My Troublesome Star

What genre was this?

The tags: mystery, comedy, romance, drama
There was a mystery, but it was so convoluted and filled with so many players I lost interest. I'm still not real clear on why everyone was trying to kill her.
Comedy - there were some funny scenes
Romance - there was none, I'll be honest. They could have been brother and sister. And the ending with them standing far away from each other and laughing...what?!?! They laughed because they knew that us romance lovers would be mad that we didn't even get a kiss?
Drama - yes, it was mostly a drama, but in my opinion, was ruined by the casting of Uhm Jung Hwa. I have only liked her in one drama that I've seen her in. She tends to overact, and the constant loud sobbing was so irritating!

The younger version of the leads were excellent.
I liked the idea of him having liked her forever, but it went nowhere because of the lack of chemistry.
Lee El as the witchy second lead was excellent.
I love Cha Chung Hwa in everything she is in.

Hair and makeup - why did they have to make her look so ridiculous with the puffy hair and the bright pink cheeks. Very distracting.
Costuming - of my gosh, the FL's wardrobe was awful. She dressed like she had been dumpster diving for clothes.

Some people really liked this one, but I wasn't one of them. I'm glad I can move on (hopefully to something better).

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Nothing Burger

Oh wow...what a nothing burger of a series. Considering the entire story revolves around Im Sera’s tragic accident 25 years ago and her journey back to reclaim her stardom, the finale completely failed to deliver. Sure, the mystery behind the accident was technically resolved but the payoff was shallow. The villains’ downfalls were barely shown and the supposed politician mastermind remained a faceless, irrelevant figure from start to finish. He had maybe four scenes total, none of which gave him any real impact or substance, so when the truth finally came out, it felt more like "Okay? That’s it?” than a satisfying reveal.

And then that ending… honestly, what was that? We jump ahead to Bong Chaengja having founded her own company and finally achieving her dream of winning at Cannes with Dongko being there and then, just moments later in the press conference scene, she refers to him as “a former acquaintance who was dear to her,” and suddenly he’s in the audience asking her to move beyond a “professional” relationship? It felt like the writers couldn’t decide which ending to go with so they just awkwardly included both.

In the end, nothing really landed. Honestly, I should’ve just left this one dropped after episode 3. What did I even watch it for? Because as a whole, this was one big, directionless mess that didn’t know how to end.

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? Hope Shines the Brightest in the Dark ?

What happens when life drags you all the way down to rock bottom? 💔 Do you give up, or do you fight your way back up? This drama beautifully shows us that even when your career (or life) feels like it’s crumbling, you just need to endure — because better days will come. 🌅
The story is inspiring, the acting solid, and if you’re a fan of Entertainer, Touch Your Heart, or Love From Another Star, this one will click with you. Sure, it may not be a blockbuster hit with sky-high ratings, but some dramas need to exist just to remind us that hope is real. 🙌
So here’s to everyone struggling right now — remember, it might be night in your life, but sunrise is on its way. 🌞✨ Endure one more day, because your breakthrough might be closer than you think! 💖

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Gold

I love watching dramas with older cast, because they still gives me the same vibes of old romcoms I used to watch mid 00s, and I'm glad they still have the knack of it considering it's been a while since I've seen UJH and SSH in a drama.

That been said it's not a perfect drama and in some parts I got bored but I blame my busy schedule that made me watch each episode in parts, so even if I like it I definitely got distracted while watching which made me lose interest eventually ~
So this part is on me 🤦

Story is simple, young woman's mind in old woman's body all over again, but this is a case of memory loss so there is a twist to it, overall nicely done slightly illogical but good enough to entertain.

I would recommend it if you miss old 00s dramas, seeing those same old actors is a breath of fresh air now that most actors are Gen Z or younger watching some Gen X makes me reminiscence good old drama days when me and only five others in my country were watching kdramas and it wasn't as popular as now lol ~

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When 2007 Kdrama Vibes Meet 2025

Honestly, this kdrama was both cute and enjoyable to follow, offering a rather light form of entertainment. At the same time, it attempted to touch on weightier themes such as sexual exploitation in the entertainment industry, systemic corruption, and the challenges faced by older professionals who often find themselves sidelined despite once having a brilliant career. However, these topics were only superficially addressed, most likely because the drama had too few episodes to properly explore them while juggling multiple subplots.

One of the highlights was seeing veteran actors in a project of this nature. Their experience brought a certain maturity to the performances, but what stood out most was the sense of ease and enjoyment they radiated. The BTS footage included in the finale underscored this, but even on screen their performances carried a lightness that suggested they were not only working but genuinely HAVING FUN.

