💯💯💯 agree with you. The pro-natalist agenda is as subtle as a brick to the forehead. I say pro-natalist because these people are only "pro-life" when it comes to morulas, they aren't pro-women's lives.
In Ep. 13 tere is a weird conversation that Eve's bio mom has with Eve, when she goes to see if Eve was abandoned in a taxi (because we know the mom abandoned her baby in a taxi on Christmas Eve), and Eve tells her no, but then does a DNA test (using the mug mom was drinking from when they talked). But the weird bit is the mom saying something like she was resentful she got pregnant, she never felt like the baby's mom, she worked in a bar and her life was being ruined by her breast's leaking. Why would the writer make the bio mom say such terrible things?
1. WTF Mom? That's not the way you announce yourself to your abandoned child. Way to make the child feel like…
Kang Su's being treated like the villain. Meanwhile he didn't narc on any of those hypocrites when he could've taken them all down with him. Plus they had the nerve to be in the room when he was punished which was super weird, who lets coworkers into the room when someone is fired? But Oh Jung Se rises, always
I thought it was a mostly pleasant drama that won't stay with me. But I didn't like how they handled the Peoplez…
She quit without speaking to her partners and left her employees behind to work for someone evil. Yes they quit but then that meant they were scrambling for jobs with no support from her. I know it wasn't meant to be that serious but I couldn't get into her scenes hanging out with Eun Ho because I kept thinking your former employees are out of work and scrambling for jobs! They probably can't pay the rent!
Oh if we're entering love triangle territory this is immediately going on hold. I loathe love triangles. I said…
The plot really is all over the place. You had the story of the aunt which was tragic and potentially compelling but we barely got to spend any time with it before it was resolved and it felt like the whole thing was a setup for the ML to impress the FL. And then that random ass paragliding scene, what the hell was that 😭 the show is only 10 episodes so we only have six episodes left, we should be tightly focused on the three couples and not pulling in these underdeveloped side stories.
I feel sad for the people who worked hard to make the sets and stuff...
I feel sorry for the FX team, the space shots and animated sequences were gorgeous. Also the actors who are all doing the best with what they've been given. What a terrible waste of talent. Also the blue collar people in the industry, the ones who make sets and costumes and the post production people, etc are going to feel the pinch with less work.
South Korean cable channel tvN, known for hit K-dramas such as "Queen of Tears" and "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," is now grappling with the fallout of the massive failure of one of its most ambitious projects yet, "When the Stars Gossip," Korea’s first-ever space-set office drama.
Despite the presence of Hallyu A-listers Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin, the 16-episode series that blends romance with a sci-fi backdrop has struggled to capture audiences.
The drama, which aired its 12th episode on Sunday, follows the interstellar rendezvous between Eve (Gong), a space station commander, and Gong-ryong (Lee), a gynecologist seeking a getaway as a space tourist.
Marketed as one of tvN’s biggest tentpoles, the series was developed over five years, from securing its lead actors to postproduction. Featuring cutting-edge computer graphics to bring its space setting to life, the show was reported to have involved a hefty budget of 50 billion won ($34 million).
However, despite its grand scale and star-studded cast, the drama has struggled to justify the investment, averaging a dismal 2 percent viewership rating. Its lowest point came with episode 7, which logged just 1.8 percent -- marking the first time a tvN weekend drama has dipped into the 1 percent viewership ratings range in six years since "Melting Me Softly."
The failure of this high-stakes project has also impacted the share prices of its creators, with entertainment giant CJ ENM -- the parent company of tvN -- and production titan Studio Dragon experiencing downturns in the performance of their stocks. CJ ENM stocks tumbled approximately 15 percent in January compared to December, while Studio Dragon saw a 12 percent dip over the same period.
Audiences have skewered "When the Stars Gossip" for its lackluster romance, citing weak chemistry between the leads and a meandering, incoherent narrative. Many viewers reportedly abandoned the show after just two episodes, frustrated by its chaotic storytelling.
