Reality survival show captures viewers
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Actors Cha Seung-won, left, and Yoo Hae-jin prepare a meal on the reality survival show “Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 2” that aired on Oct. 9. / Courtesy of CJ E&M
Produer Na Young-seok / Courtesy of CJ E&M
By Kim Jae-heun
The cable channel tvN’s reality survival show “Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 2” topped the viewership rating in all television platforms including satellite, terrestrial, and cable channel on its premiere on Oct. 9.
The spinoff’s second series recorded an average viewer rating of 13.9 percent and a high of 16.8 percent for its first episode, according to Nielson Korea. The viewership record is the highest among all previous seasons and spinoff episodes.
The same as season one, the second of “Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village” is set on the remote island of Manje, where primary cast Cha Seung-won and Yoo Hae-jin met new member Park Hyung-sik of boy band ZE:A.
The first episode grabbed audience attention from the beginning as Cha and Yoo had to travel soaked in a rainstorm on a ferry for six hours from the mainland.
The show depicted a natural atmosphere when they put up a tent and made a fire to prepare dinner based on local ingredients. The two, who are both veteran actors in age of 45, shared each other’s life story on the porch outside of a room.
Cha and Yoo were happy to be back at a house where they spent three days a week during last season. They also found new 10 quails and a bicycle added.
Cha’s cooking skill that impressed the audience last season did not disappoint his fans this time. He made “mulhoe,” or cold raw fish soup, for the new member Park, which surprised everyone including the production crew.
Star producer Na Young-seok first revealed the spinoff of the successful reality survival show in a fishing village in January. The spinoff went popular along with its original version of “Three Meals a Day” in Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province, which shows the slow life in rural area where cast members have to grow their own food to cook with.
Na did not feature any fanciful or delicious food in his show. Instead, he sought sincerity and efforts that are put into cooking.
“I wanted to work on a lighthearted show that can highlight the small pleasures of life. I wanted to talk about a meal that is made with vegetables from my garden and have these two guys share their homely foods with their friends,” said Na during the press conference in Sangam-dong, Seoul, on Oct. 7.
The star producer’s philosophy did not miss out in his new series too.
“There was no place like Manjedo (island),” Na said. “Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 2 is not different from season one. We depicted the story of typical life at a place where nothing is special. We tried to show the continuity and stability of life.
“As we have experience the village before, we have extended the shooting area to the whole island so we can show their relationship with the island’s residents,” Na said.