Synopsis

“Sh**ting Stars” (“Stars”) is a story of stars and those around them who clean up their messes.  Oh Han Byeol (Lee Sung Kyung) is Team Leader for the PR Team One at Starforce, the largest and most sought-after management company for Korean actors.  Gong Tae Seong (Kim Young Dae) is Starforce’s biggest and brightest star.  Han Byeol and Tae Seong have known each other since their college days, when rumors spread that they were dating and Han Byeol had to contend with the fallout of being associated with the rising star.  When the two work for the same company post-graduation – Han Byeol as a public relations manager and Tae Seong as one of the company’s clients – their relationship continues to evolve and the two admit their feelings for one another.  Afraid of reliving the abuse from fans that Han Byeol endured in college, and knowing that the criticisms will be that much more intense because of Tae Seong’s increase in fame, Han Byeol wants to keep their relationship a secret.  Tae Seong reluctantly agrees, as the two fall deeper in love.  With the help of their co-workers and friends in the industry, the two overcome many obstacles by each other’s side.  The series ends when their relationship is discovered by a reporter and Han Byeol makes the decision to acknowledge it publicly.    

Lead Couple

Oh Han Byeol is dedicated to her job, cleaning up the messes that her celebrity clients make.  It is her job as Public Relations Team Leader to respond to all rumors and allegations about Starforce’s actors, in both their public and private affairs.  While the job is a stressful one, Han Byeol likes to protect others, and shines in her role, thanks to her eloquent writing and speaking abilities, as well as her crisis management and problem-solving skills.  She is great at her job, is stunningly beautiful, and beloved by her co-workers and friends.

Tae Seong is known as “the nation’s boyfriend,” and is the most successful actor for Starforce.  Tae Seong struggles with the psychological childhood trauma of being denied by his birth mother, the famous actress Eun Si Wu (Choi Ji Woo), and keeps that relationship a secret.  Coupled with a large amount of stress, and the guilt he carries from his best friend’s death, Tae Seong’s health suffers.  Tae Seong grew up lonely, but he learns that he has always been surrounded by those who love him, as the staff and fellow actors at Starforce are like family to him. 

Han Byeol and Tae Seong’s blossoming relationship suffers through a couple of misunderstandings that separate the couple for more than a year as Tae Seong volunteers in Africa.  When he returns, the misunderstandings prevail, and their relationship is nothing short of antagonistic, particularly for Tae Seong who mistreats Han Byeol while simultaneously wanting to be around her.  When Tae Seong learns the truth behind the misunderstandings, he tries to make amends, but Han Byeol thinks that Tae Seong is only teasing her.  We learn that before Tae Seong left for Africa, Han Byeol was unexpectedly forced to acknowledge his official relationship with another woman, which broke her heart.  Because of this, she keeps her heart guarded with Tae Seong.  After some time, the two are finally able to admit their honest feelings for one another.  Tae Seong sweetly tells Han Byeol, “Since I got so used to you being next to me, I realized my feelings so late. But from the beginning to the end, I only need you.” 

Despite Kim Young Dae’s great acting range, the character of Tae Seong comes across as a bit flat on screen, at times, particularly when he is tormenting Han Byeol.  His nervous and vulnerable scenes, however, save the character.  He also has great chemistry with Oh Han Byeol, whether they are arguing heatedly or admitting to long-quelled feelings.  Most of their kisses are just average K-drama kisses, but there is one that stands out.  It is in the final episode of the series, when Tae Seong and Han Byeol are alone in the house they rented on Jeju Island.  Han Byeol begins the scene awkward and unsure in the moment.  To help her relax, Tae Seong teases her about their first kiss, when Han Byeol kissed him suddenly and then screamed in surprise at her own boldness.  Han Byeol asks why he brought up that moment and insists she is not the same person she used to be, giving him a quick kiss as evidence.  That is all the invitation Tae Seong needs, as he moves nose-to-nose with her and tells her in a husky voice that he is not the same person that he used to be either.  With both hands on the wall around her, Tae Seong begins a passionate kissing, pressing Han Byeol against the wall, and then pulling her body into his body.  It is by far the steamiest kiss of the K-drama and leads to a night of passion for the Lead Couple.

Second Couple

While “Stars” focuses on the relationship between Han Byeol and Tae Seong, it is very much an ensemble cast, and each star shines in their role.  My personal preference is when the various couples of a K-drama are interconnected allowing each couple’s storyline to add to the overall story without slowing down the pace of the K-drama.  The Second Couple in “Stars” is Han Byeol’s best friend, Jo Ki Bbeum (Sojin), and Starforce’s legal counsel, Do Su Hyeok (Lee Jung Shin). 

