Sh**ting Stars (2022)

Many love stories glued by BTS of entertainment industry

First time I saw KYD in Extraordinary You (you must watch it, if you haven't watched already). Even though progression wise he was 5th Main character, I liked his role the most. Then I knew he is ML material. And here we are.

Anyway, coming to Shooting stars. It's a well written light hearted RomCom. It deals with life of people, who are involved in managing, incident-resolution, PR of movie/drama stars. OHB is one such management person. She is part of company which manages GTS. In that company, our story unfolds.

In the beginning, GTS is shown to be having taken a break from acting career. He is in Africa. Doing some voluntary stuff. Some people have objected to narrow view of African continent shown in the first episode. I agree with them partially, as first of all, even if you go to Africa, you'll go to certain country there. It's not 1990s. It's 2022. We should become aware of modern standards in dealing with race and ethnicity.

Coming back to story, it will be fun filled ride of romantic moments with comedic relief.

After slow start, this dramas goes on to become one of the best shows I've seen in 2022. People might disagree with me, but I think LSK is doing much better here than she did in WFKBJ.

This show is mostly above various love-stories and love triangles (albeit lowkey). The main leads story is pretty engaging and refreshing. The second lead story is also quite naive (in a good way).

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Lead couple/storyline leaves much to be desired and is not helped by controversial aspects.

Very cute side stories (Yusung, Hoyoung, Kibum, and Soohyuk's storylines are amazing!)

However, the main couple leaves something to be desired. Taesung is somewhat unlikeable, and the "gone to Africa" savior story is simply intolerable. The whole thing is made up to make a few points:
1. Taesung is actually very kind, although he is rude to Oh Hanbyeol.
2. Taesung is crazyily into Hanbyeol enough that he would leave the country and pause his career for a year.
3. Taesung hasn't talked to Hanbyeol in a year, but he still thinks about her a lot.
But all of these points above could've been made with SO many other scenarios. For example, Taesung could've started a charity where he gave back to the local underprivileged children and then had a year where he shot a drama in a foreign country.The producers are so out of touch with the world outside of Korea, specifically in the countries in Africa, that they couldn't even been bothered to name a singular country in Africa.

Also, the leads have mediocre chemistry with each other, and everything feels very rushed to be fit into the 16 episode limit, since they spent so much of the first 5/6 episodes just establishing that Taesung and Hanbyeol bicker all the time. To be honest, the couple of Jin Yuna and Yoon Jaehyun have much more chemistry than the leads and their storyline is much more enjoyable to keep up with. If I'm being completely honest, the potential couple of Soohyuk & Kibum has me squealing more than Taesung & Hanbyeol.

TLDR: The saving graces of this drama are the great supporting characters!

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Sweet Romcom but not too tropey

When I first caught wind of this series from its trailers in March 2022, I was immediately drawn in by the leads and their undeniable chemistry. However, the initial episodes failed to leave a lasting impression on me, and my disappointment persisted through the first few episodes. Despite considering dropping the series after the fourth episode, I decided to stick with it due to a lack of other options. To my surprise, the series took a turn for the better after episode 4.

What initially seemed like filler scenes in the early episodes revealed themselves to be hidden gems, providing depth to the characters and enriching the storyline. While the screenplay may appear disjointed at times, I believe it was necessary to cover the multitude of topics within the Korean entertainment industry in the allotted time. The series delves into various aspects of celebrity life, fostering a newfound empathy for these individuals.

However, if you're seeking a romcom that solely focuses on the main leads or specific character dynamics, this series may not be for you. Nevertheless, the chemistry between the characters, both main and supporting, is undeniably compelling and authentic, adding to the overall appeal of the series.

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Finally a RomCom with a perfectly good ending !!

