Anyone who has seen a few kdrama comedies knows that the heirs or chaebols always get all the breaks in life. They are used to coming out on top. But despite all the anticipation for the new series "The Heirs," its first episode did not reach first place in this week's ratings.
Achieving first place was "Secret Love," starring Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum, Bae Soo Bin and Lee Da Hee. The drama, which has already run for a few weeks, rated 12.4 percent this week. In this drama, a young heir loses his girlfriend to a hit and run accident. Then ironically he falls in love with the woman who served time in prison for committing that crime. But the truth is that she is not guilty. She took the fall for her boyfriend, an ambitious prosecutor, who then broke up with her while she was still in prison. With its intricate plot, the ratings may remain high as long as "Secrets" has secrets to reveal.
"The Heirs" was close behind "Secrets" with an 11.6 percent rating for its first episode. And it is only the first episode. More fans may yet sign on. Achieving third place was the new medical drama "Medical Top Team" with 7.3 percent of the ratings.
This promises to be an interesting competition as the three dramas all have a lot going for them. To start with, each drama has a great cast.
"The Heirs" stars Lee Min Ho, Park Shin Hye, Kim Woo Bin and Choi Jin Hyuk in a "Gossip Girls"-style drama about an elite high school and the poor girl who befriends the students there.
"Medical Top Team" stars Kwon Sang Woo, Jung Ryu Won and Joo Ji Hoon as doctors in a specialist team of experts. The drama will focus on political struggles within the hospital and how these struggles affect the ability of the doctors to save lives.
Both "The Heirs" and "Medical Top Team" will also appeal to a kpop audience because of the idols in the cast. SHINee's Choi Minho plays a young doctor in "Medical Top Team." Alex Chu of the electropop band Clazziquai is also in the cast. ZE:A's Park Hyungsik, f(x)'s Krystal Jung and CNBLue's Kang Min Hyuk play students at "The Heirs' elite school.
When it came to variety shows, MBC's Radio Star got 7.4 percent while the SBS show "Couples" rated 6.4 percent.
When it comes to next week's winners, anything could happen.
