'Blood' Ends With Slightly Higher Ratings

The vampire drama "Blood" finished its final episode on April 21. "Blood" earned slightly higher ratings for the last episode, rising from 4.7 to 5.0 percent.

The drama began in third place with ratings of 5.2 percent. Viewers had high hopes for its premise, but although it acquired some loyal fans outside of Korea, the highest ratings it ever achieved in Korea was 6.0 percent.

The drama's ratings sunk as low as 3.8 percent for two of the episodes and "Blood" remained in third place.

Criticisms leveled against the drama included the inexperience of model-turned-actor Ahn Jae Hyun, who was playing his first leading role, after achieving only two drama credits, and the approach that leading actress Gu Hye Sun took to create her character.

Ahn Jae Hyun seemed to grow more confident as the series progressed but by then the show had lost a lot of viewers.

Gu Hye Sun apologized for her acting approach after the series ended. Gu played the smart and wealthy doctor Yoo Ri Ta. Her character falls for a vampire doctor and becomes his ally. Viewers complained about her mannerisms and acting approach but the role was also very different from others that she played in the past. Yoo Ri Ta was a sadder and more confrontational character than Gu Hye Sun's previous sweet and optimistic characters, which might have made her fans uncomfortable.

The actress felt responsible for the drama's lack of success.

 "I feel very apologetic toward the cast and crew who were part of this production because of the different way I depicted my character and the criticism that ensued because of it," said Gu Hye Sun in a drama wrap-up interview with Star News. "I want to truly thank the crew, the director and my senior and junior actors for not letting anything affect them and being considerate and warm toward me at all times. Also, thanks to the loyal viewers of 'Blood.'"

As seemed fitting for a drama named "Blood," the drama had a bloody ending with bodies of friends and foes littered throughout the last two episodes. Ji Sang and Yoo Ri Ta survive the bloodbath and are last seen staring at the sunset, but the actors' careers may need a while to recover from the drama's poor ratings.

"Blood" will be followed by "Who Are You - School 2015" on April 27.