Sh**ting Stars (2022)

If You Like Tsundere Male Leads, This Is For You

Honestly, I loved every minute of this drama and it has become one of my favorites. I'm currently in the middle of rewatching it (and I almost never rewatch dramas). What I actually find so appealing is Kim Young-Dae's performance as Gong Tae-Sung. He was the perfect embodiment of a tsundere as well as the idea of "pulling pigtails." While his character was super childish, he made it seem endearing and cute, especially with how obviously infatuated he was with Oh Han-Byeol. His childish infatuation with her is definitely one of my favorite aspects of this show. I also enjoyed the slight uptick in sensuality that the couple had as well.

I found the cast of supporting characters to be very compelling, and I was relatively invested in everyone's stories, with one or two exceptions. It was cute to see Shin Hyun-Seung and Lee Si-Woo from Be My Boyfriend co-star together again; they were probably my second favorite. I also enjoyed the meta nature of this drama being about an entertainment company making a drama about actors. I found the more serious elements of the plot that come up to be gripping as well.

My one major complaint about this drama was the Africa plot element. Going to Africa (no specific country, just Africa lol) to build wells for village children is poverty porn at its finest. It was super cringey and out of touch. I really resent how they are picking up this post-colonial Western narrative of Africa being a land for missionaries to go and save people from poverty. Africa is a continent with countries of varying wealth levels, some of which are fairly wealthy, and to reduce the continent to this land in need of handouts is pretty bigoted. I understand that South Korea has likely inherited this view from the West, but in 2022 it's still embarassing and unnecessary.

Despite this major flaw, I adored the rest of this drama. I'm always a little surprised to see any negative reviews about it (other than what I mentioned as being problematic, that I understand). It has a special place in my heart!

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Was not expecting it to be this good

I watched this in those days when I felt really bored but didn't think another kdrama would be able to meet my expectations, as I had already watched so many and was a little tired of them. But this was PERFECT for me at the time, because it wasn't too emotional or heavy hearted, neither did it make me rack my brain, and it's was REALLY HILARIOUS and supperr CUTEE
I recommend this to watch if ur looking for something lighthearted, yet interesting and enjoyable, with not too much drama.
The acting was great and it makes you go into phase of just wanting to keep watching rom-coms like this one <3<3<3

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Okay, but nothing more

This was okay. I wish romcoms were still romcoms though. Who thought it was a good idea to add TWO unnecessary antagonist sub-plots into the show? So dumb, to be honest – I just skipped them🤭😪. The old lady had one-sided beef because the male lead didn’t want her to be his sugar mommy?? And the other dude was some anti-fan?? Don’t even ask, I skipped all that. The secondary couples, and romance in general, were super cute though. In my opinion, Kim Young Dae shined well in this show. He had good comedic timing and his chemistry with Lee Sung Kyung was also great. He was a lot more expressive here than he was in “Moon in the Day” (granted, those shows have … nothing in common really lmao). We could have all lived without the Africa storyline though… right? They represented a CONTINENT as some kind of entity (country) that needs saving as a whole from… a South Korean actor?? Weird. This was really… not needed at all (also, what was that yellow filter😭😭 that’s like American shows putting a yellow filter to show that they’re in Mexico… who told the director/editors that this was the way to go?🫣). The romance and comedy were cute enough, but I’m sure that there are better (and more consistent) shows out there.🤗

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Weird plot development

In the middle of the drama, the writers decided to throw everything in, including the kitchen sink. Romance? Check. A hint of a love triangle? Check? Multiple side characters with multiple romance side stories? Check? Anti-fandom villains? Check. Parental abandonment? Check. Crazy obsessive fans? Check. Bromance? Check. A dead friend trauma? Check. I ended up skipping through most of the scenes because this was too much!

The first half was very light hearted, filled with silliness and comedy. ML and FL were figuring out their feelings for each other and then became a couple. There wasn't any real conflict outside of the romantic development. After that, the writers suddenly decided to introduce a conflict - the anti-fandom, the crazy rich lady, ML's estranged mother and his childhood trauma, the dead best friend. The only downside was that the writers forgot to actually develop the plot and make these storylines interesting.

