October's Kdrama Winners And Losers

October was a month in which there were some surprising and interesting kdrama developments.  A few highly anticipated dramas did not fare as well as expected despite star casts and there were some unexpected winners.

Predicted to be a fan favorite, "The Heirs," starring Lee Min Ho, Park Shin Hye and Choi Jin Hyuk did not take first place in the ratings during its first few weeks. The first few episodes were shot in Los Angeles. Although the first episodes were cinematically attractive, they suffered from some bad acting and dubious stereotypes about the U.S. Ratings picked up once the drama returned to familiar Korean territory but by then the star-studded but classic poor girl-meets-rich-guy story had already lost viewers to the competition.

Its success was unexpectedly eclipsed by the revenge melodrama "Secrets," which stars Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum, Bae Soo Bin and Lee Da Hee. With its fascinating portrayal of varying shades of evil, the drama held first place for the duration of its run.

Also getting disappointing ratings despite its star cast of Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Dong Gun and Jung Yong Hwa, was "Future's Choice," a drama in which a woman's future self comes back and tries to change her life. It's fun to see Yoon Eun Hye in a comedy again but maybe viewers were ready for more than the old "who will she choose" formula.

For a few weeks, the ratings winner over "Future's Choice" was "The Suspicious Housekeeper," a remake of the Japanese hit television show "Kaseifu No Mita." The show focused on a mysterious housekeeper who helps a dysfunctional family. The drama starring Choi Ji Woo and Lee Seung Jae led the ratings until it was displaced by the first episodes of the 50-episode historical saga "Empress Ki."

Thanks to some action, romance and great costumes, "Empress Ki," starring Ha Ji Won, Ji Chang Wook and Joo Jin Mo, started out at 11.6 percent of the ratings on its first episode and reached 13.6 on its next night.

Also popular were the final episodes of "Good Doctor," starring Joo Won as a savant but socially inept doctor. The show topped 20 percent in the ratings as it drew to a close.

The Hong Sisters' popular horror romantic comedy "The Master's Sun," starring So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin, ended early in October. It was another hit with ratings over 21 percent.

"Goddess of Fire: Jeonji" also finished this month and despite its star cast of Moon Geun Young, Lee Sang Yoon and Kim Bum, failed to break any records. The historical drama about Korea's first female ceramic artist averaged ratings of 9.3 percent, with its final episode only reaching 9.6 percent.

This month's dramas illustrate an important lesson. An all-star cast is not a guarantee of a hit drama. Viewers appreciate an innovative and interesting storyline.