When the Stars Gossip

Lovely

I came across this drama because as I always enjoy Lee Min-hos acting skills despite usually not being too keen on space themed dramas and admittedly largely watching romantic comedies/romance or action dramas.

I thoroughly enjoyed Lee Min-hos acting and the chemistry between him and Gong Hyo-jin was perfect for me. I just love how much range he has in terms of his roles and his ability to express a lot of emotion just with his eyes.

The story itself was a tad far fetched for me in terms of logical reasoning as to why what they were doing was necessary to do in space but it didn't take away from the casts dynamic acting so I enjoyed it anyway and to be fair many shows I like are not on the realistic side (I'm escaping from reality after all xD)

I am more of a happy ending person myself so I would just add that for those who want a pure happy ending over a sweet/tragic one it may be not on the top list.

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Not great but def not a 1 or 2 rating! (Spoilers indicated)

I simply don't get the super low ratings for this series. No, it's not great, but compared to a lot of other more highly rated dramas it is on par.

The Good:
- Mostly good acting. I particularly liked Gong Hoo-Jin. Super good job! Lee Min-Ho was good too, but the way his character was written made it hard to like him in this role (not his fault!).
- Interesting story - different

The Sub-Optimal:
- Plot holes you could drive a space station through
- Irrational choices by characters were so annoying :-(
- Bad science (although they obviously did their homework).
- LOL there are no noises across distance in space and it would have tightened the tension if they had not fouled this up. My undergrad degree was physics so this is hard to ignore ha ha.
- The ending clips were a tad to "artsy" for me and kind of didn't fit the rest of the show
***Spoiler***
- Very sad ending which I did NOT like at all. I'm not saying it's "bad" but I don't watch 16 hours to be bummed at the end.
***Spoiler***

In any even, this is NOT a 1 or a 2 rating. Not sure why people dislike this so much. It is very comparable to other KDramas that are more highly rated. I'd say give it a watch, but it is not worth a second watch.

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Trauma inducing

First few episodes actually fascinated me, bringing associations with Tarantino’s movies but sci-if and killing moroulras instead of humans. The potential was 10/10 and I was wondering where the bad reviews come from. Yes, the leads chemistry was below zero and the team had a member who doesn’t speak Korean, yet all conversations and orders was given in that language but, hey! it’s zero gravity rom-com, let’s be forgiving.
There were some really dark comedy moments scattered around a nice space station setting.
I really liked it… until the time skipping ruined everything finishing with the most traumatic ending in my Kdrama watching (extended) experience. EVER!!! It’s not the sad/bad ending, I can handle that, it’s the absolute nonsense of the decisions and reactions.
What bothers me the most: (spoiler warning ⚠️ warning ‼️ warning ⛔️ )
1.Lacking any sense in the mother/daughter micro plot between Eve and Jung Na M! Why they build that plot just to ruin it in meaningless unforgivness?!?!
2.Why the end was that rushed and bad? Forget the script disconnection, plot holes, and sad ending, they might of made it at leas meaningful? Did I missed the point of all main characters dying/suffering. There is dark movies and there is pure cruelty, this drama being the cruel one.
3. What was the point of exploring infertility/maternity/hope for life just to kill them all (except the fruit flies). Even the mice babies didn’t survive the massacre. Did someone notice that even the promised space infertility clinic was actually based on the Kong Ryon’s space work (that obviously was disrupted).

Honestly, I write the review to get any personal conclusions and move on with this drama. It brings me tremendous trauma!
Would I recommend - if you like meaningless character killing and constant suffering, go ahead it was pleasing to watch zero gravity setting!

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"When the Stars Gossip" is a drama about astronauts who use space to conduct research on reproduction and fertility, which can only be done on Earth in zero gravity. Gong Ryong is a gynecologist who goes to the station on a secret mission: to fertilize the egg of the daughter-in-law of one of Korea's wealthiest families.

It's a drama I was really looking forward to watch, but I ended up being disappointed because the story is poorly developed. The drama's biggest problem lies in the romance between Gong Ryong and Eve, which is not only unnecessary but also completely boring. He fell in love with Eve almost instantly, like a boy, without even knowing her properly. These two have no chemistry on scene. I understand the whole situation of them having sex in space; they thought they were going to die, they didn't consider the consequences. But was really necessary for Eve to be pregnant, in addition to the whole process of her giving birth on the space station and dying? No.

Eve just didn't work as the main character. She's incredibly hypocritical. She didn't hesitate to betray Kang Su, her coworker, for the fertilized eggs, but she helped Ryong bring his to Earth simply because he was the person she was in love with. She discarded Min Jeong's eggs twice, the second time to protect Ryong and her colleagues. I agree that was the right decision, but when she discovers she's pregnant, she decides to keep the pregnancy and have the baby in space. Eve has a very clear standard. There are ethical and moral values, but they're only valid when they don't directly affect her, and that's not something I'd expect from a commander.

The astronauts' part is incredible; it reminded me a lot of "The Silent Sea." If the drama had focused on that—on the astronauts' day-to-day lives, their work, research, and discoveries—it would have been much better than this pathetic attempt at an epic space romance.

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Interesting premise that is ruined by the execution

While the premise sounds interesting, and the show kept me entertained at first, the overall execution is lackluster and disappointing, which is why I finally decided to DNF this 15 minutes into episode 5. The “conflict” between the male lead and Eve went on and on, but it’s the phone call between the twins that kind of killed it for me. I don’t even know what their thing with the lottery ticket is, but they are both so annoying: space twin is oddly whiny and shrill/childish, and planet twin is oddly dominant and both of them maximized the annoying effect they have on me.

Episode 4 was already quite weird to be honest. Why would the space tourist, untrained and unprofessional as he is, be Eve’s savior… out of all possible people that could have helped her? Makes no sense. Everyone, be it in space or on planet Earth, wasted precious minutes “monitoring” and asking the same, tired questions instead of stepping in and getting their commander back inside… like,… I don’t know?

The whole … reproductive propaganda is also done distastefully. Korea has low birthrates at the moment, and this show is not really promoting having babies in a good way: the female characters concerned with the space reproduction don’t even have a say about the doctor (Kang Su or the male lead) treating their eggs and they generally have no bodily autonomy as of right now. So far, in 4 episodes, the CEO has just decided everything or fired everyone in the women’s stead, which is so icky. (Also, him blaming the male lead for Go Eun’s baby loss made no sense, her pregnancy was literally not viable and life threatening??)

Anyway, there is maybe more to say, but the show just didn’t do it for me. Moving on to the next👋🏻👋🏻

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This is my first ever review here. This drama was visually stunning, and it had some potential with the acting for the cast they got, the space premise itself is interesting, but the story and message is just... ew.

I could not make it through even the first 10 minutes of the 6th episode.

This drama really seemed promising at first but was ultimately disappointing, in terms of the plot/story/writing and the unrealistic-ness of Gong Ryung "falling in love" with Eve in such a short time. Also, some of the (un)ethical themes in this drama I just couldn't get behind, but maybe that's just my opinion.

The visuals and outerspace premise were the best part. It's sad that the story didn't quite hold up.

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The show is too good to be so poorly reviewed

I am genuinely surprised by the negative reviews of "When the Stars Gossip." The show excels in so many areas. The CGI is top-notch, the space environment is so much like NASA in real life, and the science depicted is quite accurate, something you can easily fact-check, and of course the script is good. Virtually every episode has you gripping the edge of your seat, they either end with suspenseful cliffhangers or life-or-death situations. Lee Min Ho's acting skills are particularly noteworthy. He can easily switch between goofy to profoundly anguished but he makes each emotion believable and impactful. Gong Hyo Jin, with her innate ability to elevate her co-stars, makes Lee Min Ho shine, much like she has done with her male leads in her past dramas. The OST is also beautifully composed and thoughtfully integrated in each episode. I cannot help but wonder if the criticisms might be manufactured or orchestrated by fans who think Lee Min Ho is a competition to their male idol. Or perhaps I am just a nerd who loves science. Either way, the show is too good to be so poorly reviewed.

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This drama is unique! It has an unusual plot with a perfect balance of humor, comedy, and truly touching moments that will captivate viewers from the first episode. The excellent acting and well-structured storyline make you realize how amazing and fragile life is. Similar to Titanic, love and dangerous situations aboard a space station are intertwined in this story, creating a wide range of emotions—from joy to dramatic tension. Each episode takes your breath away, and you’ll be eager to see the continuation. The rare combination of genres, fantastic acting, great direction, staging, and well-written script make this drama a masterpiece.

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ILLOGICAL BUT BEAUTIFUL

I don’t care how absurdly ridiculous this whole space ride of a drama; seatbelt clutched, spacesuit on. Brain turned off, only feels and emotions —take off: When The Stars Gossip. ride it with an open heart. Because the galaxy, in its vastness, is as chaotically beautiful as this drama.