The chemistry between Uhm Jung Hwa and Song Seung Heon deserves special mention. Their interactions felt organic and fluid, making the relationship between Lim Se Ra and Detective Dokgo Cheol both believable and touching. Even with the 25 year gap during which the characters had not seen each other, the drama managed to convincingly convey the affection and admiration they still held for one another after all this time (and through all this time).

As for the storyline, it was consistently engaging, though not without its flaws. I was surprised to see some viewers raising questions that had already been addressed early on (for example, whether the protagonist had lost her memory for 25 years... When the first two episodes had clearly established that it was her second accident). Such oversights show that while the drama doesn't demand intense attention, it does reward viewers who follow closely.

As a whole, My Troublesome Star works well as entertainment and carries a nostalgic tone reminiscent of the kdramas of the late 2000s. However, it should be noted that this "old-school" vibe also brings with it certain drawbacks. The drama reproduces outdated stereotypes that feel out of place in today's landscape, such as presenting curly hair and darker skin tones negatively. While these choices may reflect cultural attitudes still prevalent in Korean Society, they remain disappointing, especially when other global industries have moved forward in challenging such portrayals.

In conclusion, My Troublesome Star is far from flawless, but it offers a charming, nostalgic experience for viewers who long for the feel of 2007–2010 kdramas. What the narrative lacks is more than compensated for by uniformly strong performances, with both veterans and newcomers leaving a mark.

Rating: 7.5/10 – recommended.

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Was Highly Anticipated Could Have Better!

The two main attractions for this show were the lead stars- Uhm Jung Hwa & Song Seung Heon!

It has been a long time since I watched a show starring either of them, so I was pretty excited to watch this drama. Did it live upto my expectations? Yes and no!

The storyline is pretty convincing, it has mystery and thriller elements; you get hooked to the suspense. Sadly, the storytelling has more ups and downs than most Kdramas concur, so it’s possible that midway you might lose interest and wonder where this show is headed. The actors do try their best, it isn’t their phenomenal performance, but the candor keeps the drama going. This is my first time watching Uhm Jung Hwa playing an utterly flawed character, that was pretty surprising. Song Seung Heon acts more like her support system than a viable love interest. Somewhere down the road, the lines get blurred, and the mystery becomes too predictable to miss.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/09/25/my-troublesome-star-series-review/#more-2059

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Not Great, Still Okay

If you watch this drama, you need to at least get through episode 1 (about 36 minutes) to decide whether it’s worth continuing. To be honest, I didn’t like the past storyline. It felt badly written and boring to me. Still, you have to watch it to understand the later episodes.

You’ll also need to accept the female lead’s look after 25 years in the future. The styling and makeup were terrible: long curly hair with too much red blush high on her cheeks. This continues until the end of episode 8 or 9, after which her appearance improves and she looks fresh, elegant, and stylish.

The younger sister felt useless. I don’t understand why she didn’t work together with the detective or show any curiosity about who tried to kill her older sister. All she does is blame Bong Cheong-ja (the elder sister) for what happened in the past. The father was also useless. He did nothing until the very end. Honestly, the drama would have been fine without him.

I thought the Jumbo Gwison group would help Bong Cheong-ja or Lim Se-ra reclaim her position, especially characters like Kwon Do-jeon (a fan of Lim Se-ra), Lim Jae-won, or Nam Yoo-ran (the hallucination).

The villain or “puppeteer” of this drama was too predictable. It all connects back to a politician. Like many other K-dramas, the politician orders his assistant, the assistant orders the Jenseung-pil group, and they order someone else. It’s the same pattern again.

Almost everyone close to Lim Se-ra disappoints her: Kang Tae-sook, her husband, and even the detective. Only a few people truly stand by her. Kang Du-won and Sa Sun-yeong are on the wrong side and only care about themselves.

By episode 10, her niece just felt like a burden, though she did help a bit with the investigation. In episode 11, we suddenly see that Nam Yoo-ran was already dead, and Bong Cheong-ja was only hallucinating her. The last episode shows Go Hui-yeong depressed after meeting Lim Se-ra, and her niece being accepted by her mom to become a celebrity.

I expected Lim Se-ra to meet Kang Du-won after he was caught, but that never happened. The politician is shown getting caught for just a moment, and then it ends. Still, the ending wasn’t bad. In the end, Lim Se-ra finally gets the award she deserved.

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I had a blast watching it - but it just ends so abruptly

I love watching Uhm Jung Hwa. She's so charming that I can watch just about anything she's in. This drama had it's flaws, but overall, I had a great time watching it.

The leads have fantastic chemistry! Their comedic timing was spot on and I believed the romance. One of the rare times the "we knew each other several years ago" story points didn't just annoy me. I found their story to be really sweet and I loved all of their scenes together. The past AND the present versions.

