The Stars Gossip and So Does Mochi
I first heard about When the Stars Gossip while scrolling through the endless abyss of social media, where cats doing the cha-cha routinely outrank world news. Naturally, I turned to my cat, Mochi, who was stretched out in his usual position of maximum disinterest on my keyboard, and said, “Mochi, Lee Min-ho is coming back to TV.” Mochi responded with a flick of his tail that either meant “fascinating” or “I don’t care, human, unless he’s delivering tuna.”
So here’s the scoop: When the Stars Gossip is a space-themed romantic office drama. Yes, you heard me right—space. Office drama. Together. I can only assume there will be staplers floating in zero gravity and astronauts holding passive-aggressive team-building exercises while wearing helmets. The drama premieres on Jan. 4 and reportedly cost 50 billion won to make, which is about 49 billion more than I spend on Mochi’s overpriced cat treats.
Lee Min-ho, the K-drama legend who could probably generate electricity just by arching an eyebrow, plays Gongryong, a mysterious visitor to the space station. His co-star, Kong Hyo-jin, portrays Eve Kim, the station’s no-nonsense commander. Mochi and I agreed that a no-nonsense commander is essential for any workplace, especially one in outer space, where nonsense can lead to things like catastrophic decompression or karaoke contests gone awry.
Here’s where things get spicy: Gongryong has a girlfriend, Choi Go-eun (Han Ji-eun), who is a celebrity heiress. Also onboard is Kang Kang-su (Oh Jung-se), a wealthy scientist. So, to recap, we have mystery missions, romantic entanglements, and science experiments all happening in zero gravity. This show is clearly gunning for all the awards, including “Most Likely to Involve a Dramatic Airlock Scene.”
The director, Park Shin-woo, explained at a press conference that the show aims to explore Big Questions like “Do rules still matter in space?” and “Why does everything float, except my paycheck?” According to Park, a team of green-suited wire-flying experts helped the actors simulate zero gravity, which sounds like the kind of thing Mochi would watch on repeat if it involved lasers.
Speaking of actors, Lee Min-ho said this project marks his first Korean drama in five years. Apparently, he’s been doing a lot of soul-searching in his 30s, trying to “give something back.” I assume this means he’s now donating his time to teaching mortals how to look brooding while saving the world. Meanwhile, Kong Hyo-jin revealed she was intrigued by how the drama focuses on “everyday lives in space,” which raises questions like, “Do astronauts argue about the thermostat?” and “Is coffee any less bitter in zero gravity?”
As I finished reading the press release, Mochi sauntered over and perched on my lap, giving me the kind of look that says, “Even I know this is a must-watch, and I only watch bird documentaries.” So mark your calendars, folks. On Jan. 4, Mochi and I will be front and center, ready for a drama that’s as ambitious as it is weightless. Lee Min-ho in space? Consider us launched.
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