KBS' humiliating 'Brain Collaboration' recorded 'lowest' viewership ratings in 2 weeks

KBS2's 'Brain Collaboration', which received a good report card and exceeded 5% when it was first broadcast, is on a downward trend. Although Jung Yong-hwa, a 'handsome actor' from a popular idol group, was put forward, the viewership ratings plummeted in just two weeks and he seemed to be doing poorly.

'Brain Collaboration' is a full-fledged brain science comic investigation drama in which two men who cannot kill each other solve a criminal case related to a rare brain disease. It is about neuroscientist Shin Haru (Jung Yong-hwa) working together with detective Geum Myeong-se (Cha Tae-hyun) on a brain disease case with a twist. Director Lee Jin-seo of ‘Okay Photo Sisters’ and ‘Baby Faced Beauty’ and new writer Park Kyeong-sun have teamed up.

Was it refreshing because it was Korea's first drama that claimed to be a brain science investigation? The response to the first broadcast was not bad. It recorded the highest viewership rating of 5.2% (episode 1).

However, did the somewhat difficult material feel burdensome to viewers? It is going downhill, drawing a downward curve of 4.1% for the 2nd time, 3.9% for the 3rd time, and 3.3% for the 4th time. Compared to 5.2% in the first episode, 3.3% in the fourth episode fell by almost half.

‘Brain cooperation’ led by ‘Two Top’ lead actors Jung Yong-hwa and Cha Tae-hyun. It's not that the bromance chemistry between the two is awkward or lacking. Since they are actors with basic acting skills, their visuals and chemistry are not bad. However, it remains regrettable that the strengths of the work were not highlighted amidst its title as Korea's first brain science investigative film.

‘Brain Collaboration’ is a work that KBS also put a lot of effort into promoting. At the 2022 KBS Drama Awards, Jung Yong-hwa served as MC and continued to indirectly promote the drama. In addition, Cha Tae-hyun also appeared as an award presenter and played an active role as a publicity fairy for 'Brain Collaboration'. Not only the actors but also KBS itself began to promote it openly, but the results were minimal.

KBS, which showed sluggish viewership ratings last year, has been unable to capture the hearts of viewers since the beginning of the year. Despite their shabby report cards, they were busy enjoying the atmosphere of a family party by showing off their joint awards by handing them out in piles at the awards ceremony.

On the other hand, SBS's 'Trolley', a competitor in the same time slot, reversed the competition with 'Brain Collaboration'. On the 10th, it recorded 3.7% for the 8th episode, catching up with 'Brain Collaboration'. In episode 8 of 'Trolley', the conflict between Kim Hye-joo (Kim Hyun-joo) and Nam Jung-do (Park Hee-soon) was depicted. There was still no answer to the 'Trolley Dilemma' of Nam Jung-do, who began revising the law to uncover the truth and restore the reputation of sexual crime victims, and Kim Hye-joo, who was worried that another tragedy would happen to the perpetrator and his family due to the seething public opinion. Meanwhile, the missing cell phone was found at the scene of Nam Ji-hoon's (Jung Taek-hyeon) death, and the mystery was rekindled in the last message shared with Kim Soo-bin (Jeong Soo-bin), raising curiosity.

However, ‘Trolley’ cannot be safe either. It is showing decent viewership ratings, but in order to continue this trend, proper build-up needs to be shown. This is because until now, Kim Hyun-joo's questionable actions have shown an unkind development that cannot be clearly explained.

The leader of Monday-Tuesday dramas has not been decided yet. Viewership ratings are still competing with Acorn Height. Will 'Brain Control', which is still in its early stages, be able to make a spurt from the middle, or will 'Trolley' continue to have the upper hand? Attention is being paid to whether one of the two Monday-Tuesday dramas will be able to break through the sluggish viewership ratings and become a box office success.

Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr