REVIEW: Sh**ting Stars
| Title | Sh**ting Stars |
| Male Lead | Kim Young-dae as Gong Tae-sung |
| Female Lead | Lee Sung-kyung as Oh Han-byeol |
| Writer | Choi Young-woo |
| Episodes | 16 Episodes | 60 Minutes per Episode |
| Release | April 22 to June 11, 2022 |
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Language | Korean |
| Origin | South Korea |
Plot Summary
Sh**ting Stars is a modern-day romantic comedy-drama that tells the love story of Oh Han-byeol, a PR Manager, and Gong Tae-sung, a top movie and television star. They both work under the entertainment agency, Star Force Entertainment. Set in the bustling city of Seoul, the drama gives us a glimpse of what life is like for the people who work in the entertainment industry. Albeit it is the cleaned-up almost stringent version of reality sans its darker side.
The overall treatment of the drama is comical and almost cartoonish giving it a lighthearted feel early on in the series. The characters are much like you would expect them to be. Simple and easy to understand. Not many of the multi-faceted three-dimensional characters abound in more controversial mainstream dramas.
Conflicts revolve around the premise of being a popular artist and what goes on with everybody around him. The series attempts to paint a picture that champions them as real human beings too with feelings and worries just like any regular person. Actors, artists, and celebrities seem to experience everything in heightened reality and bigger than life. Every mundane happening is an event in itself and every drama is amplified.
When the leads finally get together, it was not just two people in love but two life-long friends finally finding an ally that they can rely on for dear life. Sh**ting Stars is a romantic comedy-drama that fits a certain purpose. That is to entertain without too many highs and lows and very few expectations. If you start watching it with those in mind, then you are sure to be entertained.
PR Relations Guru Oh Han-byeol
Lee Sung-Kyung portrays Oh Han-byeol, the female lead. It is a typical role that fits her perfectly. Han-byeol is dedicated and very efficient in her job. She is quick on her feet and has a good reputation within the industry. People line up at her office asking for advice on what to do in cases where public opinion and relationships are at stake. She knows Tae-sung from school and they do not have the best relationship. They were once reported to be a couple on campus. In reality, when they are together they fight like cats on dogs.
Handsome Model and Top Star Gong Tae-sung
Kim Young-dae plays the character of Gong Tae-sung. He has a lot of fans and is very popular. Tae-sung has multiple projects and numerous brand deals. He upholds a clean good-boy reputation and his management wants to keep it at that. He is known as the nation’s boyfriend. Unknown to many people, Tae-sung has troubles of his own that very few people know. Tae-sung has had a crush to Oh Han-byeol eversince they met in school.
The Two Leads Fall in-love
Gong Tae-sung and Oh Han-byeol have always had an explosive relationship. Since high school, they always bicker and fight about the smallest of things. As expected, these fights mask their growing attraction for each other. Oh Han-byeol for her part is adamant about getting into a relationship with a very popular top star whom everybody fantasizes as their boyfriend. Her job has made her deal with situations involving relationships of superstars that have gone public. She knows all the perils that go along with it. Tae-sung confessed his feelings to Oh Han-byeol multiple times but she dismissed it as a joke.
Sh**ting Stars is a heart-felt romantic comedy drama that tackles issues within the entertainment industry in an almost matter of fact way. They tackle relationships with the intention of making the audience understand that movie stars are people too. They have feelings and they get hurt just like the rest of us.
You know, there are times when you want to do well so bad, you only see what’s right ahead.
Oh Han-byeol
Character Highlights of the Series
The Perfectionist Lawyer Do
Lee Jung-Shin from the series, Cinderella and Four Knights, plays the strict and perfectionist company lawyer, Do Soo-Hyeok. He is a no-nonsense person who likes to separate his private and personal life. Lawyer Do always leaves the office on time and never brings work with him. He prefers not to entertain work calls during off hours and basically keeps everyone at a safe distance. All these seem to change because of Oh Han-byeol.
