According to Nielsen Korea, a viewership rating research company, on the 18th, the 20th episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Lovers', which aired the previous day, recorded 12.4% nationwide and 12.5% in the metropolitan area, breaking its own record including Parts 1 and 2. This is the number one figure for all channels and Friday-Saturday dramas in the same time period. At the moment, the highest viewer rating soared to a whopping 14.5%. In addition, the 2049 viewership rating, a key indicator of advertising and channel competitiveness, was 3.7%, ranking first among all programs aired on Friday the 17th.
On this day's broadcast, the story of Lee Jang-hyun (played by Namgoong Min) and Yoo Gil-chae (played by Ahn Eun-jin) was depicted, who firmly developed their love and trust for each other even in the harsh whirlpool of history.
Previously, Lee Jang-hyun searched for all his memories of Yoo Gil-chae and said, “I’m really sorry.” Yu Gil-chae, who had always been by Lee Jang-hyun's side, shed tears and fell into Lee Jang-hyun's arms. However, Janghyun Lee had too many problems to solve and too many people to save to find his own happiness. Inquirer Pyo Eon-gyeom (played by Yang Hyun-min), who believed that it was for the benefit of Crown Prince Sohyeon (played by Kim Moo-jun) and reported Crown Prince Sohyeon's affairs to Injo (played by Kim Jong-tae) in detail, was frustrated.
Pyo Eon-gyeom decided to commit suicide and took poison. At that time, Janghyun Lee appeared. Pyo Eon-gyeom regretted his foolishness and said that there was a letter that Crown Prince Sohyeon left to Lee Jang-hyeon before her death. The letter was addressed to Yu Gil-chae. Crown Prince Sohyeon's letter contained a premonition of his own death and a request to somehow rescue the Korean prisoners in Shenyang and bring them back to Joseon safely. Lee Jang-hyeon stood up to ask Crown Prince So-hyeon's last request.
However, King Injo did not stay still after learning of the existence of the letter left by Crown Prince Sohyeon. As a result, Janghyun Lee was immediately on the verge of death. The people who appeared at that time were the Qing princess Gak-hwa (Lee Cheong-ah), who had entered Joseon, and the Qing general Yonggoldae (Choi Young-woo). Gakhwa was told by the interpreter Lee Jang-hyeon to unconditionally welcome the envoy from the Qing Dynasty. Thanks to this, Lee Jang-hyeon saved his life and faced Injo together with Yongoldae. This further stimulated Injo.
Afterwards, under Gakhwa's permission, the Korean prisoners returned safely via land route. Gak-hwa told Lee Jang-hyeon to go to Cheong or threatened to kill him. However, Lee Jang-hyeon said that he wanted to return to his hometown and that his hometown was Yu Gil-chae. In the end, Gakhwa let Lee Janghyeon go with tears in his eyes. However, Lee Jang-hyeon was unable to return to Yu Gil-chae immediately because he was busy helping the repatriated prisoners settle down, and instead delivered a heartfelt letter.
Yu Gil-chae read Lee Jang-hyeon's letter and made a firm resolution. He said he would take care of the prisoners sent by Lee Jang-hyeon and wait patiently. Now Lee Jang-hyun is his. After some time, the real Lee Jang-hyun returned. Yu Gil-chae, who was waiting for Lee Jang-hyeon every day on the street corner, saw Lee Jang-hyeon’s face and called him “Seobang-nim.” Lee Jang-hyeon was surprised and asked, “Did you just call me Lord Seobu?” and said, “Let’s become Lord Seobu.”
Not long after, Jong-yi (played by Park Jeong-yeon) and Gu-jim (played by Park Kang-seop) got married. Lee Jang-hyeon, who was happily watching the couple's marriage, implicitly expressed to Yoo Gil-chae that he also wanted to get married. But Yu Gil-chae immediately refused. It was a moment that reminded me of the past when Lee Jang-hyun shook Yoo Gil-chae by shouting for non-marriage during his days in Neunggun-ri. Yoo Gil-chae then said that he did not like obvious things and said, “Please marry me. “I will make you the happiest man in the world,” he proposed. Lee Jang-hyeon, who was moved, looked at Yoo Gil-chae with affection, saying, “Let’s go to Neunggun-ri.”
Episode 20 of ‘Lovers’ ended with Lee Jang-hyun and Yoo Gil-chae at the peak of their love. Attention is being paid to whether Lee Jang-hyun and Yoo Gil-chae will be able to reach a happy ending in the final episode. Here, the story of Nam Yeon-jun (played by Lee Hak-ju), who was angry that Lee Jang-hyeon borrowed the power of the Qing Dynasty, and Gyeong Eun-ae (played by Da-in Lee), who confessed to Nam Yeon-jun that she met barbarians during the Manchu War but overcame the crisis with the help of Yu Gil-chae, created anxiety. Raise it.
The final episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Lovers' has been confirmed to be 100 minutes long and will be aired at 9:30 pm on the 18th. Prior to this, episode 20 of ‘Lovers’ will be rebroadcast at 8:40 pm on the same day.
Ten Asia Reporter Kim Seo-yoon seogugu@tenasia.co.kr