Why 'Climax' Struggles to Reach Its Peak Despite Bold Themes

《Tae Yuna's Drama Insights》
Tae Yuna from TenAsia brings you in-depth analysis of dramas based on firsthand observations. In an era flooded with dramas across numerous channels, we aim to be your eyes and ears.

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The title is 'Climax,' but the ratings have yet to reach their peak. ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Climax' is attempting to capture attention with bold themes such as homosexuality, self-harm, and murder, yet it remains stuck in the 3% viewership range.

'Climax' follows prosecutor Bang Tae-seop (played by Ju Ji-hoon) as he enters a power cartel to reach the pinnacle of success in South Korea. The tangled relationships of characters driven by their desires serve as key points of interest.

However, 'Climax' has drawn attention more for its shocking setups than its intricate storytelling. In the sixth episode aired on the 31st, top star Choo Sang-ah (played by Ha Ji-won) orchestrates a national deception to cover up the truth of Oh Kwang-jae's (played by Seo Hyun-woo) murder, even staging a 'self-harm show' to sway public opinion.

The drama repeatedly features themes of homosexuality and tragic pasts. Episode 4 revealed a same-sex relationship between Choo Sang-ah and rookie actor Han Ji-soo (played by Han Dong-hee), while Episode 5 showed Choo Sang-ah kissing Hwang Jung-won (played by Nana) on a bed, who has a shocking past of witnessing her mother's suicide and killing her cohabitant.

The drama also includes elements reminiscent of real events. Director Lee Ji-won mentioned at a press conference that the script includes experiences from his 20 years in the film industry, such as excessive bed scene filming and forced entertainment, which serve as the backdrop for the drama.

Despite two consecutive weeks of same-sex kiss scenes and shocking developments, these 'dopamine hits' have not translated into higher ratings. The show started at 2.9% and rose to 3.8% by the second episode, but has not surpassed the 3% range by the sixth episode. This is far from the production team's confident claim of surpassing 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo's' highest rating of 17.5%.

The stagnation in ratings despite the bold themes is attributed to a 'lack of narrative.' While each episode features shocking scenes, the overall story remains stagnant, leading to viewer fatigue from exposure to sensational scenes without narrative depth. The lack of a compelling core story has become a stumbling block for expanding the audience.

Some viewers have criticized the show, saying, "It's getting less interesting," and "The settings are too outdated to be engaging." The repeated use of homosexuality, seemingly for shock value, has drawn significant backlash, with some calling it a 'desperate attempt for attention.' The focus on shock over substance has led to more rejection than attraction.

As 'Climax' moves past its halfway point in the 10-episode series, it prioritizes momentary impact over story accumulation. While the gamble for attention may have worked, it leaves questions about the drama's coherence and quality. Whether the series will end as mere 'dopamine hits' or achieve a true 'climax' through narrative twists remains to be seen in the remaining episodes.

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