When the Stars Gossip has pulled off a comeback in the ratings game, bouncing back from its previous rock-bottom performance to clock in at 2.9% nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.
The tvN weekend sci-fi drama had hit a concerning low of 1.8% with its fifth episode, but managed to engineer a 1.1% uptick with its sixth episode that aired on January 19th. While the recovery signals a positive trend, industry insiders note the show still has an uphill battle ahead.
In the competitive weekend drama landscape, When the Stars Gossip currently sits at the bottom of the pack. Ratings powerhouse Iron Family on KBS continues its dominant run with a commanding 19.0% share. JTBC’s period series The Tale of Lady Ok secured a solid 9.7%, while Channel A’s Check-in Hanyang edged out the sci-fi rom-com with 2.99%.
Episode 6 delivered a breakthrough moment as Gong Ryong (Lee Min Ho) achieved what many deemed impossible—successful artificial insemination in space with help from fellow astronauts. The emotional storyline saw Gong Ryong watching Eve Kim (Gong Hyo Jin) dispose of human embryo cells created by Kang Kang Su (Oh Jung Se). But still not giving up on the mission, he rallies help from Mina Lee (Lee Cho Hee), astronaut Santi (Alex Hafner), and space scientist Lee Seung Jun (Heo Nam Jun).
Despite the challenges of working in zero gravity and handling delicate procedures in an unwieldy spacesuit without microscopes or proper tools, the determined team pulled off the seemingly impossible feat. The success not only marked a scientific triumph but also hinted at a potential thaw in the frosty relationship between Gong Ryong and Eve Kim, leaving viewers speculating about the duo’s future dynamics.
>> ‘When the Stars Gossip’ Takes Off Internationally as Korean Ratings Remain Grounded
Source (1)
