To My Star Season 2: Our Untold Stories (2022)

Love, redemption and second chances

This is a story of an established couple and their struggles. How complex emotions like insecurity, perceived loneliness, one's own ego etc. play role in complicating things are manifested in this series. Also how one can overcome those are highlighted upon. It is a nuanced, layered depiction of love, it's complexities, the hurt it causes and the courage it requires to overcome those.
The story is relatable, mature and engaging. It is not for viewers who are looking for BL fluff. It is raw and at times rough to watch. It pulls you in and keeps you worried and elated with the characters. There are no instant fixes and rapid gratification.
The direction is flawless. The series is positioned like a puzzle piece and the viewers are challenged to piece it together. HGS, the director, has directed many cult classic BLs in the past but with this one she dared to break the BL ceiling and give us a genuine slice of life love story minus the rosieness and instant fixes.
The cinematography is beautiful and complements the story. The tone and hue change with the story and run as a parallel story teller.
The acting of all the actors are perfect, even the child actors gave flawless performances. The MLs, their chemistry and acting abilites are legendary already. How much they expressed through their eyes is worth a separate discussion and analysis. They were brilliant.
Overall this series made me cry, laugh, stressed, anxious, happy and satiesfied. I will be getting back to this over and over again. I loved it!

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They really outdid themselves

Trust me, I used to think korean BLs have always been disappointing since I have watched enough of them. Watched To my star season 1 and that time it was one my most liked korean BL but after seeing the season two which aired today (3rd June) and I just watched it, I'm spellbounded.

The best thing about this story was the duration. It was just perfect and the last episode being over 43 mins just made it hella satisfying. The pace was really good but can be a little slow for some. They added alot of new characters which made it confusing at first but then it felt they're a family. Also, almost all Korean bl have a really weird plot (if ukwim) but the plot here was really good and was portrayed really well. Though I was confused as to why the plot at the beginning turned out to be like that. I'm not gonna spoil anything hence even the smallest spoiler will just ruin the fun.

Ik we all want to see the erotic scenes (lol) u might not like it cause they won't kiss in many episodes cause the plot is like that but whenever they'll kiss it will just give you the butterflies. Also this drama has the most crazy kisses I've ever seen in Korean BLs, I wanted to scream whenever they went crazyy :p
It's literally my first time rating a kdrama ITS THAT GOOD.

I'm more into dark and gruesome genre but this has to be an exception. Really want this drama to be a hit and loved by everyone. Hats off to the main leads for leaving me shooked with their emotionsss. Loved the ost and acting. EVERYONE SLAYED. The emotions felt soo realll.
Daebak!

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Your Star has burned out and you're poking it with an electric stick

That's how I felt watching this show for the first time. Originally, I planned to make this long-ass review dissecting everything about the plot, character development, cinematography... so I went to rewatch the whole first season and episodes 1-8 of season two to prepare for a finale. Made a bunch of notes and quotes from the series. Intended to give points for every good thing a character does. Take away points from stuff they do wrong. Then I realized there would be a lot of substracting and negative numbers are ugly, so I switched strategy to giving black points. Looking out for for stuff to judge them on and drafting up my HJW defense rant of "To My Sta(lke)r: The Series."


I won't do that.

For one, I'm tired. It's 12 - 1 am where I'm from and this show has totally spent me. I could let it sit for a day or two, but it won't make me feel any more rested about it.

Secondly, it would go against everything the show's trying to portray. And portraying it does really well, so I will respect its message. It's a good one.



Let me just say some general advice for people that have yet to watch the show.

1. This isn't a feel-good story. It's heavy. Make sure you're prepared for that (TWs may include: portrayals of simulated violence, panic attacks/seizures, abandonment, manipulation, forceful following [I won't say 'stalking' because I'm playing nice], scamming, and more. Hearts will most likely break.)

2. Even though it may feel different from season 1, it's actually doing a really good job of expanding on what's already been established and keeping the characterization consistent. I recommend rewatching season 1 beforehand if it's been long since you've seen it last time.