Jo Ki Bbeum is a reporter for OnStar Daily and is constantly hassled by her boss to grab an exclusive.  But unlike her boss, Jo Ki Bbeum is concerned with accurate reporting, and strives to write articles that she can be proud of.  Her boss derisively refers to her as an “apostle of justice.”  Jo Ki Bbeum and Han Byeol use their close, personal relationship to help each other professionally.  Jo Ki Bbeum’s role as an entertainment reporter allows her to provide Han Byeol a heads-up about any rumors involving the Starforce actors, which allows Han Byeol a head start on damage control.  In return, Han Byeol’s connections in the entertainment industry allow her to provide Jo Ki Bbeum with interviews for exclusive articles.  When a tabloid article surfaces stating that Tae Seong and Do Su Hyeok, are romantic lovers, Han Byeol provides Jo Ki Bbeum with access to Do Su Hyeok to dispute the rumors. 

Lawyer Do Su Hyeok is handsome, comes from a wealthy family, and is “as good-looking as a celebrity.”  As the legal counsel for Starforce, he is well-liked by all of the employees, and holds media outlets and anti-fans responsible for their words and actions against the Starforce actors.  Do Su Hyeok begins the series interested in Han Byeol, but Han Byeol turns him down after realizing her feelings for Tae Seong.  When he meets Reporter Jo Ki Bbeum, they are a natural match and connect instantly.  The article that Jo Ki Bbeum writes regarding the “love scandal” immediately clears up the rumor by “changing the narrative.”  Do Su Hyeok is impressed and it marks the first of many meetings between the two, as they quickly begin to rely on each other for support.        

My favorite scene with Jo Ki Bbeum and Do Su Hyeok is when Reporter Jo’s boss at OnStar Daily wants her to write an irresponsible article.  Rumors surface that actor Tae Seong fathered a child in Africa and he tasks her with writing an article postulating about who the potential mother could be.  “Whether they believe it or not, who cares?” her boss rails.  Jo Ki Bbeum reminds him that “a journalist should fact-check.”  When he continues to push her, she calls Lawyer Do Su Hyeok and tells him she would like to do a phone interview, if he is available, regarding reckless reporting.  “If it’s your interview,” he says, “I’m available.”  She thanks him, puts his call on speakerphone, and asks him about Starforce’s legal response “regarding media that spreads this rumor without checking the facts.”  Do Su Hyeok’s response is that Starforce will “punish it until the very end without any mercy.”  Do Su Hyeok’s response is precisely the response that Jo Ki Bbeum was hoping for to teach her boss a lesson, and demonstrates how in sync Reporter Jo and Lawyer Do are.

Bromance

Another important relationship in “Stars” is the Bromance that develops between Tae Seong and Su Hyeok.  These two start out as competition for Han Byeol’s affections, but end up as comical allies.  As the two men vie for Han Byeol’s attention, they even find themselves linked as romantic lovers in the tabloids.  When Tae Seong returns to Korea after volunteering in Africa, he learns that he has a new neighbor in his luxury apartment building, Starforce Legal Counsel Do Su Hyeok.  Do Su Hyeok throws a housewarming party for the Starforce PR Team as an excuse to invite Han Byeol to his home.  When Tae Seong finds out about it, he invites himself over so he can see Han Byeol, even giving Do Su Hyeok an expensive housewarming present.  Do Su Hyeok is witnessed by his secretary watching a YouTube video of Tae Song (and Han Byeol) and they are even witnessed having a secret rendezvous (a verbal battle over Han Byeol) in the stairwell of their apartment complex.  Thanks to Reporter Jo’s article, the rumors are cleared up, but the mix-up allows the men to form a bond and a level of support that they both need in their lives, particularly Tae Seong.  These two enemies turned latte companions are fun to watch, especially Do Su Hyeok, who is hilarious. 

One of the things I like the best about this Bromance is that, even though they are once mistaken as a “bold male-male couple,” neither man is ever disrespectful about their potential same-sex relationship.  When Lawyer Do Su Hyeok is questioned by his secretary, he calmly states, “He’s not my boyfriend.”  Although he does threaten to sue her for spreading false rumors, he does not respond with a homophobic assertion that he is not gay or that he likes women.  Even when speaking to his mother over the phone, his calm response of, “even if I were dating someone, I wouldn’t date him. He’s not my type at all,” is calm and respectful.  When the two men encounter one another again in the stairwell – post tabloid article – Do Su Hyeok greets Tae Seong with “it’s my boyfriend.”  Tae Seong smiles and responds, “Darling!”  The scene is hilarious as both men joke about how much they enjoy their “bold” encounters in the stairwell.  I applaud “Stars’s” normalization of a same-sex relationship – even if the relationship is not real – a new trend I am noticing in the newer Asian dramas.

Anti-fans

Tae Song and Han Byeol contend with many antagonists in “Stars,” but all come in some form of anti-fan.  According to Urban Dictionary, an anti-fan is “Any fangirl/boy who purports to be a fan but who is actually engaged in dissing down, covertly or overtly, the object of a fandom, often for hidden agendas of their own.” The first anti-fan in “Stars” is the woman who works as Tae Seong’s housekeeper, Kwon Myung Hee (So Hee Jung).  Kwon Myung Hee is secretly a wealthy woman who likes to be close to celebrities.  She sends them expensive gifts, so that she can be considered someone special to the celebrities.  When she sends a one-of-a-kind watch to Tae Seong, however, he refuses to accept it, stating that it his policy not to accept gifts from fans.  Because of this perceived rejection, Kwon Myung Hee devises a plan to ruin Tae Seong, by working for him as his housekeeper and secretly gathering information about his private life.    

