The head writer of ‘The Uncanny Counter’ has abruptly left the production of the South Korean TV series following a disagreement with staff over its final storyline.
Cable network OCN confirmed on Monday that scriptwriter Yeo Ji-na resigned “on a mutual agreement” after writing up episode 12 of the popular superhero show amid soaring ratings.
It was Yeoh’s first work in 11 years since TV show ‘The Man Who Can’t Get Married’.
Following the writer’s departure, director Yoo Seon-dong wrote the script for episode 13, which aired on Saturday in South Korea and on Netflix, while scriptwriter Kim Sae-bom worked on Sunday’s episode.
Based on Jang Yi’s web-comics ‘Amazing Rumor’, the action-packed series revolves around a teenager So-mun (Jo Byung-gyu) who joins a group of exorcists with special abilities to fight against evil spirits that escape from the afterlife to prey on humans. It also stars Yu Jun-Sang, Kim Se-Jeong, and Yum Hye-Ran.
The finale is currently scheduled to air on January 24.
It started off with a 2.7% viewership rating when it aired in November and has steadily been growing, reaching a two-digit rating for the first time in OCN’s history.
On January 10, ‘The Uncanny Counter’ scored the cable network’s highest viewership rating at 10.6% and is among top trending on Netflix in the UAE, due to its special effects and cathartic vigilante storyline. This achievement marked a new viewership record not only for the series but also for the South Korean network.
With the head writer’s absence, the rating reportedly slipped for Saturday’s episode, hitting 9.4%.
Due to the show’s increasing popularity, OCN is reportedly in final talks for a second season.