Even the star power of Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin wasn’t enough to stop the downward trend of SBS Wednesday-Thursday drama “Dynamite Kiss.” According to Nielsen Korea on December 19, episode 12 which aired the previous night recorded a 5.6% nationwide household rating, marking another disappointing result as the series nears its finale.
The drama initially premiered last month with ratings in the low 4% range. Although it briefly gained momentum through word of mouth and managed to post a modest recovery, the improvement proved short-lived. As the story progressed, criticism mounted over its increasingly unfocused narrative and the perceived lack of chemistry between the two protagonists. With only two episodes left, the viewer abandonment continues.
In episode 12, Gong Ji-hyeok (Jang Ki-yong) and Go Da-rim (Ahn Eun-jin) believed they were finally on their way to professional success and a happy future together, only to be faced with unexpected turmoil. Da-rim was previously threatened with prosecution for her fraudulent employment after Gong Ji-hye (Jung Ga-hee) obtained official marriage documents. Although the reveal was temporarily delayed for strategic reasons, Da-rim’s guilt grew as he feared that someone truly qualified may have missed an opportunity due to his deception.
Overcome with remorse, Da-rim submitted her resignation, but Ji-hyeok rejected it. He explained that the so-called “Mother TF Team” had originally recruited only the lowest-scoring candidates, and Da-rim was the only person who refused to give up on the team from the beginning. Thanks to his dedication, the team had achieved significant results despite being underestimated by others.
Ji-hyeok then accepted a new product development project on the condition that the entire TF team be hired as full-time employees. Determined to ensure the future of her teammates, Da-rim decided that she would leave the company once the project was completed. She bravely confessed everything to the team, her fake employment, her relationship with Ji-hyeok, and the circumstances that led her there. Moved by his sincerity, the team chose to support both his career and his love.
The episode produced emotional highs when Ji-hyeok hugged Da-rim, promising, “Don’t run away again. I won’t let you go,” before the two shared a kiss and spent the night together, reaffirming their deep bond. Their happiness continued as they enjoyed sweet dates and poured their energy into finalizing the new product, which was successfully completed after several sleepless nights.
However, just as the team was celebrating, devastating news arrived: a rival company had launched an identical product. At that moment, Ji-hyeok’s father Gong Chang-ho (Choi Kwang-il) and Gong Ji-hye burst in. Enraged, Chang-ho immediately slaps Da-rim, triggering Ji-hyeok’s long-suppressed anger as he witnesses his ex-father hit the woman he loves.
Despite these dramatic turns, public response remained lukewarm. As “Dynamite Kiss” nears its final stretch, viewers are wondering whether the drama can bounce back or whether it will end under the weight of unmet expectations and declining ratings.
Sources: Daum
