I Picked Up a Star on the Road (2018)

Finish in a day type of watch

I don't remember it being as horrible as its rating is. In short, don't take this drama very seriously. I finished it in a day and didn't have a lot of expectations. I remember not hating it, but it also was kind of dumb? Not something I'd really recommend to others to watch but also I might rewatch it in the future just to remember what it was actually about. So just don't expect much from it, know it has dumb parts to it, and the guy is hot (hence why I watched it). If you're looking for a good drama to sit down and watch for a few days, I wouldn't recommend this. There wasn't much of a great plot.

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Funny but should have committed more to unrelatable FMC

The concept of an accidental kidnapping of a superstar is fun, and there are certainly some scenes in this show that play with that concept for all it's worth. Nak Goo helping Lee Yeon Seo to keep Kang Joon Hyuk prisoner because he doesn't realize it's a kidnapping is probably the funniest running gag, and it has a good payoff with Nak Goo eventually being willing to aid and abet anyways because of his crush. Other funny aspects include Kang Joon Hyuk and Lee Yeon Seo occasionally having awful priorities, Nak Goo's possible chaebol background (??) and Kang Joon Hyuk's general outrage at his situation.

However, I think it was hard for me to get into this drama partly bc despite the female lead kidnapping Kang Joon Hyuk and twice almost murdering him, we're still supposed to find her more mundane struggles relatable. Like, you get the sense that we're meant to sympathize with Lee Yeon Seo's job and money struggles and see Joon Hyuk as kind of a spoiled brat when regardless of their financial situations, she is literally the kidnapper here. The show constantly shows Yeon Seo being used and abused by Joon Hyuk's demands for better treatment and his rudeness towards her, which is ridiculous. She is still obviously the villain in this situation. I'm fine with Joon Hyuk eventually deciding to sympathize with her (and maybe getting a little Stockholm Syndrome) but does the narrative have to constantly side with Yeon Seo too? In fact, when Joon Hyuk gets away from her and comes back to sort of befriend her outside of a kidnapping context, Yeon Seo not having to follow his orders is shown as her gaining power in their relationship, which is just kind of weird...

Moreover, to completely lift blame from Yeon Seo, the show randomly adds in another villain as the person who "actually" attacked Joon Hyuk, which is just stupid. While I wouldn't be against Joon Hyuk facing a more serious threat than Yeon Seo, the fact remains that Yeon Seo still did attack and kidnap him. That was a thing that really did happen. The show wants to have some dark humor with Yeon Seo kidnapping someone but it feels like it's unwilling to actually admit that she really did kidnap Joon Hyuk and is really holding him captive. Well, maybe I'm taking the premise too seriously... But if the show was more willing to commit, and maybe go a bit darker, I honestly think the funny parts would only get funnier, and it would help the tension and characterization a lot too.

Anyways. It was still pretty funny if not all I could have hoped for. My favorite part was Nak Goo, honestly just a sweetie if kind of a weirdo.

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"De-puff your cheeks or I'll pop them"

The whole premise for this show is bonkers. So many super wrong behaviors just get written off with light comedy. But whatever, it was ok for a quick light watch. It was not, however, clever or sensical. So many leaps were made with so little justification. The chemistry wasn't terrible, except the male lead. I don't know if he was trying to come off as aloof and misinterpreted that as being above emotion as well, but I just didn't get any sort of good feeling from him in this drama compared to the other dramas he's been in...his emotion for everything was listless, whether rage, love, or annoyance, same face for them all. He had a lot of good dry one-liners though, which provided a nice platform for the FL to rebound off of.

The female lead was cute and engaging with massive eyes...but they stole too much of her character from Strong Woman Do Bong Soon....except the entire show she's tossing dudes around like they're nothing but in the end she can't defend herself at all suddenly? Still, her character was good and the execution was pretty well done, she had a lot of great comedy moments.

All in all, I don't regret watching it, but it fell pretty flat for me.

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Stockholm Syndrome Kdrama Style

I Picked Up A Celebrity on the Street (2018)

Likes
1. The plot was so ridiculous that i almost thought of dropping this after ep 2. But it was also so intriguing and funny so i continued watching. I think by ep 3 i started appreciating the dark humor. Plus Sung Hoon is so handsome as grouchy arrogant Hallyu star! ?
2. The female lead is not too bright but im impressed how creative and out of the box she is in coming up with solutions to her problem. (If only she channeled it at work) Afraid she killed a person? Drag him home and really kill him. He woke up and threatens to report you to the police? Kidnap him and hold him hostage! Worried he might escape? Sign a contract that he agrees to live with you without escaping! ??? Totally absurd but the leads are so hilarious and cute together! Of course they will fall in love in the end!
3. More than the kidnapping, this was also about Joon Hyeok investigating who was trying to kill him. I had an initial guess who it was (i ended up being right) but i didnt know the motive. The reveal was as dark as the mood of the second half and liked it.
4. I liked how much the trio have grown up so much by the end of the drama. Joon hyuk became softer and nicer, Yeonseo became happier and more hardworking and Nakgoo finally found his passion.
5. The OST was fantastic! Im getting LSS from swing swing swing baby??

Dislikes
1. The change in the vibes. The first half was light and wacky, the second half became too serious and dark.
2. The ending came too fast, should have added one extra episode or extended 30 more mins.

Rating: 8/10

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Full of anger towards her boss, she confidently glides up behind him.

Full of anger towards her boss, she confidently glides up behind him.
Deciding that taking a 'swing' at him, is the best possible outcome, to an otherwise ridiculously disappointing day.

Come on! If this isn't God's will, or at least a TREMENDOUS opportunity presented to her, then what is?
No, Really?