I thought everyone's acting in this drama was wonderful. Always a joy to see Cha Chung-hwa! I must say, I enjoyed seeing UJH give a more dramatic performance. Her audition scene was killer! I was very impressed with her work here. I think the decision to show BCJ/ISR her past was interesting, though it muddled the timeline a lot. It was an interesting tactic to make the audience feel sorry for the lead and reveal she was sort of her own undoing later on.

There were a couple of things I think lessened my enjoyment of the drama:
- The villain Go Hui. There was a point where it seemed the narrative suggested BCJ/ISR was wrong for refusing to film the commercial with her 25 years ago. Why? I thought it was clear ISR didn't want to work with someone that treated her staff poorly? The scene where BCJ/ISR seems to think she was awful to Go Hui back then was odd to me. Like, I feel bad she was one of the victims in the exploitation plot, but that doesn't excuse all of the horrendous things she did. Not just to BCJ/ISR either. Also, we just get an article that Go Hui overdosed and that's just the end of her story. No mention of the investigation or her role in BCJ/ISR's accident.
- All of the bad guys seem to just disappear. I don't even remember if we see the mayoral candidate get arrested or anything. One of the many things that made me think this drama may have been longer and then cut to 12 episodes. That or the production ran out of money and had to cut it short.
- Bong Baek Ja's life was depressing. I kept hoping there'd be some sort of resolution for her. She missed out on getting to go to college, got saddled with a bunch of debt, and her life was stunted caring for her (honestly kinda selfish) sister and her father who never acknowledged her existence. Then she somehow ends up a single parent with a daughter that just lies to her a lot. I hoped the ending would be her finding some passion or some outlet that was just for her and self focused. Instead, it just ends with her letting her daughter become an idol. Sad.
- Not sure what happened to SSY after her live confession. Did the cops interrogate her? Did she lose sponsors? She just sort of disappears.
- Not super important, but the male lead in the drama with all the dating rumors with ISR also just disappears. It's like they only paid the actor for like 2 days and then couldn't bring him back
- What happened to Yu Ran? Did I miss it? How did she die?

Anyway, this could've used like 2 more episodes, but I still really enjoyed it. I had a great time watching it and will definitely be rewatching it.

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A decent rom com - not the top notch quality but decent - quality fluctuates

At first, I thought This is s a gem!!!! one of kdrama masterpiece classics!!!
Then FL got all glammed up adn the script lost it. It was more about glorifying the FL actress
and she cannot act all that well when she gets into the arrogant mode.
ML is somehow considered a lesser actor than her - they were ML and FL in drama Wonderful Nightmare long time ago, it was basically 99% about her and he had a few scenes as her husband. Then he had a pretty .. wel... naked.... drama Obsessed

So in this drama he is played a little bit more then b efore bc he is still good looking and became a lot better actor and is on par with her now.
After FL glammed up, the FL actress was just mediocre and it was not pleasant to watch THAT.. FL actress just cannot act love scenes with him bc she thinks he is lesser than her.

The scrips picked up a little at the very end
but the last scene was yet another one of those condescending scenes.

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The scene of the CEO of 2ONE and the Dokgo in the questioning room at the police stateion were PRECIOUS,.... the CEO actor is amazing!!!! and DokGo too...

The CEO was in Once Again drama where he is agood guy but he is such a guy who can act good or bad, and he was PERFCT for this role, every scene with him was amazing.

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I also think the scene at the start of ... ep 4, I think, when Dokgo tells her that he is glad she made it - he is great in scenes expressing love and care

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And I was impressed with FL in scenes where she was wise, like when she just started in that redish drama and the other actress beat her up and Dokgo tried to take her away, and she said she is staying. THAT was excellent script and the FL actress did it so well.

-====
Afte rthe glam part, FL and the actress were not fun to watch anymore.
Dokgo had great moments as policeman
and their love scenes were ... well.. non existant. Except the comedy of falling down in the gym. THat lasted about 20 seconds .... and the after-slapping with towel was too ... cheap. They are not teenagers

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Sp pverall, sometimes this drama is great, and sometimes it is cheap. It is not one the most precious kdramas out there. It is fluffy fun with great moments.



the script is WICKED :) such good twists .... sooooo funny....
and the cast is amazing! Such amazing acting!!! The Detective older version actor is AMAZING
and the older FL is ... over the top but for a good reason.... and also she is very wise and capable do not understimate her :) Her looks are there to totally trick you...

and the younger ML/FL are also great actors

and everyone else is acting super good and it is just incredible.

Wonderful story

So fun :)

This is one of the shows to REWATCH .... it is sooo .. wow... sooooo .... tricky and ... so fun

AND THE MUSIC IS PHENOMENAL

SO KEEP PAYING ATTENTION there is a lot in this. I realize the script is so wickedly clever that you get totally duped into believing things which you shouldnt believe, and then later it is like omg ..... !
CHEERS TO THIS SCRIPT WRITER!

