A promotional photo for tvN's drama "Avengers Social Club" / Courtesy of CJ E&M





By Park Jin-hai

More dramas are giving up on the romance storyline that had been typically regarded as a must for any hit. Looking at the viewer responses to ongoing dramas, it now seems viewers think that if it is telling a similar love story, it would be better off with no romance at all.

"Temperature of Love," a romantic comedy on SBS which had shown a strong viewer response for its delicate expression of a relationship, has been losing its initial momentum. Albeit being top-rated in its time slot, MBC's Wednesday-Thursday medical drama "Hospital Ship," which grabbed viewers' attention by dealing with a lesser-known hospital ship sailing around small islands around the world helping island residents, has been seeing less viewer responses as the medical drama is now focusing on a love triangle and is becoming a typical melodrama.

On the contrary, tvN's webtoon-based drama "Avengers Social Club," "Witch's Court" and "Mad Dog" on KBS _ where there is no apparent romantic storytelling _ have been gaining popularity.

"Avengers Social Club," airing on Wednesdays and Thursdays, stars three actresses Lee Yo-won, Ra Mi-ran and Myung Se-bin, playing three women from different walks of life _ a street fish vendor, a housewife of a professor and a chaebol owner's daughter _ who join forces to carry out their individual revenge. Focusing on close relationships between women, the drama tells about revenge and comradeship among the three, each having been the victim of power abuse, violence and a spouse's adultery. With no romance plot, the drama debuted on Oct. 11 with 2.9 percent viewership, but it soared to over 5 percent just after three episodes.

"The issues the drama portrays are ones that all women can strongly relate to. But, it is not women's issues only, since the drama reflects reality _ a world full of violence _ that all viewers can relate to," said culture critic Jung Duk-hyun. "This sense of reality makes the trio's revenge not entirely private but shared. Their revenge is strong satire and criticism of reality."

The legal drama "Witch's Court" and insurance scam fighting drama "Mad Dog" are getting positive reviews from viewers. The former, albeit not entirely free from romance, mainly focuses on crimes against children and women, including child molestation and sexual assault, keeping viewers on their toes. In the latter, insurance scam cases and team chasing them bring about tension.

"In the case of romantic comedies that include social issues in its storytelling, romantic scenes may work to their advantage. But when the cliché romance scenes are abruptly adopted in the thus-far well-received dramas, regardless of the general plot, viewers feel that the romance is out of place," Jung said.