From Buzz to Blip: 최애의 사원 Hits 3% Ratings in Second Episode

tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama 최애의 사원 made headlines for its intriguing premise but faced a disappointing ratings drop in its second episode. Following a strong start, the episode aired on the 4th recorded a mere 3.1% nationwide viewership according to Nielsen Korea, falling 1.1 percentage points from its debut at 4.2%.

While 최애의 사원 debuted at #10 in the recent TV drama buzz ranking released by FunDEx, its decline in ratings indicates it has yet to fully inherit the solid viewership of its predecessor, 내일도 출근! which wrapped up with consistently high ratings close to 4%.

In the second episode, the evolving relationship between the characters 강하기 (played by 강훈) and 남다름 (played by 김혜준) unfolds through misunderstandings and new realizations. 강하기, established as a competent CEO of Apelo with a stern exterior yet warm heart, began to show cracks in his icy demeanor upon the arrival of the new employee, 남다름, who is an enthusiastic fan of idol 이찬 (played by 차우민).

As 남다름 navigates her new workplace, she discovers that her idol has a deeper connection with 강하기, which leads her to mistakenly believe in their romantic relationship based on clues she encounters, including a letter expressing affection for 이찬. Initially skeptical of 남다름, due to her affiliation with a competing firm, 강하기's perspective shifts as he recognizes her sincerity and hard work, eventually offering her support.

The narrative deepens when it is revealed that 남다름 owns a necklace given to her by 이찬 during the disbandment of the idol group D.N.X, establishing a poignant bond between them. Despite his successful public persona, 이찬 grapples with internal loneliness, further complicated by the drama surrounding his former love interest, 윤초이 (played by 신유나). The dynamic among the trio introduces layers of tension that suggest escalating conflict in future episodes.

최애의 사원, based on the webtoon 우리 오빠는 아이돌 by 성은, commenced serialization in September 2017 and completed in January 2020, garnering global views upwards of 660 million. As interest grows in the original webtoon’s resolution, viewers are left wondering if the series can rebound in ratings to match its initial hype. The third episode is slated to air on the 10th at 8:45 PM, with catch-up services available on Tving and Wavve.