Behind Every Star season 1, episode 12 recap and ending explained

We recap the Netflix K-Drama series Behind Every Star season 1, episode 12, which contains spoilers and explains the ending.

Both excitingly and disappointingly, some of the more interesting developments of Behind Every Star came right at the end of the season. The open ending left plenty of lingering questions which could have come with intriguing answers, and so it feels a shame that we most likely won’t ever get to discover what comes next for those linked to Method Entertainment. Nevertheless, it’s worth saying this was a hit-and-miss release, but one which certainly had greater high points than its occasional low moments.

Behind Every Star season 1, episode 12 recap and ending explained

As Je-in’s client, A-joong, accidentally rips the expensive dress she had tailored for the Busan International Film Festival, Jin-hyeok finds out he will be staying behind at Method’s office while his co-workers head off to the red-carpet event. Elsewhere, Hyun-joo struggles to competently work alongside her mother in a hair salon, evidently missing her job as an agent. We find out the youngster cut contact with her father too upon departing Seoul, leading Jeong-hee to suggest they live separate lives now.

Feeling the pressure of being told she’s acting “sloppy” and is potentially costing a client the chance to enter Hollywood, Je-in assures her worried colleagues that A-joong will wear her Rona Mikel dress as initially planned. Meanwhile, the office workers are struggling to cope with the demands of their increased workload, causing Jin-hyeok to request more people are hired to cover the loss of Hyun-joo. As a small nugget, Sunny Lim manages here to set the wheels in motion for the interaction with Eun-gyul she has desired.

While A-joong is surprised by the sight of her mended Rona Mikel dress, Hee-sun gets the news she too will be going to the Busan International Film Festival in front of an eerily disappointed Jin-hyeok. Concurrently, Hae-jun discovers rings Je-in has been keeping hidden in her office when snooping around.

After Je-in is introduced to the pampered Ju-gyeong, who uses her father’s influence to ensure she can keep company with celebrities, the agent needs to come up with some excuses. For A-joong doesn’t want to have lunch with the egotistical daughter of C&G Group’s chairman, given she is already more than aware of her attitude. However, Je-in is unable to stop Ju-gyeong from getting her way and ends up heavily persuaded into having A-joong attend a birthday party with the hopes it’ll help her Hollywood ambitions. Elsewhere, Eun-soo is told to start putting herself first by Director Ma, and Jin-hyeok jealously watches his co-workers depart for their red-carpet jaunt.

Next, Eun-soo receives a visit at the office from Director Ma’s wife, who wants to find out where he is staying in Busan so she can visit him. Defeated, Tae-oh’s assistant subsequently surrenders her train ticket to Eun-ha, affording her the chance to potentially reconnect with her husband. Concurrently, A-joong swallows her pride to attend Ju-gyeong’s birthday party, despite not wanting to participate in an event that won’t make her happy.

Later, Hae-jun concerns Je-in. He tells her he will be the broker of an investment deal between C&G and Rona Mikel, exposing the fact the business mogul is using A-joong for his own “personal needs.” Furthermore, Hae-jun suggests that “achieving your goal by whatever means necessary” is what his subordinate wants anyway, before asking her to make sure Method’s client dons some specific outfits the following day. Yet this conversation only succeeds in giving Je-in a major change of heart in her own intentions. Returning to A-joong’s room, the agent tells the actress she has sent her car away, and no longer wishes for her client to attend Ju-gyeong’s birthday party out of respect for her dignity “as an actress.”

After watching Jin-hyeok selflessly sacrifice his chance to head to Busan so he can stay behind with the noticeably upset Eun-soo, we cut to Director Ma’s hotel room. There, his wife has arrived, ready to sit down and talk about their marriage. At first, things go awkwardly, with Eun-ha explaining how she couldn’t forgive her husband for a while when they were separated, but tensions quickly ease. Director Ma hears that he is now understood as an imperfect person and that his wife would like to “start over” keeping this in mind. That, and Eun-ha wants her husband to no longer “neglect” Hyun-joo.

Next, A-joong compromises on behalf of her stressed agent, deciding to visit Ju-gyeong and clear the air so she can wear the Rona Mikel dress that would otherwise be taken away by C&G. “I was afraid you’d turned into one of those self-important actors,” the pampered heiress states to the apologizing actor, before stepping over the line entirely when suggesting Je-in is someone needing a lesson in how she is someone stuck-up who “mooches off celebrities.” As such, A-joong gives Ju-gyeong a true dressing down, wanting her junior to understand the value of respect. Then, the actor flips the bird in sarcastic apology and exits without the Rona Mikel dress.

Following on from her backing up of A-joong’s behavior towards Ju-gyeong, Je-in rushes around in a bid to find a dress for her client’s film festival appearance. In time, the agent decides to try contacting the famous hanbok designer, Han Bo-reum, who coincidentally has his atelier in Busan, though this proves unsuccessful. Concurrently, Hyun-joo successfully manages to make amends for her hair salon mishaps.

As it turns out, both Hyun-joo and Je-in were in the same shop conducting their respective business, so the two get a chance to reconvene. This, of course, subsequently allows for some teamwork, with the duo joining hands to ensure both that A-joong gets a hanbok from Bo-reum, and that it’s delivered in time for her red-carpet event. Elsewhere, Jung-don gets distracted while talking with an appreciative Hee-sun, thanks to an ominous text he receives from Oh Hun.

Once the ensemble’s various viewing parties at the Busan International Film Festival are established, we watch A-joong stun audiences with her hanbok, as well as her touching opening speech. Later, this causes Hyun-joo to somewhat solemnly reflect, though she is soon cheered up when Director Ma arrives, ready to whisk his daughter away to the festival’s reception with the blessing of her mother.

At the reception, Je-in warmly calls Sang-uk, letting him know everything is okay, and that they are still on for their upcoming date. Then, she is approached by Kang So-yeon, who shares that she used to work at KBB’s entertainment department for ten years until deciding to set up her own production company, no longer content with “just” being an employee. Following that, Je-in is asked to consider meeting So-yeon’s ex-husband, who is establishing a New York branch of the talent agency ST. “Think carefully, which position would suit you better,” the Busan International Film Festival director adds.

While Sunny Lim gets Eun-gyul to agree to speak casually going forward, Hyun-joo arrives at the reception and is duly thanked by Je-in. “I want to be an agent like you,” Director Ma’s daughter tells her former manager in reciprocated gratitude, wishing to get her trust once again. Such a kind statement seems to work too, as Je-in quickly asks Hyun-joo if she would like to travel with her to the U.S.

In the midst of what appears to be a sincere confession, both Hee-sun and Jung-don are interrupted. The former is told it was her agent who put a stop to Oh Hun’s film, while the latter hears the filmmaker exclaim that whoever spread rumors about his movie will be “dead meat.” As such, a panicked Jung-don runs after his client/crush to explain himself, yet isn’t able to make it to her in time.

Ending Explained

As Director Ma is touted to lead Method Entertainment’s LA branch should Hae-jun take over ST Talent Agency, his wife notices texts she doesn’t appear to be happy with. Elsewhere, Je-in seemingly confirms her pregnancy, Jung-don mopes around, and Hyun-joo gets to dreaming about her future. With this sharp, relatively open ending, the series comes to a close. There is a nice post-credits scene, however, which shows the jolly cast wishing viewers a merry Christmas.

What did you think of Behind Every Star season 1, episode 12? Comment below.

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