To My Star 2 (2022)

tristezza infinita nei primi episodi, ma BL da guardare assolutamente

ho guardato questa seconda stagione subito dopo la prima stagione e devo dire che ho fatto fatica a guardarla a causa del netto cambio di tono. Nei primi episodi sono stato infastidito sia dal comportamento inspiegabile di Ji Woo (le cui motivazioni vengono spiegate solo negli episodi finali), sia dalla insistenza eccessiva di Seo Joon. Tuttavia con il passare degli episodi mi sono sintonizzato meglio e mi sono emozionato tantissimo negli episodi finali. Questo mi ha fatto rivalutare anche i primi episodi, riuscendo a capire che forse parte del mio fastidio era dovuto alle mie aspettative e non alla qualità della messa in scena. Per capire le azioni dei protagonisti bisogna capirne le motivazioni più intime. I protagonisti sono imperfetti e commettono degli errori, e gli errori non sono romanticizzati, ma vengono mostrati per quello che sono. E' sicuramente raro vedere un drama BL con questa profondità, e forse questo può spiazzare, ma una volta entrati in sintonia con il tono della serie, ti rimane dentro.

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A bit disappointing, with a lot to be desired

My first time writing a review, and it’s for the second season of one of my favourite dramas. Oh boy here we go.

I’ll be honest, I had put off watching this season for a while, since the comments and reviews foreboded a lot of angst, which the drama definitely delivered. But having binged it through, I feel a bit angry, a bit confused and a bit disappointed. First though, the positives.

What sold me on the first season, was the chemistry of our main couple Ji Woo and Seo Joon and once again, did the drama deliver with some truly great acting, framed by nice cinematography and a refreshing new setting. I really liked the new characters, I feel like most of them aided the plot well and brought interesting new dynamics in. And as painful as the first four episodes were in their subject matter, I enjoyed them immensely for the way they built up the new plot. But after episode 4, I felt like the story had unfortunately missed its chance to turn the plot around.

The kiss at the end of episode 4 should’ve been the catalyst for Seo Joon’s and Ji Woo’s relationship to shift again. It marks for one, that Ji Woo’s cruelty from before was a facade, since he was the one who initiated the kiss and he was the one admitting to being unable to “ignore” Seo Joon. For the other, it should’ve been the starting shot for the plot to clear up. Why did Ji Woo leave? What is his relationship with Sung Yoon and why is it so complicated? And also, what effect is this having on both Ji Woo and Seo Joon?

Instead of focusing on these questions the plot loses focus and becomes a bit frustrating. I ended up being quite upset with Ji Woo, for being so unnecessarily cruel in episode 5, during the dinner scene. It didn’t fit his actions from before nor did it help in inching the story closer to its goal: Getting our main couple back together. Ji Woos stoicism and deflection turn from purposeful actions to keep Seo Joon away from him, to dishonest tactics that muddle his integrity as a character who’s supposed to be in emotional turmoil.
It’s not that he isn’t allowed to be confused; it’s that his confusion is never expressed in a way that makes me feel like I understand where he’s coming from. Till the end, I didn’t get his reasoning. Getting overwhelmed and running away, being unable to face your own cowardice and preferring to hide, are all things I understand and that I would’ve loved to have explored through Ji Woos character. So why is it that he defaulted to being cruel and mean to someone he supposedly loves and is extremely attached to, to someone who truly didn’t do anything wrong on his part, who very much tried their best to be a good partner? Id think hurting someone you love would hurt you just as much, no?

Episode 10 then, ended up being too little too late for me. 45 Minutes of everything being happy go lucky, after Ji Woo crawls back and cries to Seo Joon, who’s been emotionally drained from all sides, to hug him. Unable to explain himself properly till the very end, he talks childishly about his reasoning. And that’s it, they’re back together.

And as much as I wanted to enjoy everything “being resolved”, I couldn’t. It felt unfair towards Seo Joon, who’d been dragged back and forth by Ji Woos whims, until the end.

It’s a shame really. Because I do like Ji Woos character and there’s so much potential for psychological exploration there, that has all been untapped. And the same goes for Seo Joon. Although I liked him a lot more, I could’ve used a bit more exploration of his emotional state, the way he copes and the way he is and has been since season 1, a very depressed person. I think we got a glimpse of that, during his call with his father, but i would’ve liked a bit more. In the end, it felt like everything got wrapped up in a big blanket labelled “LOVE” to resolve everything; the plot got put to bed without nearly being ready for it. But welp.

