"Good Partner" is taking a pause in its ratings climb, raising the question of whether it can regain momentum.

The SBS drama, which premiered on August 12, started strong with a 7.8% viewership rating and quickly soared to double digits by its third episode, catching viewers' attention.

Before a three-week break for the 2024 Paris Olympics, episode 7 hit a 17.7% rating, making it the top-rated SBS Friday-Saturday drama of 2024.

After the break, the show maintained a solid presence with a 14.6% rating, rising again to 17.2%, sparking hopes of reaching 20%. However, ratings have since stabilized in the 15% range, suggesting a period of adjustment.

The lack of further rating growth is partly due to competition from other shows airing at the same time.

MBC’s “Black Out,” and tvN’s “Love Next Door,” TV Chosun’s “DNA Lover,” and Channel A’s “Cinderella at 2 AM” are also in the mix.

“Cinderella at 2 AM” on Coupang Play has had minimal impact, but “Love Next Door,” focusing on romance, has become a strong competitor with a 6.8% rating on Saturdays.

Additionally, the portrayal of the divorce story between Cha Eun Kyung (Jang Nara) and Kim Ji Sang (Ji Seung Hyun) might not have fully connected with viewers.

However, as the storyline shifts from the divorce to the inner workings of a major law firm, there’s hope for fresh and engaging plots that could draw viewers back.

If “Good Partner” hits a 20% rating before it wraps up, it will achieve this milestone for the first time since “Taxi Driver 2” ended in April of the previous year, marking a 1 year and 5 months gap.

With Jang Nara as the lead actress, who is considered a strong contender for the 2024 SBS Acting Awards, it will be interesting to see if "Good Partner" can surpass 20% and boost her chances for an award.

Source: [1]

Lee Jun Young recently opened up about the emotional toll of playing a villain—and how one powerful scene made him break down in tears behind the scenes.

On the May 1st episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Problem Child in House, Lee Jun Young appeared alongside co-star Jung Eun Ji to promote their new KBS drama Pump Up the Healthy Love.

During the show, Lee Jun Young was asked about the most unforgettable villain he’s played. He chose his role as Han Su Gang in the film Brave Citizen.

He explained, “It was really tough to film. I had to act like I was leading school violence, and there was even a scene where I bullied a grandmother.”

The hosts were surprised, pointing out how kind and gentle he seems in real life. Lee Jun Young shared how he transforms for such roles.

“I try to act as bad as I can, but sometimes the director says, ‘You still look too nice.’ Then I focus even harder and adjust right away.”

He also revealed that filming one particular scene hit him hard emotionally. “My real grandmother was sick at the time,” he said.

“In one scene, there’s a grandma selling gimbap, and I ad-libbed by stubbing a cigarette out on the gimbap. I was really into character, but after filming, I just broke down. So many thoughts came to me and I started crying.”

Fans praised his dedication to acting but also felt moved by how deeply the role affected him. Lee Jun Young’s honesty gave a raw look at how even fictional roles can hit close to home.

Source: [1]