To My Star Has Seized My Universe

Hey everyone! How have you been?

As for me, I have been busy with the mundane stuff but thankfully still have enough time to spend catching up on old and new BL shows alike. With how popular the Boys’ Love genre has come to be, it’s no surprise that entertainment companies have been steadily churning show after show for the fans to feast on. My watch list just keeps getting longer but I’m not complaining.

Today, I’m going to talk about a Korean BL series that is very special to me: To My Star. This will be the first of a 2-part post on this series as I will be talking about seasons 1 & 2 separately. Please be warned that this will be an in-depth review of the show so there will be spoilers not to mention it will be a lengthy post.

Let’s start.

The Plot

To My Star is a South Korean Boys’ Love (KBL) web drama directed by Hwang Da Seul and starring actors Son Woo Hyeon and Kim Kang Min. Season 1 began airing on the 22nd of  January 2021 and had a total of 9 episodes with a duration of 13-15 minutes for each episode.

To My Star tells the story of one of South Korea’s biggest celebrities, Kang Seo Joon (Son Woo Hyeon), who unexpectedly got into a scandal that caused him backlash from the public and a sudden decline in his popularity. To avoid reporters from swarming his home, he had to temporarily move out of his residence and live in hiding. In a turn of events, he crossed paths with a young chef named Han Ji Woo (Kim Kang Min) who happened to be his new housemate as well. Despite having opposite personalities, they gradually learned to adapt to each other and eventually fell in love.

My General Review

Before anything else, I want to point out how I am originally a fan of Thai BLs only. Prior to watching To My Star, the only other KBL I’ve seen was Semantic Error (I will be talking about this KBL as well in another future post). While it was a lovely drama, and arguably one of the best KBL to ever air thus far, I did not find it that revolutionary. Yes, it was good but not good enough for me to change my preference for Thai BLs. Having said that, Semantic Error was a great jump-off point for me to consider giving other BLs a chance.

Now that that’s settled, let’s go back to the star (no pun intended) of this post.

I kept thinking about it but I’m definitely sure I have come across the trailer for To My Star several times already but kept skipping it. My first impression was that the male leads were not particularly interesting nor were they eye-catching. I kept hearing about the chef and the top star but their faces never stick. I thought the setting was too unrealistic for my taste as well. I know, I know. I was a bit particular back then.

But lo and behold, I was proven wrong. From the first episode, I was amazed at how different the overall mood of the series was compared to those of the Thai BLs I’ve seen before. The premise was certainly not ridiculous at all. For a show with an extremely limited runtime, they were able to tell their story in a way that captivated me completely.

As I get to watch more BLs, I’ve become acquainted with the aspects of a show that most BL fans notice and analyze. One of those is the pacing. As I mentioned, To My Star’s episode averaged just 15 minutes, which is about three times shorter than those of Thai BLs. With the limited run time, the pace mustn’t drag on and pointless scenes are avoided so the story flows smoothly. To My Star had an amazing story pacing, so much so that every scene only added to the depth of the story and its characters.

A good example for me was the scene with the landlady of the building where the restaurant Ji Woo was working was located. While the landlady was obviously a minor character, her addition to the story was significant as it reinforced the internal conflict Ji Woo has been experiencing. Her not recognizing his cooking abilities, having never graduated from a prestigious culinary institution, definitely added to the many reasons why Han Ji Woo is an insecure person. I’m amazed at how these seemingly trivial details were meticulously thought about and incorporated by the director. 

The Actors

While the storytelling and the pacing of To My Star were well-executed, what held my attention and made me appreciate this KBL, even more, were its actors, particularly its male leads.

Son Woo Hyeon’s and Kim Kang Min’s acting skills were brilliant in this series! Before watching To My Star, I have never heard of their existence in the Korean entertainment industry at all. I have been a fan of K-pop for a decade and a half now but Korean dramas are not my thing. I rarely watch a K-drama so I admit my knowledge of it is very limited.

Having no one else to compare them to but the Thai actors from the shows I’ve already seen, I found Woo Hyeon and Kang Min to be on a completely different level of acting. Personally, Woo Hyeon’s acting caught my attention more, nonetheless, both actors did so well in their respective roles. The way they brought Kang Seo Joon and Han Ji Woo to life was just incredible.

One thing I noticed from both actors was the subtle gestures they kept making that added so much to the impact of a scene. The way they were done so imperceptibly that sometimes you won’t catch it unless you watch the scenes again.

There was this scene in episode 3 where Ji Woo, Seo Joon, and Hyung Ki were conversing and you can see changes in Ji Woo’s facial expression in reaction to Seo Joon especially when the latter was exchanging praises with Hyung Ki.

I also liked the scene where he was drinking with Seo Joon for the first time and the latter tried the clam dish he made. It was so obvious he was nervous and anticipating Seo Joon’s reaction to his cooking and then the look of relief he had after was so amusing to see. Such a simple scene but it gave you a glimpse into Han Ji Woo’s character, seeing how less confident he is of his skills and probably, this is my guess, hasn’t received a lot of praises from other people that often.

The scene where they were playing basketball was also cute, especially the part where Seo Joon accepted his defeat thereby acknowledging that Ji Woo indeed had dated people before which brought a smile to Ji Woo’s face. It was another simple scene but you can tell how good it made Ji Woo feel.

Kang Min did great playing the closed-off person Han Ji Woo because while has was cold and indifferent towards Seo Joon, you can still feel the complexity of his character. You know there was more to him than this icy person. He wasn’t as stiff and awkward as most characters with the same personality.

Now how do I even begin to describe Son Woo Hyeon? I admit I am a little obsessed with him ever since watching To My Star and learning of his existence so my words might come off as too biased at times.

Kang Seo Joon is a top star; you can immediately tell he has a larger-than-life personality and a narcissistic side. That being said, you can also see how honest he was. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is not afraid to show vulnerability in front of people he values. Another good thing I noticed about him was how he readily owns up to his actions and mistakes.

I enjoyed watching his first morning as Han Ji Woo’s housemate. I was amused with the way he switched between moods so easily, from greeting Ji Woo warmly to acting tough to match Ji Woo’s coldness towards him and again going back to his friendly persona.

Going back to the first drinking scene he had with Han Ji Woo, again I was captivated by the way Seo Joon’s mood effortlessly switched from being an excited puppy to a hostile person. Woo Hyeon’s ability to switch his acting to match what is needed in every scene never fails to amaze me, you can definitely tell how experienced he is as an actor.

Seo Joon’s interactions with Pil Hyun and Ho Min were delightful to watch as well. Since he’s a top star, you know he can sometimes act all high and mighty, and for some it could turn out annoying but Woo Hyeon was able to pull it off effortlessly. Whenever Seo Joon was acting spoiled or uncaring, it came off so natural with just the right gesture and tone and surprisingly not cringe-y. Whenever he’d have a banter with the other two, it exuded fun and sincerity, which made me believe in their friendship.

Even his fondness for Ho Min, especially during the picnic scene, felt genuine to me. Woo Hyeon definitely has this amazing control over his features that he can mold his entire persona to whatever is needed of him in a scene. Honestly, Son Woo Hyeon seems like a genuinely nice person to me on- and off-cam since his chemistry with every single cast member was too good.

One more thing, I don’t know if this was already being done before in Korean dramas but I find it fascinating to see the actors actually eat in a scene. Seo Joon had quite a few scenes where he was eating and I’m amused to watch him eat so heartily, like a mouthful especially of that egg kimbap. I’d say that’s another thing that worked in Woo Hyeon’s favor, it made his acting appear more natural.

The confrontation scene between Seo Joon and In Woo was nicely executed too. The way Seo Joon was a whole new person in this scene was again another testament to Woo Hyeon’s range as an actor. His eyes were burning with so much emotion when he was talking to In Woo that it made me feel the same hurt and betrayal he was feeling at that moment. Recognition should also be given to Jo Han Joon, the actor who played In Woo. He did well in this scene and matched Woo Hyeon’s intensity.

