To My Star 2 (2022)

FINALLY a good bl sequel

PROS:

- the cinematography!!! you can definitely tell they got more budget & creative direction for this season because some shots literally fucking stunned me, they were gorgeous!!! they went full film d’auteur for this one & I couldn’t approve more, this is my jam!!!

- the characters, and especially kang seo joon. like I just love this character so much??? everyone in this show fucking WORKS, but kang seo joon is like this cartoon-y character who also feels so real & he’s just really fucking amazing.

- I love the writing & its realism. this sequel made me realize that even the original season had a deeper aspect to it compared to other kbls, a sort of looming feeling of mental health issues & other problems, even with a happy ending. and in that way, the writers perfectly continued that story & gave us more context as to who both characters are as people, and I think the writers did a great job underlining the possible problems in their relationship & playing on their differences. I feel like this sequel worked when all of the others haven’t because the writers stayed true to the characters & story they wanted to tell. obviously season two has a different tone & setting, yet both seasons really work together, whereas it’s usually really not the case.

- the chemistry & acting just work. I don’t think han ji woo’s actor is the best actor & the more emotional scene wasn’t the best imo, but apart from that this pairing just works really well, and overall the acting is very solid. even with all the issues between the characters, the chemistry between the actors makes you care about this pairing a lot more.


CONS:

- v angsty, and I know that this is not what some people are looking for in this sequel, and in that case I would skip this one out. or just binge it all in one go bc I guarantee you, binging the first 8 eps and then having to wait a week for the conclusion like I did was HELL.

- I think han ji woo is a very interesting character that I really like, but since he’s been the driving factor for every drama & break up this couple has had, and he’s very cold & everything, in some moments it was really hard to care for him. there was literally a point in the show where I felt like these two were better off broken up, and I’m not sure that’s exactly what the writers wanted. so I think they went a bit too far with ji woo’s cruelty in certain moments, when it should’ve been slightly more push & pull rather than one hurting the other repeatedly if that makes sense.


WOULD I REWATCH IT: maybe not on its own bc it’s very angsty, but if I rewatched the original show I would definitely follow it with season two.


CONCLUSION: FINALLY a sequel that is not disappointing!!! I despise second seasons, but here I’m so glad I gave this one a chance, despite not even knowing how it was gonna end! This just proves me that you can introduce angst, break ups and challenges in a sequel and still make it good, and I’m just really happy that one of my favorite 2021 shows actually got the sequel it deserves <3

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I loved the first season, it was short and bubbly and there was this remarkable chemistry between the leads… the second season though, blew me away! I thought about this series a lot, it affected me so much that I wanted to know other peoples opinions on it and I started to spend time on twitter and even reddit lol, which is sth I honestly dont do at all. I have read lots of theories even came up with my own. I dont even know…the last time I was affected this much by a series with was game of thrones i guessXD

Anyway i liked how detailed it was, the acting, the cinematography, soundtrack everything was perfect imo. I do agree with some people saying the ending was a bit rushed and the angsty 8 episodes were was a bit unfair and Seo Joon forgave Ji woo way to easy. Yeah, I also think Ji woo should have realized he made a mistake by ep 7 onwards maybe? So that we would have 3-4 eps of him begging Seo joon to take him backXD jokes aside I do think that he should have made his motives for break up and how he felt during that one year of their relationship more clear to Seo joon. But I guess I am ok with how it ended, we had lotsss of fluff! Everyone had their closure. I would love a season 3 but I dont think it will come…

Ugh I kinda feel empty now that is over and I dont think anything will come close for a while:(

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Even Better Than The First Season

When the first season came out, it was instantly one of my favorite BLs. I loved the characters' chemistry, the story wasn't bad and the acting was great. I really only had one problem with it: the series was too short and because of that, we didn't really get a chance to explore the characters to my satisfaction. We only got snippets of their past here and there but nothing that really showed us why Ji Woo and Seo Joon became the people they were.

That's why I think this season is even better than the first. It's shedding light on concepts they introduced in the first season, "tying loose ends" so to speak while adopting more mature themes of heartbreak and loneliness and the roles people play in a relationship, all the while giving us a bit of fanservice of their domestic life together. Each episode fills my heart with joy and anxiety and as I watch the back and forth between Ji Woo and Seo Joon, I end up loving the series even more.

