Painful but beautiful season two that outshines season one.
This second season is a bit like revisiting a restaurant you once liked just to find out the chef got even better... The food got more depth, stronger flavours and even prettier plating....As this second season may not be a feel good season but it didd make me feel a whole lot of emotions, mostly pain, but in a good way, as well timed flashbacks, music and lighting make up this well balanced story of love, regret, growth and loss done right. As they do a really good job showing the happily but not the ever after that followed the first season.
This season has kept most of the old cast but introduces a whole bunch of new very lovable characters, that truly add some sugar to soften the pain of the story.
The leads have gown a lot, they are still lovable, slightly broken (very) and perfect opposites that may attract but also need a lot of work. So if you are looking for some feel good fluff, back away and watch something else this is more of a Our Beloved Summer meets Touch your heart lind of deal, but much shorter.
Easy to binge, easy to feel and easy to fall in love... A joy for the eye, some scenes may make you hungry, some will have your heart fluttering, others will make you laugh but I am willing to say that most of the drama is spent with an ever growing lump in the chest.
I think that most people who liked season one just a little bit may feel a tad ( a lot) of heart break in season two but will undoubtedly see its greatness... for those who have seen neither, go see season one so you can watch season two.
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The rare sequel to surpass the original...but is it still BL?
Sequels in any genre seldom please fans at the same level as the original. BL sequels enjoy no immunity from this spotty track record. Usually, a lack of freshness accounts for a sequel’s dimmer reception. Something in their formula goes stale. To My Star 2 avoids the staleness trap because TMS2 abandons the original recipe that made the first season a winner. First, by opening the series with the Kang Seo Joon and Han Ji Woo having broken up, the latter now living in a rural village hours from Seoul. Then, in case this off-screen break-up failed to alienate loyal viewers enough, TMS2 also abandons the genre formula of what makes BL BL. Viewers with the patience to stick around despite these disappointed expectations will be rewarded with a series that works on its own terms. To My Star 2 is a well-acted, well-written character study about two people who must reckon with the legacy of emotional trauma in their past to move forward with their present love.The BL genre’s signature qualities include depicting two men falling in love with another, sticking to fairly standard rom-com tropes, and understanding what the core audience for the genre wants to see. A typical BL series wraps those elements into a fluffy storyline geared to elevate the viewer’s serotonin levels. The first season checked all three boxes and charmed in the process. To My Star 2 strays from that tried-and-true formula. Rather than light-hearted rom-com, the series delivers angsty drama. Rather than depict two men further the romance established in season 1, season 2 opens several months after the couple de-coupled. In early episodes, they scarcely interact. By departing so markedly from the original’s feel-good mood the creative team behind TMS2 boldly carves out a new formula for success.
If TMS2 does not clearly read as BL, it also cannot easily be classified as LGBTQ+. None of the drama or emotional angst revolves around anyone’s sexual identity. If the script swapped out the same-sex couple for an opposite-sex couple, no modifications to the storyline would be required. Neither the past emotional trouble nor the reasons presented for the premature end of the pair’s relationship depends on internal or external homophobia or on sexual identity. In true BL fashion, these two guys just like each other without worrying about the pesky ramifications of being gay that distinguish LGBTQ+ fare. What remains, then, is a study in the fragility of human emotion, and a story with universal overtones. Pegging any series’ entire story arc to emotional traumas that took place in the distant past is a risky endeavor, and one might fairly complain that the writers fell short of concocting a story that fully explains the behavior and reactions of either Seo Joon or Ji Woo. Nevertheless, TMS2 delivers a compelling story about two people in pain. One because he considers himself unworthy of receiving love from his partner; the other because he cannot let his partner go.
With 10 episodes approaching 30 minutes each, TMS2 has a total running time nearly double the original’s. The writers invested the extra time into world building. Support characters are more fleshed out than is possible during the curtailed runtime of the mini-BLs Korea is famous for. As with the original, the president of Kang Seo Joon’s talent agency plays an outsize role, both in his star actor’s messy personal life as well the messy professional life. With many episodes set in the rural village to which Han Ji Woo has retreated, various neighbors and villagers turn up to influence events. When Ji Woo rebuffs Seo Joon’s overtures for reconciliation, a subplot about a reality series that showcases struggling rural restaurants provides a convenient device by which the writers can inflict Seo Joon’s presence on the reticent restauranteur. To My Star 2 will never be confused with arthouse fare, but rather than simply trot out a fluffy story guaranteed to please BL fans who look for that, the creators instead developed a serious drama that allowed the two leads to become more than stock characters. The gamble was rewarded with a compelling piece of television drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is my second attempt to write a review, because with time passing, my thoughts and impressions changed a lot. Let's start with the good things: the chemistry of those two guys is very nice, the production felt high quality despite the choppy editing we got sometimes, the acting was very good from everyone, the music was also great.
