Dream High emerges as ratings leader

69 January 18, 2011

by javabeans

The tables have turned entirely with the Monday-Tuesday dramas, as Dream High leapfrogs over its rivals into first place in its third week.

The race is still fairly close and there’s no big loser, with all the shows performing in the mid-teen range. But if you look at the trend in recent weeks, things look particularly promising for Dream High with its steady increases, while heavily hyped action series Athena slips a little with each episode. The extended rom-com Queen of Reversals, formerly in first place, has been keeping one step ahead of Athena but it conceded its lead this week.

Ratings for Dream High have been climbing ever since its 10.7% premiere, and Monday was the first day that it claimed the top slot. Its 15.5% rating beat out the 14.7% brought in by both Queen of Reversals and Athena.

Queen of Reversals

Dream High’s numbers improved for Tuesday’s episode, which hit a series high at 15.8%, even despite some stiff competition from the Asia Cup, which aired on MBC and pre-empted Queen of Reversals for the night. The Korea-India soccer game drew a commanding 24% rating, a whole 10-point increase from Reversals’ usual ratings in that timeslot, while Athena slipped a little more to settle at 13.9%.

It’s not a horrible showing for Athena, to be sure, but given the show’s tremendous pre-show buzz and strong 22.8% premiere, the gradual decline is disheartening. It’s following the Runaway: Plan B trend more than the success of IRIS, which its makers so hoped to re-create. One wonders what this means for the upcoming IRIS 2…

My tentatively positive impression of Dream High has been keeping me entertained in the past weeks, but it was really with yesterday’s Episode 5 that my interest exploded into giddy, unabashed love. There was just something so heart-squeezingly good about the way the story turned — misfits unite! — and I’m crossing my fingers and toes that the drama keeps it up.

Athena: Goddess of War

Via OSEN

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1 Yuki

January 18, 2011 at 4:08 PM

Yay for Dream High!
I'm embarrassingly addicted this that show XD;
(So is my mom...shhh...)

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aloedrinker

January 18, 2011 at 6:00 PM

As I'm not very familiar with the new kpop idols (only the girl from coffee house and taecyon cinderella sister---->he's good there. I thought I'm so not gonna like it at first and here I'm crazy over all of them. Yes.. my momma like it too. ans so is my son :D

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pabo ceo reom

January 18, 2011 at 7:12 PM

Can we start some kind of addiction support group? I can't get enough. It's ridiculous!

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Beng

January 18, 2011 at 6:39 PM

I'm also a self confessed addict =). i watched each episodes twice. 1 without subs then wait for the subs. these are on top of stalking the Dramabeans site to wait on the recaps of JB & GF, hahaha.

A stalker and an addict, that's me =)

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Beebs

January 19, 2011 at 7:01 AM

Haha! Same with me. I watched episode 5 twice. Once raw and the second with subs. I also watched ep 6 raw and I plan to watch it with subs whenever it comes out. I also stalk all the news about this show everyday!

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jaeng

January 21, 2011 at 9:13 AM

me too

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2 tamekadenise

January 18, 2011 at 4:08 PM

congrats!

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3 questions987

January 18, 2011 at 4:08 PM

I can't get through ep1 of DH. I wonder if I should just.skip to this.recent ep.

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anais

January 18, 2011 at 4:27 PM

just watch it. the set up is important, especially to understand the dynamic between Suzy/HyeMi and Eunjung?/BaekHee. Later, references get made repeatedly to what goes down in the first episode.

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K. C. J.

January 18, 2011 at 4:39 PM

Just read the recaps? I feel like javabeans and girlfriday cover the important bits anyway.

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anais

January 19, 2011 at 4:05 AM

That's true.

Nonetheless, one way I get through ho-hum episodes or parts is to play sudoko on my iPhone while just listening to the dialogue, looking up only when I hear something getting going.

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anais

January 19, 2011 at 4:07 AM

Oh, and one thing that hasn't been covered really in the recaps is How FRIGGING fantastic Hyemi's younger sister is! I LUUUUURRRRVE her!! She was the daughter in the Maid, and I'd thought she was fantastic in that film. Then, she just knocks my socks off with her sassy little smart mouth in this drama. Lurve her and all her crooked little vampire teeth.

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yongshin

January 19, 2011 at 8:01 AM

omg yes! I want to squish her everytime she appears on screen! Cute kid!

jubilantia

January 19, 2011 at 4:47 PM

God, SERIOUSLY. She out-cutes every k-drama kid ever (of the ones I've seen, which maybe isn't that many...) And I love how she doesn't take any lip from her older sister, but is sweet when Hye Mi needs her to be. I guess she learned from the best, except she hasn't had a chance to put the emotion-stifling armor up yet.

I'm calling it that she's gonna be the one to be all "you like him, don't you?" (whichever one she ends up with heee)

Nadi!

January 18, 2011 at 10:28 PM

I can't either..

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4 soxxy15

January 18, 2011 at 4:18 PM

Congratulations Dream High! I haven't seen it yet but it's in my list of dramas to watch.

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5 rich

January 18, 2011 at 4:18 PM

WOAH! I didn't expect this either. ^^ Well, Dream High is surprisingly good and addicting so I understand why the rating's becoming better. :)

Way to go Dream High! ^^

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6 lixin64

January 18, 2011 at 4:21 PM

I had to look again when I saw Eunjung's shirt...at first glance, those dots seemed like something else entirely...

Anyway, I can't say I'm surprised with how the ratings are turning out. I love Athena, but the plot has definitely gone to the dogs...I've learned to turn my brain off when watching that one. I actually expected to hate Dream High because the plot just seemed so immature and I was looking forward to What's Up so much more, but...I actually really like it. Thank goodness I don't have to pick between them. Three cheers for the internet! =]

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aPam

January 18, 2011 at 4:55 PM

LOL the dots......

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Kame

January 18, 2011 at 5:09 PM

Despite the dots, her dress is quite popular. I spot another actress sport it some days ago.

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TeARsFade

January 18, 2011 at 5:42 PM

those are just buttons. but LOL. i had to do a double take when i saw the picture too :)

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okitokki

January 18, 2011 at 7:05 PM

Right? That shouldn't be allowed =/ Or at least, get the dress in a different color...

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7 danni

January 18, 2011 at 4:32 PM

Dream High, woot woot! I really didn't expect this drama to grab the lead on Mondays-Tuesdays since Athena and Queen of Reversals were such hyped spin-offs, but I guess people wanted something new. And it helps that the plot is getting better.

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8 K. C. J.

January 18, 2011 at 4:38 PM

My first impression of Dream High was complete indifference. But I still read your recaps because I was curious. Your recap of episode 5 finally made me download it and I am HOOKED. I immediately watched episode 6 as well. I'm probably not going to watch the first four episodes since I've already read your recaps but I am excited for next week!

And Kim Soo Hyun. . . . .oh my heart pounds for this boy/man. I adore his accent. Kyah~ *fangirly scream*

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9 aisuzieya

January 18, 2011 at 4:51 PM

Athena has disappoint me. maybe somehow it deserves the declining rating. yes im mean, but what a waste of stellar cast! I've yet to watch DH, maybe a bit later. will wait until 10 eps to see how the story goes

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10 John

January 18, 2011 at 4:52 PM

I wonder if people in charge of ATHENA have looked deeply at the ratings decrease with Fugitive to correct any similar trends between the dramas so that they can fix it before they slide even further in the ratings.

Though perhaps, the writers/people in charge are happy with how the storyline/character development is going and don't want to sacrifice anything just for a quick ratings fix.

Of course if the characters continue to be two dimensional/boring and the plot, meddling...then the drama is in trouble.

I wonder if the hype around ATHENA being somewhat of a spin-off of IRIS hurt it because of how good IRIS was and are disappointed that ATHENA isn't IRIS 2.

Anyways...Time to queue up Dream High on the list of dramas to watch.

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Birdie

January 18, 2011 at 5:25 PM

The hype around Athena actually helped its first episode, hence the good rating. Unfortunately the drama did not deliver. The plot is not as good as Iris and they did not manage to keep up the tension or develop the characters better.

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11 ladystar

January 18, 2011 at 4:52 PM

*crosses fingers with you* Dream High is the best addiction xD

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12 Lovepark

January 18, 2011 at 5:03 PM

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Lovepark

January 18, 2011 at 5:09 PM

oops... just wanted to say that I haven't watched Queen of Reversals, but I have seen parts of Athena and am currently watching Dream High. I totally agree with the reversal in ratings. I've lost almost all interest in Athena, but I'm starting to really enjoy Dream High and the relationships. We get to see a more vulnerable and kinder side to Hye-mi, and the two boys are both cute in their own ways.
*Minor SPOILER*
Sam-dong's exaggeration in episode 6 was brilliant. I thought it was super funny that the sweet, seemingly shy guy was actually harboring feelings of being the top honcho of Kirin.

