Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin are crafting a mutual salvation narrative that transcends zero gravity.
In the tvN weekend drama "Ask the Stars" (written by Seo Suk-hyang, directed by Park Shin-woo), space tourist Gong-ryong (played by Lee Min-ho) and Commander Eve Kim (played by Gong Hyo-jin) are realizing their feelings for each other as they navigate life and death situations together, gaining momentum for their romance.
Throughout the drama, Gong-ryong and Eve Kim have been bickering since their first meeting at the ground control center as a space tourist and commander, continuing even while living on the space station. However, despite his complaints about Eve Kim's cold demeanor, Gong-ryong gradually found himself captivated by her caring nature.
In particular, Eve Kim's unexpected charm, which values even the smallest lives like fruit flies and lab mice, sparked a new big bang in Gong-ryong's heart, contrasting with her cold, principle-oriented side. As they accomplished many things thought impossible in space, such as mating fruit flies and performing surgery on mice, their camaraderie blossomed into affection for each other.
The relationship between Gong-ryong and Eve Kim, who had been steadily building their emotions, finally erupted when Gong-ryong saved Eve Kim during a spacewalk gone wrong. Realizing his feelings for her, Gong-ryong boldly confessed, "Let's date like Earthlings." Although Eve Kim playfully rejected his confession, she showed her special feelings by risking her life to spacewalk when Gong-ryong was isolated on the space station, and even chose to stay with him despite everyone's objections.
When they finally met again on the space station and confirmed each other's safety, relief, guilt, and affection were evident on their faces. Most notably, Eve Kim, who had rejected Gong-ryong's confessions every time, surprised him by saying, "(Let's) date, us. On Earth."
Meanwhile, the engine module of the escape spacecraft exploded, leaving both Gong-ryong and Eve Kim stranded on the space station, creating a sense of despair. Despite the freezing temperature of minus 20 degrees, the two endured the crisis by embracing each other and sharing body heat, finally expressing the words they had been unable to say, breaking down the last remaining walls of their hearts. As they deeply relied on each other in the harshness of space, their feelings continued to mature, raising curiosity about their future.
With a shared value that life is precious, Gong-ryong and Eve Kim are sharing their hearts as they navigate life and death together in the weightlessness of space. As the emergency escape from the space station marks a turning point in "Ask the Stars," attention is focused on how the relationship between Gong-ryong and Eve Kim will evolve moving forward.
The gravity-defying romance of life companions Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin unfolds in the tvN weekend drama "Ask the Stars," which will air its 9th episode on February 1 at 9:20 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
