4
KingC
Awesome characters... on a high-speed rail.
Not going to lie, this one deserves an 8.5/10 for the first six episodes and a 5/10 for the last two episodes.
Also, it ends in the blink of an eye. It's like they mashed together clips of the whole thing, particularly the last two episodes. I don't know whether to be upset or angry. The actors were good, the premise was good and it had plenty of potential to be one of the better short dramas out there. And to an extent, it is.
This is the one time I truly wished that a drama had a longer run time. Or a second season even. (If it's an 8 episode series, it needs at least 20 minutes per episode. Or 10 episodes, if it's going to be 15 minutes each.)
So… what do I think? Take off the "BL spectacles" and view it objectively as a simple story between two childhood friends, Han Joon and Yoo Jae. However, their bond becomes uncertain when Han Joon starts to realize his feelings for Yoo Jae. Moreover, the struggles of their families puts a further strain on their lives.
The characters and the performance by the cast is what carries the whole 8 episodes. Kudos to them for managing to bring so much depth and emotions to life while being handed like… half the story?
There is so much angst in this one that I decided that the 'best friends to lovers' trope is one of the worst out there. (This one has a particularly noteworthy confession scene.) But, it gives a strange satisfaction when beautifully portrayed. It was stressful to see both Han Joon and Yoo Jae keep trying to keep their friendship alive.
I'm surprised by both the leads. Kim In Sung could really make the viewers feel 'broken'.
While Yoo Jae is getting pummeled by the majority of the viewers, I liked that guy. While Han Joon was more emotionally receptive, Yoo Jae struggled to express his emotions.
I've not looked much into the idol group SF9, but I did not realize how popular they were until Star Struck. Baek Zu Ho can definitely act.
Their chemistry was not bad at all. But, as the concept of time isn't conveyed well, it can appear off putting to many.
The characters needed time: they were not just dealing with their feelings, but also had troubles with their families. This was one part that was well paced in the first few episodes, but got thrown into the bin during the last two. Not that it was bad, but it was all too sudden. Han Joon with his mom and Yoo Jae with his parents.
Another thing? The timeline. The first four episodes took place over a span of four months. The next two focused on their college. The last two took place in about three months. (That's three months in twenty minutes, I tell you.)
On a side note, I never cared about kisses ever since I watched the Taiwanese movie Our Times (2015) and that had literally no physical interaction between the leads, but was just sweet. So, I forgive the directors because the rest of their interactions were gold.
The bad stuff is definitely the runtime which impedes a better written script. I also suspect that they cut off a few remaining bits too. Also, I'll never look at Ferrero Rocher the same way again.
Am I disappointed? Yes, badly. The slew of well plotted short dramas with a longer runtime or more episodes with a tight plot might've made viewers expect better from 'Star Struck'. I'll rate this a generous 7.5/10. Han Joon, Yoo Jae and even those smaller supporting characters are too sweet to not be given a second chance by anyone who stumbles across this review.
Also, it ends in the blink of an eye. It's like they mashed together clips of the whole thing, particularly the last two episodes. I don't know whether to be upset or angry. The actors were good, the premise was good and it had plenty of potential to be one of the better short dramas out there. And to an extent, it is.
This is the one time I truly wished that a drama had a longer run time. Or a second season even. (If it's an 8 episode series, it needs at least 20 minutes per episode. Or 10 episodes, if it's going to be 15 minutes each.)
So… what do I think? Take off the "BL spectacles" and view it objectively as a simple story between two childhood friends, Han Joon and Yoo Jae. However, their bond becomes uncertain when Han Joon starts to realize his feelings for Yoo Jae. Moreover, the struggles of their families puts a further strain on their lives.
The characters and the performance by the cast is what carries the whole 8 episodes. Kudos to them for managing to bring so much depth and emotions to life while being handed like… half the story?
There is so much angst in this one that I decided that the 'best friends to lovers' trope is one of the worst out there. (This one has a particularly noteworthy confession scene.) But, it gives a strange satisfaction when beautifully portrayed. It was stressful to see both Han Joon and Yoo Jae keep trying to keep their friendship alive.
I'm surprised by both the leads. Kim In Sung could really make the viewers feel 'broken'.
While Yoo Jae is getting pummeled by the majority of the viewers, I liked that guy. While Han Joon was more emotionally receptive, Yoo Jae struggled to express his emotions.
I've not looked much into the idol group SF9, but I did not realize how popular they were until Star Struck. Baek Zu Ho can definitely act.
Their chemistry was not bad at all. But, as the concept of time isn't conveyed well, it can appear off putting to many.
The characters needed time: they were not just dealing with their feelings, but also had troubles with their families. This was one part that was well paced in the first few episodes, but got thrown into the bin during the last two. Not that it was bad, but it was all too sudden. Han Joon with his mom and Yoo Jae with his parents.
Another thing? The timeline. The first four episodes took place over a span of four months. The next two focused on their college. The last two took place in about three months. (That's three months in twenty minutes, I tell you.)
On a side note, I never cared about kisses ever since I watched the Taiwanese movie Our Times (2015) and that had literally no physical interaction between the leads, but was just sweet. So, I forgive the directors because the rest of their interactions were gold.
The bad stuff is definitely the runtime which impedes a better written script. I also suspect that they cut off a few remaining bits too. Also, I'll never look at Ferrero Rocher the same way again.
Am I disappointed? Yes, badly. The slew of well plotted short dramas with a longer runtime or more episodes with a tight plot might've made viewers expect better from 'Star Struck'. I'll rate this a generous 7.5/10. Han Joon, Yoo Jae and even those smaller supporting characters are too sweet to not be given a second chance by anyone who stumbles across this review.
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