This review may contain spoilers
The best korean BL!
I actually liked this way way better than the first series. The production, acting, drama and everything was boosted by 10 times. I may be one of the few people that actually like this sequel. I understand the problems that they faced and the reasons for the problems. I understand why Ji Woo did all that. I loved the angst, the drama and the acting. This was way better than the first cause we saw more emotions from both Seo joon and Ji woo. I liked every part it of it. This like one of the few series that actually made me cry like a baby. The way when Ji woo begged Seo Joon to hugged just melted me and made my anger towards him disappear. The raw emotions when he was apologizing to Seo Joon for all the things he has done was just breath taking and took me out of this world. I really liked it. The music was also so much better here. I would say this is the best korean bl series for me. Korea could easily dominate the bl market if they wanted to.Was this review helpful to you?
A story about healing so that you can love
The director Hwang Da Seul is a genius for sure. She took what was originally just a fluffy romcom franchise, rams it through a messy breakup plot that does not make much sense in the first instance, and then gives us a story about two people very much in love trying really hard to heal, survive and perhaps even love again.Saying that the show is angsty does not do it justice. It is not angsty, but it will put your through a lot of pain for sure before giving you what you need.
But at the same time, the creators have given us a show that will have few parallels not only in the BL industry but also the larger queer entertainment, when it comes to unpacking a relationship. The break-up is just a set up here. It is a story about how two people radically different in how they interact with the world, come to terms with the traumas of their past, their insecurities, their needs and wants, and more importantly how strongly they are in love with the other. And more importantly it is a story about how we really need to be able to work on ourselves to be able to love without hurting them or yourself.
Couple of things to note before watching:
1. As a standalone series it is top notch, but there are major gaps if you judge it as part of the franchise. The tone and mood of this season is quite different from what the earlier season offered. There are logically sound plot points that connect the two (if you grab the subtle cues given to us), but overall the two are very different in all but name and the backgrounds of the characters. It is quite likely that you might not enjoy this if you really enjoyed how things were in season 1.
2. Do watch it in one go, now that all the episodes are out. Spend a day to watch it just so you can process all the emotions you go through. For those of us who chose to watch it as the episodes aired, it was just literal torture for over a month. So when you binge it, keep hydrated, keep tissues to wipe your tears as well, and keep remind yourself to not project on to these characters.
3. Adding to the need of doing point number 2, it will also help in understanding the subtle cues that the creators have given. There is a lot to interpret in the series. After rewatching it once again, I realised that there is not a single shot, no character, no sentence spoken, not even a look or a gesture that does not have a purpose. Big or small, but definitely serves the main plot quite a lot.
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Slow but worthwhile
This drama gets better on your 2nd time watching.During my first watch, throughout ep 1 - 9 i disliked jiwoo's character so much. Even as he explained his reasons in ep 7, i couldn't understand them. It felt selfish of him. His worries could have easily been resolved if he had communicated openly with seojoon in the first place. And i absolutely hated how unnecessarily mean and harsh jiwoo was on seojoon. My heart ached for seojoon, for him still trying to reconcile his relationship with jiwoo despite the constant rejection. I was waiting for a good reason as to why he left, why he's so persistent in not getting back together with seojoon despite the poor guy's begging. And when i found out loneliness and guilt was the reason, it felt small.
However, watching it a 2nd time it dawned on me that not all relationship problems arise from external obstacles, most of the time it manifests internally. And jiwoo's case perfectly showcases how internalizing his fears to avoid problems in their happy relationship would eventually come back and hit him harder. Even the jump cuts between present and flashbacks made me co confused during my 1st watch, but rewatching it made me appreciate the director's skills and foresight. It was beautifully executed and the transitions flowed, showing the drastic contrast between his current life and his life with jiwoo. Same routine yet different feelings and scenes. There were many symbolisms and parallels used by the director in S2 to build up sj and jw's story, it'll hit you harder when you realise it.
