MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown is already stirring conversation online following its premiere—and not all of it is glowing.
Online communities lit up April 12th with reactions ranging from critiques of the show’s fictional setup to hot takes on the cast. Some viewers said the premise is hard to buy, questioning why the female lead—a chaebol heiress—is still treated as lowborn. Others pointed to over-the-top character setups, like a hereditary prime minister with a supercar collection and a royal male lead who has nothing, as difficult to relate to.
There were also claims that the series may have borrowed elements from Japan. Some viewers argued its political system and class structure resemble Japan’s imperial framework, saying those elements feel out of place in a Korean setting.
Acting reviews, meanwhile, are split. Gong Seung Yeon earned praise for her steady, immersive performance as the Queen Dowager. But reactions to Byeon Woo Seok were more mixed, with some viewers calling his delivery flat and lacking emotional depth.
Content reviewer DaNKuN also weighed in during a livestream, briefly dropping his rating from a B to a C before settling back on a B. He noted that while the world-building is intriguing, the characters themselves aren’t fully convincing yet, adding that the central conflicts and narrative would benefit from more development.
Still, ratings are holding strong. Episode 2 pulled in 9.5% nationwide and 10.1% in the Seoul area, topping its time slot. It also ranked No. 1 among viewers ages 20 to 49 with a 5.3% rating, peaking at 11.1%.
So while Perfect Crown is off to a solid start, its bold choices—from story to performances—are clearly striking a nerve.
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