Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)

One of the Best Sapphic Adaptations till Date!

Set in the 1950s, “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” delivers a classic retelling of two Korean art forms- Gukgeuk and Pansori.

I spend a lot of time learning the intricacies of these two folk arts, which are quite liberal and intriguing as compared to those in my motherland. For those unaware, Pansori is Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a singer and a drummer, where the singer tells the story by singing and the drummer accompanies her on the drum. Incorporating this aspect into Gukgeuk was the main highlight of this show, which refers to a theatrical performance that combines singing and dancing. In post war era, Gukgeuk was extremely popular and women portrayed men’s roles. In short, it was an all female- production which had a cult following from the 1950s to 1960s, after which it rapidly declined due to the rise of films. “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” delivers a subtle romance with homoerotic tones. Adapted from the webtoon “Jeong Nyeon” (정년이) written by Seo Irae (서이레) and illustrated by Namon (나몬), the original storyline was a sapphic love story. Even though the show is a censored adaptation, the all-women ensemble renders itself useful in maintaining the sapphic flavors.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/11/18/jeongnyeon-the-star-is-born-series-review/#more-1325

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The Best Sapphic Themed Romance in a Long Time

You were my dream, my longing and my one and only Prince!”

If someone had told me that a supporting character would rise to be the main lead’s love interest, I wouldn’t have believed them. That was until I watched “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” and was left mesmerized by the romance between Jeongnyeon and Jooran. A classic retelling of the webtoon “Jeong Nyeon” (정년이) written by Seo Irae (서이레) and illustrated by Namon (나몬). If you are worried that the show is a censored adaptation, so it won’t have the same romantic connotations as the original, fret not. “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” encompasses a spell binding romance in the midst of encapsulating the Korean art forms, Pansori & Gukgeuk. For those unaware, there is a difference between both. Pansori is a Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a singer and a drummer, where the singer tells the story by singing and the drummer accompanies her on the drum. Gukgeuk refers to a theatrical performance that combines both singing and dancing. The show embodies the very essence of both art forms that were quite popular in the post-war era. Being an all women production, even the male roles were portrayed by females. We are going to talk about the different facets of this show that strongly betray its homoerotic context!

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/19/jeongnyeon-the-star-is-born-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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Conflicted Literature

Prologue

My mind never fails to go completely blank right before writing these.It feels somewhat like a line of astounding talents gone ahead before me, and my absent minded ass is up next. No idea what to write, how to portray these thoughts that future me can look back on and feel every word of it as if I’m in front of the television again pressing play for the first time. What do they want to see from this review? How do they feel of this drama? Man, wouldn’t it be so much easier to just be like the rest? Well my dear silent minority, we aren’t like the rest. Our thoughts differ, lights dim out, voices hollow, presence uncertain.

But, every now and then some of us gather the strength to shout our unpopular opinions loud enough for everyone willing to hear. Lights begin to flicker back on as we approach our biggest momentary fear, the stage is ours. Make no mistake, no matter how nor if the audience responds back to you, you’ve done something for us that will always inspire those after. There’s no telling when you’ll feel like this again, nor get the chance to express it.

You then realize those lights that were so intimidating before were never dimmed. At last , a star is born.


Man vs Everything

I’ll get my biggest frustration with this drama out of the way first to make up for the rambling. Jeongnyeon is not a complete drama. In fact, you’ll feel there’s something missing at the very beginning, but it only becomes apparent towards the end. There’s several components to a story, and that one thing you’re having that gut feeling is missing in this one, is conflict.

How so? We’ve seen many antagonists introduced, as well as internal and external struggles made out as obstacles in our leads’ way. Poor upbringings, jealousy, underdogs, loss, scandals, defamation, the list goes on. Well, could you really make these things out to be conflicts when even the characters absolutely refuse to?

First we have our favorite little star Yun Jeong. Dimwitted, until she’s not. Inexperienced, until she’s not. Star of the show, until she’s not. Daring, until she’s not. Determined, until she’s not. Damn near mute with multiple medical professionals’ ruling it as so… until, well.

