KBS2’s Wednesday-Thursday drama 'The First Night with the Duke' is on a ratings upswing, recently topping its time slot among all terrestrial broadcasters in South Korea.
According to Nielsen Korea on June 27, the 6th episode that aired on June 26 recorded a nationwide average rating of 3.3%, with the Seoul metropolitan area hitting 3.4%. This marks a 0.7 percentage point increase from the previous episode (2.6%), and also sets a new high in the Seoul region.
It also took the No. 1 spot among other network shows airing at the same 10 PM slot. KBS1’s 'Docu Insight' came in at 3.0%, MBC’s 'Where is My Home' at 2.2%, and SBS’s 'A Story about the Day' at 3.0%, making 'The First Night with the Duke' the undisputed leader.
The latest episode drew viewers in with a gripping storyline. Lee Beon (played by Ok Taecyeon) rescued Cha Sun Chaek (Seohyun) from danger, further raising tension as the conspiracy surrounding her began to unravel. Lee Beon personally pursued the cause of Chasunchaek’s sudden plague-like symptoms, eventually discovering a clue that linked a suspicious servant to the villainess Do Hwa Seon (Ji Hye Won)’s powerful father, Minister Do Bae Myung (Jung Hee Tae).
Lee Beon cleverly approached Do Hwa Seon, saved her from a falling water barrel, and entered her home, where he found a bottle identical to the one the servant had. When asked about the unique symbol on the bottle, Do Hwa Seon boasted that such items were only found in her house, unknowingly revealing key evidence.
Meanwhile, Cha Sun Chaek took on a selection challenge requiring her to increase the value of 10 nyang (coins). Drawing on knowledge from her university days, she rented barren farmland and stocked it with predator-prey fish (catfish and loaches), whose stimulated survival instincts led to profitable breeding. Her success earned her a spot in the next round.
However, her joy was short-lived. A maid reported seeing Lee Beon enter Dohwaseon’s home with her arm-in-arm, triggering Cha Sun Chaek’s jealousy. She sought Lee Byeon the next day but was told he was out.
Unable to confront him, Chasunchaek moved on to the final selection round, competing against Jo Eun Ae (Kwon Han Sol) and Dohwaseon. During this tense process, Dohwaseon falsely accused Chasunchaek of having an improper relationship with the servant, claiming she was unfit for selection.
At the climax, Lee Beon appeared and turned the tables. He brought the servant before the Queen Mother and demonstrated that the liquid inside the suspicious bottle was toxic, as it killed a plant. He then tore the servant’s clothing to reveal the same emblem found in Dohwaseon’s house, presenting decisive evidence. Thanks to his quick thinking, the selection process was halted, and Cha Sun Chaek’s name was cleared.
The episode closed with a shocking twist: Cha Sun Chaek was pushed into a pond while scenes of a real-world college student K sleeping were intercut. As an alert for a new chapter of the web novel 'The Tyrant’s Obsessive Crush' popped up on K’s phone, viewers were left wondering about K’s status now that her soul has entered Cha Sun Chaek’s body.
The emotional highlight of the episode was Lee Byeon recalling their passionate first night, one that Cha Sun Chaek no longer remembers. “Even if you wake up and don’t remember tonight,” he said, “I’ll make you fall for me again and again. I’ll give you all of me, even the very last of me.” The flashback featured a shirtless Ok Taecyeon and an intense kissing and bed scene with Seohyun, catching viewers’ attention.
Netizens also reacted positively online. They commented: “Huge ratings!”, “Let’s keep the numbers climbing!”, “It’s so fun, can’t wait for the next episode,” and “Taecyeon is truly an all-rounder. His chemistry with Seohyun is incredible.”
At the production press conference on June 11, Seohyun shared, “I was already a fan of the original work, so when I got the offer, it felt like destiny.” She added that her prior experience working with Taecyeon as fellow idols made their on-screen chemistry stronger. Taecyeon echoed this sentiment, saying, “I’ve worked with Seohyun since we were young, so we had a natural bond. I agreed to the role even before reading the script because I trusted her.”
In an interview with Esquire, the two actors also discussed their iconic first night scene. Seohyun recalled, “Given the title, we knew this scene would be unforgettable. Everyone was fully prepared.” Taecyeon added, “Our cinematographer joked we looked like we were dancing since we’re both idols. But I think we pulled it off beautifully and romantically.”
Episode 7 of 'The First Night with the Duke,' now buoyed by strong ratings and rising momentum, will air July 2 at 9:50 PM KST on KBS2.
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