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I keep rewatching the moment the Detective and Fuzzy meet at the very start of ep 4. He is an AMAZING actor. his eyes!!!!! his body language!!!!! he is an ***IMPRESSIVELY amazing actor**** and he is also very beautiful, such smart eyes, he really makes scenes come alive

To be honest at first I felt annoyed with his very thin hair, which makes him look very ... run down... but I realized it just shows how he is an "ordinary person". I wonder what the actor's real hair looks like. I was also annoyed at first with FL thick plastic surgery lips and mascara making her look like ... someone from the west ... and her lousiness which made me think this is old stype sexist kdrama with a loser FL

Only later when I saw her scenes working in the kitchen, and scenes changing her mind to act and dupe the police, did I realize that FL was a very strong, smart and capable character and that all her silly behavior was a camouflage, a trap for us audience, to catch us by surprise :)

The scene where he saves her from the lead that keeps hitting her and the talk between two of them is an AMAZING scene of a true partnership

I was IMPRESSED!!!!! I am impressed! Now I will have to rewatch bc I realize that I missed so much

The acting is so good! and the script is WICKEDLY funky, this is one drama I will rewatch .... and I never rewatch!

I wish this drama was longer bc it is so excellent

The FL is a great actress but acts over the top and is masqueraded in that silly look, bc the script made her do that.
I think the script is a parody on Park Do Ra in Beaty and Mr Romantic when she had an accident and came back looking weird and behaving over the top
So the contrast when she becomes In Se Ra again will be really obvious

Overall this is a really really fun kdrama

CHEERS TO THE AMAZING SCRIPT WRITER AND THE AMAZING CAST!!!!
This is truely a true kdrama gem

------ written after ep 7 ----

O M G FL actress coming out of her camouflage and acting full on... I am IMPRESSED. THat is one awesome amazing actress!!!!

The Detective was cute and I love his scenes but he is not as great magnificent as she is, acting wise. He in fact is phenomenal for close up love dovey scenes. He is not good for acting harsh or worried etc scenes

She is ... wow ... what a range of acting!!!!! and the FL character - she is a very strong and wise woman ...

I bow to the Queen

=====after ep 11 ====
I think the script writer ran out of steam so it got .... dilluted
and then I realized that this drama was made quite shallow

It is still fun to watch

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An inspiring story we all need today

What a very beautiful and inspiring story.

«My Troublesome Star» («금쪽같은 내스타») is a rare gem in the K-drama industry. It is not your typical Korean TV series where they do every genre in a single show and end up with so many plots, no one can agree what it is mainly about, it's a well-written drama that fires up our feel-good emotions as well as inspire us to fight for our dreams.

If you are feeling down and the future looks dark, give «My Troublesome Star» a try. You will laugh. You will cry. It will resonate. It will give you hope to once again shine.

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The pain can't stop you if you've got passion and perseverance!

My Troublesome Star was worth every single second to me. It was something that I didn't anticipate or expect anything from it, but I fell in love with the characters completely by the end of it!

✦ Storyline: This was a fresh concept. Unlike other murder mystery-type romcoms, it delved deeper into the thrill part smoothly by balancing the romance and comedy simultaneously.

✦ Acting: I loved Uhm Jung Hwa as the lead. Felt like I'm Sera character, it was made just for her. She shined brighter throughout. The ML, Song Seung Heon, was lovely. He's a hot, charming, goofy and brilliant actor. His fighting scenes were spotless, showed how much dedication he has got for acting. The side character, Lee El, was fabulous! Her mean, wicked character will enrage you to slap her face. Loved the veteran actor Hyun Bong Sik as Ko Namju. His comic timing and facial expressions were very funny and entertaining.

✦ Music: Personally, I love all of their soundtracks, but the main ost Shine Again, by Uhm Jung Hwa, is my favorite. It's got the 90s rhythm and chill vibe to it.

✪ Honestly, romcoms are my favorite. When selecting romcoms, I like the ones which are goofy, not heavy on the head and entertaining overall, and this drama got that. The ageism towards the older actors are very prominent in this industry. Older actors are only casted as moms and dads in a very serious role, but casting those so-called Ajumma and Ajhusshi as the leads for a romcom worked like a charm. Proved that age is just a number. They acted like veterans should, experienced, brilliant and poised. Even though it was a romcom, it blended the thrill with romance and comedy so effortlessly that it kept me on the edge after every episode. Also, loved how they didn't dilute the passion of the FL by highlighting the romance as the main plot. Wholly it was super balanced.

Overall, if you are looking for a romcom that isn't overly sweet and got kick to it, this is for you.

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