The second anti-fan, Kang Min Kyu (Lee Han Ik), was a loyal fan of Lee Yun Wu (Lim Sung Kyun), the former Starforce actor and Tae Seong’s best friend, who committed suicide.  When Lee Yun Wu passed away, Tae Seong had a contractual obligation overseas and was unable to return for the funeral.  The fan, angered by the fact that Tae Seong was smiling during an interview rather than attending his best friend’s funeral, vowed to get revenge on Tae Seong on Lee Yun Wu’s behalf.  He first works as a Starforce employee, and then as a manager for a rival management company, DS Actors, gathering information on Tae Seong to exposing any secrets he finds.   

The third and final anti-fan in “Stars” is Lee Yun Wu’s former manager, Yu Gwi Nong (Hur Gyu).  Yu Gwi Nong is the manager who discovered Lee Yun Wu.  He quit his job from Starforce after Lee Yun Wu’s suicide and opened his Organic Bar, where Han Byeol and her friends gather together.  Yu Gwi Nong blames Tae Seong for being jealous of Lee Yun Wu and attempting to steal his spotlight.  Yu Gwi Nong regularly delivers an anonymous red envelope to Tae Seong, reminding him that he is responsible killing Lee Yu Wu.  This anti-fan is the most important of the three because Tae Seong does not consider him an anti-fan.  And it is after realizing that so many of his friends carry the burden of guilt over Lee Yun Wu’s suicide, that Tae Seong realizes that Yu Gwi Nong does, as well, and is projecting his guilt onto Tae Seong. 

“Stars” does a good job at looking at various types of anti-fans and portraying the real damage that they can cause, as even unsubstantiated rumors can end an actor or idol’s career.  According to Cybernaut, “Anti-fans are possessed with the same passion as fans: they follow, they discuss, they obsess. But rather than blind worship, they’re immersed in blind hatred. Instead of a positive bond characterized by affection…it’s a negative one characterized by obsession.” Cybernaut talks about the mirror phenomenon mirror phenomenon of an actor or idols fandom and anti-fandom that “share many similarities because they’re largely driven by the same thing: parasocial relationships,” where lines blur between fans and those that they follow. Reporter Jo’s pursuit of fact-checking in her articles goes a long way to help dispel many of the rumors, and Lawyer Do’s pursuit of punishment for anti-fans who break the law helps to stop their spread, but “Stars” demonstrates how anti-fans can still cause a significant amount of turmoil before the damage can be managed and the truth can be revealed.     

Suicide

“Stars,” like “True Beauty,” addresses the issue of suicide, and the guilt and regret that the loved ones who are left behind endure.  When Starforce actor, Lee Yun Wu commits suicide, his death affects each of the main characters, as they all blame themselves.  From the reporter who wrote an article on him the day before he died and the friend who took sleeping pills and did not hear his phone call that night, to his best friend who regrets missing the warning signs and his agent who discovered him, they all wonder if they could have done something different to save his life.  The topic of suicide is incredibly relevant in South Korea where, “For the past two decades,” according to Foreign Policy.com, South Korea “has had the highest suicide rate among developed nations.” (https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/05/south-korea-suicide-rates-mental-illness-squid-game/)  And while the nation has experienced an overall decline in suicide rates in 2020 and 2021, according to The Korean Herald, “suicides were up in women and young people under the age of 30,” making the topic of suicide incredibly relevant for K-dramas and their core audience.

Final verdict: WATCH  

While “Sh**ting Stars” is not a Must Watch for me, it definitely makes my Watch list.  “Stars” is an ensemble K-drama, and every part is well acted.  Most of the stories add to the Lead Couple’s story without dragging the storyline.  The only exception is the relationship between Han Byeol’s fellow Starforce Public Relations Team Leaders, whose story does drag the series, at times.  The first quarter of the drama finds the Lead Couple at serious odds with one another, and while that is not uncommon in K-dramas, Tae Seong’s level of mistreatment of Han Byeol borders on abuse.  The reason why he acts the way he does is explained later in the drama, but the explanation does not justify his actions, and his character comes across as a bit unlikable.  When the Lead Couple finally ends up together, however, he softens substantially, and together with Han Byeol, Tae Seong is adorable.  In addition, the mystery behind the identities of the anti-fans and the journey to discover the rationale behind their actions is interesting, and keeps the pace moving.  There is also a significant amount of humor to offset the darker moments, making this K-drama feel well-balanced.

So there it is, our review of “Shooting Stars.”  What did you think?!  Thank you for joining us on this journey.  Have a favorite K-drama you think we should review, comment down below!!  We look forward to seeing you back again next week!

Up next, “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?”