"High Society" rose to the top of the ratings with its first episode this week. But according to Nielsen Korea's ratings, the SBS show only had a slight advantage over the competition, the historical drama "Splendid Politics."
"High Society" rated 9.4 percent, while "Splendid Politics" only reached 9.1 percent. The third drama "Remember You," starring Seo In Guk and Jang Nara only reached 4.7 percent.
Spoiler alert: If you haven't seen the latest episodes of "High Society" or "Splendid Politics," don't read any further.
Both of the top dramas have focused on disappointment lately, but almost every character in "High Society faced disappointment. In "Splendid Politics" Lee Yeon Hee, playing Princess Jungmyung, came to the realization that her half brother Prince Gwanghae, played by Cha Seung Won, is not the ruler she thought he was.
In "High Society" there was disappointment enough for all the major characters. Jang Yoon Ha, played by Uee, was disappointed to learn that Choi Joon Ki, played by Sung Joon was interested in her fortune after all. Sung Joon's character was disappointed to lose his chance with her because their association was not only a way for him to succeed in business but he also truly loved her.
Park Hyung Sik's character Yoo Chang Soo was disappointed to learn that love cannot conquer all and that he would probably hurt Lim Ji Yeon's character Lee Ji Yi. He wanted to pretend that they were no longer dating, so his mother would leave her alone. But it didn't work out that way.
At one point he tells her the story of the scorpion that wanted a frog to ferry it across the river. At first the frog refused knowing how scorpions like to sting and kill other living things. But the scorpion insisted that he would not risk them both dying. In the end he stung the frog anyway. As they were both drowning, he was asked to explain his actions. He said that it was just his nature.
In a sense "High Society" is a drama about people using each other, whether they are using each other for economic advantage, affection or to live up to their idea of how things are supposed to be. And most of the people in "High Society" did not stop to think about how they would hurt themselves when they hurt those they used. Hopefully, people are a little more advanced than scorpions and the characters in this drama will rise above the urge to destroy the people they have used and in the process destroy themselves.
