Rising Tensions in 'Scarecrow': Park Hae-soo's Performance Drives Ratings Surge

Actor Park Hae-soo's compelling performance in 'Scarecrow' has led to a significant rise in viewership ratings within just two episodes. The first episode of 'Scarecrow' aired last week, achieving a 2.9% rating, while the second episode saw an increase to 4.1%.

The ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Scarecrow' is garnering significant attention. From the start, its fast-paced plot has captivated viewers, marking the emergence of a new crime investigation thriller. The drama, inspired by real events, boasts a well-crafted script, direction that maximizes genre thrills, and powerful performances, creating a perfect trifecta that elevates its quality. The second episode, aired on the 21st, recorded a 4.2% household rating in the metropolitan area, ranking first among Monday-Tuesday dramas. It also achieved a 1.5% rating among the 2049 target demographic, topping all channels. (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households) Let's delve into what sets 'Scarecrow' apart.

Detective Kang Tae-joo (played by Park Hae-soo) has a keen intuition. He discovered traces of a serial killer in three seemingly unrelated murder cases with different dates and locations. As the intense serial murder case surfaces and the investigation to catch the real culprit begins, viewers are drawn into a tense atmosphere, engaging their sharp detective skills from the first episode. Hidden scenes throughout the show intensify suspicion and confusion about the true identity of Lee Yong-woo.

Survivor Park Ae-sook (played by Hwang Eun-hu) described the kidnapper's hand as 'soft like a woman's,' while Lee Ki-beom's (played by Song Geon-hee) hand is shown on screen. A red handbag, presumed to belong to Park Ae-sook, is stored in the bookstore run by the brothers. Additionally, Lee Ki-beom's smile upon seeing Kim Min-ji's (played by Kim Hwan-hee) scarecrow drawing, a friend of the fourth victim Yoo Jung-rin (played by Gong Ah-reum), seems suspicious. However, scenes showing past Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-jun) and present Lee Yong-woo exhibiting similar behaviors suggest an unexpected twist. As viewers synchronize with Kang Tae-joo, the search for Lee Yong-woo is expected to deepen with each episode.

'Scarecrow' drew attention even before its broadcast, inspired by real events. Unlike other films or dramas on the same case, this is the first work created after the real culprit was revealed, raising expectations. The drama spans major events from 1988 and the present-day 2019, focusing on the one-on-one encounter between Kang Tae-joo and the real culprit Lee Yong-woo, capturing attention. Notably, the 2019 scenes are placed as a prologue and epilogue, enhancing the drama's immersion. Starting with Kang Tae-joo's narration, "Finally met, the murderer I've been searching for," as he first confronts Lee Yong-woo to extract a confession, the invisible psychological battle between Kang Tae-joo seeking the truth and Lee Yong-woo refusing to confess adds another layer of tension.

The third episode of 'Scarecrow' will air on the 27th at 10 PM.

Reporter Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr