신혜선·공명 초고속 로맨스, 시청률은 터졌지만...감정선 설득은 숙제
The tvN weekend drama 'Secret Audit' starring Shin Hye-sun and Gong Myung has achieved its highest ratings yet, thanks to a whirlwind romance. However, the fast-paced narrative has left viewers divided.
In episodes 3 and 4, aired last week, the romantic storyline between Joo In-ah (played by Shin Hye-sun) and No Gi-jun (played by Gong Myung) began to unfold. 'Secret Audit' tells the story of Joo In-ah, a charismatic audit manager with a secret, and No Gi-jun, an ace auditor demoted to handling internal misconduct cases, as they navigate a close-knit audit romance.
In episode 3, No Gi-jun discovers Joo In-ah's secret life as a nude model at an art academy. Episode 4 sees the pair on a business trip, where they spend time together and develop subtle feelings for each other. The episode concludes with a thrilling kiss, marking the official start of their romance.
The bold narrative has been welcomed by some viewers, who commented, "It feels like watching an American drama," and "The pacing is different from traditional Korean dramas." 'Secret Audit' has been marketed as a '29+ office comic passionate melodrama' since before its premiere. The episode 4 subtitle 'Playing with Fire' reflects the irresistible attraction and straightforward romance of adults in their 30s, which has been praised for its genre appeal.
Considering the drama is a 12-episode series, the decision to accelerate the plot early on is understandable. With the trend of shorter drama series, the strategy seems to be to captivate viewers with strong events and relationship changes from the start, rather than slowly building relationships as in the traditional 16-episode format.
However, there are criticisms that the rapid development doesn't allow enough time to follow the characters' emotional arcs. Episodes 1 and 2 focused on audit office episodes and the antagonistic relationship between Joo In-ah and No Gi-jun. Although episode 3 showed No Gi-jun discovering another side of Joo In-ah and feeling empathy, some viewers felt there wasn't enough emotional buildup to justify their sudden closeness.
Their relationship takes a dramatic turn in episode 4. In a shared hotel room, No Gi-jun flirts with Joo In-ah by commenting on her foot size, leading to an accidental situation where they end up on the same bed. The unexpected timing of the kiss scene left some viewers struggling to keep up with the characters' emotions.
There are also concerns about Joo In-ah's character development. As a cold and controlling audit manager, her rapid emotional shift in the face of love hasn't been convincingly portrayed. As the romance becomes more prominent, some feel that Joo In-ah's unique charisma is being overshadowed.
Despite mixed opinions on the fast-paced romance, 'Secret Audit' has achieved a new ratings high of 7.9% nationwide according to Nielsen Korea, a 3.1% increase from the previous episode, making it the top-rated show in its time slot.
The challenge for 'Secret Audit' is to maintain the interest generated by its rapid plot with a convincing narrative. The essence of the romance genre lies in how naturally viewers can accept the characters falling in love. While shocking scenes can create momentary buzz, the sustainability of the relationship depends on the narrative and emotional depth.
'Secret Audit' has made bold choices from the start. To ensure these choices are more than just sensational, the remaining episodes must build a more intricate relationship between Joo In-ah and No Gi-jun. Balancing the fast pace and 29+ romance theme with a believable narrative for character development will be key to sustaining its success.
By Juwon Park, TenAsia Reporter pjw00@tenasia.co.kr