TYPE OF REVIEW 
: GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Very minor spoilers.
Star Struck (스타스트럭) is an interesting and multi-faceted Korean BL drama that is, of course, held back by its format. Another story that may be better suited for a film-length feature rather than eight episodes of roughly 20 minutes each. Solid performances and good chemistry from its lead stars can only do so much to help carry the series’ stop and start narrative flow. But a good helping of complex angst still make it a worthy watch.
Star Struck tells the story of Seo Han Joon (Kim In Sung), a young man who has been in love with his childhood friend Jo Yoo Jae (SF9’s Zuho) for a long time. Despite not knowing if his feelings will be reciprocated, Han Joon decides to confess to Yoo Jae. And the two of them must deal with the aftermath of that moment all while also having to juggle struggles with school, friends and family life.
The series sets itself apart from others in the genre with the complex emotions and relationship between the two leading men. They are childhood friends whom we first meet as young boys gazing up at the stars. But we quickly see how their friendship sometimes suffers under the weight of the pressures that build up around them. Those pressures negatively affect their friendship and in turn any potential romance between them as well.
That back and forth angst is the main driver of the series. And it can be at times engaging and other times amusing. Especially with the narrative broken up the way it is across these eight episodes, it can feel quite repetitive. Even if bingeing all eight episodes in one or two sittings.
The pacing isn’t so much that it is slow. In fact, its slower and contemplative aura helps to support the two young men’s more drama-filled relationship. No matter how small or petty each misunderstanding and miscommunication might be.
But on a broader sense, the series touches upon a lot of interesting issues for youths. The tumultuous transition from adolescence to adulthood provides the vivid backdrop for moments regarding pressures with school, friends, family and the love, jealousy and pride that can get in the way of healthy relationships in each of those dynamics.
The problem with Star Struck is there is just enough time to properly deal with all of these interesting ideas. The series sets itself up as if it were a longer, mainstream television series about youths. Perhaps inspired by the many high school and college primetime dramas. The relatively larger supporting cast are all introduced with the beginnings of their own stories only to get nudged aside and forgotten as the series moves along.
Main point being Star Struck seems to start off thinking it is a full length primetime drama series only to remember halfway through that it is not. That is when the series abruptly shifts all focus to Han Joon and Yoo Jae. And does so in a way that feels like entire chunks of scenes and stories have been chopped off of the final product.
The disjointed storytelling slightly wastes the solid performances by Zuho and Kim In Sung. There are several moments where the two are given legitimately great material. But a few great moments does not make for a truly great series.
Ultimately, their performances and glimmers of narrative potential along with the both dramatic and amusing angst are what keeps Star Struck afloat. Another unfortunate victim to the limitations of the web series format. But the upside of it being a quick watch is enough of a motivation to check it out.