“The First Night With The Duke” Starts Off Boldly with a Bed Scene, Captures Viewer Attention from Episode One
KBS2’s latest Wednesday-Thursday drama, The First Night With The Duke, starring Ok Taecyeon and Seohyun, made a striking debut by featuring a bed scene in its very first episode an unusual move that sparked major online buzz.
Based on a popular web novel, the drama recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 3.3% on its June 11 premiere, rising slightly to 3.4% in the second episode. The original Western fantasy setting of the novel is reimagined in the Joseon dynasty, offering a unique fusion of historical romance and fantasy.
The story follows a university student who finds herself reincarnated into the world of a romance novel as Cha Seon-saek (Seohyun), a minor character. After attending a noblewomen’s gathering, her drunken antics inadvertently lead to an unplanned night with the novel’s obsessive male protagonist, Yi Beon (Ok Taecyeon), dramatically altering the course of the narrative.
In episode two, Yi Beon becomes possessive and insists on marrying Seon-saek. Despite her many attempts to escape including trying to become a nun—he relentlessly chases her. Notable scenes include Yi Beon plastering her face across the city with wanted posters and reporting her to monks, claiming, She can’t become a nun—she’s already spent the first night with me.
While the male lead fits the mold of a traditional obsessive character, the drama balances this with humor. Cha Seon-saek’s schemes to repel Yi Beon, such as feigning unkemptness and behaving extravagantly, are hilariously met with his admiration instead.
Viewers have responded enthusiastically, calling it absurdly entertaining, visually delightful, and praising the lead actors’ chemistry.
Directed by Lee Woong-hee and Kang Soo-yeon, with a script by Jeon Sun-young, The First Night With The Duke has earned acclaim for creatively adapting the novel’s fantasy into a light-hearted yet compelling historical drama. With its unconventional opening and promising cast, the series is poised to become one of the standout K-dramas of the season.
