Lee Min Ho's When the Stars Gossip records the lowest ratings of all time ahead of the finale episode: 'Thank god it's almost over'

2025 was supposed to be the year of Lee Min Ho's grand comeback, but his latest K-drama, When the Stars Gossip, has failed to impress audiences. Despite its intriguing space-themed plot and the star power of Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin, the tvN series, also streaming on Netflix, has seen a steady decline in ratings.

The show premiered on January 4 with a promising average nationwide rating of 3.324%. However, as the episodes progressed, the ratings continued to drop, with the 15th episode recording the lowest rating yet.

When the Stars Gossip ratings drop to an all-time low ahead of the finale episode

Ratings for When the Stars Gossip have hit an all-time low of 1.783% ahead of its finale episode, marking a significant decline from its peak. According to Nielsen Korea, the drama's highest rating was achieved in its second episode, which garnered 3.883%. However, since then, the show's ratings have continued to slide, with most episodes failing to surpass the 2% mark, leaving fans increasingly disappointed.

What went wrong with When the Stars Gossip?

The K-drama has been facing intense backlash from fans and critics alike. Despite its massive 50 billion KRW budget, the show has been marred by several controversies that have left viewers disappointed and frustrated.

One of the primary concerns is the lack of chemistry between lead actors Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin. Fans have pointed out that the two actors share a "noona-dongsaeng" (older sister-younger brother) bond in real life, which has made their on-screen romance unconvincing.

Furthermore, the show's CGI has been heavily criticized for looking cheap and subpar, despite the massive budget. Additionally, the drama's use of crude language and explicit content, including a poorly depicted sex scene, has also drawn ire from K-drama fans.

Fans react to the latest episode of When the Stars Gossip

Fans expected the show to get better during the last few episodes; however, episode 15 has only added to more disappointment, which explains the lowest rating. Many took to Reddit to express their frustration, with one user writing, "How are any of these people still allowed to go to space? How does a pregnant woman pass all health check-ups? Why do I think this show will try to make an iota of sense 15 episodes in? Argh, I sense a headache incoming. Netflix should refund my subscription for the past month. Or destroy the space station with everyone aboard in Episode 16. Yes, that would make for a happy ending."

Another added, "I¡¯m really sad here. I put this on hold back after eps 3&4 due to story concerns. Based on everything so far, I¡¯m expecting this to get relabeled to ¡°Dropped.¡± I do want to thank the people here who did stick it out for the sake of the rest of us."

A third wrote, "It really is a mess, isn't it? I wonder if any of the actors got to read the whole script before signing on. And how many years had it been in production? Filming began in April 2022 (according to Wikipedia) and finished before Feb 2023. I wonder how many edits it's been through."

"Just when you think it is not possible for this to get more ridiculous, they prove us wrong. Thank God this is almost over," a fourth disappointed user added.

Check out more reactions below:

When The Stars Gossip [Episodes 15 & 16]
byu/meepmochi_ inKDRAMA

What is the plot of When the Stars Gossip?

The sci-fi romance follows Gong Ryong (Lee Min Ho), an obstetrician who is hiding a secret mission, and Eve Kim (Gong Hyo Jin), an elite space scientist and commander of a space station.

The story begins with Gong Ryong, who is recruited by a mysterious organization to join a space mission. He is sent to a space station where he meets Eve Kim, a brilliant and determined scientist who is on a mission to uncover the truth about a mysterious phenomenon in space.

As they work together, Gong and Eve develop feelings for each other, but their love is complicated by their respective secrets and the dangers that surround them. Throughout the series, they must navigate the challenges of their mission and their feelings for each other.

When to watch the final episode of When the Stars Gossip?

Fans can watch Episode 16 of When the Stars Gossip on February 23, at approximately 10 a.m. EST (8:30 p.m. IST).

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