Song Seung-heon's Thriller-Action Series 'Player 2' Starts with 4% Viewer Ratings

연합뉴스 / 2024-06-04 10:18:09

▲ These still photos of thriller-action series "Player 2", starring actor Song Seung-heon, is provided by tvN on June 4, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Returning after six years, the sequel to "Player: War of Deception" ("Player 2") has debuted with a viewer rating of about 4%, data showed.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 4th, the first episode of tvN’s Monday-Tuesday drama "Player 2," which aired the previous day, recorded a 4.185% viewer rating. This is a higher figure than the 3.073% rating for the premiere of "Runaway with Seonjae," which aired in the same time slot the week before.

"Player 2" follows the story of genius con artist Kang Ha-ri (played by Song Seung-heon) who, along with a skilled hacker, a fighter, and a driver, steals money and expensive items hidden by criminals. The first episode introduced the new team dynamics after the death of the exceptional driver Cha Ah-ryeong (played by Jung Soo-jung) from season one, with her equally skilled sister Cha Jae-yi (played by Jang Gyu-ri) stepping in to fill the void.

In 2021, Kang Ha-ri and his team nearly succeed in stealing a valuable Buddha statue hidden by criminals but are caught, leading to Cha Ah-ryeong's death at the hands of the criminal gang. The team plans to avenge her, and Cha Jae-yi joins them after appearing at a memorial for her sister.

Three years later, Kang Ha-ri and his colleagues set their sights on con artist Kang Do-young (played by Tae In-ho), who has scammed numerous victims through NFT investments. With the help of the mysterious woman Jung Soo-min (played by Oh Yeon-seo), they seem to easily deceive Kang Do-young, only to fall into his trap, concluding the first episode.

"Player 2" is the sequel to "Player," which aired on OCN in 2018 and achieved a peak rating of 5.8%. The original series was well-received for its engaging characters, thrilling action scenes, and its narrative of punishing criminals. Returning cast members include Song Seung-heon, Lee Si-eon, and Tae Won-seok. Jung Soo-jung, who played Cha Ah-ryeong in season one, made a special appearance in the first episode, enhancing the storyline by portraying her character's demise at the hands of a crime organization.

▲ This photo, provided by TV broadcasting channel tvN, shows South Korean actor Song Seung-heon posing for photos at the media conference for his upcoming TV series "Player 2" held in Seoul on May 28, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)