SBS new drama “Backstreet Rookie” has finally aired its first episode and it’s a solid start!
“Backstreet Rookie” is based on a popular webtoon, it is a rom-com that’s about the love story between a convenience store owner (played by Ji Chang Wook) and a fierce unpredictable part-time employee (played by Kim Yoo Jung).
According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode scored an average nationwide rating of 4.8% and 6.3%, which is slightly lower than its predecessor’s finale (“The King: Eternal Monarch”) which scored an average of 5.8% and 8.1%. If you want to read “Backstreet Rookie” review of its first episode, click here.
Reactions to the drama have been mixed, netizens had issues with the female lead outfits and the drama shooting angles plus the problematic kiss scene between Ji Chang Wook and Kim Yoo Jung.
Have you seen the first episode of “Backstreet Rookie” yet? What do you think of “Backstreet Rookie” ratings?
My Personal Thoughts
I’ve reviewed the first episode, read about it here. But in short, I thought it was confusing, there was the very problematic kiss scene between the leads which I believe was wrong to be reenacted that way… but if you guys don’t know, the source material (the webtoon) was considered very problematic in South Korea for its content.
The thing is, I feel kinda cheated with “Backstreet Rookie,” the trailers and video teasers made it sound so cute and romantic but we got something that threw me off completely. I thought since they will adapt it into a drama, they would tone down a couple of things or change it up a bit so I was shocked to see more sexual content than advertised.
I don’t have a problem with 18+ rating but it was a weird marketing choice on their behalf trying to show only the cute side to shock us later, idk who thought of that idea.
However, I loved each actor in their roles and I think they did well. I love Wookie’s chemistry with the two female leads and this time, it looks like he is feeling a lot more comfortable with the rom-com genre.
I am curious to see how the drama will turn out, I don’t know if the ratings will get better or worse, its too early to tell but its going to be interesting to see how netizens react to this drama.