My surprising favorite that deserved closure and proper writing all around, Yeong Seo. I haven’t seen a single thing from the actress until now with this drama, and i can still tell this is easily the best performance she’s put on without needing to see any other. In fact, i won’t even butcher her character here any more than the writing already had. Just know, she deserved much, MUCH better..

Speaking of deserving better, let’s reel in the last few who deserved worse. Despite my unpopular perspective with the Prince of the stage herself, I’ll admit, Moon Ok Gyeong is hands down the most fascinating character that’s completely open to interpretation. She’s a fan favorite to many, both in and outside the drama. To me? She’s the epitome of toxicity and the most subtle portrayal of an antagonist I’ve seen this year. I know that opens alot of doors for discussion, and to be fair, they’re probably not even opened at all had the webtoon been adapted faithfully enough. But we’re going from the abomination they chose to throw out for us to mindlessly consume, and that being my conclusion.

Now here’s someone i feel for certain couldn’t have been redeemed well enough in the original work to make sense of, Ju Ran. Another popular favorite, but i see no logical reason why outside of some piss poor GL teasing. Her storyline was the sole confirmation that cuts that shouldn’t have even been considered , were made. The heavy censorship behind her relations with everyone was adding gasoline to a forest fire. I see no potential redemption of this character in even the webtoon whenever i decide to pick it up. But hopefully I’m wrong.


To make something clear, this drama is by far Kim Tae Ri’s most innovative and expressive role yet. And it’s clear to me now what she’s been going for all along aren’t good scripts, but challenging roles to take her own acting range another step further. Even her weakest work steps all over 95% of the industry, and that’s no exaggeration. She has been my favorite actress in this drama land since I’ve first came across her, and she’s only reaffirmed my obsession with her work and talented eye for scripts here. If you feel even remotely similar about her, you will enjoy every last bit of this drama as i have, minus the rant after, likely.



Jeongnyeon is a successful, aspiring drama that failed as an adaption. Have i read the original webtoon yet? Not a single word. But i know a cut and rushed mess when i see it, as I’ve seen too many at this point. Want to know what else I’m aware of ? My opinion being the minority , as well as my genuine enjoyment throughout watching this series. I can go longer than this run on sentence about this embarrassment of an adaption as much as i can rave about how even Kim’s worst work is better than your fave’s best and you’d be doing yourself the disservice by not trying this title out as any fan of Kim Tae Ri or even Shin Ye Eun.


I applaud the effort of the impressive cast and remarkable production. Our star has yet to dim, it’s just another was born.

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One of the exceptional productions of 2024 in several ways

"Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" is one of the exceptional productions of 2024: exceptional in terms of the subject matter and the rather specific cultural background, as the KDrama celebrates two very South Korean art forms: the post-war all-female performance theater Gukgeuk and Pansori, a chanted epic narrative rooted in Korean culture. Exceptional also, because this KDrama creates a women's space in which women play the decisive role and are explicitly NOT reduced to their gender role. Finally, exceptional when it comes to the acting performance: in this case in two respects, as the highly committed actresses present us a show within the show. Definitely worth seeing. (At least, I´d say…)

The international title is perhaps a bit misleading, because actually no one is 'born' as a Gukgeuk star. This is hard work, even for those who may be born with talent. That is exactly the theme of the story of this KDrama. The historical setting of the 1950s may seem old-fashioned - who cares about such a special theater movement that was there only for a few decades and has by now been almost forgotten? No way! The topic obviously is quite on. The South Korean audience is thrilled. In the viewer statistics, the numbers have multiplied over the 12 episodes. No wonder, because the plot itself could easily be set today, 2024. The Gukgeuk training is actually comparable to the modern KPop idol industry. Accordingly, individual struggles with personal limits and challenges, the dynamics of relationships, as well as competition, infatuation, friendship, love-hate relationships, envy, self-doubt, overestimation of oneself and ultimately the overexploitation of one's own strengths and possibilities are practically timeless.