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Love, redemption and second chances

This is a story of an established couple and their struggles. How complex emotions like insecurity, perceived loneliness, one's own ego etc. play role in complicating things are manifested in this series. Also how one can overcome those are highlighted upon. It is a nuanced, layered depiction of love, it's complexities, the hurt it causes and the courage it requires to overcome those.
The story is relatable, mature and engaging. It is not for viewers who are looking for BL fluff. It is raw and at times rough to watch. It pulls you in and keeps you worried and elated with the characters. There are no instant fixes and rapid gratification.
The direction is flawless. The series is positioned like a puzzle piece and the viewers are challenged to piece it together. HGS, the director, has directed many cult classic BLs in the past but with this one she dared to break the BL ceiling and give us a genuine slice of life love story minus the rosieness and instant fixes.
The cinematography is beautiful and complements the story. The tone and hue change with the story and run as a parallel story teller.
The acting of all the actors are perfect, even the child actors gave flawless performances. The MLs, their chemistry and acting abilites are legendary already. How much they expressed through their eyes is worth a separate discussion and analysis. They were brilliant.
Overall this series made me cry, laugh, stressed, anxious, happy and satiesfied. I will be getting back to this over and over again. I loved it!

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They really outdid themselves

Trust me, I used to think korean BLs have always been disappointing since I have watched enough of them. Watched To my star season 1 and that time it was one my most liked korean BL but after seeing the season two which aired today (3rd June) and I just watched it, I'm spellbounded.

The best thing about this story was the duration. It was just perfect and the last episode being over 43 mins just made it hella satisfying. The pace was really good but can be a little slow for some. They added alot of new characters which made it confusing at first but then it felt they're a family. Also, almost all Korean bl have a really weird plot (if ukwim) but the plot here was really good and was portrayed really well. Though I was confused as to why the plot at the beginning turned out to be like that. I'm not gonna spoil anything hence even the smallest spoiler will just ruin the fun.

Ik we all want to see the erotic scenes (lol) u might not like it cause they won't kiss in many episodes cause the plot is like that but whenever they'll kiss it will just give you the butterflies. Also this drama has the most crazy kisses I've ever seen in Korean BLs, I wanted to scream whenever they went crazyy :p
It's literally my first time rating a kdrama ITS THAT GOOD.

I'm more into dark and gruesome genre but this has to be an exception. Really want this drama to be a hit and loved by everyone. Hats off to the main leads for leaving me shooked with their emotionsss. Loved the ost and acting. EVERYONE SLAYED. The emotions felt soo realll.
Daebak!

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Your Star has burned out and you're poking it with an electric stick

That's how I felt watching this show for the first time. Originally, I planned to make this long-ass review dissecting everything about the plot, character development, cinematography... so I went to rewatch the whole first season and episodes 1-8 of season two to prepare for a finale. Made a bunch of notes and quotes from the series. Intended to give points for every good thing a character does. Take away points from stuff they do wrong. Then I realized there would be a lot of substracting and negative numbers are ugly, so I switched strategy to giving black points. Looking out for for stuff to judge them on and drafting up my HJW defense rant of "To My Sta(lke)r: The Series."


I won't do that.

For one, I'm tired. It's 12 - 1 am where I'm from and this show has totally spent me. I could let it sit for a day or two, but it won't make me feel any more rested about it.

Secondly, it would go against everything the show's trying to portray. And portraying it does really well, so I will respect its message. It's a good one.



Let me just say some general advice for people that have yet to watch the show.

1. This isn't a feel-good story. It's heavy. Make sure you're prepared for that (TWs may include: portrayals of simulated violence, panic attacks/seizures, abandonment, manipulation, forceful following [I won't say 'stalking' because I'm playing nice], scamming, and more. Hearts will most likely break.)

2. Even though it may feel different from season 1, it's actually doing a really good job of expanding on what's already been established and keeping the characterization consistent. I recommend rewatching season 1 beforehand if it's been long since you've seen it last time.

3. There's a lot of details. Lot of symbolism. Lot of flashbacks and getting back to past scenes. Paying attention to it makes the show look way more logical and believable in my opinion. Rewatching might help you from getting lost in it.

4. Take your time. Some might like the show more if they binge it, but don't force yourself into continuing right away if it makes you feel uncomfortable. It was originally releasing 2 episodes per week, and the pacing feels adjusted to that (odd episode usually sets stuff up, while even episode sets it off).

5. Try to keep an open mind. Things may not be as they seem at the start.


Overall, I think this is one of the best BL shows I've ever seen. The characterization is insanely good in this one! The plot is on roughly the same level as in season one. Not my favorite, but good enough. It serves its purpose, which is uncovering the truth about main leads. The length felt suffocating on weekly basis, but looking back at it, I can't see what they could have left out without the show suffering from missing it. It's just very well put together in that way. Every little detail counts. I must say the ending didn't go exactly as I'd like, but that's personal preference. Everything else was solid.

