Drama 'The First Night With the Duke' Premieres with Unique Romance Fantasy

The drama 'The First Night With the Duke' has made a grand entrance with its unique concept of a detour romance fantasy.

Premiering on November 11th, the first episode of KBS 2TV's Wednesday-Thursday drama 'The First Night With the Duke' captivated viewers with its unpredictable storyline, where a real-life college student, K, becomes possessed by the character Cha Seon-chek (played by Seohyun).

According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode recorded a nationwide household rating of 3.3%, marking a promising start. This is a stark contrast to the previous dramas 'Kick Kick Kick' and '24-Hour Gym,' which suffered from low ratings of 0-1%, bringing embarrassment to KBS's Wednesday-Thursday drama lineup.

From the beginning, the drama unfolds with college student K expressing her frustration over the hiatus of her favorite novel 'The Tyrant is Obsessed' by leaving a comment, "Even my left toe could write better than this," only to find herself suddenly possessed by the minor character Cha Seon-chek in the novel.

Although initially shocked by the possession, Cha Seon-chek quickly adapts to the luxurious lifestyle and expresses satisfaction, bringing humor to the scene. She soon learns that the day is the night of the full moon and the gathering of noble ladies, the Dahonghoe, where she anticipates witnessing the fateful first meeting between the female lead Jo Eun-ae (played by Kwon Han-sol) and the male lead Lee Beom (played by Ok Taecyeon).

Cha Seon-chek fully embraces her role as a spectator, enjoying the unfolding love quadrangle involving the cold-hearted male lead Lee Beom, his only friend and secondary male lead Jung Soo-gyeom (played by Seo Beom-jun), the female lead Jo Eun-ae, and the villainess Do Hwa-seon (played by Ji Hye-won).

As the night of the protagonists' first meeting arrives, Cha Seon-chek attends the Dahonghoe, ready to witness the iconic scene. However, when Do Hwa-seon crosses the line with Jo Eun-ae, Cha Seon-chek is overwhelmed by an unexpected impulse to defend her favorite character. She diverts Do Hwa-seon's attention by suggesting, "I'd rather drink than have tea," drawing the focus away from Jo Eun-ae.

Fortunately, Do Hwa-seon accepts Cha Seon-chek's proposal. She orders Jo Eun-ae to bring expensive liquor and continues to torment her by demanding she pour it. Cha Seon-chek shifts the atmosphere again by introducing a new drink, creating unheard-of bomb shots, and quickly becoming the center of attention at the gathering.

After making a name for herself with a single bomb shot, Cha Seon-chek wakes up with a hangover, only to find Lee Beom unexpectedly lying beside her. The disheveled clothes and exposed skin hint at something unusual happening the previous night. As Cha Seon-chek is taken aback, Lee Beom, with an inscrutable expression, claims he was harassed by her the night before, ending the first episode on a confusing note.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr