MBC’s “Perfect Crown” ended with impressive ratings, but the drama’s final story development left many viewers with mixed feelings.
According to Nielsen Korea on May 17, the final episode of “Perfect Crown” recorded 13.8% nationwide. This became the drama’s highest rating and placed it at No. 3 among all MBC Friday-Saturday dramas.
The only MBC Friday-Saturday dramas with higher ratings are “Knight Flower”, which recorded 18.4%, and “The Red Sleeve”, which recorded 17.4%.
Starring IU and Byeon Woo Seok, “Perfect Crown” gained huge attention even before its premiere because of its large production cost of over 30 billion KRW and the meeting of two popular stars. The drama also stayed high in buzz throughout its run.
However, despite the strong ratings, some viewers felt disappointed by the sudden developments near the end. The story began moving quickly from episode 11 and was wrapped up in only two episodes, making some parts feel less convincing.
One of the biggest criticisms was that the drama quickly moved away from the monarchy issue, which had been an important part of the main characters’ relationship.
Viewers also felt that some conflicts, including the tension between Seong Hee Joo and her father Seong Hyun Guk, were resolved too fast.
The drama also faced a historical accuracy controversy after a coronation scene showed officials shouting “Cheonse”.
The production team later apologized, saying, “We sincerely bow our heads and apologize to the many people who watched the drama with love for causing concern over issues related to the worldview setting and historical accuracy.”
In the end, “Perfect Crown” closed with a strong record as MBC’s third highest rated Friday-Saturday drama, but its rushed final episodes and historical controversy remained part of the discussion after the finale.
Source: [1]