Honestly i didn't like season 1 that much, it was definitely one of my top K bls but it didnt struck me as hard. There were many plot holes in season 1 and due to the short running time, they couldnt dive much into the characters and their relationship. I found it rushed as the characters just suddenly fell in love and they didnt show why or how. But season 2 completely changed my view on TMS. It felt complete. You get to learn more about each character and see the development of their relationship. I loved the addition of jiwoo's ex as that was a chapter in jiwoo's life which he needed to close and move on from. It also helped put things into perspective for him since she was in his shoes during their relationship - she constantly felt lonely while jiwoo could not understand why she felt that way. Presently, jiwoo feels lonely while seojoon is blissfully unaware.
To those who say TMS S1 was better and this sequel was a waste, i honestly disagree. I love the route they chose for S2 instead of just showing fluffy domestic moments. It would feel empty like that. S2 chose to showcase that not every story ends with happily ever after, it depends on the couple's efforts to compromise, trust and openly communicate with each other. In many instances you will notice how despite seojoon putting 100% into the relationship, his actions done out of love yet it backfired and in turn caused more internal turmoil for jiwoo. Seojoon is unaware of this because he only sees his side of their relationship. In jiwoo's case, he expected seojoon to know how he feels and what he isnt happy with because he is an actor. Going as far as running away and naming his restaurant "Ti Aspetto" ( Im waiting for you) expecting seojoon to understand the underlying meaning. These are common mistakes we as humans do in real life relationships and its so refreshing to see them being addressed, it feels relatable cause the characters are imperfect.
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A good but frustrating sequel
I want to start off by saying that I LOVED the first season, so it was very hard for this to top the previous one, and unfortunately it did not. Don’t get me wrong it’s still a really good show, but some parts were really confusing to me. It’s not a spoiler that they break up, because the whole season is about that, so I knew it even before I watched it, but it felt kind of unrealistic. If you really think about it, how the breakup was handled, is true to Ji Woo’s personality, but that’s the problem. I hate how he acts, he never speaks his mind and is so frustrating to watch, I’m glad that there was a big character development in the end, but if I were Seo Joon I would have honestly punched him in the face. He has to thank the fact that he’s adorable…Nonetheless I still really liked how honest and “raw” this season was, it made me feel a lot of different emotions, and it kept me glued to the screen so much, I watched all 10 episodes in a single day. I love this couple and even if this was a little upsetting, the happy ending made me wish for another season just to see them again (even thought their story is finished and honestly another one would be a stretch), I hope we can see them again in other shows!
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Thia series give me Post series depression syndrome ?
I've been adding this series to my watch list for a long time, and then I was so curious that I finally finished these 2 series in 3 days LOL. In this 2nd series there are some scenes that almost drain emotions, but because the presentation is quite fast, it doesn't make me cry. But in the last episode, all my emotional feelings were drained because I was once in that position. Now this series is giving me Post series depression syndrome. I think I will rewatch this series again and I wouldn't mind if this series comes with a longer duration.Was this review helpful to you?
one of the best goddamn romances to exist.
to be honest, i still don't think i can quite put a finger on why exactly to my star hits so different, but it really does. there's something about how lovingly the show is shot, about how irreversibly in love jiwoo and seojoon are, and about how soft they are with every word and every touch.there's something about the fact that when these characters are in pain, you really come to love them enough to cry right alongside with them, and when they're happy, you find yourself kicking your goddamn blankets in happiness and smiling till your cheeks hurt.
at the end of the day, i think the best way to put it is this: to my star is a show that will make you fall into it so effortlessly that you won't even realize how deeply you've fallen into love with these characters and their story until it's too late to back out.
(also, just as a sidenote: i fucking ADORE that film effect they've given this season so freaking much!!! it really brings out a sentimental sorta vibe that matches perfectly with the story and gives it a gorgeous timeless look. the visuals are just taken to the next level this time 'round <3)
tl;dr? GO WATCH THE SHOW OH MY GOD I SWEAR YOU WON'T REGRET IT
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Each episode leaves me feeling a mix of joy and anxiety as I watch the back and forth between Ji Woo and Seo Joon. The character development is on point, and I find myself loving the series even more. If you were a fan of the first season, you won't be disappointed with this one.
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Wondeful Execution Of Perhaps Unnecessary Angst
I get it, okay? I get Han Ji Woo's insecurities, loneliness, and why he ran away.But.
It's been a freaking year since he left. Waiting all that time for Kang Seo Joon to come to him is too long, is it not? What was the sense in that?
