The Judge From Hell Debuts with Impressive Ratings as "Black Out" Reaches New All-Time High

As we bid adieu to MBN’s “Bad Memory Eraser,” it appears that viewers have decided to give it a farewell wave with a slight uptick in ratings—a modest 0.5 percent feels almost like being gently patted on the back after a long, awkward handshake. It’s the kind of ending that leaves you pondering: did anyone actually remember to pay attention in the first place?

Meanwhile, over at tvN, “Love Next Door” strutted into the limelight, basking in a ratings glow of 6.0 percent that felt not so much like a rise but rather like a delightful climax to an episode packed with charm and just a sprinkle of soap-opera-worthy drama. It was the television equivalent of a well-timed kiss on the cheek that leaves you feeling both flustered and grateful.

Then comes TV Chosun’s “DNA Lover,” hanging on with a steadfast 0.6 percent, like that friend who insists on wearing a particular sweater even though it’s two sizes too small. Meanwhile, Channel A’s “Cinderella at 2AM” has decided to keep its average snug at 0.3 percent, presumably awaiting its grand finale with as much anticipation as the rest of us have for a good hair day.

In a peculiar twist of fate, Nielsen Korea reported that “The Judge from Hell” trialed its viewers with two episodes back-to-back, resulting in a riveting attraction—6.8 percent for the first and a jaw-dropping 9.3 percent for the second, as if viewers were helplessly pulled into a vortex of courtroom drama and compelling dialogue that not even the most seasoned binge-watcher could resist.

On a Saturday that demanded our undivided attention, “Romantic”—with just one episode left—was hailed as the reigning queen with an impressive 19.8 percent. It seems as though audiences turned out not merely to watch, but to adore, hoping for a fairy-tale resolution that lived up to the dazzling expectations raised over the season.

The intrigue thickened with the latest episode of a mystery thriller, which shot up to an exhilarating 8.7 percent, shattering its own personal record. One might even wonder if the thrill was so contagious that viewers couldn't resist sharing it with their neighbors—who may have been listening from the safety of their living rooms.

Our hearts await the next series premiere like kids on Christmas Eve, as the drama starring Park Shin Hye and Kim Jae Young graced the screen. KBS 2TV’s long-running drama “Beauty and Mr.” continues to reel us in, making us reflect on our own love lives, with all their messiness and electric moments of clarity. It's as if Ogden Nash and Shakespeare decided to collaborate on a rom-com, leaving just enough crumbs of realism for us to nibble on.

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