But due to the fact that these personal processes of the protagonists are located back in the 1950s, they simultaneously bring the art form of pansori and the flowering of the (now almost forgotten) gukgeuk to radiantly fresh, rousing life. By introducing us to three generations of gukgeuk and pansori stars and bringing them closer to us emotionally, we get a lasting impression of the extraordinary South Korean cultural heritage. (If you are interested, see the side note below.)

The original title is just "Jeongnyeon". The story is based on a well-researched webtoon. While the webtoon focuses on the main character and her personal development processes, the KDrama focuses on the relationships that shape Jeongnyeon on her path as well as the other women, young and old alike. The KDrama "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" vividly embodies the quality and the (short) history of Gukgeuk using the example of three generations of Gukgeuk artists. Wonderfully done so. The webtoon also achieved this in 2019, and was even specifically awarded by the Ministry of Culture for the outstanding quality of the story and also for its contribution to raising awareness of gender equality in South Korea.

Kim Tae-ri leads a fantastic ensemble. But even if she once again surpasses herself here, she is not alone, but the whole, which is more than the sum of its parts – just as the show on the Gukgeuk stage is a co-creation in which everyone is giving their best, according to their role and tasks, so that something great can come of it. And so all the ladies contribute in their own unique way to the success of this fantastic production.



























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--- SIDE NOTE: Pansori ----

Pansori is almost unique: a very old form of epic narrative singing that goes back a long way in Korean cultural history and is able to generate maximum emotional charisma using minimalist means. This requires one person to tell a story by singing and one person to beat the drum. The emotional power of the different dramatic moods is characterized by a stylized repertoire of vocal use and expressive performance. This in combination with the equally characteristic rhythms of the drum beat. A one-person opera in which one person plays ALL the roles, so to speak.

The roots of the idiosyncratic sound in combination with the drum go back to Korean shamanism. In the 17th century, it became an art form in its own right to captivate people with a wide variety of stories in street theater. This is also what the name “Pansori” refers to. "Pan" means a place where people come together, while “Sori” means the expression of the voice, the singing. By the 19th century, pansori had the attention of the upper class and was formally refined. It is about the stories that have shaped the lives of people on the Korean peninsula for centuries – highly dramatic and emotionally expressive. It´s fueled by the relationship being established between narrator and audience. No monologue, no lecture. Rather, narrator and audience meet in the intimate, emotionally honest, vulnerable space that the story opens up - in compassion for its protagonists.
Not everyone can just do pansori. This narrative singing is special. The training is hard. In addition to singing, there is a repertoire of facial expressions, gestures and forms of movement that are given in their structure but must be completed individually. Characteristic of the incomparable singing is the anhemitonic pentatonic scale used, in which the semitone steps E to F and B to C are missing. This is used in different emotionally colored modes, each of which is defined by a specific pitch. Frequency, ornamentation and emphasis emphasize the different emotional states even more. The rather hoarse voice quality is also characteristic, especially in the lower octaves. A clear voice is not required in Pansori. The falsetto technique is used for the higher pitches.
Since the 1970s, pansori has had state-recognized status as a Korean cultural asset in the country, and since 2003 it has also been officially listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.