But in any case, he waited. What I don't understand is why he kept rejecting Kang Seo Joon for so long once his lover found him. And in the end, when Han Ji Woo realizes his mistake, he dares tell Kang Seo Joon that he would not chase him as much as he had been chased. Seriously? I understand he had insecurities still, but for someone you love...surely...you could learn to try...It would be an amazing character development.
Overall, I felt Han Ji Woo did not get to the type of realization he should have by the end of the show. He should have realized that he hurt his lover and that his insecurities were just that -- insecurities, not realities. He should have apologized more, begged more, and got to a point of a more enlightened realization.
I felt there was no real climax to the story, or at least not the type of resolution I wished to see.
Han Ji Woo really hurt Kang Seo Joon but he did not heal the rift between them the way he should have. In the end, Kang Seo Joon loved more than Han Ji Woo, no? I don't like to think this, but as much as I adore this show, Han Ji Woo was simply too passive...
But I like him learning to express his emotions more. That part's good. But it rubbed me the wrong way when he said he disliked when Kang Seo Joon talked with others and had friends?! Seriously? That's a red flag!
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One of my most beloved series
After watching this series watchers are divided in few groups,one group like it,where other group don't,one group thinks this was unnecessary but for me this series was really good.Nothing is perfect in this world,this has some shortcomings too,but those are easily ignorable.Seojoon and Jiwoo is two individuals who love each other a lot,it was stated in first season and this season proves it,now how does it do that,it does it in the most melodramatic and angsty way,Seojoon loved jiwoo like burning fire whereas jiwoo loved seojoon like soothing water,sounds cliche but it's true,both are strong lovers but they have different ways to express it,and god the actors did such a good job portraying their characters,and their chemistry is off the roof since first season,and the kisses are chefs 😘, perfection.
Jiwoo is a person with many layers,he keeps a huge wall around himself,so high that he sometimes hurt himself too.Jiwoo loved seojoon in his own way,he loved him so much that it probably hurted him to see seojoon with others,even in the most innocent way,this series wasn't loud about it but it was clear.Seojoon is so bright like a sun,he smiles have so much life in it,that jiwoo is afraid everyone can fall in love with this guy so easily,and jiwoo being a hardcore introvert didn't helped that much,he was fighting his own demons and it got worse and worse.So he wanted to run away,but he loed seojoon too much to do that so he probably endureda long time until he broke,the insecurities, loneliness was eating him from inside so he ran away,but he probably wanted seojoon to come after him and spend his time on him,his restaurant name also suggest that.He was a broken guy who became undone more for seojoon.
Now seojoon is a really strong character,he had everything one could ask,but he still ran after jiwoo, probably cause that's the only person that made him capable of breathing.He has my respect,man was so consistent.But he was so broken when jiwoo left him,like a living dead person,it takes a lot for a person as bright as seojoon to break,jiwoo was just that .
This season was really good,I hope they do a third too
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A bit disappointing, with a lot to be desired
My first time writing a review, and it’s for the second season of one of my favourite dramas. Oh boy here we go.I’ll be honest, I had put off watching this season for a while, since the comments and reviews foreboded a lot of angst, which the drama definitely delivered. But having binged it through, I feel a bit angry, a bit confused and a bit disappointed. First though, the positives.
What sold me on the first season, was the chemistry of our main couple Ji Woo and Seo Joon and once again, did the drama deliver with some truly great acting, framed by nice cinematography and a refreshing new setting. I really liked the new characters, I feel like most of them aided the plot well and brought interesting new dynamics in. And as painful as the first four episodes were in their subject matter, I enjoyed them immensely for the way they built up the new plot. But after episode 4, I felt like the story had unfortunately missed its chance to turn the plot around.
The kiss at the end of episode 4 should’ve been the catalyst for Seo Joon’s and Ji Woo’s relationship to shift again. It marks for one, that Ji Woo’s cruelty from before was a facade, since he was the one who initiated the kiss and he was the one admitting to being unable to “ignore” Seo Joon. For the other, it should’ve been the starting shot for the plot to clear up. Why did Ji Woo leave? What is his relationship with Sung Yoon and why is it so complicated? And also, what effect is this having on both Ji Woo and Seo Joon?
