ENA Rom-com K-drama My Troublesome Star with Uhm Jung Hwa and Song Seong Heon is Another Surprise Hit of the Summer as Ratings Triple Heading into Finale Next Week
So all the attention, rightly, is on tvN runaway weekend hit Bon Appétit, Your Majesty but there is actually another rom-com that has turned into a hit for a different network as well just not as stratospheric in ratings. Small cable network ENA premiered My Troublesome Star with Uhm Jung Hwa and Song Seung Heon last month on Mon-Tues and the ratings have only gone one way up, from 1.3% to more than tripling to most recent episode 10 got 4.3%. Next week is the finale as its a 12-episode drama which makes me sad because I’m enjoying it sooooooo much. It’s a true throwback to old school Hallyu but done in a sweet, charming, and refreshing way. There is a redemption story, first love reunite, amnesia, maybe attempted murder, lots of backstabbing, plenty of slow mo showcase moments, basically a bibimbap or all the classic K-drama tropes done well. It feels self-aware so it laughs with itself and the audience never laughs at it. Uhm Jung Hwa and Song Seong Heon are rocking both their roles and the chemistry, but kudos to the two young stars Jang Da Ah and Lee Min Jae for also hitting it out of the park as the younger versions of the leads. This drama is also a clown car of amazing supporting actors and actresses all of whom are just firing on all cylinders from seething Lee El and Oh Dae Hwan as the antagonists to hilarious Cha Chung Hwa as the bestie and Hyun Bong Sik as her preening husband. Sure, Uhm Jung Hwa who is now in her 50’s may have gotten some touchups that make her visuals a tad distracting but not enough mar her onscreen star charisma and strong acting styles. I love that this drama is made for those who grew up with Hallyu in the late 90’s and is now seeing how everyone is 25 years later with a compelling second chance narrative.
I’m loving this drama, and I’m glad the ratings are good! I grew up with Hallyu in the early 2000s so it’s been wonderful to see these actors coming together to do an old school rom-com that is done well and is done without feeling outdated. I tend to like anything Uhm Jung-hwa is in and listened to her music when I got into kpop. Song Seong Heon is hitting peak charm in this!
Thanks Koala for writing about this! This drama wasn’t on my radar at all but because of your article about it I’ve started binge watching today and I’m actually very much entertained.
Oldies playing cute in comedy? That’s not supposed to be my cup of tea. But I’ll check this out given the recommendation.
I used to like ssh in my princess so i will give this one a try since he was good in my princess romantic comedy
SSH has come a long long way. I remember him in that Summer Scent series, it was terrible, HATED the Son Ye Jin character, the faux innocent that is actually quite scheming. From the bathroom scene onwards, fast-forwarded through all her scenes unless SSH was in them – he was mega eye candy, despite the awful hair and bizarre fashion. Gorgeous. She, though, well, her character, I mean, who has a fiance, agrees to go on a ‘non-date’ with another guy – SSH, then, when she sees fiance at same place, escapes to the loo, hides from being seen with other guy by fiance, stays there for the duration. Clearly not some sweet, innocent naif.
Anyways, I remember seeing a chat between SSH and a long-time mate of his and they talked about when SSH first started and how crap he was. Apparently, he was known for having to have numerous takes, like 50+, on occasion. He was the first to admit that he was crap back then, really questioned whether he was cut out to be an actor.
Because he’s really good-looking, have started a lot of his stuff but have only finished Dinner Mate. I really like the rest of the cast this time around, particularly UJH, LOVE the movie Marriage is a Crazy Thing, with Kam Woo Sung. She’s a brave actress, up for anything. Will definitely start this one.