K-DRAMA RECAP: “Jeongnyeon The Star is Born” Episodes 7 and 8

November 4, 2024
K-DRAMA RECAPS

The second half of the drama begins with an intense week, bringing a heartbreaking tragedy for our heroine, who encounters the same lamentable fate as her mother.

Since the beginning of her journey, Jeongnyeon’s driving force has always been her singing talent. But how is she supposed to carry on if she gets deprived of it?

Bunny S. watches Jeongnyeon The Star is Born on Disney +

Episode Recaps:  01&02 | 03 & 04 | 05 & 06 |

 Jeongnyeon The Star is Born Episodes 7 and 8 Highlights

“So you aren’t even aware that you ruined the show.”

It is time for Jeong-nyeon to face the music for her actions. Director Kang bans her from standing on stage, getting Jeong-nyeon baffled. What on earth did she do so wrong to warrant that punishment? Aren’t actors supposed to do their best? Didn’t Director Kang hear the audience cheer for Jeong-nyeon’s acting?

Ironically, the audience’s cheer is exactly why Director Kang is doing this. Because Jeong-nyeon did too well, the audience only focused on her role and not the show. Running into some fan girls, Jeong-nyeon realizes her mistake when the girls comment on how they lost focus on the other parts after Jeong-nyeon came on stage and their wish for Jeong-nyeon’s character to get more scenes. At least, Jeong-nyeon now knows what she did wrong. So, she can think of the punishment as a chance to analyze the other characters and hone her acting skills.

Meanwhile, Yeong-seo gets another jealousy seizure, no thanks to her mother comparing her to Jeong-nyeon and urging Yeong-seo to beat her. Dispirited, Yeong-seo asks Jeong-nyeon to teach her to sing like her, arguing that Jeong-nyeon inherited her mother’s talent and can charm people with her voice without having to train hard like others.

In response, Jeong-nyeon says the thing she is most afraid of is living in her mother’s shadow and people comparing her to her mother. Thus, she resolved to live as herself and not tie her identity to being her mother’s daughter. Yeong-seo should also do the same as well. Everything Yeong-seo has achieved so far is a result of her own effort. It is hers alone.

“If I leave this time, I swear to never come back.”

Things happen and Joo-ran gets injured while trying to save Yeong-seo and herself from having the lights fall on them. With no one else to fill in for Joo-ran, Jeong-nyeon steps in, vowing to leave for good if she screws up again. Following Ok-gyeong’s advice, Jeong-nyeon blends her take on the role with the existing interpretation while keeping the bigger picture in mind. Thus, charming everyone with her performance and also saving the day after Yeong-seo makes a mistake. Better yet, Jeong-nyeon becomes an official trainee, not an understudy.

Unsurprisingly, the latest incident was pulled by Hye-rang and the finance manager who seem to be in cahoots. Not only did they cause the lights to fall, but they also stole the ledgers and the money in the safe, relying on the fact that Director Kang wouldn’t report the theft to the police since she cares the most about the troupe’s image. (Side note: Director Kang isn’t aware of Hye-rang’s involvement and believes the financial manager did it on his own.)

Hye-rang may claim she did it for Ok-gyeong since she uses the money to stop bad articles about Ok-gyeong from getting published. But it is just her being obsessive. I guess Ok-gyeong is as sick and tired of Hye-rang as we are since she confronts Hye-rang about trying to drive the other actresses away. Hye-rang tries to play I-am-only-protecting-our-positions-from-being-snatched card. Yet Ok-gyeong isn’t having it. They are stagnant because of the lack of competition, and without new young actresses, the troupe will rot away.

“Yeong-seo is stable. I can rely on her, but not on you.”

Following a successful tour, Director Kang declares that all the troupes plan to do a joint performance. Auditions for that performance will be held in a month and the ones who get chosen to play the younger versions of the leads will solidify their positions as Ok-gyeong and Hye-rang’s successors. But there is a new condition: the audition will be held in pairs. As in, one should have a partner to take part in the audition.

As much as I wanted to see Jeong-nyeon and Yeong-seo partner up, it won’t be possible since both of them are better suited to play the male lead’s younger version, ak.a Ok-gyeong’s successor. Jeong-nyeon thought Joo-ran would definitely partner up with her. But to her shock, Joo-ran chooses Yeong-seo, claiming she is worried Jeong-nyeon might get too immersed in her character and ruin the performance, unlike how Yeong-seo performs with the whole narrative in mind. Thus, getting Jeong-nyeon heartbroken and questioning her worth.

Further raising the stakes, the press paints the audition as a battle between Yeong-seo and Jeong-nyeon, who are both daughters of music geniuses, getting people curious about which one will come out triumphant. Jeong-nyeon’s major strength has always been her focus on doing her best without comparing herself to others. But it seems like the pressure of competing against Yeong-seo, coupled with Joo-ran’s words, is getting the best of Jeong-nyeon since she can’t seem to focus on practicing and keeps thinking about Yeong-seo and Joo-ran.