3. There's a lot of details. Lot of symbolism. Lot of flashbacks and getting back to past scenes. Paying attention to it makes the show look way more logical and believable in my opinion. Rewatching might help you from getting lost in it.

4. Take your time. Some might like the show more if they binge it, but don't force yourself into continuing right away if it makes you feel uncomfortable. It was originally releasing 2 episodes per week, and the pacing feels adjusted to that (odd episode usually sets stuff up, while even episode sets it off).

5. Try to keep an open mind. Things may not be as they seem at the start.


Overall, I think this is one of the best BL shows I've ever seen. The characterization is insanely good in this one! The plot is on roughly the same level as in season one. Not my favorite, but good enough. It serves its purpose, which is uncovering the truth about main leads. The length felt suffocating on weekly basis, but looking back at it, I can't see what they could have left out without the show suffering from missing it. It's just very well put together in that way. Every little detail counts. I must say the ending didn't go exactly as I'd like, but that's personal preference. Everything else was solid.

If you liked season one, I think you will learn a lot more about the main leads from season 2. If you're new to TMS and somehow stumbled here, I very much recommend starting the show to anyone who's looking for something more complex and character-oriented. Start with season one, though! Both movie and the tv series are about the same, so either one is fine [around 2 hours long]. In both cases, just be aware it's not a light show to watch.

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a star needs their universe

didn’t go into this thinking it would be as good as the first season because dramas rarely are but man am i blown away. fantastic scriptwriting, acting, directing… you name it!

majority of the season was angst and there is no denying that - but these characters are broken people and with that you’re going to have them react to things because of their pasts and their own personal issues. however, you also get to watch them grow not only individually, but also because of each other. the conflict wasn’t unwarranted either. we saw in season 1 how different these two are from one another and how much they both struggled individually so anyone that says it was just added for the sake of conflict is dead wrong. it was peak realism.

i have to commend the acting from both of the leads here. seo woohyun was amazing in carrying seojoons sensitive and emotional nature. when he smiled everything around him lit up, and when he was crying it was like a storm was arriving on a once sunny beach. kim kangmin was just as fantastic. he spent the majority of the front half stone cold and upsetting to watch and that takes great skill. still, though, you could pinpoint glimpses of hope, sadness, anger, relief. the second half he really got to shine with some more emotional scenes and i just have to praise him because of one scene in particular (you’ll know the one). amazing acting from the both of them.

the music in this drama fit so well. i need the OST on repeat right now!! the technical aspects were all around great. pay attention to the “flashback scenes” because all i can say is you will be wowed by the time you reach the end of the drama. every scene in this drama carried such weight, no matter how big or small.

overall such an amazing watch. i don’t want to lose these characters but I am so satisfied with the ending.

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I have no words!! poignant and melancholic!!

I have no words for how amazing this show was...mind you this is not an easy watch as in it's your typical BL and people looking for fluff will be disappointed ..but if complex flawed characters and realistic relationship depiction between two people having distinct personalities is what you are looking for ..this is your show..if you want to see what happens when the honeymoon phase is over and insecurities and personal demons start taking over ..this is your show...I will be re-watching this coz its required to properly understand the characters and their motivations !! but anyone looking to watch something mature for a change please go ahead and watch it !!!

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I loved it.
The first season was really good it nailed but this one, gosh, they were amazing, their acting is so good their chemistry is everything... I'm not gonna even mention how beautiful they are that isn't needed.
Jiwoo, I really hated him in the first episodes but I think it's because we are kinda alike, we leave people so they don't leave ushahah
But Seojun he's the love of my life, I really hope that in the future I can find my Seojun, he's so nice, so beautiful, so kind, he's a human being full of light, and just like Jiwoo, i have a black heart who needs a little star to light up my days and be my universe. I really believe that I feel this way towards this drama and characters because of it.
The actor did an amazing job, I loved the little "mention" about Kang Min wearing a school uniform in a series, an indirect to School 2021 ahahaha
Everything seemed amazing and complete, I really enjoyed the fact that they explain where Seojun's trauma came from, his relationship with his parents...
I was also really sensitive while watching this drama, I rarely cry with series/movies but when Seojun was home alone and received 2 messages from HoMin and Pil Hyun saying that they loved him made me feel so sentimental that I started crying ahahha
All of this just to say that I loved it so much, they nailed it with this second season

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Have you ever been so in love that it make you feel scared?