Now let's talk about the elephant in the room: Ji Woo's behavior. We learned in s1 that he is an awkward guy, who has some trust issues and likes to put up walls. But he was also adorable, he smiled occasionally, he was pretty lively despite most of the time appearing rather calm and looking gloomy. He had interest in the world around him, and he also was interested in Seo Joon. Seriously, he was cute. Good-looking too, a good cook. And last but not least: he was good at heart. He had a lot to offer, and I could 100% see why Seo Joon felt for him. They both had different personalities, but resonated well together. A match made in heaven. Sure, the viewer could assume they would get some problems in their relationship. Maybe their different personalities would be an issue sooner or later, maybe Seo Joon being an idol/movie star and having a tight schedule would make everything difficult. But still we trusted in that love, and - I'm talking here for myself - I trusted in those two guys because they have a pure heart.
Now we got s2. We learn they broke up. Why? Well, that's the question that wasn't answered for the longest time. We as viewers had to guess what the reason was for Ji Woo suddenly ghosting Seo Joon. He just left him a note and vanished. Is this a mystery series? We then got some flashbacks (we later learn those scenes were from the future too), we get a lot of angst, a lot of drama, in the first two episodes at least we got a bit of humor too. Nothing was explained well. They used their time to introduce new characters with their own storyline. They weren't just there to support the main story. During all that time, we still didn't know what was going on in Ji Woo's head. Instead we had to endure how he treated Seo Joon like sh*t. It was pretty obvious he didn't enjoy it though. It was his way of pushing Seo Joon away. He just put up a big wall like he did in s1 too, but this time it was too much. He just crossed the line. He was cruel. A person that's good at heart, shouldn't be that cruel. He could have behaved differently. People tend to forgive this behavior, because Ji Woo was also suffering. I can't forgive it. From my perspective, being weak and hurt and confused, is no excuse to hurt other people badly, especially the ones you apparently love. He just went too far.
So what happens next? The series is almost over, and we don't even know the full reason for the break-up. Some mysteries were resolved about Ji Woo's parents, and then we FINALLY see that Ji Woo indeed cares for Seo Joon. He decides to not run away any longer, maybe after Seo Joon told him he gave up, and now Ji Woo is running after Seo Joon. Great. Seo Joon pushes him away, once, twice, but then Ji Woo tells him, he will not be able to chase him any longer if he keeps that up, and Seo Joon gives in.
People say this is realistic, relatable, emotional, romantic, complex, mature. Is it really? The core ideas of the series aren't bad. But they just went too far. Ji Woo became a gloomy and unattractive guy who behaved like a baby - he was even crying like on! - that had no real character growth throughout the whole series. At the end he AGAIN had lots of demands, and Seo Joon was the one who now must adjust to him even more, so he won't run away. What's the message here?
The author apparently wanted to show us "that in a relationship, one always loves more and works harder". Is this a good message? One that leaves you with a warm feeling in your heart? Not in my case. It's very questionable and honestly depressing.
To sum my thoughts up: They destroyed the Ji Woo character by taking away his good qualities and emphasizing his weaknesses. They even destroyed the Seo Joon character to a certain point. He obviously loves Ji Woo, but I wonder why at this point. Why does he want to be with him? I never asked myself this question when watching s1. I thought he was attracted to his big heart. He felt safe being with Ji Woo. The writers took that away completely.
I think the director has a talent to make everything artistic, cryptic, complicated, emotional and beautiful. It's an EXPERIENCE watching her work. So she fools the viewers in thinking it's "deep". Indeed it was pretty shallow at the end of the day. Minor issues were blown out of proportions, and where we expected some big revelations for example regarding Ji Woo's parents or Seo Joon's trauma, everything felt trivial.
I still rate this series rather high, because I was glued to the screen the whole time. They did something right if people talk about it so much, discuss it so much, and in general are so deeply affected by this story. That sure is an accomplishment by itself.
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ALL HURT & NO COMFORT
This series looks at love through rose-tinted glasses and calls it a day. Emotionally manipulative and angsty, this BL tries so hard to make you root for one of the main characters but fails hilariously.STORY & CHARACTERS: There's nothing new or unique about this story. You've seen this shtick before in most breakup dramas. The common tropes of moving back to the childhood village, reuniting with the past lover, and having the main love interest chase the other stubbornly - have all been used before, but that's not the problem. These predictable tropes aren't really the story's downfall. It's the fact that the mystery of the break-up was recycled from the first season. The themes of insecurity and low self-esteem were already the major conflicts in S1.
Season 2 was basically the same thing, but with higher budget and more unnecessary characters that got more screentime than the two main characters.
There's no plot twist here, folks. One of the main characters (Ji Woo) is literally just the carbon copy of his S1 persona. He did not develop at all, but just regressed to a more selfish coward who spews hypocrisy and hate every time he opens his mouth. He verbally abuses Seo Joon, the other main character but asks for comfort from the latter ("please hug me"-ep 10) when he's the one who finally gets rejected.
This is endless angst with Ji Woo consistently hurting Seo Joon for 7 episodes:
First strike: JW knew that SJ has extreme emotional trauma from being abandoned by his parents, and yet he still abandoned SJ without a proper goodbye on his birthday.
Second strike: Every chance he gets or in all their interactions, JW sees it fit to hurl emotional abuse & insulting words to SJ. SJ did not do anything wrong in this relationship. Even with his his exhausting schedule, SJ still makes time to see JW. Sometimes, he only sleeps for two hours just so he can hang out with JW. SJ neglects his health and his own friends for JW.
Third strike: JW let SJ sleep in that brutally cold camper van for DAYS because he couldn't summon enough humanity to be kind to the person he proclaimed he loves.
Fourth strike (and the most hurtful): JW slept with SJ, and told SJ the morning after that they could continue this "fuckbuddy" relationship. That was the lowest blow, and you could really see the exact moment SJ's face falls at the implication.
TLDR: This series has no heart. It tries so hard to tell a deep, idealistic story by making everyone cry their heart out in the dark (seriously, the lighting is so bad. I can barely see anything), but it doesn't quite make it because it's hard to get past the baseless cruelty & hurt. There is NO justifiable excuse for JW's behavior- of him emotionally scarring someone just because he himself is feeling lonely & isolated.
JW's pain & chosen isolation are understandable. His mental instability is not his fault. Choosing to break off a relationship is not a sin nor should it be condemned. He has every freedom to do so, but nothing can ever excuse or justify every single hurtful word and behavior JW chose to throw at SJ.
FINALE: There's no comfort or genuine resolution in this story. It isn't realistic or even idealistic at all. Nobody would want to have this kind of relationship filled with inequality & insincerity. In the end, the writers will try to put a band-aid on all the emotional trauma & abuse, but it's simply not enough. Strong angst & decent acting, but not much else. This love story is as shallow and insincere as Ji Woo's love for Seo Joon. Truly a tearjerker but for all the wrong reasons. 5/10
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But i was wrong. Turns out the 2nd season was filled with angst. I didn't hate it. I'm just not a fan of it.
However i ended up liking this season.
At first it was really frustrating to see how Ji Woo just left and ghosted Seo Jun for a whole year. But then in the end everything make sense. I wish Seo Jun could play hard to get for a little longer though.
Comparing to S1, i could see they had more budget for this season. Better cinematography, setting, styling, and more casts. The duration and pacing were good, but i feel like some parts could've been shorter. They also explains the plot holes from S1.
I dislike the idea of ex coming back, but they done it well.
I like how the side characters also had development.
My favorite character is Pil Hyun, he did great as Seo Jun's CEO. I feel bad for him since S1, everyone hung up on him first and now in S2 he's left alone. He deserves a better ending.
The acting was great. All the actors portray their roles perfectly.
I love the chemistry between the leads, they were perfect together. But i must mention Son Woo Hyun would do great as a singer. He truly had the talent for that. His singing part on ep 4 is amazing.
The i love the music that were used.
My favorite is "그럴때, 나는" by Son Woo Hyun & Kim Kang Min.
Overall it's a great sequel. I won't rewatch this as much as the prequel because of the angst, but in the end I really really liked this drama.
If you're in the mood to cry I'd recommend this.
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Shallow angst masquerading as, well, something.
Drama and people crying seem to be often taken for quality of storytelling and acting. It can be, for sure. But not here.This is also a story that could have been told and been successful. Also not here.
The problem is that this is a sequel, with established characters, and the behavior of one of them is so at odds with who he was in the original that it doesn't make any emotional or narrative sense.
So we have a grumpy chef who's a bit of a old man trapped in a young man's body. He has no patience for celebrity, but ironically has to live with the biggest and most narcissistic celebrity in Korea. Naturally they fall in love, opposites attract and all that - both of them have big hearts and are beautiful people underneath the pride and narcissm, and they live happily ever after.
Then comes S2, and we discover that rather than being happy, Ji Woo was seething with resentment, crippling low self-esteem, and crushing loneliness. Forget that this is the opposite of who he appears to be and that we got not the slightest hint that any of this was going on inside him, or that this is incompatible with the character as already drawn.
So suddenly, one day, Seo Joon comes home to find Ji Woo has left, dumping him with a post-it note, and has disappeared completely. A year later So Joon finds him in the greyest and most depressing seaside village imaginable - in the depth of winter, of course, because winter is grey and the previous series was during summer. Clever subtle contrast, right? And then Ji Woo proceeds to treat So Jeon like absolute shit, with the typical "I never loved you" and even "you never loved me either, it was an illusion."
Bleak and grey covers the first 8 episodes - a campaign of sledgehammer lack of subtlety and depth of any kind in favor of shallow drama and shallow and inauthentic "exploration" of... something, I guess. I'd say inner emotional life and the tensions in a relationship, but there are no tensions - it just snaps in half and is replaced by cruelty and hatefulness.
Then it just... resolves, and they go back to Happily(er) Ever After, with no real discussion or processing - a light switch is flipped, and we resume the story of S1 just where it left off. A man leaves his bf with a short note, disappears for an entire year with no communication whatsover, then treats him like shit when he finally tracks him down. Here's the reconcilliation.
"I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Give me a hug."
"Ok."
I'm not joking, that's it. The director thought everyone would forget the first 8 miserable episodes if she dumped a pile of fluff on us for the ending.
