Summary
A fairly dull episode finds A-ri embracing the influencer lifestyle, only to self-sabotage in a big way.
This recap of the 2023 Netflix K-Drama Celebrity Season 1 Episode 3, “#likes”, contains spoilers.
There are many ways to romance a woman, but Jun-kyung has come up with a truly unique one — pushing her to pursue a sexual harassment charge against him so he can keep meeting her at the police station.
This is why, at the end of Episode 2, A-ri was called there, and Jun-kyung was waiting for her. He had no other way to reach out.
Points for originality, at the very least.
Celebrity Season 1 Episode 3 Recap
Following Min-hye’s live stream, sales for A-ri’s cosmetics have gone through the roof. And, in secret, her best friend has been uploading pictures to her Instagram, reframing business dinners as an exotic, jet-setting life. That’s all influencing is about, after all — image.
Why does A-ri seek management?
A-ri quickly begins to discover the real allure of being an influencer, though. It’s the praise and the attention and the compliments; the constant reassurance that you’re great, beautiful, stylish, whatever. It takes roughly five minutes of attention for A-ri to start inquiring about the potential financial upside and pursuing potential management.
The management sales pitch is a simple one: a free — sorry, “sponsored” — makeover. Essentially, a display of all the things that brands would give her for free if she could just get her Instagram account over the magical 10K, which doesn’t even seem that many. At that level, influencers are begged to advertise things. With the right backing, A-ri could pull in similar numbers to Min-hye, earning won in the billions.
A-ri agrees to join the same management firm as Min-hye, who isn’t thrilled about the idea but can’t pass up the opportunity. Initially, it seemed like A-ri was getting her fifteen minutes of fame simply from Min-hye following her on Instagram, but people keep following her regardless, proving that she has real appeal. They both reluctantly agree to work together.
Among those followers is a user with the handle _bbbfamous, who we already know is of specific interest to A-ri, perhaps even being responsible for her so-called “death”.
Why do the Gabin Society hate A-ri?
When A-ri begins doing events with the Gabin Society, the naturally despise her.
A-ri is a threat to the Gabin Society because she’s their antithesis. She’s becoming popular because of her cheap clothes and lack of pretension. They continue to define themselves by superficial things, whereas A-ri seems more genuine and relatable.
Of course, then, the Gabin Society try to take their revenge.
Celebrity Season 1 Episode 3 Ending Explained
The Gabin Society invite A-ri to a fashion event where they tell her that her clothes are too cheap to sell and she has to leave.
A-ri is ready to pack up and go home, but as she’s storming off with all her things she falls over, embarassing herself even further.
However, Jun-kyung shows up in the nick of time and makes the perfect entrance, helping her up from the floor. The Gabin Society are furious at the idea that Jun-kyung knows A-ri, so their plan has totally backfired.
Earlier, a nice visual metaphor showed a contemplative A-ri on a train, its tracks running parallel to Jun-kyung in his swanky sports car. She’s on the come-up, he has already made it, but they’re both heading to the same destination. Here is where they meet.
That night, annoyed and close to the coveted 10K follower milestone, A-ri puts a post on Instagram throwing obvious shade at the Gabin Society, and the internet almost explodes.
You can stream K-Drama Celebrity Season 1 Episode 3, “#likes” exclusively on Netflix.
