The drama "Punch," starring Kim Rae Won, ended on February 17 and it did so in first place for its time slot. On top of that, the drama's 19th episode broke its own record, with 14.8 percent of the viewership.
Not only did the final episode outpace the competition from "Shine or Go Crazy" and the new contender "Blood," but the drama's finale earned first place by jumping up 0.8 percent in the ratings.
Spoiler alert: The story ended with a death and a sacrifice that saved another life.
That news hardly requires a spoiler alert as viewers never anticipated a happy ending for the hero of this drama. The story of Park Jung Hwan did not get a happy ending but the character did achieve contentment. In the final few weeks of his life, he left a legacy that he could be proud of. After a lifetime of looking the other way when he perceived corruption, he exposed the crimes of the public prosecutor Lee Tae Joon, played by Jo Jae Hyun. Not only did he die with a clean conscience, but he made a noble final gesture by donating his heart to his ex-wife, Shin Ha Kyung, played by Kim A Joong. As a result, Shin Ha Kyung lived to fight crime another day.
"Heard It Through The Grapevine" will replace "Punch." The legal drama, starring Yu Jun Sang, Yoo Ho Jung, Lee Joon and Ko Ah Sung, starts on February 23.
"Shine Or Go Crazy" came in at second place, rating 10.9 percent. Jang Hyuk's character Wang So entered a competition of princes. Not only did he make his queenly mother proud. He also came closer to figuring out the identity of the secret assassin. But that does not mean he can rest as Shin Yool, played by Oh Yeon Seo, is in danger.
The second episode of the newest drama "Blood," starring Gu Hye Sun and Ahn Jae Hyun only made it to third place. "Blood" earned only 4.7 percent among the dramas in that time slot.
The ratings might have been meager because it's tough for a new drama to compete with the finale of any drama, especially a popular one. Also, while Gu Hye Sun is an actress that can pull in the ratings, Ahn Jae Hyun is still a rookie actor.
But anything can happen next week when "Heard It Through The Grapevine" alters the playing field.
