“Twelve” promised big with a star-studded cast but ended as one of KBS’s biggest disappointments. From high ratings to a steep decline, viewers voiced harsh criticism. A drama remembered more for failure than fantasy.
The fantasy drama “Twelve” was heavily promoted as KBS’s big project, marking Ma Dong-seok’s return to the small screen after nine years. With a star-studded cast including Park Hyung-sik, Seo In-guk, and Lee Joo-bin, the series was expected to be a spectacular blend of fantasy, action, and emotional drama. However, instead of becoming a phenomenon, “Twelve” ended with plummeting ratings and harsh criticism from viewers and online communities.
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Falling Ratings and Failed Execution
The premiere episode of “Twelve” started with a promising 8.1% national rating, reflecting the audience’s high anticipation. Unfortunately, the numbers quickly dropped: 5.9% in episode two, 4.2% in episode three, and eventually only 2.4% in the finale. This marked the lowest rating in the show’s history and a disappointing outcome for KBS’s new weekend drama block.
In theory, the story had strong potential. The tale of twelve zodiac angels disguised as humans to fight evil spirits could have been both epic and emotional. The battle between Taesan (Ma Dong-seok) and Samin (Kim Chan-hyung), alongside the tragic love story of Ogwi (Park Hyung-sik) and Mir (Lee Joo-bin), had the elements to captivate viewers. Yet instead of delivering tension and depth, the drama was filled with dragging scenes, outdated CGI, and shallow character development.
Many viewers felt the show lost its way from the very start. One comment noted:
“Looking back at how I had such high expectations for this show. I feel like an idiot. This was bad. An intriguing premise told by idiots. Nothing really happens in this whole show.”
Another added bluntly:
“The characters are plain boring. The action looks like 8-year-old me playing with action figures. The pacing is unbearable.”
The gap between expectations and reality only fueled disappointment within K-drama communities.
Strong Reactions: From Sarcasm to Comparisons
Beyond weak storytelling, fans lamented the wasted potential of talented actors. Many felt Park Hyung-sik, in particular, deserved better.
“Park Hyung-sik had the best chance to show his range as an actor. Sad that the drama did him dirty. Hope he gets another chance to portray a villain.”
“In-gukie, you deserved better, my boy. Hope the money was good.”
Even Ji Chang-wook, who was rumored to have been offered a role, was dragged into the conversation:
“Ji Chang-wook, you lucky lucky man. Dodged a bullet at the very last minute.”
The debate escalated when viewers began comparing “Twelve” to another notorious flop, “When the Stars Gossip.” While both were poorly received, some argued that “Twelve” was actually worse.
“Comparing them would be unfair to When the Stars Gossip. At least it was doing something. This is eight episodes of emptiness.”
Others used humor and tech metaphors to describe its failure:
“It’s Windows Vista bad. < iPhone 4 bad. < Microsoft Zune bad. << worst like Apple Maps bad.”
Another summed up the disappointment:
“Worse, because one expects a lot from such a cast.”
These comments highlight a painful truth—big names alone cannot save a drama if its execution falls flat.
“Twelve” is a prime example of how high expectations don’t always guarantee success. Backed by major stars, a big production team, and heavy promotion, it had all the right ingredients to shine. Yet with weak execution, messy pacing, and poorly developed characters, it is now remembered as one of the most disappointing K-dramas of the year.
The show’s failure also casts a shadow over the drama that follows in the same slot, “Good Day for Eun-soo,” starring Lee Young-ae. With viewers already skeptical, the next series will face the tough challenge of restoring faith in KBS’s weekend block.
With such harsh backlash and freefalling ratings, “Twelve” will likely be remembered more as a cautionary tale in the K-drama industry than as a legendary series.
Sources: Newsis, News1, OSEN, Daum, Reddit r/kdramas
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