In the world of entertainment, scandals and rumors are considered common, and being a public relations manager is a challenging job. Oh Han Byeol, played by Lee Sung Kyung, works as the Head of PR team in Star Force talent agency and has frequently found herself tangled amidst the rumors of her agency’s clients. Her professional-life is all-consuming and leaves her with a negligible personal life.
Shooting Stars is a drama about the professional, as well as personal, relationship of Oh Han Byeol with her agency’s brightest star, Gong Tae Sung played by Kim Young Dae. Things turn topsy-turvy when Han Byeol comes face-to-face with Gong Tae Sung, who has recently returned from Africa, where he was on a humanitarian mission. They share a bitter past and their relationship is dysfunctional at best, as Tae Sung has harbored a grudge against Han Byeol ever since she made an error in her role as Head of PR and posted a faulty report.
The drama, directed by Lee Soo Hyun, is said to have 16 episodes, and is a replacement for Bad and Crazy (2021). For those who are familiar with Lee Soo Hyun, they would know that he has previously directed Find Me In Your Memory (2020), which was a hit. The chemistry between Lee Sung Kyung and Kim Young Dae in Shooting Stars is also amazing, as they portray the characters of Oh Han Byeol and Gong Tae Sung respectively.
As Shooting Stars unfolds, Han Byeol is tasked with the duty of monitoring stress levels of the agency’s talent, as well as the staff. She coaxes Gong Tae Sung, her erstwhile partner, who had refused to co-operate initially, to work with her. In return, Han Byeol offers Tae Sung a deal to cut her salary by three months if the stress levels rise unnervingly. Tae Sung does not seem like he is affected when he starts the job but when he comes across a report about a celebrity divorce that he relates to, his stress levels begin to skyrocket.
This leads Han Byeol to be aware of Tae Sung’s stress levels, especially during a fan meet, where he was on the brink of collapse. Han Byeol tries to assist Tae Sung, but instead embarrasses herself. The show also highlights the romantic subplot of drama between the staff; for example, the Head of Manager 2 (Park Ho Young) finally manages to confess his love to the new talent, Kang Shi Duk.
Overall, Shooting Stars is a must-watch drama that combines the best elements of comedy, drama, and romance. It is directed by someone who has previously made a successful impact and stars two very talented actors. Its twists and turns in the plot provide intrigue and excitement while the romantic subplots offer to satisfy the viewer’s softer side.
