MBC drama 'Mary Kills People' is preparing a counterattack after failing to avoid a drop in viewer ratings due to SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Try.'
'Mary Kills People' (planned by Kwon Seong-chang, directed by Park Jun-woo, written by Lee Soo-ah, produced by Mister Romance, Moving Pictures Company, Studio Anjailelen) is a suspense drama that tells the story of a doctor who helps terminally ill patients end their lives and the detective who tracks them.
In the 1st and 2nd episodes of 'Mary Kills People,' emergency medicine doctor Woo So-jung (played by Lee Bo-young) struggles to save critically ill patients alongside her college classmate Choi Dae-hyun (played by Kang Ki-young), revealing a shocking secret about helping them end their lives. Woo So-jung develops deep feelings for terminal cancer patient Jo Hyun-woo (played by Lee Min-ki), who chooses death, but it is revealed that the true identity is not Hyun-woo but Detective Ban Ji-hoon, shocking viewers.
'Mary Kills People' swept the buzz index from its first broadcast, proving to be a strong presence. According to the FunDex report from Good Day, the drama ranked first in the number of news articles in the TV-OTT buzz section. Notably, in the TV-OTT drama cast buzz rankings, Lee Bo-young placed 4th, demonstrating a strong response as she entered the rankings.
However, the viewer rating is disappointingly low at 2%. It dropped from 3.2% at the start to 2.1% in the second episode. In contrast, 'Try' is currently soaring with viewer ratings in the 5% range. There are questions about whether 'Mary Kills People' can surpass the buzz surrounding 'Try.'
In the meantime, Lee Bo-young raises the tension dramatically with a sudden 'neck-grabbing confrontation' scene with Baek Hyun-jin. In the scene, Woo So-jung faces drug dealer Gu Kwang-cheol (played by Baek Hyun-jin) by the Han River. She boldly confronts Kwang-cheol, but he suddenly grabs her neck, creating a chilling atmosphere. As a perilous vibe surrounds the threatened Woo So-jung, curiosity builds about the reason for her one-on-one meeting with Kwang-cheol.
Meanwhile, Lee Bo-young once again raised the excitement of the set with her outstanding performance during the 'harsh neck-grabbing' scene with Baek Hyun-jin. Lee Bo-young successfully transformed her role as an emergency medicine doctor who saves lives in the first two episodes, becoming a key player in raising the drama's buzz. Despite Baek Hyun-jin's provocative neck-grabbing, she portrayed Woo So-jung's assertiveness with restrained emotion and sharp eyes, while Baek Hyun-jin maximized immersion with a wild intensity. The acting prowess of Lee Bo-young and Baek Hyun-jin led to highly polished scenes.
The production team said, 'We hope that 'Mary Kills People' becomes a drama that prompts deep reflection on the concept of death that everyone experiences as human beings. We feel grateful that the viewers have acknowledged the drama.' They added, 'From this week's 3rd and 4th episodes, the appearance of Detective Ban Ji-hoon, who pursues Woo So-jung, who assists patients in dying, will lead to an intensification of tension. We ask for your high expectations.'
Meanwhile, MBC drama 'Mary Kills People' episode 3 will be broadcast at 10 p.m. on the 8th (Friday).
[Photo] Provided
[OSEN]