If you liked season one, I think you will learn a lot more about the main leads from season 2. If you're new to TMS and somehow stumbled here, I very much recommend starting the show to anyone who's looking for something more complex and character-oriented. Start with season one, though! Both movie and the tv series are about the same, so either one is fine [around 2 hours long]. In both cases, just be aware it's not a light show to watch.

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a star needs their universe

didn’t go into this thinking it would be as good as the first season because dramas rarely are but man am i blown away. fantastic scriptwriting, acting, directing… you name it!

majority of the season was angst and there is no denying that - but these characters are broken people and with that you’re going to have them react to things because of their pasts and their own personal issues. however, you also get to watch them grow not only individually, but also because of each other. the conflict wasn’t unwarranted either. we saw in season 1 how different these two are from one another and how much they both struggled individually so anyone that says it was just added for the sake of conflict is dead wrong. it was peak realism.

i have to commend the acting from both of the leads here. seo woohyun was amazing in carrying seojoons sensitive and emotional nature. when he smiled everything around him lit up, and when he was crying it was like a storm was arriving on a once sunny beach. kim kangmin was just as fantastic. he spent the majority of the front half stone cold and upsetting to watch and that takes great skill. still, though, you could pinpoint glimpses of hope, sadness, anger, relief. the second half he really got to shine with some more emotional scenes and i just have to praise him because of one scene in particular (you’ll know the one). amazing acting from the both of them.

the music in this drama fit so well. i need the OST on repeat right now!! the technical aspects were all around great. pay attention to the “flashback scenes” because all i can say is you will be wowed by the time you reach the end of the drama. every scene in this drama carried such weight, no matter how big or small.

overall such an amazing watch. i don’t want to lose these characters but I am so satisfied with the ending.

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I have no words!! poignant and melancholic!!

I have no words for how amazing this show was...mind you this is not an easy watch as in it's your typical BL and people looking for fluff will be disappointed ..but if complex flawed characters and realistic relationship depiction between two people having distinct personalities is what you are looking for ..this is your show..if you want to see what happens when the honeymoon phase is over and insecurities and personal demons start taking over ..this is your show...I will be re-watching this coz its required to properly understand the characters and their motivations !! but anyone looking to watch something mature for a change please go ahead and watch it !!!

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I loved it.
The first season was really good it nailed but this one, gosh, they were amazing, their acting is so good their chemistry is everything... I'm not gonna even mention how beautiful they are that isn't needed.
Jiwoo, I really hated him in the first episodes but I think it's because we are kinda alike, we leave people so they don't leave ushahah
But Seojun he's the love of my life, I really hope that in the future I can find my Seojun, he's so nice, so beautiful, so kind, he's a human being full of light, and just like Jiwoo, i have a black heart who needs a little star to light up my days and be my universe. I really believe that I feel this way towards this drama and characters because of it.
The actor did an amazing job, I loved the little "mention" about Kang Min wearing a school uniform in a series, an indirect to School 2021 ahahaha
Everything seemed amazing and complete, I really enjoyed the fact that they explain where Seojun's trauma came from, his relationship with his parents...
I was also really sensitive while watching this drama, I rarely cry with series/movies but when Seojun was home alone and received 2 messages from HoMin and Pil Hyun saying that they loved him made me feel so sentimental that I started crying ahahha
All of this just to say that I loved it so much, they nailed it with this second season

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Have you ever been so in love that it make you feel scared?

The slander that Jiwoo got because of his weird push and pull behavior is just undeserved. People whine about wanting to have realistic BL, THIS is realistic! This is how relationship is in real life! Sadly, angsty romance like this happens more often than good fluffy romance, in this economy having a good healthy relationship is pretty rare you know. Most of the negative comments complain about how it is unnecessary to have this angsty sequel, but believe me, most relationships in real life are only fluffy and romantic in the early stage, there are stressful phases in a relationship which is needed for both people to grow. It's okay if you don't want to watch, so you can save yourself from the heartbreak, but if you did it's also a great follow up story that gives you a perspective on how tricky a relationship could be. The writing in this season is even more smooth too! I totally dig the sudden happy flashbacks that cuts to the gloomy after break-up scene, it makes me feel sad too, as if I am feeling what Seojoon is feeling. After a harsh breakup, your brain somehow always managed to give you random flashbacks that would totally make you feel shitty.