I did like ML's and FL's relationship, the love and support she gave him, with no cliche tropes involving misunderstandings and silly love triangles. However, it was very one sided. She was always taking care and supporting him because he was the celebrity and the center of all the controversy. But, he didn't do anything for her. She had virtually no personality and purpose outside of her role as his PR manager. The writers should've developed her character separately from his with her own story to allow reciprocity in their relationship where he could be there for her equally as much during hard times and trauma.

I ended up skipping most of the scenes with the side characters because it felt like filler. They were not developed enough to be interesting and the show gave them too much screen time.

Another cringey thing was the characterization of women and how they responded to romantic situations. These were not high school girls, or even young adults. These were adult women well into their careers, and they spent too much time running away and screaming when faced with awkward romantic situations. A little bit of awkwardness is ok, but this was a totally immature and childish response from grown-ass adults.

Overall, the romance was very sweet and cute, but there were too many filler scenes with forgettable side characters and a convoluted plot. The kissing was hot!

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Entertaining

This was a good blend; a bit funny, a bit of romance, a tad bit of mystery/suspense, and good acting.

I ended up half-binging it, and it did kind of surprise me in a positive way.
The leading cast both did a great job, in my eyes. ML might seem a bit “over the top”, but that was suitable for the character.

Even though it’s not that long since I watched it, I forgot to write my review straight away, so sorry to say my memory is already deluted to write a detailed review.

Main point: Entertaining and easy to watch, good acting, and doesn’t shy away from showing a bit of the backside/behind the scenes of the showbiz industry.

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A story for all those working behind the Stars

For a change, we get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of the stars. We get to see the people (in this case, the PR team, managers and journalists) who work hard to make the stars shine. We see how many hours the PR team gives for their work and especially that they have to be accessible 24 hours a day. It's a very stressful job that doesn't leave much room for the private life of these employees.

As the plot is mainly centred around the heroine's work, the romance is secondary. Don't get me wrong, there is romance, there even are 4 couples in total in the story. The story just focuses mainly on the heroine dealing with star scandals, anti-fans, revenge stories, events,...

Regarding the romance, I greatly appreciated that it was straightforward and without misunderstandings for many episodes.

This drama is tagged as an enemies to lovers, but in my opinion, their animosity is not very deep. The hero likes to play little pranks on the heroine, which makes them "enemies". They have known each other since university, which is 10 years.

This drama was hilarious and I enjoyed the little hints to other dramas.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a good time without a headache, I recommend this drama. It's fun, the actors are good and it's full of surprises.

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Very funny Rom-com

I feel like this drama is worth watching and you can make you own opinion on it. I waited for the drama to be fully released and decided to give it a go.

Honestly, I thought the drama was adorable, funny and just easy to watch. My only issue, ironically is the title, I don't like asterisks as "stars" because in American culture it's read as a curse word, but that's my personal opinion.

I love Lee Sung Kyung in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and she as always delivers. I love her long hair, awesome style and witty performance in this one. She had the perfect chemistry against the male lead and I couldn't imagine any other FL than her.

The banter between the leads is the best part of the drama. I love the cute hate to love troupe and I gobbled it up. The second and 3rd couples were cute on their own, although I felt like one of them was lacking in the chemistry department, but that is okay because the show is about the main leads.

Overall, I didn't find any issues in this drama. It was a true rom-com K drama that lives up to the expectations of a rom-com lover myself.

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I liked this

I just really liked this drama. In my opinion, it was so sweet and enjoyable. I laughed out loud a few times, I cried more than I expected to, and although I didn't think the male lead was overly handsome, I did swoon over his model pics a few times, 'cause sheesh! LOL. I appreciated that it didn't have a bunch, if any (for me), of cringe moments. I appreciated the support that the characters gave each other. There were moments that the plot line of some characters surprised me, and there were others that were predictable, and I was ok with them all.

This drama touched on some issues but it didn't shove them in your face, which I liked. Some issues got wrapped a little too neatly, but it's a drama, and if I wanted real life, I wouldn't bother watching a K-drama series.

I generally don't rewatch many dramas, but there is a definite possibility that I may actually rewatch this in the future.

