The new MBC Friday-Saturday drama In Your Brilliant Season has kicked off with a strong start, recording a 4.4% nationwide and metropolitan household rating, topping other Friday-Saturday dramas and signaling the beginning of “Brilliant Fever.” The premiere episode combined emotional storytelling with a layered mystery, immediately capturing audience attention.
The first episode followed Song Ha Ran (Lee Sung Kyung) and Seon Woo Chan (Chae Jong Hyup), whose lives were forever changed by a past explosion in Boston. The drama carefully portrays their reunion seven years later, weaving tension, suspense, and emotional depth.
Previously, MBC’s The Judge Returns started at 4.3% and later peaked at 13.6%, showing the competitive ratings landscape for Friday-Saturday dramas.
The story began with Ha Ran and Chan in their youth. Online chats revealed a unique kind of romance, while Ha Ran’s unexpected trip to Boston ended with a sudden explosion that disrupted their lives.
Seven years later in Seoul, Kim Na Na (Im Imsook) dominated a photoshoot with her explosive charisma, establishing her power at Nana Atelier. Meanwhile, Ha Ran had grown distant, controlling her emotions and focusing fully on work. Lee Sung Kyung portrayed the stark contrast between Ha Ran’s lively past and her hardened present with convincing depth.
Seon Woo Chan, now a supervisor at Can Animation Studio, returned to Korea for a collaboration project. His brighter personality drew attention, but his old injuries reminded viewers of the past explosion, adding dramatic weight.
Their reunion began at an art museum, where Chan froze upon seeing Ha Ran and instinctively called her name during a dangerous situation at a construction site. At the collaboration meeting, Ha Ran calmly introduced herself as “lead designer Song Ha Ran,” emphasizing the seven-year gap between them. Chae Jong Hyup conveyed Chan’s internal conflict subtly, leaving a strong impression.
Ha Ran also faced a new challenge when a stalking incident occurred. Through news reports, she learned that Chan had called her name at the construction site, leading her to question his role before their official meeting.
The episode revealed the lingering impact of past tragedies. Kim Na Na had lost her child 13 years ago, while Ha Ran had lost her parents and boyfriend, showing the deep pain of the Nana family. Song Ha Hyung (Han Ji Hyun) and Song Ha Dam (Oh Ye Ju) helped care for Ha Ran and Na Na, highlighting the family’s warm bonds in “Nana House.”
Unable to watch Ha Ran’s isolation, Kim Na Na arranged a blind date with Yun Photo (Yoon Park) to encourage her growth. However, Ha Ran unexpectedly ran into Seon Woo Chan, escalating unresolved tensions. She confronted him, asking, “Since when did you know me? Tell me. What are you hiding?” Chan, struggling with complex emotions, remained silent.
The episode ended with a shocking twist: the person Ha Ran had been chatting with seven years ago, whom she believed was her boyfriend Kang Hyuk Chan (Kwon Do Hyung), was actually his roommate, Seon Woo Chan. This mystery hinted at hidden stories behind the past explosion and their intertwined fates, leaving viewers eager for the next episode.
In Your Brilliant Season Episode 2 airs on February 21 at 9:50 PM KST.
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