MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ is continuing its massive success as it heads toward the final chapter of Sung Hee-joo (IU) and Grand Prince Ian’s (Byeon Woo-seok) romance about breaking social boundaries and carving their own destiny.
The 10th episode aired on the 9th recorded ratings of 13.5% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 13.3% nationwide (5.6% for the 20-54 age group), marking its second consecutive day of hitting a new personal best. It has firmly held the top spot for all Friday and Saturday programs across all major metrics (via Nielsen Korea).
Sung Hee-joo ♥ Grand Prince Ian: What ending awaits them in the whirlwind of fate?
The ending scene of episode 10, where Sung Hee-joo discovers Grand Prince Ian is inside a burning pavilion, saw ratings peak at 15.4% per minute, proving the show’s absolute dominance.
While their bond has grown stronger despite various threats, all eyes are on the future of Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian, whose mutual romance has reached its peak. After overcoming countless accidents and crises, they proudly announced to the nation that they are now a married couple. Although it started as a contract marriage, the two have come to sincerely love and cherish each other while actively supporting one another’s paths.
However, tension is rising as Grand Prince Ian gets caught up in an accident immediately after deciding to shoulder the weight of the crown. Fans are anxious to see if they can protect each other amidst repeating tragedies and enjoy a sweet honeymoon life, and what kind of ending they will meet in the whirlwind of fate.
A new couple is born… What will be the fate of the power-hungry?
Attention is also turning to the changing relationships of the supporting characters, sparked by the ‘Grand Prince Couple’s’ contract marriage.
Choi Hyun (Yoo Su-bin) and Do Hye-jung (Lee Yeon), the closest aides to Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian, are gradually developing feelings for each other, raising expectations for another chemistry-filled couple.
The relationship between Sung Hee-joo and her family, which was like walking on thin ice, is also slowly recovering. Most notably, as Sung Hee-joo faces various threats, her father Sung Hyun-kook (Jo Seung-yeon), brother Sung Tae-joo (Lee Jae-won), and sister-in-law Han Da-young (Chae Seo-an) are sincerely worrying about and taking care of her, leaving fans curious if a happy ending awaits the family.
The fate of the key figures in politics and the royal family surrounding power is another highlight. Prime Minister Min Jung-woo (Noh Sang-hyun), upon realizing that the Sung Hee-joo he loved has truly fallen for Grand Prince Ian rather than just being in a contract marriage, is showing his claws to win her over, standing against his former best friend, Grand Prince Ian.
On the other hand, Yoon Yi-rang (Gong Seung-yeon), who lived her life swayed by her power-hungry father, is trying to correct her past mistakes so her son, Lee Yoon (Kim Eun-ho), doesn’t suffer the same pain. Curiosity is growing over the ending Min Jung-woo and Yoon Yi-rang will face, as they once joined hands to preserve their positions but are now looking in different directions.
The heart-fluttering romance of the ‘Grand Prince Couple’… Dominating both ratings and buzz!
With the heart-fluttering romance of Sung Hee-joo and Grand Prince Ian as true partners, the fate of the powerful, and various complex relationships, ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ promises unmissable entertainment until the very end.
The series garnered huge anticipation from fans even before airing due to the pairing of IU and Byeon Woo-seok. As MBC’s ambitious project for the first half of the year, it has created a syndrome-level storm in both ratings and buzz since its release.
Specifically, the first episode started at 7.8%, and the latest episode climbed to 13.3%, nearly doubling its viewership and showing a steady upward trend.
It has also held the #1 spot in buzz since the first broadcast. According to the TV-OTT drama buzz rankings released by Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex on the 12th, the show remained #1. It topped all indicators including news, videos, and VON. In the cast buzz rankings, Byeon Woo-seok ranked 1st and IU ranked 2nd, staying at the top for six consecutive weeks.
The final pages of the destiny-defying romance between IU and Byeon Woo-seok will unfold in ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife,’ with episodes 11 and 12 airing on the 15th and 16th at 9:40 PM.