* SPOILERS ALERT *

For starters I know this drama had quite an explosive start with the first 2 episodes: first the Africa controversy and then the scene in which the main lead chases the female lead in the restroom. For the Africa part, when I first saw the scene "live" and like many other people I was thinking "well they should have handled that better" and even now I agree that their approach can be viewed as problematic. With the drama now finished, I personally think the writers didn't want to "target" one country in particular, in order to not offend anyone but it backfired and frankly I can understand why others were angry. For the chase scene, likewise, I could perfectly understand why some viewers were shocked by it. If this happened in real life, of course Han Byul should have reported him immediately to the police (I would have 100% supported her in this process) but we need to keep in mind that this is only fiction, even though I agree this scene wasn’t necessary and they really could have done better without.

Now that I talked about the not-so-great things, I can talk about the GOOD things, and there are many! First is the fantastic chemistry between all the cast and especially the main couple. I can’t believe some people thought there was no chemistry between Han Byul and Tae Sung. Even at first when they were more on the “enemies” side they had amazing chemistry and even more so when they became a couple. I even thought at times that they actually fell for each other while filming lol. The only thing that quite puzzled me with this couple was the very hard feelings they seemed to have for each other at the start of the drama. For Han Byul I could understand considering her past experience but with Tae Sung it was a little more hard to believe… At first he seemed to resent her because she kinda “forced” him to leave the country and do charity work but then we learn that he apparently already liked her at the time (even if he wasn’t aware of his feelings) and also at the end of the drama I thought I understood that he actually wanted to leave the country because of what happened to his best friend?? It was a little confusing. But hey I can work with that.

Now for the other couples, I actually really liked the fact that the writers decided to keep the viewers guessing as to what couples would be endgame. There were so many possibilities lol. On a more negative note, I wasn’t really invested with the young actors, like don’t get me wrong, their scenes together were really funny but I honestly don’t know why they fell for each other in the first place. And sadly I don’t think the actor playing Yoo Na’s love interest was adapted for this role, but again it’s just a personal opinion. And for Yoo Sung and Ho Yeong, I admit they were cute but some of their scenes were just cringe, the constant patting on the head and the childish behavior of Ho Yeong was a little hard to look at. Apart from the romance, I also loved the friendship between the cast: the girls’ trio, the blooming bromance between Tae Sung and the lawyer, his friendship with both his manager and assistant… I can’t talk about them all because there were many but it was really refreshing and captivating to watch.

I also want to talk about the humor in this drama. I honestly didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did, because I only read the synopsis and didn’t watch the trailer beforehand but omg some scenes were just hilarious. Of course it might not be the case for everyone but for me it really checked all the boxes. And the many cameos were absolutely delightful to watch! The music was also a major bonus point. Some scenes were enhanced by the music choice and timing, and the little “animations” were also a nice and funny touch. On the other hand, some episodes were much more serious, especially in the second part of the drama with ep12/13, but it is very understandable with its context. Unfortunately, to a be a part of this world doesn’t mean that all is always pink, glitter and unicorns and the writers and director did a fairly good job in denouncing the not-so-pretty behind the scenes. Keep in mind that they could only show a little of this “dark side” at the risk of flirting too much with the melodrama/tragic genre. That’s also why I loved this drama so much, because despite talking about some serious themes, the show still has this “heartwarming and funny” aspect to it, but it also doesn’t fail to bring tears to your eyes at some well placed pivot points.

Honestly I didn’t expect to find myself attached to these characters so quickly. Of course 16 episodes was the right choice but I wouldn’t mind at all if they suddenly decided to add 4 more episodes to it, that’s how much I loved this story and the characters because I wasn’t bored at all! And it’s so rare for me to find all the different arcs and characters interesting until the very end. Of course I wasn’t in love with absolutely everything (like the young actors couple mentioned before) but they still made things intriguing, and even if I wasn’t as attached to them as the rest of the cast, their scenes were still funny to watch. And I will admit that my eyes were tearing a little at the end of episode 16, not because it was sad but because I was at the same time happy and melancholic about how well the story ended. And that’s now the end of my review! On a final note, big kudos to everyone working behind the scenes. They’re working in the shadows but I think this drama did a good job in bringing them to light.

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Good just to pass the time.

