The third episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama My Royal Nemesis continued its upward trend, peaking at a 6.7% viewership rating with a nationwide average of 5.8%.
In this episode, Seo Ri (played by Lim Ji Yeon) demonstrated her fiery passion for acting, even practicing a royal queen performance while working her part-time job. Her interactions with Cha Sae Gye (Heo Nam Jun)—who struggled with advertising contract issues—offered a perfect mix of tension and comedy. Viewers also enjoyed seeing her fierce, determined side as she stood up to her rivals.
Episode 3’s ending, featuring the contract signing between Seo Ri and Sae Gye, delivered a heart-fluttering moment that signaled a shift in their relationship. An epilogue showing Sae Gye running toward Seo Ri further heightened anticipation.
Additionally, a scene in which Sae Gye sheds tears after dreaming of a court lady who looks exactly like Seo Ri reinforced the idea of a fateful connection between them.
아 미친 세계 과거 전생꿈꾸면서 울어 ㅜㅜ 강단심 이름 뭐냐고 물엇는데 그건 못 듣고 꿈에서 깨고 신서리인거 바로 알아챔 pic.twitter.com/vJWH6bNK5G
— 잘이.. (@heojal) May 15, 2026
Cryptic lines such as “They say an ill-fated relationship runs deeper than a good one,” “Are we destiny?” and “You have deviated from the route,” further amplified expectations for the upcoming romance and kept viewers fully engaged.
Episode 4 solidified the show’s status as a mega-hit with a nationwide rating of 6.0% and a peak of 7.8%. The drama also made history as the first SBS Friday-Saturday series to top Netflix’s weekly Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows chart.
In the episode, Cha Sae Gye showed off his sharp business instincts while bickering with Shin Seo Ri over a management contract. Yet when he saw Seo Ri’s flushed cheeks, he grew deeply concerned and even chose to take a financial loss for her sake.
Known as a “monster born of capitalism,” Sae Gye was left completely confused by his own sudden willingness to compromise. He questioned himself: “Why did I make such an unplanned, reckless move? Did that bizarre dream break my brain?” Meanwhile, Seo Ri humorously misinterpreted his kindness as “fan behavior” and began planning how to return the favor to her “fan.”
The ending embrace between the two leads became a major talking point. Misunderstanding Sae Gye’s true intentions, a tearful Seo Ri confronted him: “When you look at me like that, it makes me misunderstand. You’re not a fan, and you’re not on my side—so why do you act like you’re utterly in love with me?”
Sae Gye admitted his inner turmoil, replying: “What if it’s not a misunderstanding? I’m a firm believer in black-and-white logic. But you are neither. You just keep confusing me.”
When Seo Ri placed her hand on his chest and said, “Then let me find out,” Sae Gye finally pulled her into his arms, fully expressing his true feelings.
Fans are buzzing with a new theory about Seo Ri and Dan Sim’s connection.
할머니 인물소개에도 나와있음
요즘 서리가 낯선데 어릴때 교통사고 이후에도 이런기분이셨다함 부모님 교통사고로 돌아가신후 서리랑 단심이 영혼이 바꼈고 서리가 단심이로 살고 단심이가 서리로 살게된듯 성격바뀐것도 발연기한것도 다 서리가 아니라 단심이라서 그런거같고 그렇다면 서리는 왜 https://t.co/bIjTLynCFJ pic.twitter.com/faPj4Mks0I— 예주 (@fallinfortuna) May 17, 2026
According to her grandmother, “Lately Seo Ri doesn’t seem like herself. I felt this way even after the accident when she was little.” Many speculate that after her parents’ fatal car accident, Seo Ri and Dan Sim’s souls swapped. Seo Ri temporarily lived as Dan Sim, and Dan Sim lived as Seo Ri.
뭔가 지금 서리가 진짜 서리일 것 같음
그니까 강단심이랑 신서리가 2005년 이후에 영혼이 바뀐거고
그래서 서리도 아역 이후에 연기실력이 없었던거 아니야?
어렸을 때 단심로 바뀐채 살던 서리가 다시 돌아온거면??
신서리 프로필에 경력 2005년 이후가 2024로 되어있는것도 좀 의미심장하고 pic.twitter.com/HrJEXHi43Z— 이나 (@Ina_drama) May 16, 2026
Fans believe this explains why Seo Ri seemed to struggle with acting and why her personality seemed off—it wasn’t really Seo Ri acting poorly, it was Dan Sim in her body. This theory also gives new meaning to Seo Ri’s profile, which shows her career starting from 2005.
My Royal Nemesis airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM.
>> Weekly TV Top10: ‘My Royal Nemesis’ Premieres to Strong Ratings; Will It Beat ‘Perfect Crown’?
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