JTBC’s weekend drama The Practical Guide to Love is quickly turning into one of the most talked about romance dramas of the moment.
Even though the 12 episode series has only just passed its halfway point, the drama is already showing impressive momentum.
Episode 4, which aired on March 8, recorded 4.8% nationwide, officially surpassing the previous JTBC drama Waiting for Gyeongdo, which peaked at 4.7% during its entire run.
That early rating jump is drawing attention because The Practical Guide to Love managed to beat its predecessor’s highest score in just four episodes, making its current rise even more notable with several episodes still left to air.
Based on a webtoon of the same name, The Practical Guide to Love follows a woman who enters the world of blind dates after deciding to seriously pursue love, only to find herself caught between two men with completely different charms.
As the series continues, much of the buzz is now centered on the drama’s growing love triangle between Han Ji Min, Park Sung Hoon, and Lee Ki Taek.
Viewers are especially responding to the contrast between the two male leads. Song Tae Seop (Park Sung Hoon) has been portrayed as the calm and dependable choice, someone who carefully plans his dates and approaches romance with sincerity and stability.
In a recent episode, he even won attention after sweetly saying, “I don’t want to keep putting this off until next time anymore,” adding to the emotional tension without pushing the story too far.
On the other hand, Shin Ji Su (Lee Ki Taek) continues to stand out with his bold and unpredictable charm, creating a very different kind of excitement for the female lead and keeping viewers divided over which direction the romance should take.
With the drama now entering its second half, the biggest point of interest remains clear: who Lee Ui Yeong will ultimately choose.
The contrast between a stable, serious romance and a more spontaneous, thrilling connection has become one of the show’s strongest hooks, and it is a major reason viewers are staying invested week after week.
The production team has also pointed to the shifting emotional tension between the three leads as one of the key reasons to keep watching, and based on the current response, that strategy appears to be working.
With ratings already climbing past the previous drama’s best result and the central romance continuing to gain attention, The Practical Guide to Love is now in a strong position to build even more momentum in the weeks ahead.
Source: [1]
