Three dramas produced by K-drama powerhouse Studio Dragon are drawing attention as they simultaneously dominate buzz on living room screens in November.
According to the TV-OTT integrated drama buzz rankings for the first week of November released by Good Data Corporation FUNdex, tvN's 'Typhoon Family', produced by Studio Dragon, ranked first, TVING original 'Dear X' ranked second, and Disney+'s original series 'The Manipulated' ranked third.
Studio Dragon is continuing the viewing performance it proved with the shows it produced that recently ended — Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (Aug.–Sept.) and Shin's Project (Sept.–Oct.) — which recorded this year's highest tvN weekend drama average rating of 17.1% and the highest tvN Monday-Tuesday drama rating of 9.1%, respectively, into November.
First, tvN's 'Typhoon Family' rose to No. 1 in buzz for the first week of November, holding the top spot for three consecutive weeks. Set against the backdrop of the 1997 IMF crisis, 'Typhoon Family' depicts the struggles and growth of novice businessperson Kang Tae-poong (Lee Joon-ho), who becomes the head of a trading company with no staff, no money and nothing to sell. Ratings have also continued to rise, recently recording a nationwide household average of 9.4% and a peak of 10.6%, its highest to date. In addition, it has entered Netflix's global top 10 series (non-English) list for four consecutive weeks, gaining popularity overseas as well.
Next, TVING original 'Dear X', notable for its provocative subject matter and delicate direction, ranked second in buzz. Its whirlwind plot, unpredictable twists and the flawless performances by actors including Kim Yoo-jung increase immersion. According to OTT ranking aggregator FlixPatrol, 'Dear X' ranked No. 1 in the HBO Max TV shows category in seven countries including Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines, and No. 1 on Viki in the United States and Canada. It also rose to No. 3 on Disney+ in Japan, dominating global charts.
Also, Disney+'s original series 'The Manipulated' settled at No. 3 in buzz rankings in its first week after release. Starring Ji Chang-wook and Doh Kyung Soo, 'The Manipulated' is a high-quality genre series that showcases large-scale, high-caliber action and has attracted attention. According to FlixPatrol, as of the 9th it ranked fourth worldwide on Disney+, and it was No. 1 in Korea and Taiwan.
As the works succeed at the box office, actors appearing in the three productions have also simultaneously entered the rankings, sweeping buzz. In FUNdex's announced TV-OTT integrated performer buzz rankings for the first week of November, Ji Chang-wook of 'The Manipulated' ranked first, Kim Yoo-jung of 'Dear X' ranked second, and Lee Joon-ho and Kim Min-ha of 'Typhoon Family' ranked third and fourth, respectively.
A Studio Dragon official said, "The three works mentioned have additional significance in that they reflect detailed verification of the 1990s era (Typhoon Family), bold genre experimentation (Dear X), and a successful transmedia case from film to series (The Manipulated), beyond their high buzz," and added, "We will continue to work to produce well-made works with fresh material and new grammar."
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