Beyond what I’ve already said, I feel like the restaurant storyline was quite rough around the edges and a bit repetitive. I would’ve also liked more about Sung Yoon and her relationship with Ji Woo. If maybe his behaviour had been a pattern from before, getting scared of his own happiness and abandoning it or something. Anything. But well. Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve.

Ultimately, I didn’t enjoy this season as much as I did the first one, which had its flaws but none like these. I feel like the drama bit more off than it could chew. As I said I’m a bit disappointed, but I’m happy for anyone who’s enjoyed this season regardless and had a good time. Good on you! :)

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A Season of Stars

While Season 2 of To My Star left me feeling conflicted in some ways, I ultimately found it to be a more satisfying story that Season 1. As much as I did enjoy the first season, I also found it to be a bit shallow, lacking background and explanations. I appreciated that this second season delved more into the characters past and answered some of those questions. And while a breakup was predictable, I did find many elements of the story and the characters actions to be realistic, if a bit heavy handed at times. On the other hand, the lack of any of kind of real resolution between the lead characters was disappointing as were the demands they made of each other which were unrealistic and unreasonable. Still, at the end of the day, the positives outweighed the negatives for me.

I felt the story here was stronger than that of the first season, again, because we got to delve into the lives of the characters more. Another strength was that the story wasn't linear. This can be hit or miss, but I felt it was done well here. It doesn't start at the time of the breakup, but rather after it and the circumstances of the breakup are revealed bit by bit. However, this was also a bit of a downfall because at least initially, the focus was on Seo Joon and his reaction to the breakup. The problem stems from the fact that the explanation for why Ji Woo broke up with him doesn't come until much later after he's been a complete and total ass toward Seo Joon. That lack of explanation makes it hard to understand him or have any sympathy for him. It's something that would have been important to include earlier on.

I know a lot of people think that the reasoning behind the breakup was crap, but personally I found it realistic. My understanding is that it didn't boil down to just one reason, but it was multiple reasons from feeling lonely and isolated since his social circle consisted of only Seo Joon to fearing that Seo Joon would eventually leave him. Better to leave first than be left. He was an introvert in a relationship with an extrovert. As an introvert myself, I can completely understand where he was coming from. I don't think people fully realize that the fact that Seo Joon made Ji Woo the center of his universe put a lot of pressure on Ji Woo. Self-induced pressure to be sure, but it was there. And despite some people's comments that he didn't really have any trauma affecting him, I would disagree. He had the trauma of his parent's death, the scandal from his parent's friend that led to apparently the entire village ostracizing him, and the trauma of his long term girlfriend abruptly leaving him and with a cruel text message to boot. All of that combined made it easy for him to build walls and hard for him to trust people. Even after a year of dating, it's not like that trauma would have gone away. And sometimes when the loneliness and isolation and fear reach a boiling point, it's easier to run away than face it.

His treatment of Seo Joon, however, after Seo Joon hunts him down was unnecessary. To an extent, I can understand him. He ran as far away as he did to get away from Seo Joon, to get over him, and here comes Seo Joon refusing to take no for an answer and stirring up those feelings again. I get why he would be pissed. But I think he could have gotten his point across without the gaslighting and cruelty.

For Seo Joon, if memory serves, Ji Woo asks him he's a dog at one point and in many ways he does act like a dog, he certainly has the loyalty of one. His inability to get over Ji Woo even after a year, his determination for them to work things out, and finally his attempt to shut Ji Woo out, were all so relatable. I think there's the temptation to call him desperate or pathetic, but I didn't find him to be either of those. I think when you find that one, you're not willing to give them up easily. I know I've seen comments from people saying they don't understand why he even loved Ji Woo, but you have to keep in mind that love isn't logical and there isn't always a concrete reason for it. The need for closure, to understand why Ji Woo left him, was also important. Especially after a year, when it seems like they didn't really have any major fights or arguments during that time, that would be important for him to know. Despite the fact that I do find his actions relatable and understandable, I also don't condone them as they were pretty obviously emotionally and mentally unhealthy. Then again, we don't always do the smartest things when we're in love, do we?

