Salaryman hits a ratings high, gets extended
by javabeans
Ooh, a late-game reversal! Mondays and Tuesdays have a new (ratings) victor, and it’s History of the Salaryman. The drama has been steadily creeping up in the ratings, but it was this week’s Tuesday episode — the 16th — that brought it from perpetual second place into first, passing MBC’s showbiz period drama Light and Shadow.
The numbers: 19.1% for Salaryman (up from 16.9% the previous day), 18.1% for Light and Shadow, and 7.9% for Dream High 2. (And because it must be said: Yes, I’m still watching Dream High 2, and no, the recent episodes haven’t changed my mind. Are the recent episodes better? Yes, but better is a relative term.)
Thanks to the ratings, Salaryman has now extended its run by two episodes, taking it from the initially planned 20 to 22. With the drama gaining momentum both plot- and ratings-wise, extension talks gained traction in recent weeks, and while I always groan at additional episodes, I have less worries about this drama being extended than others. There have been reports that the production has wanted extra room to fit in all the story they have planned, meaning that in this case it appears they’re extending the run to fit the story, rather than trying to drag story out to fill the space.
I’m behind on Salaryman but I find it a quirky, funny, and highly entertaining screwball drama and judging from HeadsNo2’s responses, it’s a solid, well-executed story. Lee Beom-soo is spot-on as a thick-headed but dogged employee of a large corporation, and Jung Ryeo-won is better than I’ve ever seen her as the foul-mouthed chaebol heir to said corporation. Hong Soo-hyun continues to improve in this new-and-improved part of her career, and Kim Seo-hyung is winning raves for her performance as the uber-competent secretary.
The extension means Salaryman will now end on March 13, and its follow-up drama, Yoo Ah-in and Shin Se-kyung’s Fashion King, will push its premiere back to the following week.
Via TV Report
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51 juni
February 24, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Completely agree with this article and comments here!!!
As this article described, the story and plot, all solidly well executed together with brilliant actors, for me, it's flawless!! It's such a fine production i think everyone's acting within feels smooth, none of the occasionally spotted awkward (over)acting in some other dramas.
Jung Ryu Won is just brilliant! She's moved on well beyond her rookie style previously. Lee Bum Soo's acting, says it all, a veteran. Jung Gyu Woon, finally given the chance to showcase his fine acting.
With the extension i hope the storyline will be rounded up well. Sometimes, there's the risk of haphazard/last minute finishes that spoil it for the entire production. But if all goes well, I'd be gutted if this one doesn't win more than 1 award in 2012 award ceremonies! Simply awesome! :D
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52 geenah
February 24, 2012 at 6:42 PM
Hands down to Jung Ryo Won For giving life to Yeo chi. She did become Yeochi in this drama. I can forget her roles in Kim Sam Soon and Which Planet are You From, but not this. She just nailed this one. And the actor that plays Yoo Bang is soooo good. So real! And to have a great story and editing like this.....it can make the MoonSun go to an eclipse if they're on the same timeslot.
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53 noi
February 25, 2012 at 8:44 PM
omg i really love jung ryu won!!! lol
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54 Julian
February 26, 2012 at 10:28 AM
I, too, love this drama. But the story is becoming too volatile. Characters are presented as "good" or "bad" but they throw kinks in the storyline so that the "bad" guys become good.
I like twists but these do not fit the characters. Aside from our main hero whose perspective the story is based from, Director Mo is the only truly complex character who was presented as so. She is deciding her destiny. Other characters are more controlled by the writers, if you know what I mean.
Hang Woo's switch to the good side was so predictable and it seemed it was done just to justify building a romance between him and Ooh Wee. Then Bang Yee suddenly falls in love with Yeo Chi?
Now that everyone is aligned with their storybook ending partners, I have less incentive to watch the predicted ending unfold in 6 episodes.
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55 MaskBunny
February 26, 2012 at 7:03 PM
I am so glad I decided to watch this drama even though I made a vow to stop watching K-Dramas. Totally unique!
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56 loyalfan_1
April 27, 2012 at 3:17 AM
History of Salaryman is taking the new role as the pioneer in the Korean Entertainment Industry as of today. Making leaps and bounds from a-z. There are no words to express how good it is. Watch it to know it. Ryeo Won character as Yeo Chi shines through out this most beautiful drama. Without her this drama is no fun.
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