Seeing through Jeong-nyeon’s despair, Hye-rang settles to use it to her advantage, manipulating Jeong-nyeon into practicing in a cave every day until she coughs blood, claiming she will master singing this way. But actually, Hye-rang wants Jeong-nyeon to strain her vocal strings and lose her singing talent.

“Have you seriously gone insane?”

Unfortunately, our fears come true when Jeong-nyeon’s voice turns hoarse since she keeps pushing herself too hard even when she needs to rest. Spotting Jeong-nyeon’s condition, Director Kang gets reminded of the old days when Jeong-nyeon’s mother got stubborn and kept pushing herself too hard until she coughed blood and could no longer sing.

Worried Jeong-nyeon might face the same fate, Director Kang urges her to stop straining her voice. What is important isn’t thinking about how to beat Yeong-seo but finding her interpretation. That is how Jeong-nyeon has always charmed everyone. But it looks like Jeong-nyeon inherited both her mother’s talent and stubbornness since she doesn’t listen to Director Kang and goes to the cave to train.

Hearing about what Jeong-nyeon has been up to, Yeong-seo rushes over to the cave to bring her back. Good thing she did because Jeong-nyeon was burning up with a fever. Still, Jeong-nyeon resolutely refuses to go with Yeong-seo, arguing she is talented at dancing, singing, and acting while Jeong-nyeon only has her voice, and spouting nonsense about how things will turn out well for Yeong-seo if Jeong-nyeon strains her voice and fails to sing since Yeong-seo will have one less rival. Seriously! That is ridiculous, to say the least.

Unfortunately, Jeong-nyeon faces the same fate as her mother and coughs blood. Despite being in dire straits, Jeong-nyeon takes part in the audition. Stopping in the middle, Jeong-nyeon almost loses the chance to show the judges her talent properly. But thanks to Director Kang, who knows this audition might be Jeong-nyeon’s last chance to sing, they agree to give Jeong-nyeon another chance.

Singing with all her might, Jeong-nyeon delivers a top-notch performance, getting everyone impressed. Director Kang, Ok-gyeong, Joo-ran, and Yeong-seo can’t stop their tears while listening to Jeong-nyeon since they know this might be the last time Jeong-nyeon can sing. Even Yeong-seo’s mother, who was there as a judge, can barely deny her admiration. Just as she finishes singing, Jeong-nyeon passes out on stage surrounded by blood. What a heart-wrenching cliffhanger!

Jeongnyeon The Star is Born Episodes 7 and 8 Musings

Out of everything we got so far from the drama, Episode 8 stands out as a masterpiece in itself. Kim Tae-ri, yet again, establishes herself as an extraordinary actress, surpassing her past self and setting the bar too high. Ra Mi-ran, Shin Ye-eun, and Jung Eun-chae were fascinating as well. Actually, this isn’t just a drama but a master class in acting.

That being said, I appreciate how the drama highlights themes like the importance of healthy competition and relying on each other to get better through its characters. We can see that in how Ok-gyeong looks forward to getting a new rival, genuinely rooting for the young trainees and feeling happy about their achievements, unlike Hye-rang, who is out to get anyone who might challenge her position. The only perk of that predicament is Ok-gyeong realizing Hye-rang’s true colors and deeming her a hopeless case.

So far, Yeong-seo suffered from an inferiority complex and couldn’t help but compare herself to others, be it her sister or Jeong-nyeon. But this week, it feels like she switched roles with Jeong-nyeon. Rather than focusing on finding her own interpretation like she usually does, Jeong-nyeon kept comparing herself to Yeong-seo. Which led her to fall into Hye-rang’s trap. Even when Director Kang and Yeong-seo tried relentlessly to stop her, Jeong-nyeon kept going until she was forced to stop entirely.

While practicing with Joo-ran, Yeong-seo learned an important lesson. Acting isn’t something one learns by themselves, but something one hones with a partner. We can undoubtedly see Yeong-seo’s growth this week. From apologizing to Jeong-nyeon for breaking the record of her mother’s song and buying her another one, to approaching Joo-ran first, to declaring that she wants to beat Jeong-nyeon through her skills not some cheap tricks, to feeling genuinely sad for what happened to Jeong-nyeon. Our girl has come too far from the first time we met her.

This week was tough to watch but it will only get worse next week after Jeong-nyeon realizes she can no longer sing. Still, I have faith in our heroine to get through this and prove yet again how persistent and strong-willed she is. But most importantly, she should learn to listen to others too and stop being too stubborn. I can understand Jeong-nyeon’s desperation, having left her home and been disowned by her mother so that she could pursue singing. But, as Director Kang says, one should also look at the bigger picture and stop before it is too late.

Photos and Videos: tvN Drama

 

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Bunny Sonaki

I am Bunny. Just like you, I am smitten with Kdramas and look forward to watching every Kdrama out there, but is that dream ever possible since they keep showering us with new dramas every day? For me, Kdramas are my comfort zone and a warm hug that makes it possible to face up to whatever life throws my way.

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