*My Love From the Stars* was a blend of genres, a drama that seamlessly merged romance, comedy, and historical elements. Scenes moved fluidly between the distant past and the present, creating a timeless story that appealed to a broad audience.
Despite the shifting timelines, the drama maintained a clear narrative, allowing it to break record viewership ratings day by day, thanks to the cast’s exceptional performances and the consistent storyline. Whether set in ancient times or modern-day, the romance between Park Do-joon and Han Yoo-hwa remained the heart of the story.
But the timeline couldn't remain split between past and present forever. While Park Do-joon, being immortal, remained the same in both timelines, Han Yoo-hwa, as a mortal, existed differently in each era—even if her soul remained the same.
Ultimately, the main plot would focus on the modern-day Han Yoo-hwa and Park Do-joon, meaning the story of their past selves had to come to an end.
Yet, this ending would be far from typical.
“Why am I so nervous about this?”
Director Hwang Min-soo, who had stayed late at the studio every night since the show’s premiere, felt his heart pounding once again as he awaited the start of episode 5. This episode was pivotal in many ways.
Of course, he was confident. The past storyline had consistently delivered high-quality scenes, but the highlight was undoubtedly Ha-eun’s performance in this fifth episode.
‘Only someone special could pull off a performance like that.’
As someone who had seen countless actors over the years, Director Hwang knew that Ha-eun’s portrayal was unique, not something easily described as “familiar” or “expected.”
The sheer terror in her eyes as she faced the approaching soldiers, yet still stepping forward with unwavering resolve.
Then, as the soldiers’ arrows rained down on her, Yoo-hwa collapsed to the ground, gazing up at the vast night sky as her eyes dimmed, succumbing to death.
Ha-eun’s performance left viewers with no doubt that Yoo-hwa’s story had ended. It also conveyed, beyond question, why Park Do-joon couldn’t forget Yoo-hwa even after 500 years.
When they’d filmed that scene, Director Hwang had felt confident that no other performance could serve as a better conclusion to the past storyline. Even the first encounter between the young modern-day Han Yoo-hwa and Park Do-joon had been so perfect that they’d filmed it in a single take.
However, from episode 5 onward, Yoo Sung-ah would portray Han Yoo-hwa. Although viewers had already seen Yoo Sung-ah as Yoo-hwa in the first episode, Director Hwang worried.
Would the viewers be able to accept Yoo Sung-ah’s portrayal of Han Yoo-hwa?
“Good grief, I never thought I’d be this worried about Yoo Sung-ah.”
After becoming so invested in Ha-eun’s version of Han Yoo-hwa, it wouldn’t be easy for the audience to transition to Yoo Sung-ah’s portrayal. Although Yoo Sung-ah’s acting was among the best in the industry, her character hadn’t had any major, impactful scenes yet.
There was a risk that Ha-eun’s impressive death scene might overshadow Yoo Sung-ah’s performance.
Yoo Sung-ah herself, waiting for episode 5 to air from her penthouse, understood this as well. She’d been the one to ask Ha-eun to perform differently from herself.
It was premature to worry about episode 6 before episode 5 had even aired, yet Yoo Sung-ah sat in front of her living room TV, her expression serious. Ha-eun’s performance had left a strong impression even on her, someone who embodied the term “top star.”
“If the ratings start dropping after episode 6, it would be humiliating…”
The tension in the drama was at its peak after episode 4, which had aired last Thursday. With the anticipation for episode 5’s viewership already so high, Yoo Sung-ah reached for a glass of wine to calm her nerves.
Finally, episode 5 of *My Love From the Stars* began about ten minutes later. Within the first three minutes, the viewership was already close to breaking the highest ratings achieved by episode 4.
Simultaneously, in online drama communities—referred to as the “pulse” by the broadcasting team—comments flooded in:
- Look how pale Ha Yoon-sung looks.
- Is he sick or something?
- If he escapes in a UFO, that would be funny.
- With this much time spent on the chase scene, it looks like they’re going to get caught.
At that moment, most viewers were only concerned about how Han Yoo-hwa and Park Do-joon would escape their perilous situation.
No one seemed to consider the possibility that they might not escape.
This included Min Da-yeon, sitting on the couch with Ha-eun, watching young Yoo-hwa intently.
“This is the scene you put the most effort into, right? Give me a hint about how they escape, Lee Ha-eun.”
“…The contract specifically said not to reveal any plot details.”
“I know that! You think you’re the only one who’s been in a drama?”
“I-I’m just curious!”
“Just keep watching. You’ll find out soon enough.”
Da-yeon’s attempt to get a spoiler ended in failure. Meanwhile, the fleeing footsteps of Han Yoo-hwa and Park Do-joon also came to a sudden halt.
Contrary to the viewers’ expectations of an escape, Han Yoo-hwa turned her back on Park Do-joon and walked toward the approaching soldiers.
“W-wait… She shouldn’t be doing that!”
Standing at the edge of the reeds, Yoo-hwa stopped and, with tears streaming down her face, bid a tearful farewell to Park Do-joon.
- Something doesn’t feel right.
- Why isn’t Park Do-joon stopping her?
- He’ll probably grab her just before she steps out of the reeds.
- But would grabbing her change anything?
Yoo-hwa stepped further away from Park Do-joon, moving directly toward the soldiers.
“…Kids today are something else…”
Within seconds, arrows rained down on Yoo-hwa, and she collapsed helplessly. In her final moments, she looked up at the vast night sky before her life faded, like a flower wilting as its last bit of warmth slipped away.
“Director Hwang… *My Love From the Stars* just hit… 35% in viewership.”
In an instant, it felt like a massive wave had swallowed everyone captivated by the tragic tale of Han Yoo-hwa.
“No… this can’t be happening!!”
“Shu-ran, calm down! It’s not over yet!”
But it didn’t just engulf them; immediately after Yoo-hwa’s death, time seemed to shift rapidly, as a new but strangely familiar flower bloomed in its place.
｢What? Why are you staring at me like that?｣
｢Oh, it’s nothing… You just look like someone I knew.｣
｢Must’ve been a beautiful person then, if you think they look like me.｣
Though her quiet, sorrowful breath had ceased, the bond between Park Do-joon and Han Yoo-hwa remained unbroken.
｢She was lovely. So much so that I regret ever meeting her.｣
｢Then she must’ve been too good for a shady guy like you.｣
As time flowed forward once more, Park Do-joon, now reunited with the adult Han Yoo-hwa, reached for her hand.
｢Hey, Park Do-joon. Do you know the meaning of the flower I gave you—the forget-me-not?｣
｢…It means, ‘Please don’t forget me.’｣
｢Oh? You knew? I was going to tell you, thinking you had no idea.｣
｢You told me a long time ago. In a way I could never forget.｣
Just as the vision of the young Han Yoo-hwa, who had remained at Park Do-joon’s side for centuries, smiled softly as always.
｢Just remember me, my lord. That alone is enough.｣
In the end, she drifted away, not to be forgotten, but to make way for a new beginning, her face showing no trace of regret.