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Netflix's When The Stars Gossip— the South Korean romantic comedy series set in space— released episode 3 on January 11, 2025. Originally premiered globally on Netflix on January 4, 2024, the show features a stellar cast, including Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin, Oh Jung-se, Han Ji-eun, Kim Joo-hun, and Lee El.
In episode 3, the narrative intensifies as Commander Eve Kim (Gong Hyo-jin) faces a life-threatening situation during a spacewalk. Tasked with repairing a damaged panel, Eve's mission takes a perilous turn when her glove is compromised, leading to a dangerous loss of pressure in her suit.
As she struggles to return to the airlock, her consciousness fades, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. Meanwhile, Dr. Gong Ryong, an obstetrician-gynecologist aboard the space station, becomes embroiled in a covert operation to protect valuable reproductive specimens.
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Aware of the potential misuse of these specimens by Kang Kang-su (Oh Jung-se), a space experiment expert, Ryong devises a plan to secretly retrieve the container holding the semen and eggs. His determination to safeguard these materials underscores his deep sense of responsibility and ethical commitment.
Episode 3 of When The Stars Gossip leaves viewers on edge with Commander Eve’s spacewalk crisis
Dr. Gong Ryong (Lee Min-ho) is determined to safeguard the reproductive specimens of his patient, Min-Jeong. He becomes suspicious of Kang Kang-su's intentions and decides to intervene.
Ryong learns that triggering the fire alarm will unlock the cryogenic freezer containing the eggs. He plans to overheat the room to set off the alarm, allowing him to access and secure the specimens.
Meanwhile, Commander Eve Kim and Kang Kang-su embark on a spacewalk to repair a damaged panel and remove the broken arm of a SuitSAT stuck on the spaceship solar panels. Despite Ryong's concerns about the dangers of spacewalking, especially for the commander, Eve proceeds with the mission.
Meanwhile, astronaut Mina discovers a lottery ticket with "Stand By Me" written on it, which has won 500 billion won ($339 million). She contemplates claiming the prize, but is conflicted about the rightful owner. She calls her twin sister, Dona (Lee Cho-hee), who is also one of the leads in the space command center in Korea.
Dona tells Mina to hold onto the lottery ticket so that they can claim the money after the latter returns from space in a year. Mina's internal struggle in When The Stars Gossip episode 3 adds a layer of ethical complexity to the storyline.
Seizing the opportunity during the spacewalk, Ryong executes his plan. He engages in intense physical exercise to overheat the room, triggering the fire alarm and unlocking the cryogenic freezer.
He successfully retrieves the eggs just as the crew returns to check on him. To avoid suspicion, he conceals the specimens in a device he claims is for playing music during workouts.
Simultaneously, during the operation, Kang-su encounters issues with his suit as the hook pierces into his foot, resulting in an oxygen leak and a drop in pressure. He returns to the airlock after being ordered from the command center from Earth to avoid dying within a minute, leaving Eve to complete the task alone.
While Eve tries to complete the task by herself, she loses her footing and becomes entangled around the solar panel. In her struggle, her glove is damaged, leading to a loss of pressure in her suit. As she attempts to return to the airlock, she loses consciousness, creating a tense cliffhanger.
Furthermore, at the end of When The Stars Gossip episode 3, Gong Ryong is seen reading the will that Eve handed him earlier. Eve's losing control over her consciousness connects to Ryong reading her last will, delivering a metaphorical representation of the scene of the uncertainty of whether Eve would survive or not.
When The Stars Gossip episode 3 concludes with Eve's fate hanging in the balance as she drifts unconscious in space. Ryong's successful retrieval of the eggs sets the stage for future confrontations and ethical dilemmas. Mina's internal conflict over the lottery ticket remains unresolved, adding intrigue to her character arc.
When The Stars Gossip episodes 1 to 3: Foundational backstory
Lee Min-ho portrays Dr. Gong Ryong, a dedicated obstetrician-gynecologist with a profound sense of duty. When The Stars Gossip delves into Ryong's past, revealing a childhood marked by resilience and compassion. Raised by three adoptive aunts, his upbringing is depicted through a series of flashbacks that highlight his early inclination toward helping others.
When The Stars Gossip episodes 1 and 2 lay the foundation for the series' central narrative. Dr. Gong Ryong embarks on a space mission under the guise of tourism, concealing a secret agenda tied to his fiancée, Choi Go-eun (Han Ji-eun), the CEO of MZ Electronics.
Their relationship adds layers of complexity, intertwining personal and professional stakes. Aboard the space station, Ryong encounters Commander Eve Kim, a Korean-American astronaut on her first mission as commander. Their interactions oscillate between professional collaboration and personal tension, setting the stage for evolving dynamics.
The episodes also introduce a subplot involving space-bound experiments with mice and fruit flies, adding a touch of whimsy and scientific curiosity to the storyline. These elements contribute to the show's distinctive charm, blending romantic comedy with science fiction.
When The Stars Gossip boasts an impressive ensemble of South Korean talent:
- Lee Min-ho as Dr. Gong Ryong: A principled obstetrician-gynecologist with a hidden mission.
- Gong Hyo-jin as Eve Kim: An elite astronaut commanding her first space mission.
- Oh Jung-se as Kang Kang-su: A space experiment expert with ambiguous motives.
- Han Ji-eun as Choi Go-eun: CEO of MZ Electronics and Ryong's fiancée, whose father's influence looms over the mission.
- Kim Joo-hun as Park Dong-ah: A veteran astronaut and member of Seoul's Mission Control Center.
- Lee El as Kang Tae-hee: A renowned astronaut and Vice President of the IOU Space Center.
When The Stars Gossip episode 4 will air on Netflix on January 12, 2025.
