Kyaaa! Both sets of bromances brewing in Monstar are soooo engaging, I can’t decide which one is more fascinating at the moment. It’s easy to give the edge to Seol Chan-Sun Woo, since they are gorgeous individually and even moreso together, plus as the two male leads their story gets more airtime. But its a testament to the great nuanced writing in Monstar that the side characters of Kyu Dong and Do Nam have risen to capture the attention of the viewers as much as the two male leads. What is their complicated history? One which makes Do Nam an angry bully and Kyu Dong a meek bullied? Both have dropped hints before, with Do Nam telling Kyu Dong that he deserves the bullying and Kyu Dong telling Se Yi that he did something that Do Nam blames him for. I’m guessing its something related to Do Nam losing something or someone he loved. If it involves a parental figure, I’m going to be mildly amused by how Monstar has managed to give all the kids parent issues. From Se Yi’s mom blame to Seol Chan’s abandonment and estrangement, this drama has really thrown the book at the kids. And we don’t even know Na Na’s backstory yet? Is she the daughter of a mob boss? It sure looks like it, moreso than she’s some teenage girlfriend of some gangster.

Episode 5 was fantastic in revving this story back up, with the upcoming musical duel between Color Bar and All for One something that has genuine stakes and breadth. This isn’t about performing reluctantly, suddenly everyone wants to win, and both sides are loaded with talent. I loved the Do Nam-Kyu Dong beat boxing duet in episode 5, really one of the best musical arrangements this drama has showcased so far. Eun Ha’s little daydream about the gang ten years later all dressed up attending a rooftop black tie event take the fantasy bent usually reserved for Seol Chan and takes it one step further. Her dream is both an individual one where she’s finally the star that matches up to everyone else, but also this wistful hope that mabye they are all together in the future still. I would love if this drama ended with a glimpse into the future, much like Dream High went years later and everyone is either a star or moved beyond that. There are some BTS pictures of the boys from the filming for the cocktail party fantasy sequence and I must say everyone looks so dashing and debonair. Falling in love with Monstar has been both an oratory and visual treat of the best unexpected kind.