She was right, judging by the glowing reviews.
I would skip this, so it doesn't ruin your happy memories of S1. Or just start with Ep 9, and pretend they had a minor fight (which you'll easily be able to do), and then enjoy the cute frolicking, and Ji Woo's really lovely white overshirt, which I want.
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1This review may contain spoilers
The mundane pain that just makes sense.
Realistically speaking, I would not say it was as charming as season 1, yet the story itself was for sure more compelling. Yes, the delivery of the characters’ struggles had some misses, but I appreciate the realism of this season.One thing I appreciated about it was the fact, it in fact had a plot. While many people wanted more fluff and the pair being all cute, I truly dislike the empty fanservice type of sequels. This was rather raw and I loved it. Seeing these characters struggle as individuals was great. A couple is not just a pair, they are also individuals. Some issues are personal, and while they might affect the dynamics between two people, the source of them is found somewhere else.
I also believe it was a smart choice to start the plot after the break up, without actually showing all the details of when it happened. Yes, seeing the in depth portrayal of how it affected Seo Joon would be great, it would also mean less time to see Ji Woo’s side of the story - and we truly got barely anything here anyway (more on that later).
Strangely, I liked the reasoning behind the break up too. I can imagine many people were disappointed. I know many people were disappointed, I was reading the comments as the drama aired. For me though, it all made sense. That's kind of how life goes. You don't always end a relationship because you have no feelings for the other person - sometimes it's one or a few bullshit reasons that at that specific moment of your life make sense, even though it does not for anyone else.
On the characters - Kang Seo Joon was as much of a loyal puppy as he was in season 1. It’s impossible not to love him. At the same time, I found his character miserably helpless and it was so amazingly human of him. The way he could not move on after a year, how he desperately tried to find any reason and opportunity to still make the relationship work, to be close to Ji Woo. How he did not take a “no” as an answer, how he came back after each emotional kick. It was obviously not a healthy approach, but being weak when faced with someone or something you love and care about is extremely relatable.
On the other hand, I agree with many that Ji Woo was not a likable character in most of the episodes. I hated his actions, but I also understood where he was coming from and how he ended up in such an emotionally exhausting and empty state. Being scared of being happy. Running away, because it’s easier to handle. Hiding your feelings and not knowing how to express your insecurities. He tried to be strong, but at some point it just all crumbled down and he decided to run away instead of facing the issues he had. I found his selfish behavior quite realistic and relatable.
That said, I wish some hints of his inner struggles were introduced as the show progressed, instead of dropping it all closer to the end. The show focused so much on Seo Joon’s pain in the first half, it was hard to relate and root for Ji Woo. I’m not surprised some viewers even wished the couple would not end up together by the end. We’ve got the answers for his behavior too late for some people to find the strength to care for his happiness. At some point, some viewers got tired of waiting and just gave up on him.
As for the other characters, I know the show faced a lot of criticism because of the inclusion of “useless female characters”, but I couldn't agree less with that. Not keeping your characters in a social bubble, where they only interact with each other is a good thing. People have other people in their lives than just their romantic partners. For me, adding more characters, be it female or male, is a good thing. It adds depth and layers to the main ones. They interact differently with different people, we learn more about them thanks to these conversations. They say things they would not say to each other, that are important to understand their inner struggles and thoughts.
If I had to complain about any characters, I would say Ho Min’s trainee/idol aspect came a bit out of nowhere and was not necessary - adding nothing to the plot. Seemed more like an afterthought than a planned plot point.
Now, to talk about one of my favorite aspects of the show - the shots. The scenery was just so beautiful and well placed as the transition scenes, it made the flow of the scene so much better than just faded to black. Production wise, it’s an obvious improvement compared to season 1, which itself was already really good for a smaller production like that.
The OST, ladies and gentlemen - what calming bops we've got. How perfectly they fitted the whole mood of the show. Not to mention, having the lead actors sing one of the songs was a perfect choice to make the delivery of the message and emotions even more hard hitting.
Acting wise - it was good. By now I’m a big fan of Son Woo Hyun. Can’t wait to see where his career will lead him. Kim Kang Min has improved a lot since the previous season. His delivery was more expressive and natural. Yes, we still got “crying with no tears, trying to squeeze a few drops like a lemon” scene, but overall, the performance was quite stable and good.
Overall, while I do prefer season 1 as a whole, I like the story of season 2 more. If I’ve got a bit more steady pacing for the characters and a few more hints about their motivations earlier on, I could possibly like it more than the previous installment.
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I liked it but....
So, I didn't like where this season went but I have to say it did have a lot of depth to it and it did tackle a bunch of issues that exist in relationships. The gay and straight ones both. I just fell in love with the character Seo Joon in season one, so I was devastated when Ji Woo left. I felt Seo Joon's pain like it was my own. Congrats to Woo Hyun. As for Kang Mon I'm not sure if he really acted well or not because I was too into the story. I keep hoping Ji Woo would go see a psychotherapist. I guess Kang Mon did do well. Again, very strong story with secondary's being just as strong and relevant. My only issue is the reconciliation. I really didn't see the point when or where that change occurred or what triggered it. I also actually thought there was too much damage to the relationship. Again, I'm just happy that Seo Joon was happy in the end. Shout out for the little girl and to the CEO for best supporting actor/actress in this series.Was this review helpful to you?
Possibly the best BL I've watched
Very honest. The writers didn't hold back, and they gave us a painful, complicated, genuine, character-driven story to chew on. Unlike with (admittedly lovely) fluff, if there's a happy ending, it will be well-earned.The pacing was perfect, they didn't rely on any stupid editing gimmicks or forced drama, the acting was impeccable, the cinematographic choices made sense and added to the scenes, and the writers had a firm and loving grasp on all their characters.
This story is not easy, but it may help you grow as a person. I love it. Actually my first review got deleted, but I love this season so much I found the patience to rewrite it.
You can't know this, reader, but I'm excruciatingly critical. I have no complaints, though, so hopefully if you're on the fence, that helps you leap over it and dive right into this experience.
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1This review may contain spoilers
SAY HELLO TO THE REAL ME
Hey, everybody. Ji Woo here.It's no secret that you loved me in "To My Star", because I've read the glowing reviews and comments here on MDL as well as every other social media platform. In that series I'm a grumpy chef with no patience for celebrities or celebrity culture, who ironically ends up having to live with a major movie star and falls in love. The series was one of the great romantic comedies of 2021, with amazing rewatchability.
I must confess, though, that I wasn't really cool with it. You see, while in that series I made deadpan wisecracks and rolled my eyes at the rascal behavior of my soon-to-be boyfriend, beneath the surface I was actually a seething cauldron of rage, further hobbled by a malignant case of low self-esteem.
I know, I know -- I did an amazing job hiding it. To watch me in "To My Star" you would never know how profoundly unhappy I was, or how much I resented the man you thought I loved.
But I have good news -- there's a Season Two now, and in that series I let it all hang out. For TMS2 I made it known I wanted my toxic antisocial side to be as front and center as possible, despite however much it might clash with the lovable grouch I was in Season One.
I asked the director if we could start out by brainstorming on how to debunk the me of TMS1. And she was up for it, let me tell you. By then she'd achieved tons of acclaim for the romantic comedies she'd directed. The notices about her were even better than mine or the ones for TMS1 itself -- they made out like she was the goddam Nora Ephron of Asian drama. But to her credit she wasn't satisfied with that and wanted to achieve a new level of creativity, kind of like Woody Allen did when he brought out "Interiors" after his own string of legendary romantic comedies. (Sorry -- I know it's probably not PC to mention the Woodster.)
So, she and I got to work, and since you've read this far I'll share some of what you can look forward to.
In TMS2, I:
1. Leave my boyfriend on his birthday after he doesn't show up on time for the birthday party I never told him about, and which I can't possibly postpone until the next day because, well, in Season One I'd also walked out on him on his birthday. The viewers who want an early start on talk of how deep this season is will love the parallels.
2. To signify that this series will be the cold winter that befalls the warm summer of Season One, leave my boyfriend a terse breakup note along with the box containing the uneaten birthday cake, placing the box where he'll be sure to find it when he returns to the darkened, silent house.
3. Disappear for a year while making no contact whatsoever. True -- it's risky to drag it out unrealistically, but it has to be a full year because a two or three month disappearance is for sissies. We're reaching for extremes here.
4. Start up an Italian restaurant in my bleak home town, opening for business every day for months without a single customer while still buying food and supplies that I prep in the kitchen each morning.
5. Bear the crushing weight of a dark scandal caused by a friend of my parents, that everyone in town takes out on me by not eating at my restaurant.
6. Have my obsessed ex-girlfriend show up all the way from the USA with one goal in mind: rekindling the relationship we had as teenagers. In a dramatic contrast to my horrible treatment of my boyfriend, make sure I treat her only with kindness and understanding.
7. Befriend a little moppet straight out of Central Casting: precocious and adorable, spouting lines of adult dialog like they were written by Neil Simon, but then hurt and vulnerable when we need to generate a crisis. Above all, make sure I always treat her with kindness and understanding as well. Heck, let's even have her start out by calling me "Dad".
7. Have my boyfriend show up after a year of desperate searching, begging to understand what has happened and with one goal in mind: bringing our relationship back from the brink. In contrast to my benevolent treatment of my ex and my friend's daughter, have me treat him like a piece of dogshit I thought I'd scraped off my shoe months ago.
8. Make sure this includes me telling my boyfriend repeatedly how I never actually loved him. I'll gaslight him by implying it must have been his imagination the whole time.
9. But, in a plot twist, have me give him a big sloppy kiss one night and then sleep with him ... only to revert back to the shit treatment the next morning.
10. After my boyfriend finally gives up and leaves, have me read about the relapse of his illness, which is almost certainly due to the stress I've put him through.
11. But then, before viewers can start to blame me, include a scene where I finally turn on the phone I've had switched off since the day I disappeared. Show me ugly-crying while I read the poignant messages from the man I abandoned.
12. Finally reveal the reason why I wanted my boyfriend to feel so much pain: I was lonely. He had a job that kept him busy, and while I certainly could have gone back to working in a restaurant or even opened one of my own, I stayed home and quietly seethed.
There's more, but I don't want to spoil it for you.
Tbh, there were moments when I worried we might go too far with all my terrible behavior. Fans of Season One would want to kick my ass over the 180 in my personality and the dark, angry tone of the whole enterprise. That's when the director reassured me that in the last two episodes we'd do another 180. My personality from Season One would miraculously reappear.
I worried that such a HEA ending might seem too fake and forced. After revealing my rotten core, how could even a wane smile from me ring true? But the director insisted. She felt that as much as she'd enjoyed the challenge of throwing Season One under the bus she had to reclaim her romantic creds. The final two episodes would be a return to the bright and easy comforts of Season One. After enduring so much sadness and frustration, viewers would be weeping for joy over the tsunamis of fluff suddenly crashing over them. Even better, the return of the Season One vibe would almost certainly silence the critics while making TMS2's defenders all the more adamant.
Still, I was skeptical, I'm telling you.
She reassured me, though. She said that this kind of crazy shit makes people go tribal. If anybody complains about the sudden happy ending, or about the whiplash plot points or the inexplicable disconnect between the grumpy but lovable me of Season One and the asshole I am in Season Two, it won't be a question of defending the show on its merits -- fans will just change the subject and say the complainers have no eye for genius. Season Two will be declared an absolute masterpiece no matter what. And if commenters dare to dissent they'll be told that all they want to watch is fluff, and they wouldn't know Great Art if a painting fell on them in The Louvre.
Finally, if you end up loving TMS2 as much as I do you'll be pleased to know that we're already thinking about a Season Three. It would feature even more crazy antics by yours truly, because, honestly, unless I get some serious therapy there's no telling when I'll relapse. The possibilities are endless!
Sincerely,
Han Ji Woo
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we need more realistic storylines! I love this one!!!
I am truly enjoying this story. As always the main couple's chemistry and acting is on point. I like the drama's direction. The lack of communication will erode a relationship no matter what. It's not only cheating or other huge issues that will affect a relationship, little things will accumulate and eventually explode. I think Ji Woo is a very realistic character, most people are mean, distant and even cruel when they break up and have unresolved issues. I think that I am tired of queer storylines that are only dealing with "perfect, fluffy" storylines. Congrats to the writers, actors and the whole cast.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Jawdropping, but can be conflicting at times.
‘To My Star 2’ is truly a work of art for the most of it, but there are some plot digressions that mar clarity of communication (in terms of how the drama panned out).Brace yourselves, for this review will be a long one.
*I don’t usually write reviews for any drama, but this was just too good (or should i say the last two episodes were good enough for me to consider writing this review -_-)
I have sorted out by review in terms of: Plot/Characterisation/Scriptwriting/Chemistry & Acting/Believability/Music & SFX/Editing/Props/Visuals/Dressing (wardrobe)/Mood/Atmosphere/Impact on Audience/Rewatch Value/Overall
Abbreviations:
HJW = Han Ji Woo (Kim Kang Min)
KSJ = Kang Seo Jun (Son Woo Hyeon/Hyun)
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*PLOT:*
Many have said that the plot is rather simple, with endings they can probably predict, but I feel that the plot had some attempts at being complex as well. This BL focused on taking what was hinted at in S1 & brought that idea forward in the following episodes.
For instance, in the first two episodes alone:
1) HJW’s past gets revealed: that he has an ex, who becomes one of the side characters relevant to the series later on. This extends from what we know about HJW in Season 1.
2) When KSJ had to do his job as a celebrity. The emphasis that he is a celebrity makes the plot more impactful, because of how HJW responds to it (it’s overwhelming for him, hence he leaves to not hurt KSJ, and hopes to revert to his old self without being overly dependent on KSJ like he is now). If you have watched the drama in totality, you will know that the two of them do get to wiggle around what is comfortable for them as partners, and they have decided to meet each other where possible. This also gives the two personal space if they need it, which is very well thought out.
I believe every bit of the story was directly contributing to S1 adequately. Scriptwriting was interesting too, with meaningful dialogues between the two. Some significant moments are in KSJ’s response:
1) When KSJ attempts to understand and “interpret” HJW, even knowing at times when HJW is mad, he would turn to organising things, trying to be neat and tidy.
2) This is even brought out in Ep4 when HJW, severely bothered by KSJ, turns to vacuuming the floor.
-> This illustrates a very consistent characterisation that follows throughout, which is great as it does not disrupt the flow of the story itself. From this, it elucidates that the two definitely connect with each other, while also facing a sort of “disconnect” from one another, one where they do not know how to better express themselves (especially for HJW).
My critique on the plot:
- At times, it can be rather underwhelming. Some plot digressions just do not flow. Like what was the motivation? What was the incentive of launching a story about Seo Joon? Or rather, how did it take one year for Seo Joon to find Ji Woo's hometown? Surely a superstar has better capacities than that?
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CHARACTERISATION:
This series touches on a few different ideas:
1) how characters respond to each other, and how they shape the personalities they have
2) how HJW&KSJ suit each other VS how they don’t suit each other (at the start when HJW was struggling to express his feelings)
3) KSJ, being extroverted and HJW being introverted
->does make a difference to the storyline too. The drama explores characterisation through how HJW solves his issues alone by not letting KSJ meddle in any of them, contrasted with above and beyond KSJ never giving up and constantly trying to intervene in HJW’s life problems—all of which are significant as they allow the viewers to grasp what kind of relationship dynamics exist in their relationship, as well as how they are like as characters in the drama.
4) KSJ’s bubbly personality (likely emboldened by his role as a celebrity, so I would assume he’s more comfortable and open) is seen from how he can engage the elderly with ease, all the more giving input to how he is as an extroverted puppy for HJW too. Adorable! The characterisation is consistent once again~ since one would expect a superstar to be charming and alluring.
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*SCRIPTWRITING*:
1. Some portions of the scriptwriting in Ep5 was rather confusing, as HJW reverts to his old ways of being a jerk and being nonchalant to KSJ (even berating KSJ for his cooking abilities!). I did appreciate some aspects of Ep5 though, such as how sassy KSJ and HJW’s ex (Sung Yoon) can be to each other, as if they are still fighting over HJW. It can be seen that they both care for each other since they are in the same plight—being HJW’s ex.
2. KSJ appears to be heavily sacrificing for HJW, who does not reciprocate that act of sacrifice back. It is frustrating as a viewer to interpret which direction the plot aims to go, but I do understand that this only further elaborates on the complexity of relationships: both parties need to put in effort to make sure that it works out well.
3. Ep 7’s script writing was amazing. We finally get insights on why HJW is acting so nonchalantly, and the director has allowed us viewers to evoke pity for HJW to some extent! In Ep7, the writer calls it quit with inducing suspense, finally giving us HJW’s backstory and how they relate to his present self. I will admit some scenes do seem dry, and I do have to bring myself to watch them in case I miss out anything. Can I just say whatever that was mentioned in Ep7&8 directly compliments the title of this drama “Our Untold Stories”? That’s so accurately named!
4. Ep 9&10: A beautiful work of art. Plot progression was extremely nuanced, with many impactful lines such as:
“Human stupidity has it’s limits (implying KSJ will not be stupid to keep chasing HJW)”
“When life gets hard, I’ll come to you (a line repeated from previous episodes)”
5. And, this particular chunk of lines in Ep 10:
HJW: “Then you (KSJ) too. Don’t have frequent calls with others. And don’t laugh. I’m (HJW) the jealous type. I won’t let you do it.”
KSJ: “All this time, you acted like it was nothing”
HJW: “I’ve been holding it in all this time (his jealousy). Had I say it, I was afraid it would affect your job”.
-> These few lines are particularly impactful to me as they show the caring nature of HJW, one where he sacrifices his own feelings to ensure KSJ’s career is not put at risk. Stunning. Amazing. Jawdropping. Everything in the last two episodes were explained so thoroughly.
Overall, good story plot and linkages to the previous episodes!
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*CHEMISTRY & ACTING*
I have never had an issue with their acting at all, in fact what was presented was a very genuine, deep love of how the two cannot survive without one another. The idea of pure, puppy love of KJW contrasted to the hidden caring nature of HJW’s complements their relationship and chemistry, making it a ton more believable. The acting is not exaggerated, what is shown is what is taking place. It feels very comforting to watch them and both of them play their roles with excellence. There were some slips with other characters, but not too unbelievable to mar clarity of plot. The two’s chemistry, on the other hand, is CRAZY GOOD. One can see the complexity of the relationship and how KSJ is dependent on HJW.
Some instances of good chemistry in the relationship:
1. KSJ wrote a whole song to HJW’s ex (telling her to stay away from HJW)and sang it in front of her (and the villagers), that was some power move and dedication.
2. HJW can simply not hide his feelings for KSJ again & takes the initiative by kissing him in EP4, falling in love with KSJ all over again :) cute!
3. When KSJ said “(he’ll) work like a bee… why is he (KSJ) so harsh to me” this line was particularly impactful to me as we see the desperation in KSJ’s words alone.
4. As KSJ helps to pack up boxes in Ep5&6, we see HJW get absolutely lost in his own world (zoning out, staring intently at KSJ). We see in such acting how HJW actually feels towards KSJ. His harsh, brutal words do not speak what his heart wants to say.
5. The name of the restaurant “I’m waiting (for KSJ?)” and HJW keeping his old phone, and KSJ’s shirt and are good pieces of evidence to attest that HJW has (discreetly, secretly) not been able to get over KSJ. The keeping of his belongings sounds like a message HJW wishes to convey to KSJ, about how he probably cannot bring himself to let go just yet—especially when the last he has of KSJ are his belongings. The message is just disseminated in a very indirect fashion.
6. When HJW tries to tell KSJ to “not be too friendly to the villagers” and “that there was no harm in being careful”. His caring nature is shown here again!
