KBS2’s Wednesday-Thursday drama 'The First Night with the Duke' (written by Jeon Sun Young, directed by Lee Woong Hee and Kang Soo Yeon) aired its final episode on July 17. Unfortunately, the series has failed to rebound in viewership ratings domestically, falling short of expectations.
According to ratings research agency Nielsen Korea, the 11th episode, which aired on July 16, recorded a nationwide rating of 2.6% among paid households. The show has stayed in the 2% range for five consecutive episodes - from episode 7 (2.7%) to episodes 8 (2.7%), 9 (2.8%), and 10 (2.7%). Although it started with a promising 3.3% for the premiere, the show continued a downward trend and never managed to recover, now heading into its finale without ever achieving a significant ratings boost.
The fantasy romance, based on a web novel, attracted initial attention with its provocative title referencing a “first night,” but its overall convoluted plot and lack of clear genre identity received mixed reviews. These factors limited its ability to appeal to a broader domestic audience.
However, the global reception has been a stark contrast. 'The First Night with the Duke' has emerged as a hit in the overseas OTT market. On the global platform Rakuten Viki, the drama ranked No. 1 in weekly viewership across major regions, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania, since its first week of airing. It also ranked No. 1 in over 130 countries, including the U.S., U.K., France, Brazil, and the UAE, reaffirming the international influence of K-Romance content.
The 11th episode, aired the day before, marked the beginning of the climax. News of male lead Lee Beon’s (played by Taecyeon) death in battle reaches the kingdom, and female lead Cha Seon Chaek (played by Seohyun) experiences turmoil as she drifts between the real world and the fantasy novel universe. After discovering the keyring, a clue to her possession, Seon Chaek collapses with strange symptoms and learns the cause of her soul swap from the shaman Seolgi (Kim Ah Young). The fate of “real-life college student K” and “side character Cha Seon Chaek” intertwines, leading to a dramatic turning point in the story.
Lee Beon’s death leaves a deep emotional scar on Seon Chaek. Though she tries to deny reality, saying “the male lead doesn’t die so easily,” the heartfelt letter he left behind overwhelms her. Meanwhile, Prince Lee Gyu (played by Lee Tae Sun) earns the sick king’s trust and is appointed the next monarch. He begins to reveal his tyrannical nature by executing dissenting officials.
When Lee Gyu proposes to Seon Chaek and is rejected, he frames her father, Cha Ho Yeol (played by Seo Hyun Chul), as a member of the Black Death group to blackmail her. Devastated by his words, saying, “This is the path you chose,” Seon Chaek is flung back into the real world. There, she comes face to face with college student K, revealing they had been possessing each other’s bodies.
A new storyline begins with the appearance of a mysterious boy (played by Lee Joo Won), who is both the author and a matchmaking deity. Seon Chaek is granted a chance to continue the story in just three sentences and uses the line, “A bee flies onto the scoundrel’s face,” to escape her predicament. She then attempts to persuade Lee Gyu by revisiting the true meaning of the Black Death.
But Lee Gyu continues his obsessive behavior and tries to force Seon Chaek back to his quarters. At that critical moment, Lee Beon, who was presumed dead, reappears, setting the stage for a new twist as the drama heads into its final chapter. Viewers are eager to see how his survival will affect the plot and what kind of reunion awaits him and Seon Chaek.
While the domestic ratings have been underwhelming, 'The First Night with the Duke' has made a meaningful impact with its fresh concept and enthusiastic global audience. It now draws attention as a successful example of a web novel-based K-Romance series thriving in the international market.
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