Back to the picnic scene when only Seo Joon and Ji Woo were sitting at the table, you can see all these minute changes to his facial expressions as they were conversing, giving you an idea of what could possibly be going through his mind at that moment. When Ji Woo accused him of being flirty, you can see the change in his mood, you know a thought came to mind and he was contemplating whether to act on it or not. When he asked Ji Woo if he’s jealous, you can also tell how worried he is about his reaction yet anticipating it at the same time. And when he asked Ji Woo if he can kiss him, I literally screamed when his eyes darted toward Ji Woo’s lips! It was subtle yet precise and I felt his desire radiating through the screen. I cannot say this enough, Son Woo Hyeon is a brilliant actor!

The Chemistry

“Their chemistry is chemistrying”

I chanced upon this phrase on Twitter and while it made me cackle, it also kind of made sense to me. However complex and riveting the storyline or majestic the cinematography is, if the actors appear as if they’d rather be somewhere else than next to each other then it’s not going to work. No amount of NC scenes can salvage the show for me.

And I’m glad To My Star had no need for NC scenes because Son Woo Hyeon and Kim Kang Min had amazing chemistry together! From their first meeting at the restaurant, you can already feel their energy balancing each other with how Ji Woo matched Seo Joon’s energy by not putting up with his nonsense just because the latter is a huge celebrity.

The last scene in the bedroom was a great comeback from their lackluster “first kiss” during the picnic scene. I love how intimate it was and honestly, I felt like I was intruding on a real lover’s moment. The lingering eye contact they shared especially when Seo Joon was showering Ji Woo’s face with light kisses was enthralling. I felt like I was going to melt just by how romantic it all was. I am again in awe of their professionalism and especially with Woo Hyeon's dedication to the role of Kang Seo Joon.

The deeper kisses after were just as beautiful, if not more. Good kisses in KBL are hard to come by but Seo Joon and Ji Woo’s kisses definitely rank as among the best kisses by far. I mentioned how I’m not that into NC scenes but kissing is different. I love kiss scenes! Whether light pecks or deep, sensual kisses, I love the intimacy it conveys especially when done right. And boy did Woo Hyeon and Kang Min do it flawlessly!

Another thing I find astonishing is the fact that they have a 9-year age gap between them, Woo Hyeon being the older one. While I can tell that Woo Hyeon had more experience as an actor, it never dawned on me that they actually have such a significant age gap. Again, I think it’s because of their chemistry and how wonderful their dynamics are, both on- and off-screen. 

My Final Thoughts

“… the story I want to tell is from your project.”

This was a line Seo Joon said during his meeting for an upcoming project in the last episode. At first glance, it seemed like a filler scene showing how Seo Joon is finally back on his feet after the scandal he faced. But if you look closely and read between the lines, you’ll realize how meaningful that short scene was. It’s not always just about the monetary rewards, some people take on a project because it aligns with their ideals. They do it simply because they feel a genuine connection and belief in the story it wants to tell.

I believe this scene parallels that of the real world in which everyone involved in To My Star gave their all for the show because they believe in the story it wants to tell. KBL shows are not yet as widely-accepted as mainstream dramas and usually work around budget constraints and limited run-time. But the love and respect given by each and every single member of the team more than makeup for all the challenges. This scene is so beautifully-incorporated into the series and made me appreciate even more the effort of everyone behind the show.

I went in blind when I started this series. I did not even know how adored and revered the director, Hwang Da Seul, is in the KBL community. But after watching To My Star, I finally understood the fascination for KBL.

I think I’ve re-watched season 1 at least five times in 3 months. Maybe even more. It’s a light and easy watch and the perfect mood-lifter whenever you are feeling down. Son Woo Hyeon and Kim Kang Min were the perfect Kang Seo Joon and Han Ji Woo. They will forever hold a special place in my heart along with this BL gem, To My Star.

There you have it. The series that officially transformed me into a KBL fan. If you enjoy watching BL shows and have yet to discover the KBL industry, I highly recommend you start with To My Star. It has exceptional directing, storyline, pacing, cinematography, music, acting, and chemistry. I can never get tired of talking about it. And it’s the gateway to the masterpiece that is To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories, which I will be talking about in my next post.

Until next time. 

📌 You can watch To My Star on iQIYI or Rakuten Viki.