Netflix series 'Monthly Boyfriend' is maintaining its global popularity into its second week.
According to Netflix Tudum's TOP 10 website on the 18th, 'Monthly Boyfriend' has claimed the number one spot in the global TOP 10 non-English shows category. The series has made it to the TOP 10 list in 47 countries worldwide, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Captivating global audiences, 'Monthly Boyfriend' has recorded 4.8 million views (calculated by dividing total viewing hours by the show's runtime) and 47.8 million viewing hours, maintaining its number one position for two consecutive weeks based on viewing hours.
Despite controversies surrounding the lead actor's performance, the series is also dominating domestic buzz indices. It has topped the TV-OTT integrated drama buzz index for two consecutive weeks in the second week of March, as announced by Good Data Corporation's Fundex. Additionally, in terms of cast buzz, it secured the first (Jisoo) and second (Seo In-guk) positions.
New stills reveal the diverse facets of Mirae (Jisoo) and Kyungnam (Seo In-guk), as well as Gu Young-il (Seo In-guk). Jisoo and Seo In-guk bring to life the chemistry of colleagues who can't stop thinking about each other, from their initial antagonistic relationship to a sweet office romance, adding depth and excitement to Mirae and Kyungnam's story. Their realistic romance storyline seamlessly blends the fantasy element of a virtual dating subscription service with genuine emotions, enhancing viewer engagement. This was made possible by Jisoo's captivating character transformation and Seo In-guk's dual role performance.
Moments from Mirae's dates with her virtual partners have also been captured. The special appearances by actors who bring realism to the world of 'Monthly Boyfriend' have been a continuous topic of discussion. Seo Kang-joon plays Eun-ho, a campus heartthrob who manipulates first love memories, fulfilling viewers' romantic fantasies. Lee Soo-hyuk perfectly embodies the unrealistic character of Si-woo, a third-generation chaebol webtoon protagonist, while Kim Sung-cheol delivers a heartfelt performance as ex-boyfriend Se-jun, evoking poignant emotions. Lee Jae-wook, transformed into a doctor, captivates with his charming duality, and Lee Hyun-wook, as a handsome judge, exudes intellectual and gentle charisma. Kim Young-dae, in a Joseon-era character, leaves a brief yet strong impression. The series continues to garner attention and love thanks to the performances of other charming actors like Ong Seong-wu, Hoju Tarzan, Moo Jin-sung, Park Jae-bum, and Lee Sang-yi.
The romantic comedy 'Monthly Boyfriend' is currently streaming on Netflix.
By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr