By Shivam Das | Updated October 13, 2026
100 Days of Deception is building early momentum, but the clearest evidence is more specific than a sweeping claim that it is outperforming every other weekend drama. After its second episode, the tvN historical spy romance reached a 7.6% nationwide average rating in South Korea and ranked first in its time slot among cable channels, according to figures reported by Soompi citing Nielsen Korea. The result gives the series a strong start—and a useful benchmark for the weeks ahead.
What the ratings actually show
The first two episodes aired on October 10 and 11. The series began with a 5.278% nationwide rating and rose to 7.605% for Episode 2, according to the episode figures listed by AsianWiki; Soompi separately reported the second episode at 7.6%. That is a rise of roughly 2.3 percentage points in one day, a meaningful early movement for a new drama.
The second episode also recorded an 8.3% average in the Seoul metropolitan area and a 9.4% peak there, while the nationwide peak was reported at 8.5%, according to Sports Chosun coverage carried by Chosun.com. These are different measures: an average rating describes viewing across the episode, while a peak captures the highest moment. They should not be treated as interchangeable.
Why the second episode may have helped
Episode 2 did more than advance the romance. It exposed the emotional cost of So-ran’s mission, revealed the identity of her long-separated husband, and pushed the danger surrounding Ga-kyung and Hideo into a more personal register. The episode’s closing developments gave viewers new reasons to return, rather than relying only on the premise introduced in the premiere.
The show also has several story engines running at once: undercover work inside the colonial government, the independence movement’s plans, family trauma, and a romance shaped by unequal power. That structure can help sustain conversation between episodes, provided the plot keeps those strands connected instead of letting them compete for attention.
How it compares with other weekend dramas
The early result looks particularly encouraging beside some competing titles reported on the same Sunday. Soompi reported that KBS 2TV’s A Love Other Than Yours averaged 1.9%, while JTBC’s Fly High Butterfly averaged 2.0% and Channel A’s Dive into You averaged 0.3%. Those figures provide context, but they do not represent every Korean weekend drama, every channel, or every streaming title. Comparisons are strongest when the time slot, platform, measurement method and episode stage are similar.
Nor does one strong second episode establish a season-long trend. Established hits can have larger audiences, and a broadcast rating does not capture all streaming viewing, international interest or delayed watching. The defensible conclusion is that 100 Days of Deception has made a strong early move in its cable-TV time slot—not that it has already beaten the entire 2026 drama field.
The historical setting gives the drama a distinctive hook
Set in 1932 Gyeongseong during Japanese colonial rule, the series follows top pickpocket Lee Ga-kyung as she infiltrates the Japanese Government-General under the guise of an interpreter trainee. There she becomes entangled with Sato Hideo, an elite interpreter and the adopted son of a senior colonial official. The story combines espionage with a relationship in which attraction and political danger are inseparable.
The historical backdrop also raises the stakes beyond a private romance. The production has said the cast and crew observed a moment of silence for Korean independence activists at the first script reading. That context makes the resistance storyline central to the drama’s identity, rather than just decorative period detail.
What would count as sustained momentum?
Three signals will matter over the next few episodes. First, whether nationwide average ratings continue to rise or at least hold near the second episode’s level. Second, whether the drama maintains its time-slot position as other series release new episodes. Third, whether critical coverage and audience discussion remain active without relying on one cliffhanger or a single viral scene.
For viewers outside Korea, Netflix availability gives the show a route to international discovery, but local broadcast ratings should not be used as a proxy for Netflix’s global ranking. Those are separate measurements, and a Netflix Top 10 claim should only be made when supported by the platform’s published chart for the relevant date and territory.
Quick answer: Is 100 Days of Deception outperforming other 2026 weekend dramas?
It has made a strong early start. Episode 2 averaged about 7.6% nationwide in South Korea and ranked first in its cable-channel time slot, according to reports citing Nielsen Korea. That is encouraging momentum, but two episodes are not enough to conclude that it is outperforming most dramas across every network and streaming platform.
Frequently asked questions
What rating did Episode 2 of 100 Days of Deception receive?
It recorded a 7.6% nationwide average rating in South Korea, according to Soompi’s October 12 report citing Nielsen Korea. Some reports give the more precise figure as 7.605%.
Did the drama rank first in its time slot?
Yes. Reports said Episode 2 ranked first in its time slot among cable channels. This does not mean it was the most-watched program across every Korean network.
Why did the rating rise after Episode 1?
The second episode intensified the spy plot and revealed more of Yoo So-ran’s tragic past, while raising the personal stakes for Ga-kyung and Hideo. These story developments are plausible reasons viewers stayed interested, but ratings alone cannot prove why individual viewers tuned in.
Where can international viewers watch 100 Days of Deception?
The series has an official Netflix title page. Availability and release timing may vary by country.
Sources and further reading
- Soompi: Episode 2 ratings rise
- Chosun.com: Episode 2 ratings and story developments
- The Korea Times: Series premise and historical setting
- Netflix: Official series page
Join the viewer discussion
Read the community discussion for Episodes 1 and 2. These are audience comments, not official ratings data or a representative survey.
100 Days of Deception Episodes 1 & 2 discussion
Image note: The six images above are distinct promotional/script-reading photographs published by Soompi with tvN attribution. Confirm image licensing and hotlinking permissions before relying on them long term.