The slander that Jiwoo got because of his weird push and pull behavior is just undeserved. People whine about wanting to have realistic BL, THIS is realistic! This is how relationship is in real life! Sadly, angsty romance like this happens more often than good fluffy romance, in this economy having a good healthy relationship is pretty rare you know. Most of the negative comments complain about how it is unnecessary to have this angsty sequel, but believe me, most relationships in real life are only fluffy and romantic in the early stage, there are stressful phases in a relationship which is needed for both people to grow. It's okay if you don't want to watch, so you can save yourself from the heartbreak, but if you did it's also a great follow up story that gives you a perspective on how tricky a relationship could be. The writing in this season is even more smooth too! I totally dig the sudden happy flashbacks that cuts to the gloomy after break-up scene, it makes me feel sad too, as if I am feeling what Seojoon is feeling. After a harsh breakup, your brain somehow always managed to give you random flashbacks that would totally make you feel shitty.

So first, I think we had to understand that Jiwoo and Seojoon have a completely different personalities. It is understandable that Jiwoo finds adjusting to Seojoon's fast-paced, high energy and flashy life a hard thing to do. This poor boy been an introvert all his life, living a lowkey life and having a humble aspiration, that he just wants to be a cook. Jiwoo is also someone who took pride and has high ego about his own life, he didn't want anyone to pity him or give him things just because, he works hard to achieve his dream and I think Seojoon should understand that. He did should learn how to stop pushing people away though, but after years of being alone, having someone who suddenly barges in into your life could be exhausting, Jiwoo pushing Seojoon away is just a way for him to protect himself. Have you ever been so in love with someone it makes you feel scared? Scared that you're not good enough, that you could make mistake that'll probably hurt your s/o, scared that if you fall too hard you couldn't ever recover from the heartbreak. Jiwoo is just like that, he is a little overthinker who actually cares too much. Not to mention that his close friend did cause trouble for Seojoon, so he probably still feel guilty because of that. The relationship is getting too scary for him to explore, so he ran away. It's not great, but some people just have the tendency to do that, Jiwoo is just one of them.

Second, Seojoon had issues too. The problem is that he didn't understand boundaries, he just keep on pushing and pushing. This is also understandable because he is just so in love with Jiwoo, and it is hard to let go of someone who had been deeply rooted in you. Jiwoo helps him with his anxiety and panic attacks, although it is not healthy and Seojoon should've not used Jiwoo as the sole anchor of his life, it's understandable why he just can't let Jiwoo go that easily.

Third, the complexity of the characters made me fall in love with the movie. It hurts, but it's a good kind of hurt because there are still good moments between the two. It's just like watching someone grows in their relationship. The exquisite cinematography, the color tone, the outfits, the casts, the music! To me personally To My Star 2 had the best cinematography out of all BLs I've ever watched. I like the warm earthy feeling too, it's really pleasing to the eyes. Kangmin's acting is amazing, it's amazing how his little details in expression elevate his cold-ass character. Woohyun is also amazing, how he could express hurt and vulnerability makes Seojoon the perfect 'the man who can't move on'.

Overall! I am in love all over again with both of them through this second season, it's hard to make a good second season but To My Star 2 managed to do it so well!