Meeting her at Star Force Entertainment’s weekly meetings has developed into an attraction that he quickly went out to pursue. Oh Han-byeol is flattered but she is unsure of what to do with his confession.
Park So-jin as Jo Ki-bum
Park So-jin plays the part of Jo Ki-bum, an entertainment writer and a close friend of Ho-Young and Han-byeol. She is a no-nonsense character with a good level head on her shoulders. She works hard at her job with her astute investigative skills and professionalism.
A strong denial is an affirmation.
Reporter Jo
Kang Yoo-Sung and Park Ho-Young
Yoon Jong-hoon plays the part of Kang Yoo-sung, a talent manager who is even-tempered and very calm disposition. He is quite handsome and is often mistaken as an artist himself. He is the manager of Gong Tae-sung. Kim Yoon-Hye plays the part of Park Ho-young. She used to be a Taekwondo player who worked as a bodyguard. She became a talent manager because she was inspired by Yoo-sung and aspires to have a career like his. Ho-young is a close friend of Han-byeol and has secret feelings of romantic admiration for Yoo-sung.
My Personal Observations and Things I liked About the Series Sh**ting Stars
SPOILER ALERT!!! Please read at your own discretion! Some parts of the story that have been written below might be considered a spoiler, so please read with caution!!!
Relatable Relationships
- The leads are both adorable. Lee Sung-Kyung as the FL is such a doll. I think she performs what is needed of her character pretty well. Kim Young-dae on the other hand is the endearing ML who is adorable and frustrating at the same time. He plays the pitiful boy who got left behind flawlessly. They are both easy on the eyes.
- The friendship between the three girls, Han-byeol, Ho-young, and Ki-Bbeum is something you would like for yourself. Meeting up every day after work having dinner and a few drinks is really the building blocks of lifelong friendships.
- Yoo-sung’s concern for Tae-sung makes you think that although he had some unfortunate things happen to him in his life, at least there were people who had his back no matter what.
- Jin Yoo-Na and Kang Min-Kyu’s relationship is fun to watch. Scenes, where the two pretend to not be able to stand each other but are actually secretly dating, are one of the funny parts series.
- The series has a total of six couples!! It surely has a lot of things going on but it still managed to make each one interesting enough.
More Things to Like About the Series
- I liked the character of Do Soo-Hyeok as the straightforward lawyer who had no qualms in admitting his feeling for Han-byeol immediately as soon as he realizes it and was gracious enough to be sensitive to the FL’s feelings when he knew it was not a two-way street. Many dramas have characters who act up and play the slighted party when they find out that their feelings were not reciprocated. Lawyer Do’s attitude definitely sets a good example. A class act to emulate if and when something similar happens.
- There were lots of cameos from popular stars as well playing small roles throughout the series.
- Kim Dong-Wook and Mun Ka-Young appeared in the series as Lee Jung-Hoon and Yeo Ha-Jin with reference to their series, Find Me in Your Memory. It was an interesting moment in the show when they were in character appearing on a different drama.
Binge Star Rating – 7.5 Stars
Sh**ting Stars is a series to watch when you are in between having watched a really great drama and not really ready yet to get on another roller coaster of emotions. It is simple, straightforward, and quite enjoyable to watch. It’s not something that you would want to binge-watch straight from the first to the last episode. You can watch it leisurely at pacing you are comfortable with. You will not lose sleep over it.
Although the series admittedly has some flat moments and had a slow build-up in the first few episodes, it still had a solid story that should be told. The writers gave the audience a different perspective on what could be happening behind the cameras. The cast did a good job with the material they were given.
Overall, the series is worth watching. Definitely add it to your list of to-watch!
Read more about What to Watch Next
DISCLAIMER: The images used are not my own by Mays Entertainment, tvN, and iQIYI. These images may be subject to copyright. This blog is for entertainment purposes only. All opinions solely reflect the author’s opinions only. No copyright infringement intended. [Last Update 04252024]
