global Top 10 list for non-English TV shows following the release of its second episode, and also demonstrated its power by ranking 2nd globally among all TV shows.
In particular, the show proved the strength of K-rom-coms by topping the charts in 24 countries, including Brazil, Taiwan, Qatar, Peru, and Singapore, while also entering the Top 10 in 84 regions worldwide, such as the United States, Spain, and Japan. On Netflix Korea, it claimed the No. 1 spot on the 'Top 10 Series in South Korea Today' and also ranked 1st across all content on the KinoLights 'Today's Trend Ranking,' showing overwhelming buzz.
The rise in viewership ratings is also steep. The peak rating for the second episode rose by 1.5%p compared to the first, reaching 6.9% (based on Nielsen Korea), capturing the weekend primetime audience.
'My Royal Nemesis' depicts the high-stakes romance between Shin Seo-ri (played by Lim Ji-yeon), an unknown actress possessed by the soul of a Joseon-era villainess, and Cha Se-gye (played by Heo Nam-jun), an arrogant chaebol. In the latest broadcast, the comedic process of Seo-ri adapting to modern society with her signature bold tone and behavior drew laughter. In particular, Seo-ri's line, "How dare you wag your filthy tongue!", has become known as the 'Jang Hui-bin possession meme,' receiving an explosive response on online communities.
Viewers are praising the actors' passionate performances and the tight plot. Positive reviews such as "Lim Ji-yeon's acting transformation is goosebump-inducing," "The chemistry between Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun is top-tier," and "It's a drama the whole family can enjoy together for the first time in a while" are continuing, and anticipation is also building for the hidden narrative between Seo-ri, Se-gye, and Choi Moon-do (played by Jang Seung-jo) that dates back 300 years.
'My Royal Nemesis,' which has signaled a syndrome within its first week, airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)