From Near-Cancellation to Comeback? This Korean Show Just Rebounded in Ratings

KBS2’s Wednesday-Thursday drama Villains Everywhere has bounced back slightly in its 4th week after struggling with low viewership.

After recording a series-low 1.3% on April 3 (Nielsen Korea), the drama climbed to 1.5% and 1.6% on April 9 and 10, respectively—marking two days of gains and a sign of possible recovery.

Villains Everywhere is a sitcom centered around ‘K-Zooma’ sisters, featuring actors Oh Na-ra, So Yoo-jin, Park Young-gyu, Seo Hyun-chul, Song Jin-woo, Park Tam-hee, Choi Ye-na, Han Sung-min, and others. A comedic sequel to Kick Kick Kick Kick, the show uses exaggerated humor and chaotic situations.

Despite KBS’s rare attempt at reviving the sitcom genre, the show faced viewer indifference, with ratings consistently hovering around the 1% range. After a brief jump to 2.3% in its second week, it dropped back to 1.3% before rebounding again in the latest episodes.

In Episode 16, Park Young-gyu’s character loses his memory and gets kidnapped by his ex-wife. Episode 15 saw him getting caught in a voice phishing scam while planning a honeymoon event.

Meanwhile, Park Tam-hee’s character suspects her husband due to odd messages and ends up alone at a guesthouse. A fight ends with Park’s character falling into the sea and losing his memory.

He begins to believe he’s still dating his ex-wife, who exploits the situation with fake family photos. Another subplot features a scammer using AI voice cloning to impersonate Park’s character and threaten his family.

In a comedic twist, a memory-triggering moment involving loach soup helps him recover. He tries to escape but is recaptured, leading to a light-hearted chase.

Later, he flees to the sisters’ home, revealing the kidnapping to his shocked family. Emotions escalate when the ex-wife reappears, and Park Tam-hee’s character explodes in anger.

That same day, Seo Hyun-chul and Song Jin-woo plan a 25th-anniversary party for Oh Na-ra’s character, but chaos ensues. Ultimately, Park Tam-hee suggests a symbolic “divorce ceremony” between the ex-spouses.

In a heartfelt scene, Oh Na-ra confesses, “I love you. Thank you for growing old with me. Let’s stay happy together for a long time,” leaving viewers touched.

With only two weeks left until the finale on April 24, all eyes are on whether the sitcom can rise above its 1% rating and end on a high note.

Get the latest on K-pop & K-drama here!