A Glittering Mess of Power, Scandals and Good Editing
This was one of those dramas where no area specifically stands as such, but is so enjoyable and entertaining that you just can't stop watching!
Seo A-ri was a solid lead—strong, independent, and gave me the same vibes that Dali did from Dali and the Cocky Prince. But at some point, her journey started feeling like rinse and repeat. One second, she’s on top, the next, she’s canceled, then she makes a comeback, then she’s back in the trenches. Sure, it shows how fickle the influencer world is and how easily the public can be swayed, but from a storytelling perspective? It started feeling repetitive.
Speaking of impossible things—HOW did she survive driving herself into the river?? Like, I need a step-by-step guide on how someone drowns, saves themself, gets declared dead for three months (i believe), and then just… comes back with barely any explanation. And then there’s the best friend situation—how do you let it slide when your so-called best friend was running a hate account against you while you were already drowning in online hate?? And her brother just… forgave it?? What was that??
Gabin Society—the so-called "villains" of this drama weren’t real villains. They were just influencers on a power trip, mistaking their internet clout for actual control over people’s lives. The show did a great job of exposing how these types of people act untouchable, but their entire empire can crumble with a single piece of dirt. The influencer economy is built on perception—one wrong move, and it’s game over. That being said, Yurang was definitely one of the best written characters in the show, relatable and made us empathize for her.
But honestly, all of these characters could have been fleshed out way more. Jun-kyung’s backstory? Barely there. His relationship with Si-hyeon? Barely explored. Si-hyeon in general? Underdeveloped. A-ri’s character? We got to see her strength, but I wish we had more insight into who she really was and her backstory. It felt like we scratched the surface of these characters, but they never fully came to life. Instead, we got too much screentime dedicated to the budget Mean Girls of Gabin Society, when their personalities were already clear from episode one.
This is where opinions might divide, but for me? Jun-kyung and A-ri needed to be together. From the second they met, I knew they were it. And I love the kind of romance that isn’t forced down our throats but instead builds subtly with just enough tension to keep you yearning. Yeah, they barely got any scenes together, but sometimes less is more. It made the moments they did share feel even more impactful. The reunion at the end? Perfect. Both of them thinking the other was dead, only to finally see each other again? Yeah, that hit.
Meanwhile, Tae-jeon was a waste of screentime. He contributed nothing but irritation. The drama could have cut him out entirely and it would have been better for it.
A lot of people expected Celebrity to be a scathing critique of influencer culture, but it never fully went there. Instead of exposing the real dark side of social media, most of the scandals felt like glamorous drama rather than actual horror. The only truly dark and impactful moment was the drug scandal and the bar guy's death. Everything else? Just surface-level chaos that made for good entertainment but didn’t hit deep.
That’s also why the stakes didn’t feel as high as they should have. Yeah, there were moments of tension, but when the big reveal happened, it didn’t leave a lasting impact. It was one of those twists where you go, “Oh wow, I didn’t expect that,” but then five minutes later, you’ve already moved on. If this was a really good thriller, I should have been obsessed with the ending, replaying moments in my head, piecing everything together. But instead, I was just like, “Oh. Okay. That happened.”
Cinematography & Editing were the true MVP. Now this is what made me stay. Absolutely top-tier. I am such a sucker for good cinematography, and this drama delivered. Every episode was visually stunning, but what really stood out was the way they transitioned between past and present, between the livestream and the real-time events. It made the entire thing feel immersive, like you were flipping between a true crime documentary and a K-drama.
The way the show opened, the way it presented itself—it was honestly so cool. Even if you weren’t fully into the plot, the editing alone made it worth watching. It had a sharp, stylish quality that elevated it beyond just another influencer drama. The drama might have had its flaws, but visually? It ate.
Final Thoughts – Entertaining, but Could Have Been Deeper
At the end of the day, Celebrity was a fun, messy ride. It had great acting(ocsassionally fell off a little), stunning cinematography, and moments that ALMOST hit greatness. But the repetitive pacing, underdeveloped characters, and unanswered questions kept it from being truly iconic. If they had leaned in more—whether into the social commentary, the character development, or the thriller aspect—it could have been so much more.
