Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born

Did I watch a theatre play or a TV drama?

What a masterpiece. «Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born» («정년이») gave us an unforgettable finale, and Kim Taeri (김태리), Shin Yeeun (신예은), and Woo Davi (우다비) absolutely delivered. These three? My absolute favourites.

Here's why it stood out:

1. The editing? Flawless.
2. They filmed the theatre scenes as if it was a real performance. It didnt just feel authenticit was authentic.
3. Every scene mattered. No fluff, no fillers. Just storytelling that hits hard.
4. They focused on whats real: the relationships, the struggles, the rawness of being an actor, singer, or dancer. It wasnt just about glitz and glamour. It was blood, sweat, and tears.

Finale episode

Now, about that fin...

The drama crammed a 100+ chapter webtoon into a just 12 episodes, and it shows. Important characters and arcs such as buyong and her exploration of said ideas were straight-up tossed into the abyss. The narrative feels like a highlight reel of a better imaginary story, with emotional payoffs you never earn because, surprise, they skipped the setup! Instead, you get filler subplots galore: misunderstandings, random theft, and a catty rival who might as well twirl a mustache while cackling. The result is a tonal rollercoaster that swings from captivating to cliché faster than you can say pansori.

Speaking of which, the production values were admittedly solid. The gukgeuk sequences are decently staged, and the performances by limtaeri and j...