Instead of focusing on these questions the plot loses focus and becomes a bit frustrating. I ended up being quite upset with Ji Woo, for being so unnecessarily cruel in episode 5, during the dinner scene. It didn’t fit his actions from before nor did it help in inching the story closer to its goal: Getting our main couple back together. Ji Woos stoicism and deflection turn from purposeful actions to keep Seo Joon away from him, to dishonest tactics that muddle his integrity as a character who’s supposed to be in emotional turmoil.
It’s not that he isn’t allowed to be confused; it’s that his confusion is never expressed in a way that makes me feel like I understand where he’s coming from. Till the end, I didn’t get his reasoning. Getting overwhelmed and running away, being unable to face your own cowardice and preferring to hide, are all things I understand and that I would’ve loved to have explored through Ji Woos character. So why is it that he defaulted to being cruel and mean to someone he supposedly loves and is extremely attached to, to someone who truly didn’t do anything wrong on his part, who very much tried their best to be a good partner? Id think hurting someone you love would hurt you just as much, no?
Episode 10 then, ended up being too little too late for me. 45 Minutes of everything being happy go lucky, after Ji Woo crawls back and cries to Seo Joon, who’s been emotionally drained from all sides, to hug him. Unable to explain himself properly till the very end, he talks childishly about his reasoning. And that’s it, they’re back together.
And as much as I wanted to enjoy everything “being resolved”, I couldn’t. It felt unfair towards Seo Joon, who’d been dragged back and forth by Ji Woos whims, until the end.
It’s a shame really. Because I do like Ji Woos character and there’s so much potential for psychological exploration there, that has all been untapped. And the same goes for Seo Joon. Although I liked him a lot more, I could’ve used a bit more exploration of his emotional state, the way he copes and the way he is and has been since season 1, a very depressed person. I think we got a glimpse of that, during his call with his father, but i would’ve liked a bit more. In the end, it felt like everything got wrapped up in a big blanket labelled “LOVE” to resolve everything; the plot got put to bed without nearly being ready for it. But welp.
Beyond what I’ve already said, I feel like the restaurant storyline was quite rough around the edges and a bit repetitive. I would’ve also liked more about Sung Yoon and her relationship with Ji Woo. If maybe his behaviour had been a pattern from before, getting scared of his own happiness and abandoning it or something. Anything. But well. Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve.
Ultimately, I didn’t enjoy this season as much as I did the first one, which had its flaws but none like these. I feel like the drama bit more off than it could chew. As I said I’m a bit disappointed, but I’m happy for anyone who’s enjoyed this season regardless and had a good time. Good on you! :)
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A Season of Stars
While Season 2 of To My Star left me feeling conflicted in some ways, I ultimately found it to be a more satisfying story that Season 1. As much as I did enjoy the first season, I also found it to be a bit shallow, lacking background and explanations. I appreciated that this second season delved more into the characters past and answered some of those questions. And while a breakup was predictable, I did find many elements of the story and the characters actions to be realistic, if a bit heavy handed at times. On the other hand, the lack of any of kind of real resolution between the lead characters was disappointing as were the demands they made of each other which were unrealistic and unreasonable. Still, at the end of the day, the positives outweighed the negatives for me.I felt the story here was stronger than that of the first season, again, because we got to delve into the lives of the characters more. Another strength was that the story wasn't linear. This can be hit or miss, but I felt it was done well here. It doesn't start at the time of the breakup, but rather after it and the circumstances of the breakup are revealed bit by bit. However, this was also a bit of a downfall because at least initially, the focus was on Seo Joon and his reaction to the breakup. The problem stems from the fact that the explanation for why Ji Woo broke up with him doesn't come until much later after he's been a complete and total ass toward Seo Joon. That lack of explanation makes it hard to understand him or have any sympathy for him. It's something that would have been important to include earlier on.
