Spellbound hits 5% viewership rating in just 4 episodes

tvN's weekend drama 'Spellbound' is signaling the birth of a new hit, showing a fierce upward trend since its premiere. With a viewership rating curve that has never dipped since the first episode, the series is capturing audiences by simultaneously securing high topicality and strong global performance.

In particular, the series—based on the film of the same name that drew 3 million viewers—is being praised for building a new worldview and characters that go beyond a simple remake. This has successfully attracted both fans of the original film and new viewers.

- From 3% in the first episode to 5.8% in episode 4... a rapid rise

The surge in viewership rating is most notable.

According to Nielsen Korea, episode 4 of tvN's 'Spellbound,' which aired on the 26th, recorded an average viewership rating of 5.8% and a peak of 6.5% among paid platform households nationwide. In the metropolitan area, it recorded an average of 5.7% and a peak of 6.3%, breaking its own previous records.

This represents a 1.4 percentage point increase from the 4.4% national average recorded during the third episode.

After starting with a national average of 3.0% in its premiere, the series jumped to 5.3% in the second episode. It has continued to rise through the third and fourth episodes, maintaining its position as the number one program in its time slot among cable and general programming channels for four consecutive episodes.

Notably, in the 2049 demographic (males and females aged 20–49), which is a key target for tvN, the drama took the top spot among all channels in its time slot, including terrestrial broadcasters, successfully securing a younger audience.

A chaebol heiress who sees ghosts and a prosecutor terrified of ghosts... intense premise from the start

The greatest charm of 'Spellbound' lies in the ironic combination of its two contrasting leads.

The drama depicts an occult romance where Cheon Yeo-ri (Park Eun-bin), a hotel heiress with the ability to see ghosts, and Ma Gang-uk (Yang Se-jong), a prosecutor who loathes ghosts, work together to solve mysterious cases.

Yeo-ri began seeing ghosts following a yacht accident in her childhood. Because of her unique ability—where not only she but also anyone she makes physical contact with can see ghosts—she has lived a life of isolation, keeping her distance from others.

While she appears to be a chaebol successor who has everything, she is actually more lonely and wounded than anyone else.

On the other hand, Gang-uk is a prosecutor with outstanding investigative skills, but he possesses the unique weakness of being paralyzed with fear whenever he encounters a ghost. His character offers a dual charm, shifting between a cold legal professional and a terrified, human side.

The process of the two characters filling each other's voids expands the story beyond simple romance into a narrative of healing for wounded souls.

- A different path from the original film... reborn as 'Supernatural + Investigative Drama'

'Spellbound' is based on the 2011 film 'Spellbound,' which attracted approximately 3 million viewers. At the time, the film was widely loved for the chemistry between Son Ye Jin and Lee Min-ki and its blend of romantic comedy and horror.

However, the drama version takes only the core settings of the original and opts for a much more expanded narrative.

While the film was a relationship-centered story about "a man with a phobia of ghosts falling in love with a woman who sees ghosts," the drama adds a procedural structure that combines investigative authority with supernatural abilities.

By meshing the unrealistic element of ghosts with the prosecutor's investigation, the series adds the tension of an occult thriller.

- Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong, great performances spanning genres

The acting chemistry between the leads is also cited as a key factor for its success.

Through the role of Cheon Yeo-ri, Park Eun-bin is delicately portraying a character with a cold, closed exterior and a warm interior. She is being praised for stably navigating the complex emotions of a character who avoids people due to past trauma but longs for affection more than anyone.

Yang Se-jong is also balancing the drama by seamlessly moving between the charisma of a prosecutor and the comical vulnerability he shows when facing ghosts.

As the two actors' serious emotional depth and comedic chemistry mesh, the unique romantic occult atmosphere of the work is being fully realized.

- Global response rising... 2nd in the world on Netflix

The response is significant not only in Korea but also overseas.

'Spellbound' has climbed to the top of the FUNdex TV drama topicality rankings and is making a strong presence on global OTT platforms. According to FlixPatrol, it reached number 2 in the global Netflix TV show rankings and recorded top positions in several countries, including Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Honduras.

Analysts suggest that the combination of K-drama romance and the occult genre is being received as a fresh concept by international viewers.

- Attention on the potential to surpass the original film

Despite being in its early stages, 'Spellbound' has already established a clear upward trajectory through its fourth episode. As the plot begins to entwine Yeo-ri's past accident, the secrets of Kang Min-hwan's (Ong Seong-wu) family, and the Kang Ji-hwan case, expectations for the latter half of the series are mounting.

Attention is now focused on whether this genre-bending blend of romance, horror, and investigation can surpass the legacy of the original film and write a new history for the series.