Critics added the apparent disconnect between its premise and execution as a key reason for the series' lackluster performance.
While a space-themed drama might evoke expectations of adventure or suspense, the series instead leans heavily into melodrama -- resulting in tonal dissonance, pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun told The Korea Herald on Wednesday.
“The very concept of space as a setting is already somewhat unfamiliar to Korean audiences. At the same time, viewers have certain expectations for space-themed works, having seen many from overseas -- whether they be grand adventures, thrilling suspense or action-packed sequences,” said Jung.
“However, this work incorporates a melodramatic storyline instead. While that could be seen as a distinctly Korean approach -- given the industry’s expertise in romance -- it also created a significant sense of dissonance for many viewers,” Jung added.
“Sci-fi, by definition, often involves intricate narratives rooted in scientific concepts, and audiences likely expected more of that. However, these elements were largely sidelined,” he continued, noting that while the drama includes some space-related details, they remain superficial rather than integral to the plot.
"When the Stars Gossip" is set to air its 13th episode this Saturday on tvN.
TvN’s W50b space romance drama 'When the Stars Gossip' flops in dissonance
Updated : Feb. 12, 2025 - 15:06:03Feb. 12, 2025 - 14:17:02By Lee Yoon-seo
South Korean cable channel tvN, known for hit K-dramas such as "Queen of Tears" and "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," is now grappling with the fallout of the massive failure of one of its most ambitious projects yet, "When the Stars Gossip," Korea’s first-ever space-set office drama.
Despite the presence of Hallyu A-listers Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin, the 16-episode series that blends romance with a sci-fi backdrop has struggled to capture audiences.
The drama, which aired its 12th episode on Sunday, follows the interstellar rendezvous between Eve (Gong), a space station commander, and Gong-ryong (Lee), a gynecologist seeking a getaway as a space tourist.
Marketed as one of tvN’s biggest tentpoles, the series was developed over five years, from securing its lead actors to postproduction. Featuring cutting-edge computer graphics to bring its space setting to life, the show was reported to have involved a hefty budget of 50 billion won ($34 million).
However, despite its grand scale and star-studded cast, the drama has struggled to justify the investment, averaging a dismal 2 percent viewership rating. Its lowest point came with episode 7, which logged just 1.8 percent -- marking the first time a tvN weekend drama has dipped into the 1 percent viewership ratings range in six years since "Melting Me Softly."
The failure of this high-stakes project has also impacted the share prices of its creators, with entertainment giant CJ ENM -- the parent company of tvN -- and production titan Studio Dragon experiencing downturns in the performance of their stocks. CJ ENM stocks tumbled approximately 15 percent in January compared to December, while Studio Dragon saw a 12 percent dip over the same period.
Audiences have skewered "When the Stars Gossip" for its lackluster romance, citing weak chemistry between the leads and a meandering, incoherent narrative. Many viewers reportedly abandoned the show after just two episodes, frustrated by its chaotic storytelling.
Critics added the apparent disconnect between its premise and execution as a key reason for the series' lackluster performance.
While a space-themed drama might evoke expectations of adventure or suspense, the series instead leans heavily into melodrama -- resulting in tonal dissonance, pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun told The Korea Herald on Wednesday.
“The very concept of space as a setting is already somewhat unfamiliar to Korean audiences. At the same time, viewers have certain expectations for space-themed works, having seen many from overseas -- whether they be grand adventures, thrilling suspense or action-packed sequences,” said Jung.
“However, this work incorporates a melodramatic storyline instead. While that could be seen as a distinctly Korean approach -- given the industry’s expertise in romance -- it also created a significant sense of dissonance for many viewers,” Jung added.
“Sci-fi, by definition, often involves intricate narratives rooted in scientific concepts, and audiences likely expected more of that. However, these elements were largely sidelined,” he continued, noting that while the drama includes some space-related details, they remain superficial rather than integral to the plot.
"When the Stars Gossip" is set to air its 13th episode this Saturday on tvN.