If you want to watch something that doesn't really have a lot of dramatic scenes or high impact scenes, this is your drama.
The story wasn't that complicated and the issues they could've explored to give the story more dept were just brushed aside. With this I mean that they mention or give sidecharacters certain struggles and instead of exploring the impact of that or using it to show light on the issue, they just use it as "sad story folder" for male mc. With this I mean the living conditions of SOME children in Africa (and the stereotype of Africa), his mother's Alzheimer, his best friend's suicide. I know they can't make the whole show about it but how quick they were to use it as "aw, pooor sad mc" felt insensitive.
I also feel that because they glossed over this stuff, they didn't have a lot going on, so the story felt like it dragged and repetitive at times, they would've benefitted if it was a 12 episodes drama.
Regarding the couples:
Main couple I was more into them when they used to bicker but also care for each other, when they got together and their relationship turned to just" AWWWWW, MY PARTNER IS SO CUTEEEEEEEE!!!!" it became a little boring.
The two managers couple bored me. I actually shipped him with the actress he got to join the company, the fangirl of male mc. I actually love the actor (Yoon Jong Hoon, especially in Come and hug me) that plays the manager so I liked him on his scenes with other characters, the female manager just bored me, but I don't blame the actress about that.
The celebrity journalist and the lawyer were actually my fav couple, and the female journalist my fav character. It's a shame that they're the ones that had the less screening time as a couple (i understand that the mcs had more, but I would've prefered more of this couple rather than the managers couple). Another couple that I really like was the one of Yoo Na and Jae Hyun.
I sound like I didn't like this drama, but I did, it's a good one if you want to watch something lighthearted but decent. I adored the PR team, the fangirl/actress, the companionship between the people at the company.
Cameos I loved: my otp from Find me in your memory, and also lawyer's older sibling.

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A light, sweet, and funny romcom...until it's not.

A light, sweet, and funny romcom...until it's not.

I really loved the premise of this drama. It's actually such an interesting concept to be able to get a ticket pass to the lives of celebrities outside of the spotlight. We often regard them as perfect, faultless icons when in fact, they're just like the rest of us. It was fair to say that I was really excited for this drama, plus I love Sung Kyung in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and I really wanted to see her in other roles.

Even with such a good feeling about this when I started it, I was immediately disappointed from Episode 1. They kept on using Africa as a plot device to build the image of the ML as a celebrity. It's just so baffling how we're in 2022 and PROFESSIONAL writers still regard the entire continent of Africa as some place that needs saving? They make it appear that the ML was a hero of Africa digging water wells and building schools. That made me cringe so bad. But since that was the first episode, I tried to get pass it. I thought that it will be over soon and things may get better...and it did get a little better. There were some really funny scenes and the bickering between the leads were kinda cute. But, guess what? They just couldn't let Africa go. They still kept on mentioning it, making it such an important part of the story and it just ruined things for me.

To make it worse, they've kept on throwing angst and mystery one after another to build up the character of the ML and it was just too much. It wasn't fully bad and I think that if done well, the twists could've been nice additions to the drama but it was just written so poorly and the pacing was just so messy. Everything felt unstable and unnecessary and the character of the ML felt artificial. He is so inconsistent so I didn't connect with his character no matter how hard everyone's seemed to be trying to make him look like someone who you should sympathize with because oh, look at that handsome celebrity with all these traumas! They really made him look so pitiful and then baaaam! Everything was just resolved like magic.

I felt bad for Sung Kyung's character. They didn't even give her character a proper story. Like, who is she? Why is she doing this? They tried to talk to us about her character one in ten times. The other nine times, it's all just about the ML.

I almost dropped it if not for the background characters. They saved this drama for me with so little screen time. (Lee Seung Hyub is so fine!) I was just bearing the cringe so I could get to their scenes. The friendship between the FL and her best friends were fun to watch, too, until they all got boyfriends and all they ever talked about is romance. Ugh.

It was nice, though, that in the last episodes, they dropped the angst and decided to become a romcom again. I did enjoy the last three episodes after going through such a disaster.

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SO MANY BEAUTIFUL COUPLES!