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Surprising Good Series

Shooting Stars is a very surprising series and get to see lovable acting,

A rom-com well produced by the entire staff, kudos to the writer in composing and the director in translating what the writer wants to convey.

Acting,
Lee Sung Kyung is natural, got to love her putting the character in this series, i didn't see a model Lee Sung Kyung, it is oh hyan byul in the screen, Park so Jin seldomly can be seen in rom-com, this series fits her character, Lee Si Woo and Jin Ho Eun fits the crazy young couple, everyone portraited the characters in a production staff environment in an entertainment industry behind the camera.

Music
Can't go wrong with the main ost, it can be played anywhere perfect ost

definitely a rewatch recommendation if you want to laugh

All in All
a very surprising series

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PR, Stars, and Awkward Plot Twists: A Rom-Com Rollercoaster!

Running an entertainment business is no easy feat, and managing artists adds another layer of complexity despite the outward glamour. This romantic comedy follows the head of the PR team and her relationship with the company's top star. The drama masterfully balances engaging and humorous moments with some frustrating and irritating segments.

What's Working:

Main Couple: Lee Sung Kyung and Kim Young Dae deliver strong performances with excellent chemistry. Their early antagonistic interactions are particularly enjoyable.

Side Couples: The pairing of Park So Jin and Lee Jung Shin as the no-nonsense duo stands out among the two side couples.

Cameos: Numerous funny appearances from various famous actors and actresses. Both Kim Seul Gi and Song Ji Hyo were scene-stealers, their performances exceptionally humorous.

What's Not Working:

Geography Idiot: The Africa plot was extremely ignorant and equally offensive.

Uneven Plot Distribution: The drama starts light and fun, but the middle is marred by the sudden appearance of creepy anti-fans, abruptly shifting the mood. Towards the end, it gets sad and heavy with the "mom trying to reconnect" subplot.

Weak-willed Male Lead: The male lead became way too weak. It would be nice if he could man up a little to face his demons.

Overall is a mixed bag that offers both delightful and frustrating moments. While the chemistry between the main couple and the humorous cameos are highlights, the uneven plot and problematic elements detract from the overall experience. Nonetheless, it’s worth a watch for fans of romantic comedies who enjoy a blend of humor and drama.

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Quickest drama I had, I need season 2!!!!!

I truly never thought i will actually like this drama so much, this drama had a reaaaally nice pairing, and some unexpected pairings I never thought they will end up together. I thought I would never like this drama since their background is a celebrity-worker-kind of- relationship, but I end up finishing the whole thing in 2 days...

At first, they only pictured a whole platonic relationship between Taesung and Hanbyul and it was very nice to watch. I had a really good laugh during the whole episodes. And the three girls' (Hanbyul, Hoyoung, and Gibeum) love story were shown through every episodes too, so I didn't feel bored at all. I also love Suhyeok and Taesung's chemistry, I really need an episode only telling us about their funny chemistry.

Though, I was pretty confused by which and which because there was too much new people appearing in the first episode so i wasnt really sure who's who, i even mistook Mingyu for Jaehyun, I really thought he was a antagonist for a few episodes because they kinda look alike.

I had a short good cry with this drama when things were getting so chaotic. The sad feeling that Kim Young Dae expressed in Gong Taesung's character made me felt like I was the one who's suffering at that moment. Even though things were getting very tough, I enjoyed the whole series so far.

Also, did Hanbyul left Starforce? It's a question I'm curious about...

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Mainly it was talking too much about entertainment industry and the chaos problems that face stars and can change their lives into hell because of insane characters who can release just a rumor without any base
Koreans really can destroy any person with lying rumors and gossiping
They can force him to suicide without any regret and there wasn't a firm law to punish them

It had an important message

The first half was talking mainly about this issue
The second half was talking about relationships and romance which I liked more

I loved the 3 main couples so much
Specially the second one
Yoo sung and ho yeong

I dislike the 4th young married couple
their acting were under zero

I loved Shi deok so much I wished he wasn't in one side love

The drama had happy ending for all couples except Shi deok

It was nice and heart warming

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