Choi Soo-young, Gong Myung, Kim Sung-ryung, Kim Sang-ho, and Jo Yoon-hee beautifully wrapped up the warm journey of 'Please Drink Less' by completing the daily life of the peaceful Bocheon Village.
The tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'Please Drink Less' (written by Myung Soo-hyun and Jeon Ji-hyun, directed by Jang Yu-jeong and Jo Nam-hyung), which ended on the 17th, conveyed a deep resonance with the story of Han Geum-joo (played by Choi Soo-young) and Seo Ui-joon (played by Gong Myung) embracing each other's wounds and growing together.
As a result, the final episode recorded an average rating of 3.7% in the metropolitan area, peaking at 5%, and an average of 3.6% nationwide, peaking at 4.8%, ranking first in both the metropolitan and nationwide categories among cable and general programming channels during the same time slot. Additionally, it also ranked first in the target demographic of tvN, the 2049 male and female viewership ratings, among cable and general programming channels during the same time slot. (Based on Nielsen Korea)
In this episode, Seo Ui-joon was shocked to learn that head nurse Baek Hye-mi (played by Bae Hae-sun) is his biological mother. However, leaning on the warm sincerity of Baek Hye-mi, who has always been by his side, and the cautious comfort from Han Geum-joo (played by Choi Soo-young), Seo Ui-joon gradually opened his heart and began to accept Baek Hye-mi as his mother.
The long-standing relationship with his father, which had weighed heavily on him, also came to a conclusion. The incident where a nurse died due to the rampage of his alcoholic father left Seo Ui-joon with deep trauma, but Han Geum-joo's repeated comfort and support became a great strength for him. Ultimately, Seo Ui-joon freed himself from the guilt that had been pressing down on him, faced his past, and announced a new beginning as the inaugural director of a treatment center specializing in alcohol dependence.
Throughout this process, Han Geum-joo steadfastly stood by Seo Ui-joon. Even when he was shaken by the truth about his biological mother or when he revealed his painful past, Han Geum-joo was always there for him, providing gentle comfort and heartfelt encouragement that became his support. In this way, the two embraced each other's wounds, showcasing the essence of a 'mutual healing romance' and delivering warm emotions.
Thus, 'Please Drink Less' followed Han Geum-joo's transformation as she took on the unfamiliar challenge of 'drinking less' in a daily life accustomed to alcohol, depicting a refreshing romance like beer and a hearty family narrative like makgeolli. This led to a broad resonance across generations, presenting a healing drama that brought warm empathy and delightful fun to viewers.
Above all, the theme of 'drinking less' was portrayed with empathy and supportive perspectives, leaving a special resonance. The approach of depicting the issue of alcohol dependence lightly while showing the natural process of overcoming it within daily life and relationships reached many hearts as a gentle comfort.
What solidified this message even further was the passionate performances of the actors. Choi Soo-young realistically portrayed the complex inner world of Han Geum-joo with delicate emotional acting, while Gong Myung evoked deep empathy with his heavy presence.
Additionally, the unique performances and perfect chemistry of the Bocheon Village family, including Kim Sung-ryung, Kim Sang-ho, and Jo Yoon-hee, enhanced the completeness of the drama. The dialogues and scenes that made viewers hit the empathy button each episode, along with the direction and music that captured the essence of Bocheon, left a lasting impression on the story.
