by Hazel Jung, August 4, 2023
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Starting with a modest rating of 1.3%, Not Others has skyrocketed to 3.6% as of its sixth episode, achieving its highest viewership rating and claiming the top spot among terrestrial and cable dramas aired on Mondays and Tuesdays. The drama's intriguing storyline and the captivating flow of events have drawn significant attention. Let's delve into the reasons behind the soaring viewership ratings of Not Others (based on nationwide Nielsen Korea data).

Maximizing Empathy with an Immersive Mother-Daughter Story

Not Others revolves around the tumultuous life of Eun Mi (played by Jeon Hye Jin), a tough and straightforward mother, and her cool daughter Jin Hee (played by Choi Soo Young). While they bicker and clash like fire and water when together, the deep-rooted familial love hidden in their hearts warms the viewers' hearts.

Especially in the sixth episode broadcasted on the 1st of this month, the heart-wrenching past of Eun Mi and Jin Hee touched the audience deeply, challenging the narrow-minded prejudices about "typical families." Viewers empathized with the pain of Eun Mi and Jin Hee, commenting on how one must be cautious with their words in front of their children and how the weak have suffered due to malicious individuals.
Heart-Fluttering Relationships: Jeon Hye Jin and Ahn Jae Wook & Choi Soo Young and Park Sung Hoon

Eun Mi reunited with Jin Hong (played by Ahn Jae Wook), her first love and Jin Hee's biological father, after 29 years by chance. Despite harboring deep resentment, Eun Mi couldn't help shedding tears when Jin Hong expressed his desire to remain friends. The chemistry between Eun Mi's forthright and lively personality and Jin Hong's timid and awkward nature brings laughter and excitement. The borderline between a possible romance and mere friendship adds to the curiosity about whether they can break the conventional notion that "first love never works out."

As for Jin Hee, she encountered her former senior officer Jae Won (played by Park Sung Hoon) at the demoted police station. From their first meeting, where they clashed due to Jin Hee's embarrassing mistake, they kept bumping into each other amid various incidents. In the sixth episode, Jae Won witnessed Jin Hee with her male friend, which made him show a subtly jealous expression, igniting excitement. The day when Jin Hee and Jae Won will display the classic elements of romance is not far away.

Intriguing Mysteries: Various Incidents Keep the Audience on Edge

From the early stages, Not Others has been unfolding a series of incidents, such as child abuse, domestic violence, and stalking, immersing the audience in the narrative. The tightly woven storylines lead to Eun Mi, Jin Hee, and Jae Won, who work as a perfect team to solve the cases. Viewers felt a sense of satisfaction seeing them take revenge on the culprits in their unique ways.

However, one unsolved case remains—the mysterious man following Eun Mi all this time. The hidden clues throughout the story have kept the viewers guessing and speculating, adding to the excitement. The charm of deducing and enjoying the mystery while staying engaged with the intriguing developments makes Not Others even more special. The unanswered mystery in Not Others has fans eagerly awaiting its resolution.

The rising popularity of Not Others is no fluke but well-founded. As it reaches a turning point, with romance and mystery becoming more compelling, the seventh episode, set to be released on August 7th at 10 PM on Genie TV, Genie TV Mobile, ENA Channel, and Tving, promises even greater excitement.

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