There are countless things I could pinpoint just how much this drama objectively do not work. It genuinely feels like all the food you eat, congested and ground messily in the stomach, forming a big clamped turd as it ends up in one’s rectum. To put it simply, it’s as shitty as it could be. But what Korean MSG did the production put in for me to completely ignore all logic and be able to enjoy it as questioningly as I did? Yes, I was bemusedly amused through and through. One of the comments I read said, “You just gotta turn off your brain when watching this.” and it works! I was introduced to a new level of zany that ends up capturing hearts instead. In this drama, you open a new sense of wonder, a strange affection for the chaos that doesn’t make sense but somehow feels real. It’s like the mess becomes a kind of magic. Absurd and messy and utterly predictable and yet, you can’t help but hold on tight in this wild, messy story. It’s like getting your heart broken by someone with a clear red flag, but you just let it be because you felt happy, and you enjoy the moments of rawness only you could understand. Those imperfect flashes that cut deep but also shine bright, the kind that make the whole mess worth feeling. Maybe this was what the new album of Katseye meant. BEAUTIFUL CHAOS.

I love how everyone here shined in the embodiment of their roles. No one felt like they were stealing the spotlight, because the story allowed each of them to hold it. There was a rhythm in the mess. Llike constellations in a sky you didn’t expect to understand, but still found comfort in tracing.

Take Eve. Setting aside my immense love for Gong Hyo Jin, her character here hits hard to the core. You see a woman — driven, obsessed even — with creating life. And not just creating it, but preserving it, chasing it, almost romanticizing it. A woman so ambitious in giving birth to life in the most unexplored of environments, at her root, is an infant who was left alone on Christmas Eve. abandoned by the very person who gave her life. That moment with her biological mother, who stood there so audaciously, spouting excuses about just wanting to live and saying the child was nothing but a hindrance in front of Eve’s face. I really felt my whole heart break into pieces. Hearing that, you catch a glimpse of why Eve clings so desperately to the idea of life.It’s a rebellion. A beautiful, aching rebellion from someone who eagerly wants to let everyone know the miracle of life, and how this miracle should be nurtured and protected even despite being denied the same privilege from the one that birthed her. Thankfully enough, she got adopted by a loving man who molded her into becoming the Eve that she is. She is such a strong woman, so admirable. I mourn for her character, deeply..

And we have Gong Ryong. This, by far, may be Lee Min Ho’s best role and performance in my opinion up there with his character in Pachinko. Gong Ryong is a man with the unwavering need to save lives, even when he doesn’t quite know what to do with his own. It was so refreshing to see him as such a destitute, emotionally weathered character which made the performance all the more remarkable. Here, even when he's fumbling, hurting, scared, you believe him. You believe in him. Because despite everything, he believes in life. And in a drama where the science bends like gravity for how inaccurate it is, his resolve rings so loud and clear, it becomes the one thing that actually feels real, and you hold onto that. So even if the plot fails on logic and rationality, the characters don’t. They were played with heart. And Gong Ryong, I believe, was created and portrayed so beautifully.

We also have Chief Kang my most favorite character in the series, played wonderfully by Lee El. Her level-headedness and leadership are truly admirable. Even when her feelings were toyed with by Dong-a, who was in a relationship with Eve, of which two are her precious companions, she didn’t let her emotions interfere with her duty or cloud her judgment. Instead, she handled the situation with such cool composure, showing that her respect for both Dong-a and Eve was far greater than the role their feelings played in the ordeal. The level of emotional maturity she showed breathed a leeway for the plot to shift through motion more conveniently allowing the narrative to keep moving without drowning in melodrama. This, in retrospect, is a brilliant move from the writer and Lee El was able to portray it convincingly.

Dong-a, who was a jerk for playing with my two girls — Eve and Chief Kang, and although another convenience for the writer to play the whole cheating thing off, had a redemption when he — as I dare say — was so poignantly sexy as he risked his life taking off into outer space just to save Eve, including Gong Ryong. I was laughing and crying when the video was played of him crying for Eve’s life on his flight up to save her. And the whole flight down on Earth with the three of them, I was on edge the whole ride! My soul almost left as swift as their whole ride. But lol, before that, the way I screamed when he found Eve and Ryong naked in one thermal tent cuddling for dear life almost lifeless….and it being broadcast in the KSC headquarters, aaaaaaaaaaaaaa ahhaahashflsahfs 😭😭😭😭😭 The whole episode with those three on that particular flight made me pray for a preproduced drama hadahdfahs 😭 Dong-a was a real hero for what he did for real. Well, cheating aside.