The side characters were a mixed bunch for me. While I liked Sung Yoon as a character, I was not a fan of her role as the ex-girlfriend presented to create tension and drama. I hate when women are used like that, it's such a disservice. I was glad that wasn't her sole purpose even if it was her primary one. She still came across as a strong woman which I appreciated and I liked her friendship with Da Kyung. Da Kyung was entertaining as a single mom and Ji Woo's friend. At first I was afraid they were going to try to put them together and I was very glad when they didn't. Although it wasn't showcased much, I liked what little of their friendship was shown. And I just liked her in general. To me she came across as a strong, badass woman which I loved. Pil Hyun was great to have back. I liked him in the first season and I liked him here again. My only qualm is that I think he should have dumped his girlfriend because he deserved someone better. The only two characters I took issue with, and even then only minorly, were Ho Min and Yoo Ha. With Ho Min, his suddenly leaving to become an idol came out of nowhere. It was a completely unnecessary and underdeveloped plot point that served no point. Yoo Ha, cute as she was, some of her dialogue was a bit too adult. It just wasn't believable that a child her age would say some of the things she said, at least not in my opinion.

The acting was good all around. Kang Min, who I felt was a bit weak at times in the first season, definitely upped his game this season. He was more consistent, his expressions were better and more nuanced and he seemed more comfortable. He still seems to struggle with some of the more emotional scenes, but, again, overall a great improvement. Woo Hyun was fantastic. This was the first drama I've seen him, but I plan on watching others at this point. He's so expressive, I just really enjoyed his performance.

The production value was a clear improvement over the first season which wasn't bad in the slightest, but there is a difference. My one issue is that some of the editing wasn't as clear as it could be. There were a few times where it took a moment to figure out if a scene was from the past or the present. The cinematography was fantastic. As a foodie and someone who likes to cook, I loved the cooking and food shots. The OST was perfection. It just so flawlessly suited the drama in every way. I think my favorite song is the one our two leads sing. Beautifully sung and it really conveyed the mood and emotions.

Now for the aspects that I found less than desirable. Things between Ji Woo and Seo Joon were wrapped a little too neatly for my taste. Yes, there's a brief conversation as they make up, but these two needed to sit down and have a long conversation. Now I suppose we can assume they did that off screen at some point, but since that's not alluded to at any point, I'm not willing to make that assumption. The problem I see here is that without having a proper discussion about what led to Ji Woo running away, it leaves open the possibility of it happening again. On the one hand, that seems less likely to happen since Ji Woo has more of a support system than just Seo Joon there at the end, but it is something that needs to be addressed. I also don't feel like Ji Woo ever properly apologizes for his treatment of Seo Joon earlier on which he absolutely should have. Regardless of his struggles and conflicting emotions, he owed him a massive apology. Another concern is their demands of each other, that Ji Woo not pick out his clothes ahead of time, I think it was, because his ex does that, and that Seo Joon not smile at others or talk on the phone so much, if memory serves. Ji Woo had thrown out some other issues earlier in the drama as well. All of these are ridiculous and, frankly, unreasonable. It is setting each other up for failure, not to mention a level of possessiveness of each other that could also be problematic.

So would I recommend this drama? Provided you're not looking for a fluff piece, yes. The material here is much heavier than in the first season and though we do get our happily ever after, it's a longer and tougher journey to get there. Personally though, I would say that journey is worth it and I found this second season to be superior to the first.

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Painful but I loved the end

I went into this still confused on some events of the first season (thankfully, someone commented on the review and helped clear up some things). From the summary, I knew that either Seo Joo or Ji Woo had left ending the relationship with a note, but I wasn't sure which it was. I expected to to last much of the season with one looking for the other, but it was resolved within the first episode.

For most of the season, the audience is trying to find out what Ji Soo left Seo Joo. Seo Joo spent a year looking for him, only to find him in his home village, living in the house he did during his childhood and had opened a restaurant that is not doing so well in its location. The reasonings his gave and his cold attitude towards Seo Joo doesn't make sense especially from where the first season left off. Watching Seo Joo trying to talk to Ji Woo, getting to know the villagers and even call Ji Woo at the restaurant numerous time to tell him to come pick up his stuff was just heartbreaking. No matter how frustrated and confused I felt, I wanted answers. We meet the Village Chief, Han Da Kyung, who is a neighbor to Ji Woo and her daughter Yoo Ha, who called Ji Woo 'Dad". We also meet Jung Sung Yoon who is not only from the same village as Ji Woo but also his ex girlfriend. I watched this on Viki and the comments were so rude about her character. I enjoyed the banter banter between Seo Joo and Sung Yoon, they both dated the same person but as different parts of his life.
Seo Joo tried so much that there times that I just wanted him to stop and just leave Ji Woo behind. He didn't deserve him. Based off of Ji Woo mannerism, I wondering if it was autistic but undiagnosed. In an epilogue there is a clip of Ji Woo telling Seo Joo that is not hard to hang his clothes going the same direction. I could be wrong but it was just what I got from things. Towards the end, we finally got Ji Woo perspective on his relationship with the two people and how different they were. He watched a live stream on Seo Joo birthday, not knowing that Seo Joo stated that he wasn't staying because he was celebrating with his partner which is the day that Ji Woo left. I do love when Ji Woo decides to stay at Seo Joo apartment and the CEO leaves. Ji Woo leaves and returns with ingredients for dinner (which is looked like saffron rice) "Who do you think you are'? Seo Joo states. it was like saying how dare you come in here and make dinner as if things are how they used to be. You left me, remember? And then Ji Woo explains and states how was confused and states things he wasn't Seo Joo to stop doing, and the two talk some more and with that the two get back together. Would this have been better if it was stated in the first place instead of him just leaving? Yes. But the growth of the two and the realization the two go through, was worth the end result. I may watch the last few episodes again just to understand Ji Woo feelings and points of view again. I do not see myself turning this on again to watch fully, but there were scene in this that I really liked.

There is also the issue of Seo Joo panics attacks. He mentions how his parents left him, but we see from the phone conversations that his health were primarily the reason as to why they dissociate themselves with him. Which is a way is sad. They also didn't attend observation at school like with Yoo Ha and her Mom who is so busy with work that she forgets and lets her daughter down a lot. The Villagers also seem to be punishing Ji Woo because of something that his parents did years before so no one is really coming to the res. I know that small towns and villagers are untruthful of newcomers but to punish their child. I am still not really clear on that myself.

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For mature audience.

This sure was a roller coaster full of emotions. To My Star S2 is not for everyone and it’s understandable… It’s much more depressing and serious than the first season. But I gotta say, out of all BLs I watched that has more than one season, To My Star definitely has the best sequel! I enjoyed this even more than first season, because of its depth. Season 2 is for mature people, all characters here are realistic and flawed - especially Ji Woo. You will be frustrated at him, even angry at him, but he is really a complex character that you will also feel for.

So… Ji Woo leaves Seo Joon with just a note ’let’s end it here’ and dissapears. Seo Joon, of course heartbroken, tries to find him. After 1 year Seo Joon finds out that Ji Woo has moved back to his hometown far from Seoul. He immediately goes there, hoping for answers. But Ji Woo is cold as ice and is clear that he doesn’t want to go back to Seo Joon. Meanwhile Ji Woo is struggling with his italian restaurant that has not many customers. Anyways, Seo Joon is of course confused and doesn’t understand why Ji Woo is so cold towards him…Seo Joon who loves Ji Woo so much, won’t give up easily.

This is so much more than just a BL - this hit so deep! It’s angsty and sad, and sometimes you wonder ’how is it possible to be so cold and harsh as Ji Woo’? Like I wrote earlier, he can be sooo frustrating! We get to know many new characters from Ji Woo’s hometown. Since it’s just a village it feels like a community, like one big family, although Ji Woo is not really popular there due to his introverted nature and because of what his parents did when they were still alive. We get to know for exemple Ji Woo’s neightbours, a single mother and her 9-year old daughter who he is very close to. Also, his ex-girlfriend who just came back from USA, also appears.

