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Fans of SBS’s smash hit television series “Penthouse” were thrilled to hear the news that the drama had been renewed for not only one, but two more seasons. However, the finale of season 3 failed to live up to fans’ expectations.
“Penthouse” dropped its final curtain after about a year of airing with a viewership rating of 19.1 percent as of the last episode on Sept. 10. The drama follows elite families that fiercely compete over real estate and education, with a provocative and fast-moving plot and remarkable acting from the cast. During the first season, the viewership rating reached 28.8 percent at its peak and jumped to 29.2 percent in the second season, but the final season dipped to below 20 percent.
The entire series was written by screenwriter Kim Soon-ok, who made her breakthrough with SBS’s “Temptation of a Wife” (2008-09) and opened the era of makjang dramas, a genre with storylines so insanely suspenseful and immoral that they are considered ridiculous by viewers. In “Temptation of a Wife,” the highest viewership rating peaked at 37.5 percent. “Penthouse” is Kim’s first attempt at a seasonal drama.
