K-Drama 'Twelve' Stumbles in Ratings as Ma Dong Seok's Act Fails to Impress

"Twelve" starring Ma Dong-seok saw a significant ratings drop in its second episode.
The drama faces harsh criticism for its story and repetitive action sequences.
Its failure contrasts with the success of its competitor, "The Tyrant's Chef."

The world of K-dramas always keeps viewers on their toes, and this week's lineup is no exception, offering a fascinating case study in audience preferences. One of the most anticipated shows was undoubtedly KBS 2TV's "Twelve," headlined by the ever-popular Ma Dong-seok.

The project promised a grand fantasy-action spectacle and was positioned as a major event for the network. However, in a surprising turn, the sheer presence of a star of Ma Dong-seok's caliber wasn't enough to guarantee success. The drama has stumbled out of the gate, receiving notably low viewership ratings that have sent shockwaves through the industry.

This outcome is thrown into sharp relief when compared to its direct competitor. The two shows faced off in a fiercely contested time slot, with KBS even creating a new weekend 9 PM block to challenge tvN's long-held dominance. tvN, confident in its offering, moved its schedule up by 10 minutes, igniting a proper ratings war.

The result? A clear split. tvN's "The Tyrant's Chef" soared from 4.8% (nationwide) in episode 1 to 6.6% in episode 2. Meanwhile, "Twelve" plummeted from a seemingly strong start of 8.1% down to 5.9% in its second episode. This stark contrast after just two episodes has everyone talking.

The reason for the divergence seems to lie in execution and audience reception. Those who watched both dramas reacted far more favorably to "The Tyrant's Chef," with many agreeing it was the most compelling watch. The performance of its main characters is being highly praised.

"Lee Chae-min (25), who was brought in as an emergency guest after Park Sung-hoon's departure, didn't have much time to prepare, but he was effortless. He flew through the air as if he were wearing his own clothes. Lee Chae-min (Lee Heon) expressed his emotions with different textures at each moment, and his detailed facial expressions in the food tasting scenes maximized the immersion," the reviews noted.

His portrayal of a monarch's complex emotions is being hailed as a key factor in making the narrative so compelling.

In contrast, Ma Dong-seok's performance in "Twelve" is being criticized for its predictability. Critics and viewers suggest that his character feels like a retread of his famous past roles.

"His performance remained the same as the one we'd seen in the movie 'The Outlaws' through its fourth season. The only changes were his larger body and leopard print costume, and the image of him slaying a group of villains with that body is now a cliche," one critique stated.

It added, "Although he himself said at the production press conference that he 'tried to differentiate with the setting,' if only the channel had been switched to OCN, it would have been a rerun of 'The Outlaws'."

This sentiment highlights the immense pressure on Ma Dong-seok, who is also credited as a producer and screenwriter for "Twelve."

From High Hopes to Harsh Criticism

The disappointment has translated into a wave of harsh criticism from Korean netizens, who have not held back their opinions. The drama's grand premise, centering on the revival of 12 angels battling the evil forces of the Five Demons, was let down by what viewers are calling awkward and shabby CGI and a flawed story.

The online community has been merciless, with comments like, "It's like a children's drama," "The empty cart made a lot of noise," "It's like watching Shim Hyung-rae's 'Thunderbolt' all over again," and "Are you really an action master? The action is so clumsy."

This direct feedback has clearly impacted the ratings, with the second episode's significant drop indicating that viewers are already tuning out.

This failure is a significant blow to KBS, which ambitiously took a bold step by scheduling "Twelve" and even shifting the broadcast times of its relatively strong variety show "Men Who Do Housework" to make room for it. The network's dramas have been struggling to escape a prolonged slump, with most failing to achieve even single-digit viewership ratings.

The situation is so dire that concerns are now rising for actress Lee Young-ae, who is set to make her KBS drama comeback after 26 years in the upcoming "Good Day for Eun-soo." While her return is a major topic of conversation, some industry insiders are questioning whether the drama's subject matter, a dangerous partnership over a bag of drugs, will resonate with KBS's core audience of viewers in their 50s and 60s.

A broadcasting official analyzed the deeper issue, stating, "KBS dramas are failing to adapt to changing viewership patterns. While OTT platforms like Netflix and Tving are churning out experimental yet popular works, KBS, while claiming to be trying new things, is ultimately compromising between 'unfamiliar genres' and 'familiar production methods'."

This suggests that the network can no longer rely solely on star power like Ma Dong-seok or Lee Young-ae. In today's competitive landscape, terrestrial dramas desperately need original, well-executed content that truly understands and attracts modern audiences to survive. The fate of "Twelve" serves as a stark reminder of that reality.

Source: Naver, news.nate.com, Nielsen Korea