Ji Woo who acts so cold and emotionless towards poor Seo Joon makes one almost think that he has no feelings left, like at all. But if you really pay attention you can see that Ji Woo still loves him, it’s just that he is so, so scared. And then there is his ex… you can’t help but to admire Seo Joon and be so touched by him, because he refuses to give up on Ji Woo, just shows How strong his love is, makes you wish that you had someone like Seo Joon, who never gives up on you. At same time you feel for him, it’s painful to see how Ji Woo treats him so badly over and over again. Some think Ji Woo doesn’t deserve Seo Joon, that’s understandable. But I think it’s more complex than that, you don’t really know what’s going on in Ji Woo’s mind, and that drives us viewers AND Seo Joon crazy! But as series goes on, you will see more of Ji Woo’s inner thoughts and his Vulnerability.

Although the badly treatment of Seo Joon, Ji Woo and Seo Joon remains one of my favorite couples, I love How natural they are with each other, everything looks so real, like it’s not acting. The actors Son Woo Hyun and Kim Kang Min are made for their roles and their chemistry is amazing. This is as I wrote a mature series, so there are no silly or cringey moments here. The passion and desire between Seo Joon and Ji Woo is very strong, even though Ji Woo acts coldly towards Seo Joon, we can he desires him just as much as Seo Joon desires him. And that Ji Woo worries and cares for Seo Joon. We will get to later understand Ji Woo a lot more, where he is coming from, why he left and why he treats Seo Joon coldly.

For me this is a near perfect series, this is the kind of angst I love. There is nothing really I want to change about this one. Seo Joon and Ji Woo two totally opposites - complement each other so well. They’re a match made in heaven and just like what Seo Joon said; I guess we are really meant to be. To My Star 1&2 is my second favorite BL, after The Eighth Sense. I can’t rewatch To My Star S2 often because its just so sad, but if you really want to feel things in a deep level - then this is for you. You will for sure feel all kind of emotions…

Some think Seo Joon is way too forgiving and pathetic for going after Ji Woo nonstop, but for me like I wrote earlier, its admirable. And when Ji Woo starts to show more and more his vulnerable side, you totally feel for him and can’t bring yourself to hate him. You just want to give him a big hug! To My Star S2 hits me all my right spots, and I’m so glad South Korea is becoming more and more accepting of homosexuality. To My Star will always have a special place in my heart, everyone should give this one a chance!

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good ending

At first when I watched the first movie/drama and found out there was a 2nd season, I thought about not watching it because I knew something bad would happen due to the fact that the first season ended so well and I will cry because of it ...BUT I watched it anyway and it was unique. aAnd for people wondering if they should watch it YOU HAVE WATCH IT! Yes there were tragic things and suffering, but everything is worth it in the end. The acting was very good and so was the story..really enjoyed the drama and I think this ending was good enough to end the whole series

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Season 1s emo sibling

This season of "To my star" delivered the same chemistry from the lead actors with a more heart wrenching plot than it's predecessor. The flip of the couple's mood this time around shines a light on how a relationship can change over time. Especially between the personality dynamics and struggles of that for a couple like in To My Star. I enjoyed the character development seen in this season from all characters, although Han Ji Woo's actions in this story was frustrating to sit back and watch , I completely understood his character motives and the emotional weight of the thoughts behind them. I commend the actors for giving themselves to these characters and would easily recommend the first and second season of this show.

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não tão boa como a primeira mas ainda tem seu valor

eu passei exatos 10 episódios tentando entender qual o motivo de terem feito uma segunda temporada em que 9 episódios são um sofrimento interminável, e a conclusão que eu cheguei é que a primeira temporada é muito sobre o seojoon e a segunda é muito mais sobre o jiwoo. sendo sincero eu fiquei frustado na maneira que as coisas ocorreram, eu sou um grande fã de drama mas sinto que ele em excesso as vezes pode ter um efeito negativo. sobre a qualidade não tem muito o que falar, impecável tal como a primeira, apesar do drama em excesso eles trabalham isso de uma forma muito boa. na minha visão as duas temporadas seguem um ritmo diferente, a primeira funciona como uma maneira de assitir algo dramático-bonito-bonito e a segunda dramático-dramático-bonito.

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Worth the investment of time

I loved this drama and was drawn in by the mystery of why Ji Woo had walked out on Seo Joon without explaining himself, leaving Seo Jeon to worry and fantasise and not let go because he needed a reason. When he does track him down, a year later, he is met with a closed off defensive person who rejects any romance overtures.