Chances of her getting done for this must be small, after all, this is a seedy little alley way, behind some bar.
Taking this bastard down with her, would not only be a pleasure, but in this moment, worth it.

He unceremoniously goes down like a sack of potatoes, and much like any sack of potatoes, he doesn't do much else but lay there....seriously, he's NOT moving.... OH FUC-

This is a very warm story that's all heart, murder, various forms of anxiety, but most of all it's a story about KIDNAPPING.

And of course, the neighbour who presents very competitive pricing, when it comes to babysitting your OPPA.

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Genius Romantic Comedy Drama

If you're a fan of comedy dramas, then this is a must-see. The background music is exceptional and sets the perfect mood for each scene. The actors deliver outstanding performances, bringing their characters to life in a way that will have you laughing non-stop.

I have to add the following becouse reviews requires at least 500 characters:

"I Picked Up a Star on the Road" is a 2018 South Korean television series produced by YG Studioplex starring Sung Hoon, Kim Ga-eun and Kim Jong-hoon¹. It's a romantic comedy about a contract worker named Lee Yeon Seo who daydreams about teaching her manager a lesson but accidentally acts out her fantasy on none other than top Hallyu star Kang Joon Hyuk. Thinking she killed him but afraid to be labeled a murderer, she takes him home and prepares to get rid of the body³.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 6/7/2023
(1) I Picked Up a Celebrity on the Street - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Picked_Up_a_Celebrity_on_the_Street.
(2) I Picked Up a Star on the Road (2018) - MyDramaList. https://mydramalist.com/30800-i-picked-up-a-star-on-the-road.
(3) I Picked Up a Star on the Road (TV Series 2018– ) - IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9108792/.

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Hilarious, funny , entertaining… just din’t take it seriously

Taking it for what it is…. A story of fiction meant to entertain you… this one fits the bill.

All characters are funny, charming… situations are crazy, funny… with a mystery and a bit of thriller as well…
Even a love triangle and a great SML, that kept me cheering for him all the time.

While the actions and rationale of FL are questionable… honestly she is drowning in debt and can’t get out if it… same with the kidnapping …. It went from bad to terrible up to a point of no return… that can make anyone stop thinking rationale…

I loved that she is stronger than ML… and actually he is afraid of her… that created a lot of funny moments ..

Overall… funny and entertaining… I recommend it… and might watch it again when I need something lightto watch…

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Pretty funny, but not stellar

The main strength of "I Picked Up a Star on the Road" is the directing. The editing and pacing are just fantastic. The story is not draggy or confusing, despite multiple flashback scenes. The ending was somewhat rushed, but since it's only a 10 episode drama, it doesn't feel unnatural. The background music was great too. Also, it was hilarious, and it had a balanced mix of slapstick and verbal comedy (although nothing was that deep, there was some darker humor mixed in). I think it's a great drama to watch while doing chores - it doesn't require any real concentration.
In my opinion, the worst faults of this drama were the casting and the script/ story. I've seen both of the main actors in different roles, and these just didn't suit them as well. Overall, the casting wasn't awful: I think the biggest issue with it was the lack of chemistry between the leads. This was the first drama where I felt SLS, and I didn't even really ship the FL with the SL. I'm sure it's hard to create a good love story between a kidnapper and their victim, and I think the writers of IPUASOTR struggled with not making it feel creepy. I don't want to spoil anything, but it just... didn't sit right with me. There were some issues with the consistency of the characters as well. Why does the FL fight (and win) in some parts and then just completely give up and scream in others? I could chalk it up to panic, but she was so focused and cool-headed when she thought she had killed someone, I have a hard time believing she would hesitate to beat someone up if her life was threatened.
Lastly, I am a bit upset that this drama was tagged "political." Almost all of the FLs monetary problems were fixed by the ML. In some parts it bordered on a "rich ML; poor/ weak FL" drama and I think that's where it really let itself down.
Conclusion: I think IPUASOTR is a solid 8.5/10. It's funny and innovative, but I think it fails to reach its potential because of sloppy writing and poor casting.

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It's like a guilty pleasure – don't take it too seriously, and you'll enjoy the madness.

"I Picked Up a Celebrity on the Street" is like a rollercoaster of laughs! Picture this: Lee Yeon Seo, a contract worker, accidentally killed a Hallyu star Kang Joon Hyuk. But surprise, he's alive! Instead of turning into a thriller, it's a wild and absurd comedy where she decides to keep him hostage to avoid trouble.

The drama is basically a comedy buffet with a side of dark humor. In the beginning, it's all about Yeon Seo's crazy attempts to hide Joon Hyuk. The humor is so over-the-top that it's like a comedy show – you know, the type that doesn't take itself too seriously. Sung Hoon, who usually does serious stuff, is hilarious in this one, and Kim Ga Eun brings the perfect mix of emotions to the table.

But wait, there's more! The plot takes a turn into rom-com thriller territory in the second half. Now, there's romance, a love triangle, and even a villain to spice things up. It's like they threw every genre into a blender, and it somehow works!

The cast is a bunch of cool catch. Sung Hoon rocks the comedic role, and Kim Ga Eun is a boss, juggling between tears and laughs. And guess what? New faces in the supporting roles give a fresh vibe. The chemistry between the leads is like the cherry on top.

Sure, the plot is a bit out there, and you need to park your brain outside. But hey, it's a short ride with only 10 episodes. It's like a guilty pleasure – you know it's not serious, but you can't help but enjoy the madness.

In a nutshell, "I Picked Up a Celebrity on the Street" is like a crazy friend who's always up for a good time. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're into quirky, unpredictable, and downright hilarious K-dramas, this one's a must-try!

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