So first, I think we had to understand that Jiwoo and Seojoon have a completely different personalities. It is understandable that Jiwoo finds adjusting to Seojoon's fast-paced, high energy and flashy life a hard thing to do. This poor boy been an introvert all his life, living a lowkey life and having a humble aspiration, that he just wants to be a cook. Jiwoo is also someone who took pride and has high ego about his own life, he didn't want anyone to pity him or give him things just because, he works hard to achieve his dream and I think Seojoon should understand that. He did should learn how to stop pushing people away though, but after years of being alone, having someone who suddenly barges in into your life could be exhausting, Jiwoo pushing Seojoon away is just a way for him to protect himself. Have you ever been so in love with someone it makes you feel scared? Scared that you're not good enough, that you could make mistake that'll probably hurt your s/o, scared that if you fall too hard you couldn't ever recover from the heartbreak. Jiwoo is just like that, he is a little overthinker who actually cares too much. Not to mention that his close friend did cause trouble for Seojoon, so he probably still feel guilty because of that. The relationship is getting too scary for him to explore, so he ran away. It's not great, but some people just have the tendency to do that, Jiwoo is just one of them.

Second, Seojoon had issues too. The problem is that he didn't understand boundaries, he just keep on pushing and pushing. This is also understandable because he is just so in love with Jiwoo, and it is hard to let go of someone who had been deeply rooted in you. Jiwoo helps him with his anxiety and panic attacks, although it is not healthy and Seojoon should've not used Jiwoo as the sole anchor of his life, it's understandable why he just can't let Jiwoo go that easily.

Third, the complexity of the characters made me fall in love with the movie. It hurts, but it's a good kind of hurt because there are still good moments between the two. It's just like watching someone grows in their relationship. The exquisite cinematography, the color tone, the outfits, the casts, the music! To me personally To My Star 2 had the best cinematography out of all BLs I've ever watched. I like the warm earthy feeling too, it's really pleasing to the eyes. Kangmin's acting is amazing, it's amazing how his little details in expression elevate his cold-ass character. Woohyun is also amazing, how he could express hurt and vulnerability makes Seojoon the perfect 'the man who can't move on'.

Overall! I am in love all over again with both of them through this second season, it's hard to make a good second season but To My Star 2 managed to do it so well!

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To My Angst

Overall: season 1 was a romance so I was hoping in season 2 to learn more about the backgrounds of the two leads, have some character growth (specifically Ji Woo getting better at communicating), some fluff and some realistic drama (i.e. the public finding out about their romance and fallout from that). Instead we got...angst and character regression instead of growth. If someone wants to avoid 9 episodes of angst, then I'd suggest just watching episode 10. I really dislike when one character is a huge jerk to the other character for a long time because then I'm not happy if they are together at the end due to all the pain that was caused. Once you break a glass, even if you put it back together, it will never be the same. Watched on Viki (also Gagaoolala)

Content Warnings: gaslighting, grief

What I Liked
- the cute scenes
- episode 10 (except for the very last two lines), enjoyed the callbacks to the first season
- acting
- music (wish we had vocals for the intro though)
- the supporting characters from season 1 that returned in season 2 (and wish they had had more screen time/depth for their characters)
- talking about Ho Min's decision was funny (I looked up the actor)

Room For Improvement
- Ji Woo, I am so disappointed that instead of character growth we got character regression. Breaking up via a sticky note and ghosting someone (on their birthday no less) after a year of dating is inexcusable. Then Ji Woo has the gall to name his restaurant "I'm Waiting For You". Ji Woo lies to Seo Joon and is extra cruel by telling Seo Joon that it's Seo Joon's fault their relationship doesn't work before eventually admitting it was Ji Woo's fault/insecurities. No amount of grief or introvertedness excuses his actions (I know people who are extremely introverted and they all manage to communicate with their significant others)
- Seo Joon needs to learn about respecting boundaries - I realize this was supposed to be romantic but it felt like harassment to me
- non logical/realistic plot things/responses - is a celebrity having a fear of loud noises a huge scandal??? I don't understand this at all. Another is, what a terrible detective. It took 1 year to figure out that Ji Woo was in the town where he grew up/where his parents used to live, wouldn't that be the first place to look??? Also what was the motivation for who posted that story about Seo Joon?
- the cliche ex, this added nothing for me
- the kid, if they were shown babysitting a friend/relative's kid and talking about how they wanted their family to be in the future that would have been awesome, but this character seemed tossed in to add additional drama
- the frequent time jumps back and forth made it feel disjointed and confusing, wish they had told this in a linear fashion
- the explanation for Seo Joon's phobia was underwhelming
- I wish they had had a short recap of season 1 at the beginning of episode 1
- the intro with season 1 short scenes and instrumental music wasn't my favorite intro

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