I had many expectations when i first saw the cast, plot etc, the first two episodes really disappointed me, i even consider to stop watching it, but i am glad i didnt because it gets better. I believe that it had more potentionals but it was good enough (it could have been exeptional tho). I have some issues, especially in the two first episodes, like many other fans had, i found some things unneseccary and maybe i little be disturbing but i am glad that after episode 3 everything was smooth.
One thing i didnt like at the end was that some plots werent evolve much, like they just forgot about them after a while, but still it doesnt make the drama less good.

The plot in general was kinda basic, another rom com about two people that fell in love etc, but what surprised me was that they kept it very real without uneseccary drama, the main couple didnt broke up without a reason just so they could move the plot, every time something "bad" happened that could effect their relatioship they resolve it fast, they had great communication and that is something that rom coms dont get right most of the times, they just drag a storyline. But here they focused on the healthy relationship they had after they started date and actually they were really cute together, all of their scenes were so good and had the right amount of romance and comedy.
Actually all of the couple were just so good. I am not going to say who ended up with who (to avoid spoilers) but i really loved them all. My favorite was the lawyer one (if you have see it you know), the manager one was adorable and dont let me start on YuuuuNa aka national fairy one, i loved how they treated this couple. I love when dramas have many couples, especially cute ones like here. A drama with multiple couples never gets boring, cause even if you lose interest in one you always have the others.

The actors were great, everyone did an amazing job. I am not going to lie i think Kim Young Do stole the show, he is already well known but here he just nailed this, his facial expressions were always on point and his acting made me wanna watch him in another rom com (comedy really suits him). Lee Sung Kyung was very good too. I also adored Lee Si Woo she played the snobbish role so good (with less experience)... All were very good.

This drama actually highlights the problematic lifestyle kdrama actors have. They are humans too but fans tend to forget, its really annoying to see all this celebrites get hate for stuff like dating, fans dont own them, they have a life and if you really care about your idol, you would want him/her to be happy. Anyway, i get really angry everytime i think about all this.

Overall, the drama was good. Had great scenes and chemistry between the characters. If you want to watch a cute romance this is for you.

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became my favorite drama so quick

*Tiny spoilers in the second paragraph so you can skip it if you want*

Actually I didn't wanna watch it while it was airing so I waited till the drama completely aired so that I could binge watch. I expected it to be good when I was going to start it but there were so many hate comments in the Viki timed comments so I was scared it wouldn't be as good as I thought it'd be but it was really good, passed my expectations.

Normally multiple couples is a meh for me but I really loved all the couples in this drama. The main couple's chemistry was great, it was really good. I thought the main casts (Kim Young Dae and Lee Sung Kyung) were interesting at first but I knew it'd be a good pairing. I wish the second couple (I really wanna say who it is but I won't so people who haven't watched yet can look at this) got more screen time. I loved all the couples like I mentioned earlier but this couple was really great and I was so happy to see them again after Be My Boyfriend (another drama where they two were the leads).

I don't have much to comment about the music but I quickly got addicted to the OSTs, and I plan on listening to all the OSTs after I finish typing this review. I rate it a 10/10.

The plot was okay, it's just a decent plot that I liked a lot. The drama did a great job making me feel attached to the casts and everyone else. Some people thought that the penthouse cameo was cringe but I actually loved it, and I liked that they brought those three back together in this drama even if it was only for few minutes. In my opinion, episode 13 and 14 were the best but I think everyone else also found those two episodes the best.

Oh yeah, these are some things I really loved. I loved the bromance between DSH (Do Soo Hyuk) and GTS (Gong Tae Sung). It was really cute and I was smiling a lot and also the Yunaaaa. Every time HDS (Han Dae Soo) called her that, I start laughing a lot LOL.

If you have not watched the drama yet and you're considering to, I'd definitely recommend you to watch it. The drama does have some cons but there's a lot of pros. Oh and, if you are gonna watch it on Viki, I would recommend you to turn off the timed comments just for the first 10 or 11 episodes. I thought I should say that lol.

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Shooting stars is superb!!