I know a lot of people think that the reasoning behind the breakup was crap, but personally I found it realistic. My understanding is that it didn't boil down to just one reason, but it was multiple reasons from feeling lonely and isolated since his social circle consisted of only Seo Joon to fearing that Seo Joon would eventually leave him. Better to leave first than be left. He was an introvert in a relationship with an extrovert. As an introvert myself, I can completely understand where he was coming from. I don't think people fully realize that the fact that Seo Joon made Ji Woo the center of his universe put a lot of pressure on Ji Woo. Self-induced pressure to be sure, but it was there. And despite some people's comments that he didn't really have any trauma affecting him, I would disagree. He had the trauma of his parent's death, the scandal from his parent's friend that led to apparently the entire village ostracizing him, and the trauma of his long term girlfriend abruptly leaving him and with a cruel text message to boot. All of that combined made it easy for him to build walls and hard for him to trust people. Even after a year of dating, it's not like that trauma would have gone away. And sometimes when the loneliness and isolation and fear reach a boiling point, it's easier to run away than face it.
His treatment of Seo Joon, however, after Seo Joon hunts him down was unnecessary. To an extent, I can understand him. He ran as far away as he did to get away from Seo Joon, to get over him, and here comes Seo Joon refusing to take no for an answer and stirring up those feelings again. I get why he would be pissed. But I think he could have gotten his point across without the gaslighting and cruelty.
For Seo Joon, if memory serves, Ji Woo asks him he's a dog at one point and in many ways he does act like a dog, he certainly has the loyalty of one. His inability to get over Ji Woo even after a year, his determination for them to work things out, and finally his attempt to shut Ji Woo out, were all so relatable. I think there's the temptation to call him desperate or pathetic, but I didn't find him to be either of those. I think when you find that one, you're not willing to give them up easily. I know I've seen comments from people saying they don't understand why he even loved Ji Woo, but you have to keep in mind that love isn't logical and there isn't always a concrete reason for it. The need for closure, to understand why Ji Woo left him, was also important. Especially after a year, when it seems like they didn't really have any major fights or arguments during that time, that would be important for him to know. Despite the fact that I do find his actions relatable and understandable, I also don't condone them as they were pretty obviously emotionally and mentally unhealthy. Then again, we don't always do the smartest things when we're in love, do we?
The side characters were a mixed bunch for me. While I liked Sung Yoon as a character, I was not a fan of her role as the ex-girlfriend presented to create tension and drama. I hate when women are used like that, it's such a disservice. I was glad that wasn't her sole purpose even if it was her primary one. She still came across as a strong woman which I appreciated and I liked her friendship with Da Kyung. Da Kyung was entertaining as a single mom and Ji Woo's friend. At first I was afraid they were going to try to put them together and I was very glad when they didn't. Although it wasn't showcased much, I liked what little of their friendship was shown. And I just liked her in general. To me she came across as a strong, badass woman which I loved. Pil Hyun was great to have back. I liked him in the first season and I liked him here again. My only qualm is that I think he should have dumped his girlfriend because he deserved someone better. The only two characters I took issue with, and even then only minorly, were Ho Min and Yoo Ha. With Ho Min, his suddenly leaving to become an idol came out of nowhere. It was a completely unnecessary and underdeveloped plot point that served no point. Yoo Ha, cute as she was, some of her dialogue was a bit too adult. It just wasn't believable that a child her age would say some of the things she said, at least not in my opinion.
The acting was good all around. Kang Min, who I felt was a bit weak at times in the first season, definitely upped his game this season. He was more consistent, his expressions were better and more nuanced and he seemed more comfortable. He still seems to struggle with some of the more emotional scenes, but, again, overall a great improvement. Woo Hyun was fantastic. This was the first drama I've seen him, but I plan on watching others at this point. He's so expressive, I just really enjoyed his performance.
The production value was a clear improvement over the first season which wasn't bad in the slightest, but there is a difference. My one issue is that some of the editing wasn't as clear as it could be. There were a few times where it took a moment to figure out if a scene was from the past or the present. The cinematography was fantastic. As a foodie and someone who likes to cook, I loved the cooking and food shots. The OST was perfection. It just so flawlessly suited the drama in every way. I think my favorite song is the one our two leads sing. Beautifully sung and it really conveyed the mood and emotions.
