‘My Royal Nemesisg has surged to Global No. 1 on Netflix in its first week, winning over audiences with its genre-savvy blend of rom-com sparks, fish-out-of-water comedy, and a delightfully unruly clash between Joseon sensibilities and modern capitalism.

Lim Ji-yeon stars as Shin Seo-ri, taking on both the fierce Joseon villainess Kang Dan-sim and her modern-day host with effortless shifts between period drama intensity and offbeat comedy. The role marks another standout performance for the actress, who became widely known for her turn as Park Yeon-jin in ‘The Glory’ (2022), according to a Nteflix statement yesterday.

Opposite her, Heo Nam-jun plays Cha Se-gye, a cold and capable third-generation chaebol whose carefully controlled life begins to unravel after Seo-ri enters the picture. His curiosity about her — despite his constant attempts to resist her chaos — fuels much of the show’s comedic and romantic tension.

Viewers are already responding to the chemistry between a Joseon villainess trying to survive modern society and a chaebol heir who may have finally met someone he can’t control, the statement exulted.

Accused of conspiracy to kill the queen and crown prince, Kang Dan-shim (Lim), the king’s favourite mistress, is sentenced to be executed on the day of the solar eclipse. But when the palace guards force poison down her throat, Dan-shim’s soul is transported into the body of Shin Seo-ri, an aspiring actress 300 years in the future. When Seo-ri opens her eyes, she’s working as a body double for the lead in a Joseon-era period piece.

While struggling to make sense of where she is and how she got here, Seo-ri is nearly run over by business tycoon Cha Se-gye (Heo) while he’s driving to his next meeting. The hot-tempered CEO lashes out at Seo-ri and the two trade barbs.

Later, once Seo-ri recovers from the shock of waking up in the 21st century, she realizes that this may be her one chance for a second shot at life. New episodes premiere every Friday and Saturday.