MBC’s “The Perfect Lie” made its debut on October 30, but the star-studded new drama opened to quiet numbers. Starring Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin, the first episode scored an average nationwide rating of 1.9 percent according to Nielsen Korea — a modest start against some of the stiffest competition on Korean television.
The Perfect Lie (Credits: Soompi)
The Perfect Lie vs Doctor X Ratings Battle
“The Perfect Lie” premiered in the exact same time slot as SBS’s ratings juggernaut “Doctor X,” and the numbers show just how steep that hill is. Despite a modest dip in viewership, “Doctor X” remained the most-watched show of the entire week, kicking off the second half of its run with an average nationwide rating of 16.5 percent — down 3 full percentage points from the 19.5 percent its previous episode achieved last week.
That kind of dominance in the weekend slot is tough for any newcomer to crack. “Doctor X” has been a bona fide phenomenon this season, and a 16.5 percent rating — even off its peak — still dwarfs most dramas currently on air.
Can The Perfect Lie Rebound From 1.9% Premiere?
A 1.9 percent premiere is undeniably soft, but the drama has two heavyweight leads in Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin, both proven ratings draws with strong fanbases. The real question is whether the show can build momentum through word of mouth in the coming weeks, especially once viewers settle into its story and characters.
Weekend dramas often grow as the weeks pass, and early ratings are not always the final verdict. Whether “The Perfect Lie” can carve out its own audience in “Doctor X’s” shadow will be the storyline to watch in next week’s ratings report.
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Source: Soompi — read the full story there.