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--- SIDE NOTE: Gukgeuk ---

Gukgeuk is not that well known and is not particularly protected as a Korean cultural asset. Gukgeuk refers to purely womens´ theater for music and theater performance. An art world, a theatrical art creation created exclusively in women's spaces. The women also took on the men's roles. In the post-war years, Gukgeuk was extremely popular in South Korea. The fan cult was in no way inferior to today´s idol fan cult. However, not much of that still remains today. The Gukgeuk theater performance began as a purely womens´ theater in the 1940s. It reached its peak in the 1950s and 1960s. But then the decline followed closely with the growing of the film industry, because there the tried-and-tested stars could earn more and the reach was also greater.
Gukgeuk is characterized by traditional Korean performing art forms and in particular pansori, but combines elements from theater, music, song and dance in an idiosyncratic way, like a quintessence. In contrast to traditional Korean opera (Changgeuk), in which men and women perform aside, Gukgeuk places greater emphasis on high quality acting. Expression, grace in movement, facial expressions, all of this is integrated more finely and intensively into the performance. That’s where all-female production comes into play. A great voice alone is not important with Gukgeuk. Rather, it is the ability to embody the mood of the story sensitively and authentically, to emotionally resonate with the audience and to carry them along uncompromisingly, catapulting them out of their everyday world and instead drawing them into the story with all its emotional facets.
The women were celebrated as stars. They were celebrated as artists. Some were perfected in their appearance, language and behavior for the male roles. Thus, the Gukgeuk artists were able to experience themselves outside of their gender roles.

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Delusional cult following ending in a disastrous watching experience

It was very much a disappointment, as the drama promised depth yet only provided a surface-level spectacular and absolutely miserably failed at living up to its title. The story revolves around the meteoric rise of an aspiring performer to fame and can effectively explore ambition, sacrifice, and the grit of showbiz but instead felt contrived and very uninventive. Characters were written with reprehensibly little dimension; FL herself was the usual tired cliché of a dreamer whose motivations were never fleshed out. The dialogue was supposed to be emotionally packed but came off as empty and repetitious, eating into the seriousness in connecting audiences with actual struggles of the lead. The rhythm of the show was also wanting, with plot points either being belted out too fast or stretched beyond reason, thus stealing much of the momentum and excitement in the story. Even music sequences that should amaze and excite were uncouth in choreography and even without energy, to one's surprise. Instead of whisking viewers away on some sort of immersive rise-and-fall tale of celebrity, the drama shuffled its way through plot points that rarely offered anything new or impactful throughout. It's a drama that wanted to shine bright and turned into a flash in the pan that's hardly memorable; it left me to consider what could have been if it reached for believability instead of reaching for empty theatrics.

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whoever rated this drama 1 star, did you even watch the show like ????? youd know all their points about nepotism are wrong if you actually looked at the screen while watching the show. the director made it clear that she accepted jeongnyeon just as an understudy because if she accepted her as a normal trainee, the others would think she was accepted because of her connections with moon okgyeong and not her talent (AND SHE WAS ACCEPTED AS AN UNDERSTUDY BECAUSE OF HER TALENT)
and isnt the whole point of the show that shes poor but blessed with a voice gifted from the heavens?? so the only nepotism that she has is her voice inherited from her mother, like brotha are you fr
glad you dropped the show because you don't deserve to watch it loser

Anyway, that just irked me a little so i had to say something.

i'm really glad this is a female-centered drama because you rarely see those these days and admist korea's uhhh lets just say gender problem.
i am disappointed they removed jeongnyeons gf from the drama but considering koreans censorship (aka homophobia and antifeminism; i had to clarify for that loser in my replies), this is pretty decent (no men cast !!!!!)

actors are casted well. ive always been a fan of kim taeri and she always does a great job. and jung eunchae is really fine lmao. (edit after ep 12 shin yeeun so fine guys shes so bad like damn she so fine she actually soooo fine)

personally ive never been interested in traditional korean singing but this show keeps me intrigued and i do look forward to future episodes.

will probably update later but thats all i have to say for now

edit: okay just finished the show, and I must say the acting was soooo good, like definitely award-worthy. shin yeeun is really an incredible actress and woo davi too. like wow, their skills are genuinely top-tier
I really respect the effort the cast put into the show, like the years of vocal training, dance lessons, etc.

a few things that i was not happy about was a lot of the writing, like yes they took out jeongnyeons gf which is bad already but i did not like how they wrote hyerang too. there are a few plot holes and even though the ending is alright like its appropriate i guess, but its not satisfying enough and i think we need at least a prologue.

however i am actually very grateful for this drama like its not very often where a kdrama as an all female reoccuring cast. this is probably the only one i can name and i did thoroughly enjoy watching this show. i hope they do make more shows like this in the future and i will cherish this drama for the rest of my life.