7. Ep7&8 acting was INCREDIBLE. The tears that fell off HJW’s face, the micro expressions and the look of melancholy painted on HJW’s face because of his now monotonous & mundane lifestyle without KSJ was extremely explicit! Loved the acting!
8. kissing scenes in the last two episodes amplifying how they depend on each other to survive
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*BELIEVABILITY*:
Generally believable because:
1.Drama explores the actor’s daily life, the chef’s daily life and how they go about their job, even making ample time for each other once their day jobs are done (as shown by how HJW goes to KSJ’s shoot and KSJ wants to “make out” in the dressing/makeup room Ep2).
2. we get to see how jealous KSJ can be in ep3&4 when HJW’s ex arrives, even asking his manager to check it out, it’s a very logical approach to the plot, making it a ton more believable especially for someone so “clingy/needy for love”like him, which is lovely!
3. Notwithstanding, in the later episodes (Ep5&6), the links are not as explicit. For instance, the mention of how HJW’s parents left him and thus he ghosted his ex, and then ghosted KSJ later on in another relationship. This assumes a problem that lies with HJW, and the plot justifies it in that way, which is where I find fault with it. How a person behaves should not be justified because of what past they’ve had. A comparative example: Being part of a serial killer’s family (for instance) is not a reason for their children to be serial killers too. Similarly, just because HJW was not well brought up, does not give him any reason to behave in such a childish manner—one where he does not speak his mind about what went wrong, how KSJ can improve, or bring himself to say anything constructive.
4. Point 3 aside, the writer pushed the believability portion even further in Ep8 where we find out TB CEO’s (Pil Hyun) honey is actually the reporter from S1! (Yoon Seul) I loved that their chemistry went even further haha :)
5. Their believability is off the roof in Ep9&10! The two explored their relationship in a very mature manner, and they are so playful it's adorable.
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Music & SFX: No issues, music was used appropriately. Some songs were soothing and suited the mood at the relevant timings (was quite apt)
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Editing/Props/Visuals & Dressing/Setting/Atmosphere, Mood:
I will have to make a brutal statement that I did not fancy the editing this time. Some transitions to the next scene seemed abrupt, and time stamps were disjointed for sure.
As for props, like the green screen when KSJ is taking professional pictures, the phones when they make phone calls to demonstrate certain plot digressions, THE RING THEY BOTH HAVE ON THEIR RING FINGER, the gifts, were all useful.
The other side characters are also important in showing the intricacies of KSJ’s career—that it is not a one man show (e.g. KSJ being depressed, his agency is affected too). Moreover, use of the appliances and things HJW owns are sufficiently testament in showing his role as a chef. Rather useful props to add effect.
Visuals & Dressing: I loved their use of outfits this time around. Finally a BL that has more budget to accommodate different outfits for HJW, who initially used to only wear the same outfits in the past, is now turning to someone with good fashion sense because of KSJ! We get to see how the two have grown to change when they’re with each other. I also particularly like the scene where HJW is on a bike trying to look for KSJ, it is a very important reminder of what he misses so much--the memories he has had with HJW.
Mood/Atmosphere: Perfect! Nothing was awkward or cringe about the show in my opinion. Everything felt real, serious and pure.
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Impact on audience/Impressions: I think this BL alone through its first two episodes has left a very long-lasting, lingering impression on me. I was able to understand what being a top star like KSJ entails, while at the same time, how someone who is so silent and yearns for love as a cook (HJW) can behave when he is not able to do “couple-like” things with KSJ in public. For instance, in E1/E2, it was mentioned that HJW was pissed because he “could not go out walks with KSJ because he was a celebrity” and this left a huge impact on me all because it made me realise that a celebrity’s reputation is so fragile and fluid, and hence evokes pity for HJW. This BL paints a very realistic picture of what life is probably like for real life celebrities too, and all the more we should respect their privacy. So, insightful ideas portrayed. Furthermore, the line where the drama says “the one with more feelings has to put up with the other; be the one to adapt” holds pretty true in this story, and helps the viewers understand the plot further. KSJ, being the one with more attachment to HJW, ends up being the one trying to find mitigatory ways to be more likeable to HJW; at the expense of his own reputation.
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Rewatch Value: I will most definitely be rewatching some episodes of this drama. This drama has been a whole train ride for me. The plot development was extremely good as we get to see that KSJ’s relationship with his parents are not great, giving more insights to how everything in the drama are related and also a more in-depth understanding of their personalities and the role they play in the drama. Acting was extremely good, you can see how professional the two main characters (especially them) were in playing their role to be true to what it was intended to be. However, in terms of 'rewatch'.. personally I will stick to watching Episodes 1 and 10.
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I have also written detailed reviews for Episodes 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10. You may take a look for a more in-depth review of the episodes (Ep 6 and 10, especially)!
Overall, a fantastic BL drama. Top in my charts for now! Thank you for taking time to read this review, do provide feedback if you can since this is my very first review!
*Side note: realised this review is 2621 words long. Bless you for making it all the way here hahaha, have a good day!
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