MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'Perfect Crown' gained momentum.
On the 11th (Sat) at 9:50 p.m., the broadcast of 'Perfect Crown' (written by Yoo Ji-won / directed by Park Jun-hwa, Bae Hee-young / planned by Kang Dae-sun / produced by MBC, Kakao Entertainment) for episode 2 recorded 10.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 9.5% nationwide, ranking first in its time slot.
'Perfect Crown' not only surpassed double-digit ratings in the Seoul metropolitan households by its second episode, but also ranked first overall on Saturday with a 5.3% rating in the 20-54 demographic, a key channel competitiveness indicator reflecting changes in media consumption.
Among scenes, the moment when Seong Hee-ju (played by IU) received the best entrepreneur award and the scene where Grand Prince IAAN (played by Byeon Woo-seok) meets Lee Yun (played by Kim Eun ho), who came alone to the Corporations Day event, recorded a peak of 11.1% per minute (Nielsen Korea).
Earlier, the first broadcast on the 10th recorded a 7.8% rating (nationwide households).
This is 3.4 percentage points higher than the highest and first-episode rating of 4.4% recorded by the predecessor 'In Your Radiant Season.' Also, comparing to the predecessor of 'In Your Radiant Season,' 'The Judge Returns,' which was a hit with a peak rating of 13.6% but had a first-episode rating of 4.3%, it proves viewers had high expectations for 'Perfect Crown.'
Expectations are already circulating in many places for ratings above 15%.
In that broadcast, Seong Hee-ju's straightforward flirting to win Grand Prince IAAN's heart hit 100%, and the contract marriage journey of IAAN and Seong Hee-ju began in earnest.
Seong Hee-ju appealed her strengths—beauty, wealth, toughness—and proposed to Grand Prince IAAN, but IAAN rejected it outright, saying romantic marriage had long been his dream. Furious at the unexpected reason for rejection, Seong Hee-ju doggedly followed IAAN everywhere—on the road, at the movie theater, at the riding club—trying to win his heart regardless of time and place. When she unexpectedly met IAAN at an event, Seong Hee-ju did not miss the brief timing of exchanging awards and tossed a flirt.
Thanks to Seong Hee-ju's efforts, IAAN's once impenetrable heart began to soften little by little. He meticulously adjusted his appearance because he did not know when Seong Hee-ju might appear, showed a strangely displeased expression upon hearing about her blind date, and harbored a small smile at her forwardness—these small changes in IAAN made viewers smile.
In particular, an unexpected event occurred when Seong Hee-ju saw a fragile side of IAAN, who had only seemed stern. By chance, Seong Hee-ju helped IAAN, who was suffering from insomnia-related condition trouble, and she felt complicated emotions about the reality that even pain could be consumed as people's gossip in the royal family.
Meanwhile, Crown Princess-to-be Yoon I-rang (played by Gong Seung-yeon) suddenly burst into the hotel where IAAN and Seong Hee-ju were staying, and the situation changed rapidly. Seeing IAAN in a disheveled state with Seong Hee-ju, Yoon I-rang's gaze turned cold, and Seong Hee-ju and IAAN, who faced an unexpected misunderstanding, showed embarrassed expressions.
To make matters worse, a photo captured of Seong Hee-ju and IAAN entering the same hotel was published as an article, and Seong Hee-ju overnight became IAAN's hidden lover. The shocking scandal turned the country upside down, and Seong Hee-ju quickly became the center of all kinds of rumors and suspicions. IAAN, feeling responsible, apologized and said he would give Seong Hee-ju whatever she wanted for being put on display because of him.
Seong Hee-ju took control of the conversation and mentioned memories from the royal school archery competition when the two had opposite results. Having had to forgo many opportunities due to limits of status, Seong Hee-ju told IAAN, who had to abandon even winnable matches because he could not shine or speak out, that she had been in a similar situation and tried to persuade him.
Although in the same situation she accepted fate, unlike her who had fought against fate, IAAN, after much thought, said, "Prepare to become the grand prince's wife," and accepted Seong Hee-ju's proposal. With Seong Hee-ju's lips forming a smile full of ecstasy at having achieved her goal, the actions of the prospective grand prince couple that will surprise the entire nation raise expectations. Interest in the ratings that will rise accordingly is also considerable.<
[Photo] 'Perfect Crown' video capture
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