The Secret Behind the ‘21st-Century Great Royal Lady’ Craze… The IU♥Byeon Woo-seok Romance Narrative Fueling Fandom Over-Engagement
MBC '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' is soaring high, capturing the global OTT market, viewership ratings, and buzz all at once. The secret to its popularity lies in the thrilling emotional changes between IU and Byun Woo-seok.
MBC's currently airing Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' has held onto No. 1 for four consecutive weeks in the TV-OTT drama buzz rankings for the 5th week of April announced by Good Data Corporation's FUNdex. In addition, IU and Byun Woo-seok have also maintained No. 1 and No. 2 for five consecutive weeks in TV-OTT drama cast buzz. The episode 8 ratings, aired on the 2nd, recorded 11.6% in the Seoul metropolitan area, 11.2% nationwide, and 5% among ages 20-54, setting a new personal best in the Seoul metropolitan area. According to FlixPatrol, a global OTT ranking aggregation site, it entered Disney+ TOP 10 TV Shows immediately after its first broadcast, reaching No. 4 globally and No. 1 among non-English titles, and has consistently remained near the top.
The emotional changes between Seong Hui-ju (IU) and Ian Grand Prince (Byun Woo-seok), who begin as a business relationship that breaks down social status and grow into a real couple, are a key factor in the show's popularity. The detailed emotional shifts between the two, which draw viewers in deeply, stand out.
First, during their school days when their relationship first began, Seong Hui-ju, who always struggled to stay No. 1, remembered Ian Grand Prince as someone who solved every problem through status, unlike herself. For that reason, Hui-ju thought Ian Grand Prince was the very way to escape discrimination caused by status, proposed a contract marriage to him, and ultimately won his acceptance.
While preparing for the contract marriage, Seong Hui-ju learned of the wounds Ian Grand Prince carried after losing precious people one after another, and her feelings toward him gradually began to change. In particular, having seen and experienced firsthand the countless restrictions he had to bear as a member of the royal family and the hardships they caused, Hui-ju understood Ian Grand Prince's position in having to give up even a match he had already won, and taught him how to stand proudly and fight against reality.
Especially as threats targeting Ian Grand Prince continued, including the hostility of Queen Dowager Yoon I-rang (played by Gong Seung-yeon) and a poisoning attempt that ended only as an attempted act on the day of the wedding, Hui-ju's protective instincts have begun stirring again. Attention is focused on Hui-ju's fearless efforts to protect her husband, Ian Grand Prince.
On the other hand, Ian Grand Prince took notice of and grew fond of his junior Seong Hui-ju's fighting spirit and determination during their school days, believing that it was better to win dirty than to lose dirty. Even when the two met again at the palace many years later, and when Hui-ju proposed the contract marriage, Ian Grand Prince showed an intrigued smile.
His curiosity and interest in Seong Hui-ju gradually turned into affection. Hui-ju's words and actions, which first recognized and comforted his wounds that he could tell no one about and gave him the courage to fight against the world, lit a fire deep within Ian Grand Prince's heart.
Through the wedding ceremony, Seong Hui-ju became for Ian Grand Prince the only companion in the palace who would be on his side, as well as family to protect. Interest is focused on whether Ian Grand Prince can protect Seong Hui-ju from the world's attacks to the very end.
Seong Hui-ju and Ian Grand Prince met through a contract marriage, but as they come to care for each other sincerely, the way they look at one another is also changing. Amid a new crisis facing the two, who have become companions to overcome the harsh wall of reality together and precious family to protect, curiosity grows over what kind of future they will shape.
Reporter Ji Dong-hyeon [email protected]
This article was translated and republished by KOTourLive from 스포츠월드. Copyright of the original belongs to the publisher. View original
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