update 2: after processing the ending for a few days, ive been lurking on twitter and jeongnyeon and juran were supposed to kiss in the original script during the final goodbye scene in ep 11??? im so pissed that changed. i didnt mention this before but when i was watching that scene i cried so much i was sobbing. why would they write juran as a character that liked making all those pledges with jeongnyeon but then at the end she has no choice but to break them. im so sad. And when they said goodbye, juran was wearing the bird pin she and jeongnyeon both got when they vowed to do gukgeuk till they were old. i actually cant. the endings so bad in that aspect. why would they do this. we basically get no clarity.

okgyeong and hyerang were also supposed to kiss too before okgyeong finally left.. im also unhappy about how okgyeong just left with no appearance in the last two episodes??? I get her reasoning, but its selfish, and she really left a single mom and her kid bro. like yeah hyerang messed the freak up but okgyeong was really awfully inconsiderate for that.

but yeah im just really unhappy with the ending. like dont get me wrong, it's such a great drama, but an ending like that would never bring it justice. the ending as in the ending scene itself was good; its just that a lot of the important characters relationships are left off at a not good point. aside from jeongnyeon juran and okyeong hyerang, what about yeongseo and her mom? what happened with that? and what about the director? what is she gonna do w/o maeran? is it really their last performance? what the frick are all of them gonna do after? theres too many questions to be asked.
The only way to fix this is with a second season !!! and also no men next season. id be sad if they made a s2 that was just jumping forward in time. i need to see jeongnyeon and yeongseo crash jurans wedding.

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Gay subtext meets historical drama

"She already knows how to make women fall for her without consciously thinking about it ..." (episode 6, 17:43)
"I never knew those two [girls] could have such chemistry, they're bringing out the best in each other" (episode 6, 51:47)

"Jeong Nyeon" is more than a glimpse into a woman-centric world of acting. The setting of a woman-only theater that positions women as both the objects and subjects of romantic desire naturally lends itself to a subtextual exploration of same-sex attraction. It's a glimpse into the potential for better gay representation in Korean media

Though the production team’s decision to remove Jeong Nyeon’s female love interest (Kwon Bu Yong) and the explicit same-sex romance is a regrettable concession to society's homophobic expectations (they should've done better), the drama remains commendable for its efforts to integrate elements of gayness throughout the narrative. I was impressed by everyone's performances

"The stars that graced the gukgeuk stage went on to continue their paths as artists, pansori singers, outdoor theatre performers, or even film actors. They have merely dispersed, not disappeared"

That the curtain has fallen on Maeran's story need not spell the end for female gukgeuk. The genre deserves to rise from the ashes, and girls/women should have the chance to soar on its stage again

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A BREATH OF FRESH AIR : A wholesome exploration of theatre and art!!!!

"Jeongyneon: A Star is Born" is set in the 1950s and follows a Mokpo girl named Jeongyneon, who has a remarkable talent for singing. She dreams of using her gift to explore the world, achieve fame, and lift her family out of their underprivileged circumstances.

Despite her mother's opposition, she seeks help from her sister and a lady she meets, who turns out to be a renowned theater performer. This mentor recognizes Jeongyneon's talent and helps her move to Seoul, where she joins an all-women's theater group. Throughout her journey, she faces various challenges, adjusts to her new environment, and encounters different competitors and individuals who shape her path toward her dream.

This drama is truly a masterpiece, and I want to share my thoughts on it from the perspective of someone who hasn't read the webtoon. My review is based solely on what I've experienced in the show, and I must say, I'm genuinely impressed.

The story is refreshing and unique, taking us on an inspirational and emotional journey that really tugs at the heartstrings. The acting is exceptional, with the cast showcasing a wide range of raw emotions. It's not just the main characters who shine; the entire ensemble brings depth and authenticity to their roles.

