Why Kang Tae-oh's Potato Lab ended on low ratings and mixed reactions: Confusing with toxic male lead, say fans

Another day, another K-romcom.

Netflix’s The Potato Lab has wrapped up its run — with dismal ratings but enough social media chatter to stay relevant. The viewers reviews range from ‘Why is no one talking about this’ and ‘What a perfect story’ to ‘Okay that was so cliché and boring’.

The reviews clearly are mixed, with some just leaving it at a one-time comfort watch, like a potato fry that got slightly burned and no one quite knew what to do with it.

So, should you watch this show or not?

Well, what is it about?

Set in a tranquil mountain valley, the series follows Kim Mi-kyung (Lee Sun-bin), a passionate potato researcher with 12 years of experience at the Potato Research Institute. She meets So Baek-ho (Kang Tae-ho), a strict and principled director, who has to oversee their institute. You know the drill: Tough, stern and taciturn man meeting sassy, feisty woman, enough sparks will fly to fry potatoes. So, their initial clashes over differing work styles and values gradually evolve into a heartfelt romance, all against the backdrop of potato cultivation and research.

And true to K-Dramas, there’s a band of whacky, quirky and eccentric colleagues and friends who don’t really have much of a storyline outside their unit.

So, who can watch this show?

Well, depends, are you more of a What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim person who loves the fluffy, cliché romances that can exist without a storyline as long as there is chemistry? Or are you a Twenty Five-Twenty One, When Life Gives You Tangerines person who would also want some solid storytelling along the way?

Well, if you’re from the first category and somewhere stick awkwardly between the two and a Business Proposal person, then you would want to give this a shot. But going by some fans responses, it requires some patience. And, it gets confusing at times, and even Kang Tae-oh’s intense yearning might not be enough to gloss over gaping plotholes.

What fans say

One fan expressed deep fondness for the show and wrote, “You strange little world  you made me laugh, made me think, and sometimes just sit in silence. You didn’t explain much, and maybe that’s what made you special. It’s weird saying goodbye, but I’ll remember you.”

This lack of explaining is clearly what left others confused, with some writing it off as cliché, and just strange. And Kang Tae-oh’s character was met with some rage, with many fans saying that he was a rather toxic character. “I love Kang Tae-oh, but I’m really wishing the worst for him,” one user wrote.

Yikes. Still curious about this odd little recipe? It may have flopped in ratings, but it sure cooked up a conversation. Watch it — if only to decide for yourself.