Now for the aspects that I found less than desirable. Things between Ji Woo and Seo Joon were wrapped a little too neatly for my taste. Yes, there's a brief conversation as they make up, but these two needed to sit down and have a long conversation. Now I suppose we can assume they did that off screen at some point, but since that's not alluded to at any point, I'm not willing to make that assumption. The problem I see here is that without having a proper discussion about what led to Ji Woo running away, it leaves open the possibility of it happening again. On the one hand, that seems less likely to happen since Ji Woo has more of a support system than just Seo Joon there at the end, but it is something that needs to be addressed. I also don't feel like Ji Woo ever properly apologizes for his treatment of Seo Joon earlier on which he absolutely should have. Regardless of his struggles and conflicting emotions, he owed him a massive apology. Another concern is their demands of each other, that Ji Woo not pick out his clothes ahead of time, I think it was, because his ex does that, and that Seo Joon not smile at others or talk on the phone so much, if memory serves. Ji Woo had thrown out some other issues earlier in the drama as well. All of these are ridiculous and, frankly, unreasonable. It is setting each other up for failure, not to mention a level of possessiveness of each other that could also be problematic.
So would I recommend this drama? Provided you're not looking for a fluff piece, yes. The material here is much heavier than in the first season and though we do get our happily ever after, it's a longer and tougher journey to get there. Personally though, I would say that journey is worth it and I found this second season to be superior to the first.
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Painful but I loved the end
I went into this still confused on some events of the first season (thankfully, someone commented on the review and helped clear up some things). From the summary, I knew that either Seo Joo or Ji Woo had left ending the relationship with a note, but I wasn't sure which it was. I expected to to last much of the season with one looking for the other, but it was resolved within the first episode.For most of the season, the audience is trying to find out what Ji Soo left Seo Joo. Seo Joo spent a year looking for him, only to find him in his home village, living in the house he did during his childhood and had opened a restaurant that is not doing so well in its location. The reasonings his gave and his cold attitude towards Seo Joo doesn't make sense especially from where the first season left off. Watching Seo Joo trying to talk to Ji Woo, getting to know the villagers and even call Ji Woo at the restaurant numerous time to tell him to come pick up his stuff was just heartbreaking. No matter how frustrated and confused I felt, I wanted answers. We meet the Village Chief, Han Da Kyung, who is a neighbor to Ji Woo and her daughter Yoo Ha, who called Ji Woo 'Dad". We also meet Jung Sung Yoon who is not only from the same village as Ji Woo but also his ex girlfriend. I watched this on Viki and the comments were so rude about her character. I enjoyed the banter banter between Seo Joo and Sung Yoon, they both dated the same person but as different parts of his life.
Seo Joo tried so much that there times that I just wanted him to stop and just leave Ji Woo behind. He didn't deserve him. Based off of Ji Woo mannerism, I wondering if it was autistic but undiagnosed. In an epilogue there is a clip of Ji Woo telling Seo Joo that is not hard to hang his clothes going the same direction. I could be wrong but it was just what I got from things. Towards the end, we finally got Ji Woo perspective on his relationship with the two people and how different they were. He watched a live stream on Seo Joo birthday, not knowing that Seo Joo stated that he wasn't staying because he was celebrating with his partner which is the day that Ji Woo left. I do love when Ji Woo decides to stay at Seo Joo apartment and the CEO leaves. Ji Woo leaves and returns with ingredients for dinner (which is looked like saffron rice) "Who do you think you are'? Seo Joo states. it was like saying how dare you come in here and make dinner as if things are how they used to be. You left me, remember? And then Ji Woo explains and states how was confused and states things he wasn't Seo Joo to stop doing, and the two talk some more and with that the two get back together. Would this have been better if it was stated in the first place instead of him just leaving? Yes. But the growth of the two and the realization the two go through, was worth the end result. I may watch the last few episodes again just to understand Ji Woo feelings and points of view again. I do not see myself turning this on again to watch fully, but there were scene in this that I really liked.
There is also the issue of Seo Joo panics attacks. He mentions how his parents left him, but we see from the phone conversations that his health were primarily the reason as to why they dissociate themselves with him. Which is a way is sad. They also didn't attend observation at school like with Yoo Ha and her Mom who is so busy with work that she forgets and lets her daughter down a lot. The Villagers also seem to be punishing Ji Woo because of something that his parents did years before so no one is really coming to the res. I know that small towns and villagers are untruthful of newcomers but to punish their child. I am still not really clear on that myself.
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