Where Stars Land

Chae Soo Bin is the only reason I started watching.

And how could I not after her totally charming performance in the totally charming "I'm Not A Robot" ? I said in my review of IANAR that I was desperate to marry her and for some reason I've never had a reply, but I'm not one to hold a grudge ( plus I'm poor and ugly ). So I was keen to see her again and see if my love might be re-kindled.

The answer : yes and no.

Underwhelming is probably too harsh a word, yet the central concept here just doesn't work for me. The setting is a major Korean airport and CSB is a new employee with an unfair reputation for being unreliable. The male lead is Lee Je Hoon and therein lies the problem. Let's say that he is...not like the other employees. So in the tradition of K Dramas with super-strong women or exceptional weightlifters, this character provides the concept which the producers hope will hook you in. There's also a sub-plot involving shady corporate dealings which is ok but hardly riveting.

THE BIG IDEA didn't work on me, unfortunately. It does offer some fun and novelty early on, yet the further we go the more I felt the writers had painted themselves and the character into a corner. The ending we're given is consistent with the central idea and therefore unsatisfying, What increases the frustration is this : a good ending IS feasible and, in my opinion, maybe even obvious, yet we don't get one. Aargh ! That said, WSL is made watchable because various incidents/events occurring at the airport are both interesting and well written, with some bringing tears and emotional impact as well. The other aspect serving the show surprisingly well is the secondary romance.

Normally the main romance is a show's primary asset, and this is the first time I've seen a sub-plot relationship take centre stage. That's clearly necessary when the lead couple are so romantically dull and the Airport Security team duo doing relationship back-up duty are actually excellent. Kim Kyung Nam is great as the shy, stoic Team Leader trying to gather the courage to confess his feelings to a subordinate, yet it's the ferocious Lee Soo Kyung who leaves a lasting impression. She's so terse and focussed and tightly wound, which means we almost cringe whenever the two of them interact because she's more likely to put him in a head-lock than speak. The writing and the acting combine very well as this fractious and entertaining couple intrigue us at all times.

As for Chae Soo Bin, my offer of marriage and undying devotion is still on the table ( but I won't hold my breath ) and she's typically likable and sympathetic as an audience surrogate. Not much more she can do with a script like this, and I can only assume LJH was directed to behave like a robot ( and yes, irony noted ! ) with a blank look on his face most of the time. So calm, reserved and even lugubrious ( such a great word; is even ugly to look at or say ), this strategy works for a while due to his "otherness" and consequent anxiety, though I can't see the average woman swooning or being swept off her feet by it in the longer term.

I expect any modern K Drama to be technically proficient and WSL looks good ( that opening scene with the slo-mo in the rain is beautiful ), though the title is clunky and conjures images of some special airport for celebrities. Now, I do try and suggest improvements when I criticise but struggled for a better name. We could be silly with "Departure Gate For Love City", but I think "Fly To Love" is a slight, um, upgrade on WSL.

A Simple drama with a cozy feeling to it. I wasn't going to watch it at first, as the description wasn't that appealing. Also, the first episode was just so so, with nothing interesting to display. However, the story had more to it than just Incheon employees. The robot parts twist was entertaining at first, as it was fascinating to try to figure out what was happening and why he had super human strength. Then, when it was explained properly his story, it became more humain and closer to a slice of life drama than a fantasy. However, I found the leading character dull. Not that the actor did a bad job with his performance. But the character was only presented as a man who hated his currant condition and was in love with the leading lady. So, that and the ending too. Too many stories were left open, questions were left unaswered and the final scene wasn't satisfying.

Where the Stars Land (Yeowoogakshibyeol) had the potential to soar as the mighty planes in the background of this series, but it never quite took off. There was the potential for a few interesting main plot lines that the viewers could have boarded into that were left on the runway. Why did the writer go into a tail spin? Why did the writer clutter the series with too many plot lines only to crash, leaving them unfinished. The nose dive of the finale was a big disappointment of all the stories, it was grounded on the runway. There was a terrific cast fulfilling their roles, especially the male lead, Lee Jehoon! The actors showed up but stayed stuck at the gate too many times. My rating of 8 is based on the actors commitment to their roles with good performances and the landing of a few plot lines.

Why do Korean programs have heroines that are loud, nosey bumbling idiots with a huge sense of self? Why?

Airport and you have this woman weepy, bad mouthing everyone except herself. Ughh. I think the writers think it's funny to have her behave like a rat..it only demeaning and stupid.

Otherwise a powerful human interaction with the working of an airport beautifully woven into the story. The backdrop of a busy airport is a great backdrop to the complexity of human interactions.

Except for the times the lead female character Han Yeo Reum was a little over the top being clumsy, nosy and annoying, I really enjoyed this series. I became very interested in the security couple. It was nice watching them realize how much Thy really cared for one another.

I especially enjoyed all the behind the scenes incidents at the airport. They did a good job showing what airport workers deal with on a daily basis. I will keep that in mind next time I fly somewhere.