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To My Angst

Overall: season 1 was a romance so I was hoping in season 2 to learn more about the backgrounds of the two leads, have some character growth (specifically Ji Woo getting better at communicating), some fluff and some realistic drama (i.e. the public finding out about their romance and fallout from that). Instead we got...angst and character regression instead of growth. If someone wants to avoid 9 episodes of angst, then I'd suggest just watching episode 10. I really dislike when one character is a huge jerk to the other character for a long time because then I'm not happy if they are together at the end due to all the pain that was caused. Once you break a glass, even if you put it back together, it will never be the same. Watched on Viki (also Gagaoolala)

Content Warnings: gaslighting, grief

What I Liked
- the cute scenes
- episode 10 (except for the very last two lines), enjoyed the callbacks to the first season
- acting
- music (wish we had vocals for the intro though)
- the supporting characters from season 1 that returned in season 2 (and wish they had had more screen time/depth for their characters)
- talking about Ho Min's decision was funny (I looked up the actor)

Room For Improvement
- Ji Woo, I am so disappointed that instead of character growth we got character regression. Breaking up via a sticky note and ghosting someone (on their birthday no less) after a year of dating is inexcusable. Then Ji Woo has the gall to name his restaurant "I'm Waiting For You". Ji Woo lies to Seo Joon and is extra cruel by telling Seo Joon that it's Seo Joon's fault their relationship doesn't work before eventually admitting it was Ji Woo's fault/insecurities. No amount of grief or introvertedness excuses his actions (I know people who are extremely introverted and they all manage to communicate with their significant others)
- Seo Joon needs to learn about respecting boundaries - I realize this was supposed to be romantic but it felt like harassment to me
- non logical/realistic plot things/responses - is a celebrity having a fear of loud noises a huge scandal??? I don't understand this at all. Another is, what a terrible detective. It took 1 year to figure out that Ji Woo was in the town where he grew up/where his parents used to live, wouldn't that be the first place to look??? Also what was the motivation for who posted that story about Seo Joon?
- the cliche ex, this added nothing for me
- the kid, if they were shown babysitting a friend/relative's kid and talking about how they wanted their family to be in the future that would have been awesome, but this character seemed tossed in to add additional drama
- the frequent time jumps back and forth made it feel disjointed and confusing, wish they had told this in a linear fashion
- the explanation for Seo Joon's phobia was underwhelming
- I wish they had had a short recap of season 1 at the beginning of episode 1
- the intro with season 1 short scenes and instrumental music wasn't my favorite intro

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Best Series so far for 2022 for me

Startled for a series that got me hooked just on first two episodes.
Kangmin and Woohyun Did an awesome job portraying their roles. Their chemistry is solid. There’s no awkwardness even their BTS showed how comfortable they are with each other. This contributed to the sense of realness of the relationship portrayed on this series. The Director used tricks to make viewers feel hate, sadness then cry for the happy emotional ending. Great job Director. The writer must have suffered due to the way the story was written until episode 9. Writer did an awesome job. Don’t hate the haters 🙏🏻 It just means the work was done well to get that kind of reaction.
If this series wasn’t great, it wouldn’t produce fans who expressed hate towards Kangmin and emphatic towards Woo Hyun. To have that, the actors, writers, director and staff have done a really great job.
It is worth the time to watch but I suggest watch first season first before watching this one.
Congratulations Kangmin and Woohyun
Congratulation to all supporting casts!!!
Thank You to the production staff, producers and agency staff.
Hopefully there will be another season🙏🏻

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Wonderful storytelling and editing

Many don’t like where this headed but I have to say it’s epic. It’s a bit more real. Love isn’t complicated really, humans make it so. Just as love isn’t enough in certain aspects. It requires work, effort from all parties involved in the relationship. The writing has done a great job showcasing this and how lack of good communication can ruin something beautiful. Kudos to the writers, editors and actors. I’ve felt everything they’ve portrayed. My emotions have run the gamut. The reason JiWoo left was so out of left field and so relatable and understandable that I must applaud the writers once more. Instead of going the usual cliched route that many second seasons do, we are presented with something that is not so easily fixed or overlooked. Here’s to hoping we resolve this issue well for both Seo Joon and Ji Woo in a manner that is also realistic. Again, well done writers and actors. Seo Joon especially has twisted me up inside by his determination to keep Ji Woo and his utter devastation when he finally learned the truth of why Ji Woo left. Great acting. Also, bringing in more characters was a brilliant move. The secondary cast were all brilliantly portrayed. A true emotional journey. Can’t wait for the last ep. Hopefully there’s another season with these two as well

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