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K. C. J.

January 18, 2011 at 5:16 PM

LOL! I totally agree. I loved the Boys Over Flower scene when the boys enter and then they look at each other only to have Jingook start fawning over Samdong. ^^

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Am

January 18, 2011 at 6:12 PM

me too just finished watching ep 6 .. love the duet between SD nHM

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Elaine

January 18, 2011 at 7:21 PM

OMG.
I loved those scenes. And I totally lol-ed at the almost paaaaaaaradise plus the using of a song in Cinderella's Sister (scene with Hyemi).

Athena's cast is srsly awesome but that drama kinda lost me too :/

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13 Jenny Chee

January 18, 2011 at 5:06 PM

Oh yeah i will sure watch DH this coming monday . DH will start showing on our Astro KBS channel . DH continue to lead yah :))

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14 Shima

January 18, 2011 at 5:07 PM

Dream High is definitely doing well. I think DH's first few episodes didn't do as well because they were purely set up--it seems possible that those first few episodes could have been condensed into one and then moved us straight into the action, but hey, it's here now and I'm enjoying it thus far! I'm all for great cast dynamics and smiling faces!

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15 orenji

January 18, 2011 at 5:24 PM

congrats Dream High!

i love how the older casts and the younger cast have such a great chemistry. it's a family drama,everyone can watch it.ep 6 is the best so far.i'm addicted to this drama. <3

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16 sora

January 18, 2011 at 5:33 PM

yayyyy!!!!

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17 myweithisway

January 18, 2011 at 5:35 PM

I think Dream High is turning out much better than expected, which is totally awesome because I'm hooked.
Please keep it up =)

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kc

January 18, 2011 at 5:48 PM

surprisingly good you say. I didnt expect MP and DH to be this good. I had zero expectations when the promos went out.

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18 f1yh1gh10

January 18, 2011 at 5:40 PM

the acting is definitely getting better with every episode!!! :)

i just watched ep 6, and it was amazing. i
promise you, the 1st ep is so so..but afterwards, it gets better and better!

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19 dreamoscope

January 18, 2011 at 5:45 PM

dream high are getting better and better after each episode. i can only say that BYJ and JYP really does know how to please the audience.

go go dream high :D

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20 lenrasoon

January 18, 2011 at 5:50 PM

i'm so glad that "Queen Of Reversals" is keeping strong despite all the extensions, i've been loving the later episodes more and more and although i think that Dream High will lead the ratings in the future i hope that QOR continues with the double digit (it definitely deserves).

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Rhea

January 18, 2011 at 8:26 PM

I agree, especially about loving the later episodes...I believe it has to do with the increase of Gu Yong Shik lol...Park Shi Hoo is wonderful in this role and he's made me a fan for life...the whole cast of QOR has great chemistry with each other....it deserves good ratings...Dream High is good stuff too lol...Kim Soo Hyun is adorable and the lead girl is growing on me lol :)

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21 Arhazivory

January 18, 2011 at 6:06 PM

I'm glad that the pop stars are doing well, in light of the fact that people were a little nervous about how good DH will be. I haven't watched it yet but its definitely on my plan-to-watch list. For some reason, I'm not really interested in Athena. -_-

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22 mojaslatka

January 18, 2011 at 6:22 PM

I'm really glad Dream High is leading in ratings now. I really love this. I can't even believe I got more hooked in this than SG(dropped watching after epi 6 but continued reading recaps) and My Princess(just read recaps, only watch epi 2). But with dream high, I could not even wait for sub or recap. I watched raw as soon as it's available, then read recaps, then watch sub. I just actually finished watching epi 6 raw and I'd say it's the best so far. I hope it will keep getting better.

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Natalie

January 19, 2011 at 1:18 AM

EVERYTHING HERE.

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orenji

January 19, 2011 at 9:14 PM

are u me?

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23 Laeah

January 18, 2011 at 7:28 PM

It's only because nothing is good one right now.

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24 hpn88

January 18, 2011 at 8:16 PM

yay Dream High. its adorable and totally my new obsession
BUT, I REALLY hope the industry doesn't take this as IDOLS = rating and proceed to cast idols in everything.

I hope they realize its the story, chemistry of the cast (young and older), direction and can I add cinematography that has me impressed.

