"Bride Of The Water God" Receives Mixed Reviews Despite High Ratings

After much anticipation, tvN’s new Monday-Tuesday drama “Bride of the Water God” premiered on July 3. However, the drama is receiving mixed reviews.

“Bride of the Water God” had initially been highly anticipated by fans of the original manwha of the same name. After the first episode, some viewers expressed that the drama did not live up to its hype.

The first episode of “Bride of the Water God” introduced the encounter between water god Habaek, played by Nam Joo Hyuk, and debt-ridden psychiatrist Yoon So Ah, played by Shin Se Kyung. The two bump into each other while So Ah is considering selling her father’s land for money. The episode comes to an end when Habaek, who had lost his powers in the human world, tries to seduce So Ah.

The overall tone of “Bride of the Water God” was more lighthearted and comedic than expected. Despite his “god-like” visuals, Nam Joo Hyuk continuously delivered cheesy dialogue. Meanwhile, Shin Se Kyung was able to portray So Ah’s deprived and edgy personality well through her solid acting, balancing out the drama’s mood.

Some viewers expressed that they were disappointed by Nam Joo Hyuk’s acting, while others were intrigued by the drama’s dialogue and comedic plot. There were also reviews that suggested similarities between “Bride of the Water God” and “Goblin,” since both dramas tell the love story between a god and human. However, the two dramas differ in that Nam Joo Hyuk’s character lacks understanding of the human world compared to Gong Yoo‘s “Goblin.”

Regardless of the reviews, “Bride of the Water God” scored impressive ratings. According to ratings research institute Nielsen Korea, the first episode’s ratings were greater than 3 percent.

Will “Bride of the Water God” be able to make a turnaround and impress in the second episode?

“Bride of the Water God” airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10:50 p.m. KST.

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