SBS hit drama 'My Royal Nemesis' ends on happy note
A scene from SBS drama “My Royal Nemesis” / Captured from SBS broadcast
Lim Ji-yeon shines, Heo Nam-jun emerges as breakout star
SBS romantic comedy “My Royal Nemesis,” starring Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun, ended on a happy note, both narratively and commercially.
The final episode, which aired Saturday, kept viewers on edge until the closing scenes. Shin Seo-ri, the female lead played by Lim, traveled back in time to the Joseon era to save Cha Se-gye, played by Heo, and took an arrow meant for him.
Cha was left devastated, while Shin became trapped between two time periods. Ultimately, however, Cha’s unwavering devotion and patient waiting brought her back to the 21st century. The two reaffirmed their love and pledged to remain together for eternity, finally bringing their long-awaited romance to a fulfilling conclusion.
Actors Heo Nam-jun, left, and Lim Ji-yeon make a heart sign during a press conference for SBS drama "My Royal Nemesis" at the SBS headquarters in Seoul, May 7. Yonhap
A rom-com done right, delivering both laughs, romance
The drama had drawn some skepticism before its premiere, but ultimately silenced its doubters with strong ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode recorded ratings of 11.8 percent both nationwide and in the Seoul metropolitan area. Its peak rating reached 14.1 percent, setting a new personal best for the series.
Overall, the drama made faithful and effective use of a familiar blend of romance, comedy and time travel, while remaining firmly focused on the genre’s core themes of love, fate and reconciliation. Some had predicted that such familiar ingredients would make the series feel overly generic, but its well-judged balance of humor, romantic tension and emotional depth generated positive word of mouth and steadily growing buzz.
Actor Lim Ji-yeon / Captured from Instagram
There is little doubt that the greatest key to the drama’s success was Lim's performance. She handled the wide emotional range demanded by her character with assurance, alternating from cheeky humor and heart-wrenching romance to the profound sadness rooted in her past trauma. Beyond that, Lim gave the character an even deeper appeal through her uniquely vivacious and expressive acting.
“My Royal Nemesis” is already being mentioned as one of the most notable works of Lim’s career. More encouragingly, the role was also something of a new exploration for her, as her past roles had primarily centered on powerful characters with a commanding presence. The bright and lovable Shin marked a successful addition to Lim’s acting repertoire.
Actor Heo Nam-jun / Courtesy of Studio Genie
Heo was also firmly in the spotlight by the time the end credits rolled, though hardly anyone who had followed the drama and witnessed his performance could have been surprised.
He was given an intriguingly contradictory character to play. Cha was an icy, cold-blooded realist who would suddenly turn warm and vulnerable whenever he found himself before the woman he loved. The role demanded delicate, seamless shifts between those two sides, which Heo handled with ease.
His portrayal of Cha’s unwavering love for Shin was delivered with such subtlety and refinement that it kept viewers on edge, giddy with anticipation over how the romance would unfold. It goes without saying, but the male lead is often the most important part of a romantic comedy. With Heo, nothing felt lacking, and there were no moments that made viewers pause, draw a short breath and think, “This could have been done better.”
It comes as no surprise, then, that Heo ranked No. 1 in the June drama actor brand reputation rankings released by the Korean Business Research Institute, a clear sign of the attention surrounding his performance.
Poster for the SBS drama "My Royal Nemesis" / Courtesy of SBS
From its comical beginnings to its emotionally charged climax, the chemistry between the two actors was palpable. That chemistry is precisely what makes or breaks a romantic comedy, and why “My Royal Nemesis” finished on such a high note.
The viewer interest in the drama was reflected in its ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the finale recorded a nationwide and Seoul metropolitan area viewership rating of 11.8 percent, while its peak rating climbed to 14.1 percent, setting yet another series high. The impressive performance was driven by the drama's engaging, genre-faithful storytelling and the standout performances of its lead actors.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.