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25 djinni

January 18, 2011 at 8:17 PM

have to admit.. dream high is my new crack...

spoiler

i about died from loling at the cinderella's unni part

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26 rubie

January 18, 2011 at 8:26 PM

"One wonders what this means for the upcoming IRIS 2…"

Hope it never sees the light.. no sequel please. Once is enough.

Thanks so much JB for the update. Really happy to read between-the-line the 'no IRIS 2 ' possible possibility.. definitely one of the better news this year. The actors deserved better than to be tied up in an even lesser so-called action script and more (unnecessary) criticisms.. thanks to the constant comparison with the eternally-hyped spin-off.

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27 nimagooy

January 18, 2011 at 8:37 PM

I think they just made a bad decision by creating Athena. Since it's a spinoff, it's obviously to be compared with Iris. And since we've already seen Iris, it's just not as intriguing and fresh watching Athena.

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28 Rita (Tarits)

January 18, 2011 at 8:57 PM

Dream High is such a refreshing drama and to see young singers act so well is truly a revelation. I hope the drama's rating gets higher as more episodes are shown. This is a drama that I have recommended to all my friends!

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29 Rita (Tarits)

January 18, 2011 at 9:00 PM

Dream High is such a refreshing drama! I have recommended it to all my friends!

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30 Angskeet

January 18, 2011 at 9:31 PM

i can't believe dream high is actually out there now, so unexpected that this was gonna happen

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31 Cam

January 18, 2011 at 9:49 PM

Wooooooooooow...............Congrats, Dream High!

O__o UNBELIVABLE.

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32 snoopyvkd

January 18, 2011 at 11:47 PM

Athena has been losing me gradually since episode 6, with the BoA arc. I did not get attched to any of the characters so in the end, it's all just spies stories, action and explosions. I hope it'll get more into the characters' story later on.

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33 jorosh

January 19, 2011 at 12:10 AM

simple storylines can really be more entertaining..lol

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34 alex

January 19, 2011 at 2:56 AM

Well I shall be the one who likes Athena very much especially with the two last episodes where the characters have deepened . The episodes with BoA were not so good because of BoA so I don' t want to watch an idol singers drama . Of course I still enjoy watching QoR Thanks for your recap .

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35 fatraspberry

January 19, 2011 at 3:00 AM

they deserve it! ep 5 and 6 just really made me fall in love to this drama all over again..first i'm so excited because of the actors.. (i'm a fangirl of 2pm lol) but when i watched ep 1..it wasn't so good and the acting is a bit suck XD but i keep watching it and then when i watched ep 5 i just can't help but LOVE it all over again. i hope the drama will keep on the good work :) dream high fightinggg!

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36 Alex

January 19, 2011 at 4:13 AM

I'll watch Spies over Idols any day. I never saw Iris or Fugitive so I can't really compare Athena to any other drama but i think it's pretty good and I'm also a sucker for anything with Cha Seung Won or Soo Ae. As for Dream High with the exception of Taecyeon I have no idea who the other idols are and although I like Lee Yoon Ji it's no enough to make me want to watch.

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37 izzie

January 19, 2011 at 6:46 AM

Yay! for Dream High and My Princess' ratings trend! :)

Don't you feel good (and guilty) when something like these validate your kdrama addiction?

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38 chuachumill

January 19, 2011 at 9:39 AM

loving the looks of wooyung in DH...he looks good~~:p..squeee~~~

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39 laura

January 19, 2011 at 11:37 AM

how is that possible!!!
i hate dream high, i couldnt progress any longer from episode 2 which was also torture !!!

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indigowine

January 19, 2011 at 5:40 PM

give it a try... the no-act Hyemi is actually intended *LOL*

Damn i love that show.. in every single episode, they cover somebody's song, LOVE IT!

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40 Anne

January 19, 2011 at 3:17 PM

Yay for dream high! I .<

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41 Pat

January 19, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Spy thrillers without logic are pointless
You have to care if your favorite character gets blown up and you need to be able to follow the who what when. Both
I and A are so in love with the glamour they glossed over
the DETAILS for travelog creds. So boring without the heart or the soul. I never understand how people can watch dramas that make no sence every ten minutes.

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42 ...

January 20, 2011 at 5:25 AM

Hooray for idol stars, then.
It's not normal for three stations to be thisclose in the ratings game, right?

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43 jeanne1123

January 23, 2011 at 4:21 PM

This is nice. They deserve it. Every episode gets better and better. I just hope it continuous 'till the end. Especially the Hye Mi and Jin Gook part. LOL! I can't help but root for them. They're so sweet!

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