Will a new weekend home theater queen be born? While Park Shin-hye currently dominates the scene, Kim Tae-ri and Kim So-yeon are also stepping into the ring for the weekend home theater battle. The three leading actresses are expected to engage in a fierce competition for the title of “weekend queen.”
Park Shin-hye, who has captivated viewers with The Judge from Hell, is solidifying her position as the reigning “weekend queen.”
Continuing to draw attention, Park Shin-hye stars in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama The Judge from Hell, which premiered on September 21. This action fantasy series explores the coexistence of good and evil, featuring a devil named Kang Bit-na (Park Shin-hye) who enters the body of a judge. In this hellish reality, she meets the humane and passionate detective Han Da-on (Kim Jae-young) and is reborn as a true judge by punishing criminals.
As Kang Bit-na, Park Shin-hye portrays the thrilling process of delivering justice, delivering the captivating line to the villain, “Now the real trial will begin!” followed by “To hell!” after the trial concludes. Her blend of charming yet creepy reversal acting, along with her action scenes, has kept viewers glued to their screens. The sixth episode, which aired on the 5th, recorded a viewership rating of 13.1% (based on Nielsen Korea nationwide), further cementing her status as the “weekend queen.”
With Park Shin-hye’s success, it’s fair to say that weekends, particularly Saturday afternoons, have become “Park Shin-hye-watching time.” She competed with Jung So-min in the tvN weekend drama Love Next Door, which overlaps with part of the Saturday 10 PM broadcast, but she has now taken the lead. In KBS 2TV’s weekend drama Iron Family, which aired at 8 PM, Geum Sae-rok didn’t make as strong an impression, allowing the “weekend queen” title to go to Park Shin-hye.
Meanwhile, Kim Tae-ri and Kim So-yeon are aiming to claim the title of the new “weekend queen,” both making their appearances on the 12th.
First, Kim Tae-ri will be featured in the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama Jeongnyeon, premiering at 9:20 PM on the 12th. The drama depicts the competition, solidarity, and growth of Yoon Jeong-nyeon (Kim Tae-ri), a “natural voice genius” aspiring to become the best national theater actress in the post-Korean War 1950s. Kim Tae-ri is set to showcase her acting prowess once again, drawing interest in whether she can replicate her past successes in Mr. Sunshine (2018) and Twenty-Five, Twenty-One (2022). Last July, she impressed audiences with her chilling performance in the SBS drama Revenant.
Kim Tae-ri’s portrayal of Jeong-nyeon promises a unique transformation, as it’s rare for a national theater actor to play an actor. Known for her singing and acting abilities, viewers can look forward to an engaging experience. Notably, she practiced singing for about three years to prepare for this role, and her journey toward becoming a national theater actress is expected to add to the drama’s appeal. Additionally, it’s anticipated to resonate with viewers looking for something different from traditional romance.
Kim So-yeon will also be returning to TV screens this weekend in JTBC’s new weekend drama A Virtuous Business. This marks her comeback after a year and four months since her role in the tvN drama Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938, which concluded in June of last year.
A Virtuous Business, starring Kim So-yeon, is a groundbreaking drama that explores the independence, growth, and friendship of the “Sisters of the Door,” who venture into door-to-door sales of adult products in a rural village in 1992, a time when discussing sex was taboo. The series will premiere at 10:30 PM on the 12th.
In the drama, Kim So-yeon plays Han Jeong-sook, a character who has led a cautious life but ends up selling provocative adult products. Her transformation into a character who embodies virtue yet embraces a more liberated side is particularly intriguing. Set in an era where “female sexuality” is heavily restricted, the story promises comedic elements as the characters seek independence and growth. Kim So-yeon, known for her memorable role as a villain in the Penthouse series, will shed that strong image for this new role, raising anticipation for her transformation in A Virtuous Business.
With A Virtuous Business, expectations are high for Kim So-yeon’s charm to shine as she makes her mark on the small screen. As she embraces a character that is both virtuous and daring, viewers are eager to see what kind of sensation she will create.
Kim Tae-ri in Jeongnyeon and Kim So-yeon in A Virtuous Business have both established themselves as “box office queens” through various successful dramas. As they continue to build their reputations as trusted actresses, all eyes are on whether one of them will dethrone Park Shin-hye as the new “weekend queen.” Additionally, there is keen interest in whether Park Shin-hye will maintain her reign.
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