'The Trap of Desire' works as Jang Seo-hee’s villain makeover lands a hit—opens with a 6.4% start from episode 1

KBS 2TV’s new daily drama 'The Trap of Desire' swallowed up viewers from episode 1. The series kicked off strongly as actor Jang Seo-hee—who has reigned as the so-called 'Queen of Revenge Dramas'—made a chilling shift into a villain role, while an audacious turn of events involving arson ran alongside it.

Jealousy spreading into madness, and the fates of three women whose lives collide

According to Nielsen Korea, a ratings survey company, episode 1—unveiled the day before—pulled in a nationwide viewership rating of '6.4%'. The centerpiece of the day’s broadcast was the 'prologue to tragedy' forged by class and desire. When Go Eun-seol (played by Jeon Hye-won), who has shining talent even in an ordinary environment, captured the gold medal at an art contest, Kang Hae-ra (played by Joo Sae-byeok), 'Cheongma Group'’s only heiress, erupted with fierce jealousy. On top of that, even Cha Seok-jin (played by Seol Jung-hwan)—Hae-ra’s first love—showed feelings toward Eun-seol, sending Hae-ra’s inferiority complex careening into 'madness'.

After being caught by her father as she tried to steal someone else’s work, Hae-ra receives secret help from her nurse, Joo Mi-ran (played by Jang Seo-hee). But once Eun-seol is finally selected as the school representative, the drama lays out an 'extreme arson' ending in which Hae-ra, having lost her grip on reason, sets a fire in the art room—pushing the tension to its peak.

Above all, public attention is focused on 'Jang Seo-hee’s return'. Back in the past, the actor delivered a satisfying catharsis through 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Temptation of Wife', but this time she switched lanes to a 'villain' role that shakes up the entire setup. Right after the broadcast, viewers praised her commanding performance, saying, "The atmosphere of the drama changes with just one look from Jang Seo-hee."

From the very first episode, the breakneck developments and clashes among multidimensional characters point to the birth of a well-made daily drama. Attention now turns to what kind of disastrous ending the story of those trapped in the net of 'desire' will face next.