The new MBC drama "Pride and Prejudice" jumped to first place in its time slot with its very first episode. The courtroom drama scored in the double digits, with ratings of 11.2 percent. One reason for the drama's success may be the star power of Choi Jin Hyuk, who recently completed several successful dramas.
Choi Jin Hyuk shone in several recent hits. He had a breakout role, playing the demon spirit Wol Ryung in "Gu Family Book," then was successful as a divorced emergency room doctor in "Emergency Couple" and Jang Nara's helpful friend in "Fated To Love You." His character Gu Dong Chi in "Pride and Prejudice" is more cynical than any of these previous characters, even the bitter betrayed demon or the divorce doctor with a romantic grudge. Being a prosecutor has made his character even less trusting of human behavior.
Baek Jin Hee, last seen in Triangle," plays the woman he has a history with. She's the woman his character says he dated and who also proposed to him. It's not clear where the themes of pride and prejudice fit into the drama's first episode except that both of these characters have their pride and both have some negative preconceptions about each other. It may be that pride ended their previous relationship. It may be that the prejudices they harbor against each other keep them apart.
Choi Woo Shik, who also appeared in "Fated To Love you" and Jang Hyuk's half brother, is also in the prosecution team. And so is Lee Tae Hwan who promises to give Choi Jin Hyuk some love triangle competition later on.
On its first night "Pride and Prejudice" outdid the previous drama, "The Night Watchmen's Journal,' which started off with 10.9 percent and ended with 12.5 percent. The combination of the main characters' curious history and the weekly police mysteries the show will feature may prove a winner.
The competing dramas could not keep pace. The KBS drama "Tomorrow Cantabile," starring Joo Won and Shim Eun Kyung, increased slightly to 6.7 percent. Ratings may improve this week, as the main characters are busy making important breakthroughs in their own development and their relationship. Joo Won's character Yoo jin has won the trust of his orchestra. Naeil hs helped him to accomplish this and the two grow closer.
The historical drama "Secret Door," starring Han Suk Kyu, Lee Je Hoon and Kim You Jung, only rated 4 percent, which was 2 percent lower than the previous episode. But the low score may have had something to do with its unusual time slot. The drama was postponed to a later hour due to a baseball game.