I love this series and i love LSK all of the cast suits to their character it has a nice story.it makes me smile and cry their acting is natural and every scene it may happen in real. I cant wait to watch it every friday and saturday.i want to know how they solve the problem and how tae sung face the reallity about his personal life...its hard to trust anyone but it also hard to find the one.i hope it will have a right ending.i cant understand why it has a low tv rating although it is a good series to watch .it is the best romantic comedy drama that i love to watch the acting is great not oa and the story suits to it i hope it recieves a high rsting for the next episodes up to the last it deserves it.

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Main Roles: Lee Sung Kyung who played Oh Han Byul what a beautiful actress, I love her bangs. The part she played is very believable, I mean, how many of you would love to follow a Kpop idol around. I can imagine how hard it would be not to fall in love with them. Kim Young Dae played Gong Tae Sung and had such a baby face, a little cutie. I feel the writer went too quickly on his parts. For some reason, I felt in the storyline that the actor should've been a little older. That was just in my head. Park So Jin. Yoon Jong Hoon, Park So Jin. and Lee Jung Shin also play main roles. I love each part they played. I did love the storyline and I may rewatch it. I have been noticing more and more KDramas when it is about a Love interest the storyline hides the love of the main characters in the storyline that is. lol Thanking the rest of the team for this project.

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Your so called kdrama

The drama was like all the romance kdramas out there rich star male lead hardworking female lead and the other people around them
I really like the flow and character development here it was cringey but not over the top the love triangle was not that dramatic too.
About the couples so have so many couples here the main couple is my favourite ofcourse the chemistry was top notch with very good kissing and the side couples were great too.
The music was not so memorable for me personally
And the other emotional issues also resolved so quickly so i can say that you can watch this drama so fulfill your romantic mood it was good for romance lovers

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Simple Story

Loved the beginning of the story. So much potential. But as it continued, I felt that it became bland.

The beginning: Interesting story line, but not 100% unique. Perhaps that is why Iiked it. It was the stereotypical actor + something else combo. I loved their interactions and their love hate relationship. The comedy was a nice twist, not too cringe. The perfect balance.

Additionally, I liked the relationship the FL had with her friends. As they talked about their struggles together, I laughed with them. It was just way over the top, which made it even funnier. They were all overworked and it was nice to see them get together and drink.

The bland and the bad: I felt some parts were just there. Let me explain. When it got to the stalker portion, it just felt like stuff being added in for no benefit. Sure, ML ended up getting hurt by the lady, but that lady's background is so questionable still. That was also the time that I took a break from the drama and I felt that I had to force myself to finish it. And I did.

Furthermore, the part where the ML got sent the letters, that was so underwhelming. I thought it would be a large confrontation and whatnot, but it barely lasted like a couple of sentences. I also didn't understand his motive (well i did, but it wasn't explained well.) Throughout the entire story, and all their interactions, it wouldn't seem like he would have a strong hate for ML. I don't know if it was the actor or the director. Like, I would think the story/conversation would be more fleshed out at that part considering the red envelopes lasted across multiple episodes, but it wasn't.

Also, when the ML and FL finally got together, it felt like the cat and mouse game was over. The side couples had my attention more than the main couple. I don't exactly know why. Maybe because it was more of a slice of life afterwards. Or maybe their interactions were different, but it just was not interesting anymore. I ended up skipping through a lot of their scenes together because of it.

And the ML, he kept causing trouble. I get that he's supposed to be kind of be relying on the FL to show her competence and cause trouble to highlight the problems of the entertainment industry, but some of the stuff he did were just plain stupid. For example, the part where he answered the phone and then ended up causing a scandal. Like I get you're in love with FL, but why are you doing this. In the beginning of the story, the scandals were all false and by other people, but he is intentionally causing scandals. Idk, I just found that part to be a little more annoying than enduring for his love for FL.

Rating Explanations:
Story: Beginning was good, so that kinda makes up for the mediocre middled/end where too many story ideas were added without being fleshed out.
Acting/Cast: Again, I felt that the side couples overpowered the main couple towards the end. I ended up skipping through it sometimes.
Music: Nothing Special or memorable that I can think off at the top of my head
Rewatch value: I normally don't rewatch unless its exceptional, and this is no exception.
Conclusion: Simple Cute drama to watch when you have free time.

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