SBS Drama 'Oh! Human' Struggles with Low Ratings and Viewer Engagement

Reporter Tae Yuna from TenAsia brings you the latest insights from the drama scene, ensuring you stay informed in this era of drama overflow.

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SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Oh! Human' continues to struggle with low ratings, remaining in the 2% range for three consecutive episodes, despite reaching its halfway point.

'Oh! Human' is a fantasy romance featuring an MZ gumiho who doesn't want to become human and a narcissistic human. Kim Hye-yoon stars as Eun-ho, a gumiho afraid of losing her thousand-year powers, while Lomon plays Kang Si-yeol, a soccer star whose fate changes due to a single choice.

As the first SBS Friday-Saturday drama of the year, 'Oh! Human' follows the successful 'Taxi Driver 3', which achieved a peak rating of 14.2%. However, 'Oh! Human' debuted with a 3% rating, while its competitor, MBC's 'Judge Lee Han-young', saw a significant increase to 10.0%.

The shift in viewership from 'Taxi Driver 3' to MBC is attributed to several factors. The 'Taxi Driver' series captivated audiences with its thrilling action and revenge plots, similar to 'Judge Lee Han-young', which features a courtroom drama with a comedic twist. In contrast, 'Oh! Human' is a fantasy rom-com, appealing primarily to younger viewers. The broader appeal of 'Judge Lee Han-young' during the weekend slot has contributed to its higher ratings.

Critics have pointed out the lackluster CGI and casting choices in 'Oh! Human'. The gumiho's tail and teleportation scenes have been described as "unconvincing" by some viewers. There are mixed reactions to the chemistry between Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon, and the fantasy world-building has been criticized for not being effectively conveyed. Kim Hye-yoon's exaggerated acting has also been noted as a distraction. Viewers have commented, "The rom-com lacks humor and romance," "The disappointment is as big as the expectations," "The narrative lacks persuasion," and "The focus on world-building has overshadowed the romance."

These issues are reflected in the ratings and viewer engagement. 'Oh! Human' dropped to the 2% range by its second episode and has maintained this through its sixth episode, with a low of 2.4%. This is the lowest since 'The Resurrection of Seven' in 2024, which had a 2.1% rating. In the Good Data Corporation's January 5th-week survey, neither Kim Hye-yoon nor Lomon ranked in the top 10 for actor buzz.

Kim Hye-yoon's previous works, MBC's 'Extraordinary You' and tvN's 'Run On', achieved high buzz despite low ratings. However, 'Oh! Human' is struggling in both areas. Known for her charming romances with Rowoon and Byun Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon's current performance is particularly disappointing.

With 'Oh! Human' being a 12-episode series, it has already passed its midpoint. Given the strong competition, a turnaround in the latter half seems challenging. All eyes are on whether 'Oh! Human' can find a way to boost its ratings and engagement in the remaining episodes.

Reporter Tae Yuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr