Fueled by hitmaker writer Park Hae-young and breakout stars Koo Kyo-hwan and Go Youn-jung, JTBC’s new Sat-Sun drama We Are All Trying Here (hereafter 'We Are All Trying Here') finally premiered after generating major buzz.
According to Nielsen Korea, the second episode of 'We Are All Trying Here,' which aired on the 18th, recorded a 2.2% viewership rating.
The broadcast laid bare the brutally unforgiving reality facing protagonist Hwang Dong-man (played by Koo Kyo-hwan). After 20 years without a single defining work and surviving on part-time jobs, he is crushed by the film industry’s relentless disregard and contempt. Things hit rock bottom when he is effectively cut off by his own peer group, the 'Group of Eight.' Cornered, Hwang finally confides in his older brother about his miserable situation, swallowing his anger — a moment that drew deep sympathy from viewers.
His lifeline arrives in the form of Byun Eun-ah (Go Youn-jung). Though she is also worn down by life — even suffering nosebleeds from extreme stress — she becomes his steadfast support, offering warm encouragement. In particular, her heartfelt line, "If there’s someone you love, your heart will start pounding," delivers profound comfort to Hwang and sparks the awakening he needs to stand back up.
Right after the episode aired, online communities and social media lit up with split reactions: "I relate so much to Hwang Dong-man’s harsh reality," "It’s been a while since I’ve actually looked forward to weekends for a drama," "It’s so realistic it might trigger my PTSD, so I can’t watch," and "The lines feel so new that they’re hard to grasp right now." The polarizing responses only amplified attention on the series.
Meanwhile, 'We Are All Trying Here,' which follows people battling the weight and perceived worthlessness of life, airs every Saturday at 10:40 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 p.m. on JTBC.