This omission of why the two leads are behaving in the way they are allowed me to feel the confusion and pain. I spent a lot of the time with tears in my eyes as I waited to see how this drama will play out.

The writers have made them very human. The actors captured the angst and craziness that is relationships, breakups and the effects on the one left behind. The backstory is gradually revealed so we can once again gain empathy for Ji Woo.

The push pull dynamic is displayed in all its illogical actions and internal drama and thankfully they work out a compromise so they can keep their relationship happening. It is not fairytale perfect and involves compromise but we are left with hope for their continuing growth in their relationship.
Not a BL but a slice of romance for all, no matter what your orientation.

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A Personal Favourite

Honestly, this series might rank as my top BL from any country, even though it completely broke me and my emotions. If you’re looking for an angsty BL — this BL is for you.

The story is almost a complete genre shift compared to Season 1 — which I pegged as more of a comedy with some drama. On the other hand, this season really brought the tragic emotions of the characters to the forefront, and really found the characters having to face their burdens head on. So if you’re expecting a funny story between a ‘top star’ and ‘top chef’, this season is not it.

I think the genre shift suited the story particularly well, and really fleshed out the characters quite a bit. Season 1 felt quite superficial in its narrative, but I’m glad we really got to understand the characters a lot more.

For most of the season, we don’t know why Ji Woo truly ended the relationship — initially giving superficial reasons about Seo Joon’s habits, but hinted that it was because Ji Woo felt lonely during the relationship. Seo Joon continuously tries to coax the real reason for why Ji Woo left him, but it left with very little answers.

I must admit, being on either side of this conflict would be awful — but I do understand both of their perspectives. Ji Woo felt like he was nothing without the relationship with Seo Joon, he would always be home waiting for him, and had no support structure in Seoul. So he ran away, to try and prove to himself that he can be happy by himself. Seo Joon from the shock of suddenly finding a note to tell him that the relationship is over, continuously tries to find and then persuade Ji Woo to come back, whilst also finding out what the real reason was for breaking up with him.

I think the fact the BL felt so real, made me actually feel frustrated with Ji Woo. Other BLs I watch, I can quite easily distance myself from the characters because of the unrealistic nature of quite a few series. But for this one, I felt upset and angry (as Seo Joon did) and it broke me. I have to commend the whole cast and crew for making such a beautiful story to watch.

The cinematography was interesting and unique — compared to other shows, it used a slightly different aspect ratio — as if you were almost looking through a camera. And considering that it was almost as if we were looking back on these moments, or as if they were being told as if they were in the past, made this aspect ratio really amazing and integrated well with the story.

I also loved the interspersed flashbacks — it feels rather disorientating initially to try and grasp what is a flashback and what was the ‘present’ moment for the characters, but I think this worked in its favour as almost capturing what Seo Joon was feeling about his life.

In terms of what I disliked — there isn’t too much to dislike in my opinion. I think it is too angsty for me to watch again completely, and obviously would have loved more of an episode 10 where we can see more of them as a loving couple. But as art, to me it was almost a masterpiece. It really changed my perspective on BL and also in my own life, and I really hope we get a similar standard of BLs in the future (like in the Eighth Sense as well). As much as I love this on-screen couple and the terrific work they both showed, I kinda wish we can end with Season 2 (but if there is a Season 3, I would like only happy things please!!!)

100% Recommend!!!

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What it means to be human beautifully captured

Easy to watch, easy to become engrossed in, easy to relate to. That's why I enjoyed this K-Drama so much.
All of us are hurt at some point in our lives, all of us know the feeling of needing to protect ourselves from pain and the vulnerability that comes from our longing for connection and the fear of its loss. This story beautifully weaves threads around this most basic human need into a rich tapestry of human experience.

We know from the very outset that the happy ever after from season 1 did not stay that way. What follows is an exploration of vulnerability. Past losses and rejections, trauma, all leave their mark and condition the way the leads relate to their lives and each other. The drama unfolds as a dance, as each character steps forwards and then retreats, not sure how to be together.

It has it all, great chemistry between the leads, tender moments, pain and heart break, frustration at the lead for being his own worst enemy and a generous amount of affection to leave the ending fully resolved.

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