The characters are fascinating, from Jeongyneon, our vibrant female lead, to Moon Okyeong, the renowned theater performer she encounters. We also have Yeoseong, her current rival, and Jooran, her loyal best friend. Each character has distinct personalities that add to the series' charm. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their interactions are both engaging and dynamic. I particularly admire how Jeongyneon embodies a carefree spirit while also displaying a strong determination to achieve her dreams. Her character development is evident as she navigates various life lessons throughout her journey, making her story even more relatable and inspiring.

I developed a craving for theatre while watching this drama, as it beautifully tells the story of a performing arts group and features many of their plays throughout the series. I'm genuinely impressed by how the characters brought these plays to life. It's fascinating to see them act while already performing, and the plays were not only fun to watch but also an amazing addition to the overall narrative.

The character development is another highlight; each character undergoes visible growth, making their emotional journeys incredibly rewarding to experience. The pacing of the drama is perfect—nothing feels rushed or slow, allowing viewers to fully appreciate this wholesome piece of art.

Overall, this drama is simply amazing. It's artistic, original, inspirational, and emotional—a complete journey.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely! It's a breath of fresh air, and its originality truly shines through in both the plot and the characters.

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Probably one of the best drama/production of the year

I haven’t read the original webtoon and I honestly didn’t know that much about Pansori before watching Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, so I’ve started watching it without any prejudices.

Firstly, I want to say that I’ve literally felt in love with the art of Pansori and Gukgeuk throughout this kdrama. And it is all thanks to the production team for filming it very flawlessly and sublimely which brought us feeling that we were literally into the theaters, watching passionately the performances.
I got emotional and really charmed by listening to all these Pansori songs, watching all the marvelous acting from the cast. I can’t even imagine all the work and practices they went through for achieving such a perfect stages like this.

Talking about the cast members, it was very refreshing having a women-only cast as it is rare in this kdrama industry. And what a great cast!
Kim Tae-ri’s supremacy is not even to be proven, she has shown once again that she can carry and lead a drama to the highest level with her character of Jeong-nyeon. The character was really passionate and touching that we had no choice to be cheering for her pursuing her dream to become a pansori's master. Shin Ye-eun wasn’t leftover and she succeed of embodying Yeong-seo as both the rival and best friend of Jeong-nyeon, but also as a young woman which have many doubts in her capacities, inferiority complex with her sister and a child lacking recognition and love from her mother.
And finally we can’t not talk about Woo Da Vi which played Joo-ran, which was the main relatedness character between this trio. Joo-ran played a big part in the relationship between Yeong-seo and Jeong-nyeon switching from enemies to best friends, but also in the awakening of these two as pansori’s masters.
The line between the friendship and love is really tight and well written in this story. Many of us won’t easily forget the heartbroken plot of the impossible love between Joo-ran and Jeong-nyeon, literally becoming a forbidden love at the moment that Joo-ran being dragged back to his family to fullfill her duty as a woman. This is not only a heartbroken love story but also an assumed criticism of the society, both in 1950s and today. Woo Da Vi perfectly embodyed the touching and lovely character of Joo-ran, who has ingrown the essence of love in the softness way ever.
Finally, I have to congratulate all other actresses, from Ra Mi-ran as the kindness director Kang So-bok, Jung Sun-chae and Kim Yoon-hye as the best prince and princess duo Ok-gyeong and Hye-ran and a special coup de coeur for Hyun Seung-hee as the research student Cho-rok which had a really good character development all along the show.

More than the plot, Jeong-nyeon The Star Is Born greatly open the door for discovering the world of Pansori and Gukgeuk which is not well known in the world as an authentic and beautiful part of the Korean culture.
I did not have heard much about it before (I barely known just the name) and thank to this show, I did some research to learn more about it. Pansori is a real art of singing and acting which required a lot of work. Even by watching all the research students learning and training hard to masterize all the skills of this art, we can tell that not everyone can do Pansori. The level of details in the facial expressions and the gestures in addition to the singing part, while being able to be perfectly united and merged with his fellow troops mates.
I was fascinated and really touched all along the show by watching each Pansori’s performances, crying and laughing while watching all these ancestral and magical stories.

