Behind Every Star Season 1 Review : An easy-breezy office drama about showbiz that’s binge-worthy

STORY: An official remake of the French TV Series ‘Call My Agent’ (Dix pour cent), this K-drama is about a leading talent management company and its employees, who juggle fragile celebrity egos and their own equations in a highly competitive environment.

REVIEW: The corridors of Method Entertainment in the heart of Seoul is always buzzing with activity. Some of the biggest stars of the country are its clients, whose work and image they manage. The celebrity agents, managers and directors here often walk the tight rope trying to maneuver through complexities, insecurities and uncertainties that come as a part and parcel of the entertainment business. As viewers, we are sucked into the work-life of its employees from the very first scene, as one of the biggest stars of South Korea Cho Yeo-jeong (who plays herself) loses out on an upcoming Quentin Tarantino film because of her age. The show nicely weaves in the issue of ageing actresses and the cost of vanity. While there are a lot of other moving parts in the first episode itself, Yeo-jeong’s ouster from a major Hollywood production takes the centerstage and the story revolves mostly around this big development.

Director Baek Seung-ryong and his writers (Park So-young and Lee Chan) give us everyday characters with distinct personalities that are so easy to identify with. They come with their inherent flaws that are believable and as audience we quickly choose our favourites, start rooting for a few and dissing some others. The show’s easygoing and light-hearted treatment makes for an interesting watch, as it effortlessly depicts everyday office issues like politics, one-upmanship, hiring and firing. The set and the production values are vibrant and aptly designed for a company that deals with the people in showbiz.

Among the actors, Seo Hyun-woo shines as the confused and good-hearted professional Kim Jung-don, who is at pains trying to figure how he will break the bad news to his superstar client. Rest of the cast performs efficiently and one can tell how some of the characters will have a more prominent role in the future episodes.

Overall, it’s a breezy watch and an easy binge because we can relate with the characters and their everyday struggles. That said, there are a few unpredictable plot twists in the first episode itself that set the stage for bigger conflicts and messier situations.