That being said, it was still hella entertaining, and I’d give it an 8/10.
Seo A-ri was a solid lead—strong, independent, and gave me the same vibes that Dali did from Dali and the Cocky Prince. But at some point, her journey started feeling like rinse and repeat. One second, she’s on top, the next, she’s canceled, then she makes a comeback, then she’s back in the trenches. Sure, it shows how fickle the influencer world is and how easily the public can be swayed, but from a storytelling perspective? It started feeling repetitive.
Speaking of impossible things—HOW did she survive driving herself into the river?? Like, I need a step-by-step guide on how someone drowns, saves themself, gets declared dead for three months (i believe), and then just… comes back with barely any explanation. And then there’s the best friend situation—how do you let it slide when your so-called best friend was running a hate account against you while you were already drowning in online hate?? And her brother just… forgave it?? What was that??
Gabin Society—the so-called "villains" of this drama weren’t real villains. They were just influencers on a power trip, mistaking their internet clout for actual control over people’s lives. The show did a great job of exposing how these types of people act untouchable, but their entire empire can crumble with a single piece of dirt. The influencer economy is built on perception—one wrong move, and it’s game over. That being said, Yurang was definitely one of the best written characters in the show, relatable and made us empathize for her.
But honestly, all of these characters could have been fleshed out way more. Jun-kyung’s backstory? Barely there. His relationship with Si-hyeon? Barely explored. Si-hyeon in general? Underdeveloped. A-ri’s character? We got to see her strength, but I wish we had more insight into who she really was and her backstory. It felt like we scratched the surface of these characters, but they never fully came to life. Instead, we got too much screentime dedicated to the budget Mean Girls of Gabin Society, when their personalities were already clear from episode one.
This is where opinions might divide, but for me? Jun-kyung and A-ri needed to be together. From the second they met, I knew they were it. And I love the kind of romance that isn’t forced down our throats but instead builds subtly with just enough tension to keep you yearning. Yeah, they barely got any scenes together, but sometimes less is more. It made the moments they did share feel even more impactful. The reunion at the end? Perfect. Both of them thinking the other was dead, only to finally see each other again? Yeah, that hit.
Meanwhile, Tae-jeon was a waste of screentime. He contributed nothing but irritation. The drama could have cut him out entirely and it would have been better for it.
A lot of people expected Celebrity to be a scathing critique of influencer culture, but it never fully went there. Instead of exposing the real dark side of social media, most of the scandals felt like glamorous drama rather than actual horror. The only truly dark and impactful moment was the drug scandal and the bar guy's death. Everything else? Just surface-level chaos that made for good entertainment but didn’t hit deep.
That’s also why the stakes didn’t feel as high as they should have. Yeah, there were moments of tension, but when the big reveal happened, it didn’t leave a lasting impact. It was one of those twists where you go, “Oh wow, I didn’t expect that,” but then five minutes later, you’ve already moved on. If this was a really good thriller, I should have been obsessed with the ending, replaying moments in my head, piecing everything together. But instead, I was just like, “Oh. Okay. That happened.”
Cinematography & Editing were the true MVP. Now this is what made me stay. Absolutely top-tier. I am such a sucker for good cinematography, and this drama delivered. Every episode was visually stunning, but what really stood out was the way they transitioned between past and present, between the livestream and the real-time events. It made the entire thing feel immersive, like you were flipping between a true crime documentary and a K-drama.
The way the show opened, the way it presented itself—it was honestly so cool. Even if you weren’t fully into the plot, the editing alone made it worth watching. It had a sharp, stylish quality that elevated it beyond just another influencer drama. The drama might have had its flaws, but visually? It ate.
Final Thoughts – Entertaining, but Could Have Been Deeper
At the end of the day, Celebrity was a fun, messy ride. It had great acting(ocsassionally fell off a little), stunning cinematography, and moments that ALMOST hit greatness. But the repetitive pacing, underdeveloped characters, and unanswered questions kept it from being truly iconic. If they had leaned in more—whether into the social commentary, the character development, or the thriller aspect—it could have been so much more.
That being said, it was still hella entertaining, and I’d give it an 8/10.
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