According to ratings research company Nielsen Korea, the sixth episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'My Royal Nemesis' (written by Kang Hyun-joo, directed by Han Tae-seop and Kim Hyun-woo), which aired last week, broke through the "impossible" 10% barrier, recording 10% in the Seoul metropolitan area, 10.3% nationwide, and peaking at 11.9%. Breaking its own viewership records with every single episode since its premiere, the series swept first place across Saturday miniseries, weekly miniseries ratings, and its time slot.
Its buzzworthiness is equally overwhelming. In the rankings for the third week of May released by Good Data Corporation's FUNdex, 'My Royal Nemesis' ranked first in the integrated TV-OTT buzzworthiness category. In the cast buzzworthiness category, actors Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun, who are captivating viewers with their romantic-comedy performances, proved their trending status by ranking second and third, respectively.
'My Royal Nemesis' is a war-like romantic comedy drama about Shin Seo-ri (played by Lim Ji-yeon), an unknown actress who becomes "vicious" after being possessed by the soul of a notorious Joseon-era villainess, and Cha Se-gye (played by Heo Nam-jun), a ruthless chaebol heir dubbed a "monster born of capitalism."
Its global popularity beyond Korea is also formidable. Entering its third week of broadcast, the drama not only secured the No. 1 spot on Netflix's "Top 10 Series in Korea Today" but also landed in the Top 10 in 57 countries worldwide. On the global review site IMDb, the latest episodes (Episodes 5 and 6) scored a rating of 9.4, while on the global drama review site MyDramaList, it recorded a rating of 8.6, proving its power by scoring the highest among competing dramas in the same period.
Praise from prominent overseas media outlets is also pouring in. Indian media outlet India Today raved, "Even while equipped with all the clichés K-drama fans love, it delivers non-stop entertainment that keeps eyes glued to the screen, making it a perfect binge-watch. It also uses its fantasy premise cleverly, adding emotional depth beneath the light comedy," adding, "Lim Ji-yeon's highly effective comedic acting and the tight chemistry between the two leads truly shine." Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) also commented, "It captures viewers' interest by excitingly unfolding its fantasy premise," and added, "The solid directing is highly likely to stand out in the competitive K-drama market. The charms of Lim Ji-yeon, who brought 'Shin Seo-ri' to life as a vibrant character, and Heo Nam-jun, who wonderfully portrayed the familiar yet charming 'Cha Se-gye,' are outstanding."
Meanwhile, the ending of the sixth episode featured a surprise first kiss between Shin Seo-ri and Cha Se-gye, sending viewers' hearts racing. As this signals the official start of their romance, attention is focused on what new records 'My Royal Nemesis'—which is soaring on global word-of-mouth—will write next.
'My Royal Nemesis' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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