Jeong-nyeon: The Star Is Born si surely one of the best drama and exceptional production of the year in several ways. We cheered and followed the chatacter of Jeong-nyeon achieving her dream, but we also were delighted by the lovely mood in the Maeran Pansori’s troop. The whole cast carried the show that well, breaking all audience records.
I highly recommend this kdrama, it’s basically for discovering this kind of gems that I keep watching Korean dramas.

I’m truly grateful for these six last weeks.

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Kim Tae Ri deserves a Daesang Grand Prize this year for her performance on this drama

Just finished watching this drama. All the actors are superb and show amazing acting skills. They also took on the painstaking task of learning Gukguek and pansori. I also learnt a lot of history from this drama. The script was so well written, every phrase, every line that is spoken shows so much emotional depth and character. I love how Jung Eun Chae portray the role of Ok-gyeong with such gusto and style. She is so handsome as a guy and I believe many girls are smitten by her charm and acting. I like the character of Heo Yeong Seo. Although born rich, she is not a spoilt brat. She is a loyal friend, and willing to admit defeat when others are better than her. Lastly, I would like to give the highest applaud to Kim Tae Ri for her portrayal of Jeong Nyeong. She played the character so well, and is so immersed not only in her character, but the character she is portraying in the Gukguek. This was an extremely difficult character to play, and she did it flawlessly. I am speechless.

Overall fantastic drama!

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What "The Devil Judge" is to BLs, "Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born" is to GLs

My heart stopped so many times I might actually have to see a doctor. If you like it, you should read The Ballet Ships by Noel Streatfeild. It has a similar vibe. There is an old lesbian couple too. Although it is just a kids' book.


It's a beautiful, heartwarming and tearjerking story about women's friendship, love and rivalry. Watching this will make you want to scream at the characters, laugh and cry with them, cheer for them and wish them all the worst. It'll make your head feel dizzy, your heart skip a bit and your stomach clench.

Jeongnyeon is a perfect protagonist for that kind of story. Joyful, kind of naive but well-meaning, passionate and loving, always there for her friends and dramatic when the plot needs her to be. But damn, when she is acting like a boy, let me tell you, she could turn a straight woman into a lesbian for sure. She just has that perfect masc energy. Honestly, the best example of healthy masculinity I've seen in a drama in a very long time. When she was practicing with Jooran, when she held her chin up- my heart stopped. Like for real. Kim Taeri the woman you are.

No wonder Jooran panicked. Our poor closeted lesbian, forced into marriage with some guy. She truly deserved better. What do you mean they didn't kiss in the 11the episode? I'm sure as hell they did. Someone needs to go on ao3 and write fix-it when they meet after that last performance. Also, she looked so cute like that crybaby princess.

Yeongseo was just so good as rival turned friend. That scene when they hugged after Jeongnyeon won the audition? Lovely, just lovely. Her sister was amazing too. I'm glad our girl finally got to hear some nice words. Deserved.

Okay, when it comes to Okgeyong, I support women's rights and women's wrongs. I know she acted selfishly leaving like that, but hell it's always 'your mental health matters' until someone does stupid shit because they are depressed and suicidal. Her last performance, when she stopped acting before the dying scene, telling Hyerang all those things? And then dying, going away to that prince is going over song? Ohhh, I love some good symbolism.

The same could be told about Hyerang, but making Jeongneyon lose her voice was a step too much. Feminine women are often antagonized, so I was going to cut her sluck, not after that thought. It was sad seeing our lesbian marriage falling apart, like they had a kid together and everything, but there are so many girls like Hyerang, not ready to let go, possessive and manipulative. Crazy, really. As someone who was in a similar to Okgeyong situation (minus the kid obvi), I understand and support the decision to leave. It was for the best but maybe, just maybe, help your old coworkers, hmm, Okgeyong? How about that? [they totally uhauled]

What I really love about it is the music, but I don't know shit about music, so I can't say much about that besides it was good.

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