New MBC Drama Hits Historic Low Ratings in Primetime Slot Just Two Episodes In
MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama “Crushology 101” is off to a rough start, recording under 1% viewership just two episodes in—marking one of the lowest ratings in the network’s weekend primetime history, but why did this happen?
Premiered on April 11, “Crushology 101” follows Ban Heejin, also known as Bunny (played by Roh Jeong Eui), as she deals with the scars of a failed first love and suddenly finds herself caught up with several charming new men. The series stars up-and-coming actors including Jo Joon Young, Lee Chae Min, Kim Hyun Jin, and Hong Min Ki.
Although the cast lacks major star power, “Crushology 101” was considered a promising title before its debut. It’s based on a Kakao webtoon with over 170 million cumulative views and unfolds on a lively university campus—an ideal setting for a spring drama. The previous show in its timeslot, “Undercover High School,” peaked at an impressive 8.3% viewership, leading to hopes that “Crushology 101” would follow suit.
However, things took a turn when episode one recorded a 1.3% rating and episode two dropped further to 0.9%. That’s even lower than the previous MBC record low of 1.3% for episode 15 of “Kokdu: Season of Deity.”
The biggest issue? Critics believe the story doesn’t seem to appeal to MBC’s core audience, primarily middle-aged and older viewers. The early episodes center around Bunny’s emotional breakup and her encounters with a trio of attractive men, but the narrative has been criticized for lacking depth and relatability.
Culture critic Kim Sung Soo explained, “Terrestrial TV audiences are typically 40 and up, with those in their 50s most likely to watch live. MBC’s past success came from dramas that included social themes or points of empathy for older generations—even if they were set in schools. ‘Crushology 101’ hasn’t shown that kind of substance so far.”
Critic Jung Deok Hyun added, “The heavy focus on physical appearance in the story creates a disconnect. The premise—that Bunny is dumped by an average-looking ex and then meets only handsome men—feels outdated. It doesn’t quite match today’s sensitivities.” He also pointed out the challenge of having a cast mostly made up of new faces, saying, “Roh Jeong Eui does well as the lead, but with few recognizable names, it’s hard to draw viewers in.”
Timing didn’t help either. “Crushology 101” aired its first episodes during the same week as the finales of SBS’s “Buried Hearts” and JTBC’s “The Art of Negotiation”, which ended with strong ratings of 15.4% and 10.3% respectively, making it difficult for the new drama to stand out.
Still, with many episodes left to go, critics say there’s room for a turnaround. Jung noted, “With youth romance dramas, audiences want sweet love stories—but also something more meaningful. To build momentum, future episodes will need to deliver on that emotional depth.”
Have you seen ‘Crushology 101’ yet?
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