Legendary Superstar-Chapter 162: Watching Episode 1 (4)

As the first episode continued to show, the mood in the whole restaurant remained light-hearted. They continued to eat and drink as if their stomach didn't have any limitations.

The remaining scenes of the episode were bright, and the cinematography focused on showing the charm and daily life of Taeyung.

In the middle of the episode, there was a particular scene showing the hardships of being an idol. It flashed back to Taeyung's experience when he was just a trainee and a starting idol.

It showed how Taeyung stayed up in the practice room night to day, for months. It also showed how frequently he was hospitalized due to fatigue, and how he had to recover in a short amount of time because he couldn't afford to miss any schedule.

It was close enough to reality that some staff who had witnessed similar scenes couldn't help but sympathize with the character.

The music swelled softly in the background as Minjae's character could be seen moving in his apartment. His figure's silhouette showed in the mirror.

From a blastful start, the episode shifted its emotion in the latter parts. In the last ten minutes of the 1-hour, episode, the lighting became dimmer and the pacing became slower.

Minjae was shown standing alone on his apartment's balcony, the city lights stretching endlessly before him. He was holding a can of beer, still dressed in comfortable clothes, but his eyes were distant.

The music subtly faded into a melancholy instrumental.

"Some days… I wonder what it would be like if I just walked away. If I quit, what would I be without all of this?"

The screen lingered on his pensive expression.

The truth was, Minjae's character, Taeyung, was in a state of depression.

It wasn't just exhaustion from work or the physical toll of constant schedules that caused it. The main reason for it was the emotional weight that came with always being watched, always being perfect, and never truly having the time to rest.

The way the scene portrayed it was just subtle, but deliberate.

Minjae's long silence when he was alone, and the way he blanked out when no one was looking, all came together like a subtle hint of what the show wanted to say.

In the Korean entertainment industry, depression was more common than many were willing to admit.

Despite its glamour, the idol industry was known for its brutal pace and high expectations. Trainees as young as 10 years old were often trained for years without any guarantee of debuting.

They were also imposed with a set of beauty standards, whether they're man or a woman. Idols are expected to maintain a certain weight that some were forced to diet or eat as little as possible.

Once they debut, the pressure only got worse. Idols were expected to maintain impossible beauty standards, talent, and behavior, all while smiling brightly in front of flashing cameras.

However, idols would sometimes just keep it on themselves. After all, South Korea was currently still a conservative country. The idols often feared backlash that could ruin the reputations they had built over the years.

Over the years, South Korea has mourned several tragic losses in the entertainment industry due to mental health issues. These stories made headlines, and though some awareness has grown, the view around mental health remains a deeply rooted challenge.

In the scene, as Minjae looked out at the city, his internal thoughts echoed in voiceover, carefully written to be both poetic and raw.

"They say the stage is where I shine the most. But sometimes, the spotlight feels like it's burning right through me. I keep thinking…"

"What if I disappear? Would the world even notice?"

As the words stopped, the screen also slowly faded to black.

The episode ended. Not with a dramatic cliffhanger, but with a heavy silence that stayed with the viewers long enough after the credits rolled.

For the first time that night, eating, drinking, and joking around monetarily stopped.

The upbeat laughter that had filled the space earlier was now replaced by a thoughtful expression. A few of the staff members exchanged glances, while others simply kept their eyes on the screen, even though the episode had clearly ended.

Then, someone finally let out a soft exhale amidst the silence.

"Damn…" one of the camera directors murmured, placing down his spoon. "That last scene was…"

"Yeah. It hit different. Like… it didn't even try to be dramatic, but it still got me." Another staff member nodded slowly.

"I thought this whole episode was going to be light," one of the stylists added, her voice was filled with surprise. "But it's deeper than I expected."

"The way Minjae delivered those last lines…" One of the assistant directors said, rubbing his arm as if trying to shake off the chills that he got.

"He didn't even cry or anything, but it felt so heavy. Like you could feel everything just under the surface."

"It was too real, honestly. I've seen trainees fall asleep in the hallway. And idols come to shoots running on two hours of sleep… this hit too close." A lighting staff member gave a small laugh, not of amusement but out of disbelief.

"It really makes you think," another director added as she rested her chin on her hand. "We all work in this industry, but sometimes we forget just how much it can weigh on people. Especially to those who were at the top.

Around the tables, multiple heads nodded in agreement at what the assistant director said. The drama may have been fiction, but the truths behind it—the pressure, the loneliness, the emotional fatigue—were all true.

The show wanted to give more light about the issue, because it was something that a lot were still afraid to talk about.

Meanwhile, at the table where the actors sat, the mood was just as stunned.

Minjae, who had been sipping quietly on a bottle of water, looked up to find everyone watching him with looks of pity and amusement.

"Hyung," Jihoon let out a sigh as he set his chopsticks down. "That… was incredible. I mean, I was there when you filmed it, but watching it all put together like that? I'm really amazed. It's something else, hyung. Big big thumbs up." novelbuddy.cσ๓

"Yeah, seriously," one of the supporting actors also chimed in. "You really carried that whole episode, hyung. I thought we were just gonna get some fun idol scenes, but you really showed something more."

Minjae chuckled before a genuine smile appeared on his lips. He lowered his eyes for a moment before nodding. "Thanks. I didn't think it would affect people this much."

"No, you don't get it," Yura, who was sitting in front of him, shake her head. She was in absolute disbelief. "It was really nice, Oppa! I am deeply shocked too."

As soon as Yura's words settled in, someone suddenly clapped among the crowd.

It started slow, with only a single pair of hands clapping in appreciation. But then others quickly followed, until the whole restaurant was filled with applause and cheers directed at Minjae.

The cheers were warm, personal and filled with admiration. It was vident that they really liked the acting that Minjae showed.

"Waaah! That's our Minjae-ssi!" one of the staff members from the hair team shouted playfully.

"Congrats, lead actor-nim!" someone teased from the sound crew, raising their glass of soda in the air.

"Our Minjae-ssi isso good!"

"Woahhh!"

"Should we give him a standing ovation or a daesang now?" another joked, causing a round of laughter to ripple across the tables.

Minjae laughed too, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink from the sudden attention.

"Stop it guys, you're making it embarrassing."

"Come on, accept it like a real star!" Jihoon teased out louf reaching over to nudge his arm. "Let the compliments rain, hyung! If it were me, I'd go stand up now and thank everyone."

"Shhh…" Minjae jokingly shut Jihoon that made everyone aughed.

Just like that, the heaviness that had loomed over the room lifted, replaced by a lively, celebratory mood.

The clinking of chopsticks resumed, and more food was passed around. Bottles of soju and beer also continued to pour out.

Within minutes, conversations grew louder again, and so did everyone's laughter. But, this time, it was because they were all satisfied with the results of the first episode of the drama.

Even the producers at the end of the table exchanged satisfied nods, their earlier nervousness was replaced by a look of quiet victory.

They knew that with this episode, they might be able to convey the beauty of the drama to the viewers. That was the only thing they wanted. For the viewers to appreciate all the efforts that were put to make this drama possible.

"Nice one, everyone," Director Hwang gave a brief nod.

"It was such a good episode. Thank you for all your episode!" Writer Na-Eun also uttered out loud as she showed a bright smile on her face.

"This calls for a drink!" Jihoon shouted out loud, that everyone agreed to.

With this, Director Hwang and Writer Na-Eun both raised their glasses.

"Let's drink everyone!"