In JTBC's weekend drama 'Fighting Worthlessness', Hwang Dong-man (played by Koo Kyo-hwan) and Byun Eun-ah (played by Go Yoon-jung) form a compelling bond, filling each other's voids. This connection has resonated with viewers, as evidenced by its top ranking in Netflix's Tudum's Korea TOP 10 shows for the week of April 20-26. However, the show's ratings have remained stagnant, maintaining a 2% range since its premiere on March 28.
Hwang Dong-man's life is a constant battle against anxiety. He talks incessantly to silence the inner voice that whispers, "You have no worth." Even when surrounded by friends who don't truly welcome him, his emotional watch signals anxiety. Despite his efforts to laugh and chat away the unease, his emotional watch only registers boredom.
Particularly after receiving a harsh dismissal from Choi Dong-hyun (played by Choi Won-young), the head of Choi Film, Dong-man's insatiable hunger becomes a stark manifestation of his emptiness. He tries to fill the void of his unfulfilled dreams with food, a desperate attempt to patch the gaping hole in his heart. All he desires is to be free from anxiety. The anticipation builds to see if Byun Eun-ah can bring him the peace he longs for, just as she has brought the first green light to his emotional watch.
'Fighting Worthlessness' airs every Saturday at 10:40 PM and Sunday at 10:30 PM.
Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr