In a surprising twist, tvN's megahit fantasy drama "Goblin" did not win at the Baeksang Art Awards 2017. While the drama raked in a lot of the major awards, it was beaten by "Dear My Friends" as Best Drama.
The winner came as a shock because the category was stacked with blockbuster dramas. Apart from Gong Yoo's "Goblin", other nominees include Park Bo Gum's 'Moonlight Drawn By Clouds", Lee Jong Suk's fantasy drama "W: Two Worlds" and Han Suk Hyu's "Romantic Doctor Kim". "Dear, My Friends" a weekend drama produced by tvN was the definite underdog in the competition, Koreaboo reported.
"Dear, My Friends" if compared to "Goblin" and other competitors in the category does not even come close when it comes to ratings. While "Goblin" peaked at roughly 22 percent in ratings, "Dear My Friends" only averaged over 5 percent in viewership for its 10:30 pm timeslot for Friday and Saturday.
"Dear My Friends" revolves around the lives of older people who become friends during their twilight years. Aside from its strong cast of veteran actors like Na Mun Hee, Kim Hye Ja, Go Du Shim, Kim Young Ok, Joo Hyun, and Park Won Sook, the older cast members also had strong support from the likes of Lee Kwang Soo, Jo In Sung and Daniel Henney.
It was not just the strong casting that propelled "Dear My Friends" to win the award. Reviews of the drama gave credence to the heartwarming story and its strong base on realism. According to reviewers, the drama effectively portrayed the trials faced by both young and older people and how friendship has helped them rise above these challenges. The drama also bravely tackled issues like domestic abuse, illness, and family. Lee Kwang Soo also received great feedback for his effective portrayal in a dramatic role as opposed to his comedic characters.
