Park Yoochun is running as fast as he can in "Three Days" to find out what happened to the missing president. And apparently his haste and the drama's recent terrifying car chase have paid off. This week his drama outpaced the competition.
But it was a very slim victory. "Three Days," the drama about a bodyguard who gets framed for trying to assassinate the president, barely beat Kim Hyun Joong's 1930s Shanghai-based drama "Inspiring Generation."
The competition was so close that the first place and second place could easily be reversed next week. "Three Days" earned 12.7 percent in the ratings, while "Inspiring Generation" only earned 12.6 percent of the viewers.
Both were ahead of the evening's third contender "Cunning Single Lady," which scored only 8.5 percent.
Both "Inspiring Generation" and "Three Days" were up slightly in the ratings from the previous episode. "Inspiring Generation was up 0.4 percent, beating its own record, and 'Three Days" was up 1 percent. The romantic comedy "Cunning Single Lady" dropped from 9.2 percent.
Both of the leading dramas have fast-paced stories. They both star engaging idol actors who have a dedicated fan base. And both dramas boast excellent production values.
"Three Days" has seen the formation of an alliance between Park Yoochn's character, the disgraced agent, and the policewoman played by Park Ha Sun. Meanwhile So E Hyun also suspects that Park Yoochun did not have anything to do with the assassination attempt and that there is a bigger story to be had. Will it be told before someone assassinates or imprisons Park Yoochun's character?
In "Inspiring Generation," no sooner does Kim Hyun Joong win one fight then there seems to be another war for turf, another rival who wants to take him on. At least the career of the singer Jin Se Yeon plays is coming along nicely as she snags a recording contract. But war is coming to Shanghai and it will alter the lives of this drama's characters.
"Cunning Single Lady," which stars Joo Sang Wook and Lee Min Jung as two bitter exes, is funny and charming but the comedy will have to be a lot funnier to catch up with the two frontrunners. The premise is amusing enough. The couple was married when they were poor and struggling. She decided he was a loser and kicked him out. But then he became a huge success and now she wants him back. It's one of several dramas that take on the subject of exes reuniting after divorce.
It's anyone's guess who will win the ratings war next week. What do you think?