Kang Kang Su, played by Oh Jung-se, I have to say, it feels like he wasn’t quite able to wash off his character embodiment from It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, which was a bit of a downer for me. I would’ve loved to see another side of him as an actor. But that aside, I have mixed feelings about the character he played here. He came off as selfish, strict, and nonchalant at first, but as the plot progressed, you start to see that he’s actually a really hardworking man despite his wealthy background. His dedication to his work — even at the expense of his love life, which later fell into the cliché of a man desperate to get back with his ex still made his development compelling. The gradual unfolding of his layered personality was a good sight. I even felt bad for him when he got fired as an astronaut and stripped of his long-invested fruit flies space project, and yet no one stood up for him. Everyone was so ready to let him take the fall, but selfishly helped Gong Ryong using the lottery ticket that belonged to Kang Kang Su himself. That was a total what the heck moment. And the fact that Kang Su didn’t even blame them? Wild. Not to mention the enormous amount of money he personally spent for the robot arm and other things– and not even a pinch of gratitude from them. I mean, he deserves the punishment as per protocol, but the team’s loyalty was just nowhere to be seen.

I love the characters individually, but as a team, they’re bad.

Go Eun, played by Han Ji Eun, is the most rational character out of everyone. Not the typical selfish chaebol brat you mostly see on TV, she was a solid grey character here and I really liked her. As for the rest of the space crew; Mina, Seungjun, and Santi..they were great companions, but they really screwed up when they got choked up by greed over Kang Su’s lottery ticket. They tried to make up for it later, but the fact that they stayed silent when Kang Su was being interrogated ust to protect Gong Ryong, whom they initially refused to help for selfish reasons, that part stung. Still, their trio added so much charm and life to the series. Flawed, yes, but undeniably lovable.

The whole team in the KSC headquarters was actually my favorite. Although they didn’t get the same level of character progression as those in space, they were personas I genuinely loved. Do-na with her snobbish energy but deep down is a pro-life softy, Eun-so as Eve’s mouse companion ust as obsessed with mouse copulation as she is, and Han Si-won, who always looked like he was one minor inconvenience away from quitting. He literally had that “of course that happens” look as everything was just a problem after problem. Their presence kept the ground scenes alive and entertaining in their own right.

Some may say the characters in this series are bad and senseless, but isn’t that the very nature of humans? Flawed, imperfect… yet still, they try. They continue to take each step into the unknown future, just as vast and uncertain as the universe itself. There’s no perfect way to live life, and maybe that’s fine. The decisions we make, the roles we try to mold ourselves into. They’re messy, confusing, and sometimes laughable. But in that chaos, there’s something honest. Something that mirrors the way we stumble through our own lives, holding on to meaning wherever we can find it. Maybe that’s what When The Stars Gossip was trying to tell us all along: life is absurd, beautiful, and heartbreakingly human. And somehow, that’s enough.

The drama explores motherhood in so many brutal, quiet ways. Eve wondering if her unborn child will ever understand why she chose to go down to Earth — knowing full well it could kill it. Fearing that Gong Ryong would hate the child because of the choices she made. Doctor Na, pleading with the universe to just give her one chance to become a mother. Women breaking under the weight of creation, trying to hold on to something that might love them back. All of life on Earth is carried in the hollow space of a woman’s womb… and the --sometimes too incomprehensible desperation of some to be a mother, a parent. All of which sits between nature’s supposed blessing, the selfishness of some to abandon, and the selflessness of others to love and protect what was left behind. The instincts of it all tangled, wild, and deep. And this drama tackled it in the most quietly devastating way. It didn’t scream about motherhood or glorify it blindly. Instead, it showed the ache, the desperation, the contradictions. It showed how creating life isn’t just biological. It’s emotional, spiritual…and terrifying. And in between all the chaos and absurdity, those moments hit the hardest.

All of which may have seemed like prolife propaganda by Korea, but honestly, they did well. Because it makes you reflect on your own being. Not just on producing life, but on being the life itself.

All in all, this drama was beautiful to me. Science is grounded in facts, yet it can be falsifiable. So you have to accept the absurdity of the drama’s scientific background -- its imagination giving birth to a theory. But they captured something meaningful: the connection between space and birth. It reminds us how small we are in the vast universe, yet how lucky we are to exist. To become something from nothing. A speck beside the brightest star. Living and breathing. The poetry of placing space and birth side by side. Both show how tiny we are, yet how miraculous our existence is. Even in the silence between stars, there is room for pain, forgiveness, and love. That feeling may be small, clamped tight inside us, but when we look up, we see it reflected in the night sky; clear, clean, and still shining.
Maybe that’s why this mess made sense. Despite the chaos and red flags, I held on. Because it made me feel something real. And maybe, that is all we needed.

I am beyond glad to give this series a chance. I would have let one of the most beautiful productions in Kdramaland.
Thank you so much, When The Stars Gossip Team! You all did a great job. 끝!

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