The Heirs: Goodbye California, Hello Better Ratings

[soramai.livejournal.com]

Ratings for "The Heirs" started to improve as soon as the show left sunny Los Angeles behind. The opening episodes, which some fans felt featured stereotypical views of Americans and some bad acting from those playing the American roles, may have temporarily put a damper on the show's ratings. Despite the heated anticipation for the show's arrival and the star cast, the first episodes came in second place after the melodrama "Secrets."

While the scenery was gorgeous, focusing on long stretches of the Pacific Ocean and the luxurious lifestyles of the rich, some of the show's fans did not appreciate the show's interpretation of local culture.

Netizens made comments such as "I found the show entertaining and great, but I just don't like how they portray Americans. They made it look like once you come to U.S. you become corrupted."
"Another netizen said, "As an American I have to ask where did they find those actors."
One netizen wrote that she lived in California for 10 years and never saw local culture behave that badly.
So much for kdrama's debut at filming in California.

However, now that the show is headed back to Korea, the ratings are inching up.
The fourth episode achieved 11.5 percent in the Nielsen ratings, still trailing after "Secrets," which earned 15.3 percent in the ratings but stealing some percentage from "Medical Top Team" which remained in third place with ratings of 6.1 percent.

As "The Heirs" headed to Seoul, the drama also became more interesting as it sketched out the relationships between all the characters and placed them back in their proper setting. Maybe that's the message the first episodes wanted to convey. It's easier to forget about social and economic differences when you are somewhere else. But back in your hometown everyone knows who you are and where they think you belong.

However badly the U.S came off in the first episodes, the third episode almost made up for it with some funny lines.
When Lee Min Ho asks Park Shin Hye if he should like her. She says, no. When he asks why, she says because he's engaged. Such relationships only work in movies. He points out that they are in Hollywood after all.
Her character's love of horror movies is also amusing and results in some great lines. When their car breaks down and Lee Min Ho is about to go off for help, she reminds him that the one who stays behind in the horror movies always dies and she has to survive for the sequel.

Fortunately, fans will stick around for subsequent episodes to see how things develop in Korea and enjoy a few more funny lines.



source: kdramastars.com

Comments

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

The ratings are okay, this is a young demo drama and those guys usually watch online. But given the cast I guess the ratings should be higher. It'll depend half way through, if the ratings are still on this level by ep 10 then that's not good. Though I imagine they're banking on it being a Hallyu hit too.

[porcupinegloves.livejournal.com]

i'm enjoying heirs for the pretty and because there's a lot of interesting characters but i feel like this drama is only going to start for real this week with everyone back from america and back to school

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

THIS

[bubblyshades.livejournal.com]

Same. Will be interesting to see how everyone and all the stories come together.

[bumie.livejournal.com]

the story is moving too slow for me I think what happened in 4 episodes could be done in 2 , I hope this week things will heat up.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

yeah the scenes in LA were pretty but boring, much like the two leads themselves...

[ohcrepe.livejournal.com]

Agreed on the pretty but boring two leads. Lee Minho brought it but Park Shinhye... there's something so uninspiring about her acting. She can act and deliver what is expected. She doesn't deliver remarkably, she just delivers. I wish she'd push herself more.

[couturevibes.livejournal.com]

She doesn't deliver remarkably, she just delivers. I wish she'd push herself more.

This truth!!

[initialc.livejournal.com]

The L.A./SoCal scenes were fine. Some acting was cringe-worthy, but not enough to really bitch about. The first 4 eps are always going to be sort of slow and establish the plots.

I do have a feeling that they are going to try to extend the show past the 20 eps... which is going to be annoying, but if they can throw more sassy as fuck Young Do, I AM IN.

[beanii.livejournal.com]

Lol, that part made me legit crack up.

[pentrue.livejournal.com]

this scene was everything to me. bless him

[martha-sal.livejournal.com]

"As an American I have to ask where did they find those actors."

Seriously, it was like they chose the most random actors and then told them to behave like the most stereotypical version of Americans. I feel like things are going to get much better once they start high school though!

[pentrue.livejournal.com]

ngl, i had rage every time the blond guy came on screen. i've never such such bad acting before!

[elementree.livejournal.com]

so true. ugh, i hope he never shows his face in this drama again.

[ayumikoshiro.livejournal.com]

I didn't think the American acting was that bad. His American BFF was a little cringe-worthy but he was only around for a little bit.

I'm finding them doing HS Seniors decently. They look just as old as regular TV High Schoolers so...

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy. I was cringe watching and was stalling to watch 3.
I started, marry him if you dare WHICH I LOVE

[yukahoo.livejournal.com]

Pretty much. Except I gave up after ep 1. Am now watching Marry him if you dare / Mirae's choice. Idk, I just really love YEH. Always have.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

She's great and getting so good. I actually really like everyone in this drama.

[beanii.livejournal.com]

I read a blog post about the Korean drama theory of 4, and after reflecting and seeing this post I wonder why I never noticed before.
You never really know a Korean drama till after the first 4 episodes, after those 4 are done then sometimes it's like it's a completely different drama.

[initialc.livejournal.com]

I think a lot has to do with the trend in overlapping dramas. Put the fluff in the beginning while the others end.

[pentrue.livejournal.com]

If I have to watch another scene with LMH and PSH staring at each other endlessly for hours on end, I'll gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon.

KWB as Young Do remains flawless. His scenes give me life.

[elementree.livejournal.com]

i'm still on the fence with this drama... i agree that the first episodes were like a stereotyping party. playing into that surfer california vibe. it was almost like "the californians" on SNL except not funny.

i'm legit excited for the school time episodes and KWB x PSH character line.

of course this whole drama is pretty cliche so we all know what will happen anyways, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT.

I feel like PSH acts all her characters the same. i feel like i'm watching you're beautiful and flower boy next door all over again. she doesn't bring anything new to any of her characters.

lmao so glad KWB replaced yonghwa for young do. yonghwa would not be able to pull that character off.

[kicking-tenshi.livejournal.com]

IA, KWB is killing his role as the snarky bad guy. Yonghwa's not a bad actor per se, but I feel like he's a lot better as the nice guy. Plus KWB's got a more similar height and build to LMH which helps when visualizing the rivalry.

[goldenrosalie.livejournal.com]

damn Medical Top Team ratings are shitty. I actually like this drama the most and so far every ep was enjoyable and i actually look forward to see what happens next.

[exo-cath.livejournal.com]

I'm watching The Heirs, Secret and Medical Top Team rn. I enjoy all 3 of them but for now I like Secret the best

[kaila-09.livejournal.com]

okay.. so where can I download soft subs for this drama? I hope I won't stop halfway because I am enjoying some characters already