MBC’s newest Friday-Saturday drama “Crushology 101” is off to a rocky start, facing a rapid and dramatic fall in ratings after just two episodes.
According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 2, which aired on April 12, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of just 0.9%, down from its premiere rating of 1.3%. This marks not only the lowest second-episode viewership for an MBC drama in recent memory but also ties with “Kokdu: Season of Deity” for the weakest premiere rating in the history of MBC’s Friday-Saturday lineup, launched in 2021.
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A Promising Webtoon Adaptation That Struggled Out the Gate
“Crushology 101” is based on the Kakao Webtoon “Bunny and Her Boys,” which boasts over 170 million cumulative views. The drama follows Bunny (Roh Jeong-eui), a top sculpture student at Yein University who, after a humiliating public breakup, vows to only date attractive men—setting the stage for a whirlwind campus romance involving Hwang Jae-yeol (Lee Chae-min), the star of the visual design department, and Cha Ji-won (Jo Joon-young), a mysterious returning student.
The first episode introduced viewers to Bunny’s tumultuous love life, starting with a shocking incident where her ex-boyfriend Go Bong-soo (Kim Hyun-mok) accidentally exposes his true feelings about her over the school broadcast system. Humiliated and furious, Bunny publicly breaks up with him and declares a new dating strategy. Soon after, she crosses paths with Ji-won, who is immediately intrigued by her bold attitude. Meanwhile, a chaotic encounter with Hwang Jae-yeol—culminating in a broken tablet and escalating misunderstandings—sparks a bickering yet chemistry-filled dynamic between the two.
Mixed Viewer Reactions and Critical Challenges
Despite its eye-catching visuals and youthful cast, the drama failed to sustain momentum. While some viewers praised the “fresh casting” and “emotional color palette,” others criticized the “awkward acting,” “cringe-inducing dialogue,” and “overproduced lighting,” which disrupted immersion. The reliance on rookie actors may have alienated older viewers unfamiliar with the cast, while even younger audiences noted a disconnect between the drama and its source material.
One major challenge has been translating the nuanced emotional build-up of the long-running webtoon into the fast-paced TV format. The drama’s hurried plot progression and tonal inconsistencies have made it difficult for viewers to emotionally invest in the characters, particularly in a genre like campus romance, where character depth is key.
Compounding the drama’s struggles is fierce competition. “Crushology 101” premiered the same night as the final episode of the popular drama “Treasure Island,” putting it at an immediate disadvantage. Just a day later, tvN launched its high-profile drama “Resident Playbook” (2025), a much-anticipated medical spin-off with an established fanbase, which could siphon even more attention away from MBC’s new offering.
Is a Comeback Possible?
With ratings already dipping below 1%, “Crushology 101” faces a daunting path ahead. Still, all is not lost. As with many romance dramas, mid-to-late episodes often allow more emotional resonance and viewer connection. Additionally, global streaming platforms and fan-driven word-of-mouth could help the series gain traction outside of traditional ratings metrics.
Episode 3 is set to air on April 18 at 9:50 p.m (KST). Whether “Crushology 101” can redeem itself through richer storytelling, tighter direction, and more refined performances remains to be seen. For now, it serves as a cautionary tale of high expectations, fierce competition, and the challenges of adapting beloved source material to the small screen.