KBS 2TV's new weekend drama Love On The Menu boldly entered living rooms by serving a table full of distinctive characters and deep family love.
On the 25th and 26th, the first and second episodes of Love On The Menu (directed by Hong Seok-gu / written by Lee Kyung-hee / produced by Monster Union, Contents Z) depicted at breakneck pace the complicated relationships between the Han siblings entangled in love and hate and the parents' generation, drawing viewers' attention. Especially, episode 2 recorded a 13.8% rating (Nielsen Korea, nationwide households), up 1.8 percentage points from the first day.
At the center was the spicy-sweet life of the 'K-eldest daughter' Ahn Heeyeon wielding a baseball bat. Ahn Heeyeon, who plays Han Gyurim, the pillar of the Han household, delivered deep resonance through a weary narrative in which she is responsible for the livelihoods of five siblings, from delivering green juice at dawn to working part-time at a restaurant. She becomes a strong protector for her wrongly detained younger brother Han Gyoo-oh (played by Bae Yoon-kyu) and leaves a strong impression with a thrilling act of going after the supermarket aunt who spread rumors while wielding a baseball bat.
The chaotic realistic sister chemistry between Ahn Heeyeon and Park Yuna, like water and oil, also shone. Han Gyurim (played by Ahn Heeyeon) and Han Gyuyoung (played by Park Yuna) clashed head-on from the first episode. Gyuyoung crossed a line by saying, "I wish they'd be gone," even though their younger brother was facing a school violence committee, and eventually a brutal physical fight broke out in which the exasperated Gyurim grabbed Gyuyoung's hair. The sisters' creaking conflict, who shared nothing in common from personality to attitude, heightened the drama's immersion.
In addition, the 'spicy ex-couple chemistry' of Yoon Yoo-sun and Ryu Seung-soo added fun. Go Yun-hee (played by Yoon Yoo-sun) sharply responded to her belatedly kneeling and pleading ex-husband Han Seok-joong (played by Ryu Seung-soo) by saying, "The junk car is gone and the imported car has come," and delivered a thrilling kick that sent him flying, creating an exhilarating sensation for viewers.
Such a narrative that stimulates both dopamine and emotion has viewers responding enthusiastically with comments like "K-eldest daughter Gyurim is having a hard time" and "Serves him right for ditching his rightful wife."
Episode 3, set to air on Aug. 1, promises even more stormy developments. The return of the irresponsible father Han Seok-joong begins to shake the Han family's life, and tension will rise as new variables emerge between Kim Mujin and Han Gyurim, who have become lovers.
The production team said the drama "realistically depicts the deep conflicts and love-hate relationships experienced by the middle-aged generation and their children, offering both empathy and tension," and added that viewers should look forward to "Han Gyurim's tearful struggle as she quietly becomes the family's shelter amid harsh reality and the heart-tugging family love that will deliver deep resonance."
[Photo] Love On The Menu
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