The restaurant quickly grew raucous.
Apparently the director had borrowed the place from an acquaintance, and with staff and actors packed in, there was barely any room to breathe.
“Oppa, hi!”
“Hey~”
I waved at Daisy and the Scarlett mbers slurping chicken in the corner. Then I pushed through the crowd to join my siblings, who’d claid a table at the other end.
“Whew....”
I set down the tray of side dishes. My siblings shrieked delightedly as they stabbed at the food with their chopsticks.
Munch munch.
Slurp slurp.
My loyal underlings had a knack for eating in the most pathetic way possible.
“Ugh, such lack of decorum.”
Ri Hyuk clicked his tongue and snatched a slice of pizza with his chopsticks—hardly a model of refinent either. I laughed and asked,
“Planning to stay here?”
“Yeah. Honestly, it feels like you and the production should have this spot, but we barged in.”
“Even if they say it’s fine, it still feels awkward.”
Though nobody else seed bothered, the sight of them devouring food in isolation made smile warmly.
“So you don’t want to sit near them?”
“...Mm.”
From the other table, the alien family waved and called, “NewBlack, over here~,” but my siblings ignored them. Junghyun, slurping fishcake soup, said,
“It felt like their gazes... like when Ri Hyuk sotis watches taking notes. Or like when Biju pulls old at out of the freezer to feed us.”
“You felt it too? I noticed it as well.”
“No wonder I wasn’t the only one.”
When they complained about the actors’ strange looks, I glanced over—and just then, Song Hoon sunbaenim saved .
“Juseon~!”
“Yes!”
“Where are you? Co over here!”
My siblings waved as if urging on. I joined the table with the actors, director, and writer. They raised their glasses at with sly grins.
“Juseon.”
Song Hoon sunbaenim bead proudly.
“For today, we’ve all decided to abstain from alcohol—for you.”
“Let’s drink cola~”
They joked that one spill of booze could send into a stupor, so they’d all ordered cola or cider. The crew burst out laughing, and I clarified,
“One drop won’t get drunk.”
Just then, Junghyun’s deep, low voice bood through the chatter like an infrasonic hum:
“That hyung’s drunk~....”
Everyone exploded with laughter. As Junghyun cheerily raised a beer mug in a mock “cheers,” I whispered to Jung Inwoo, who plays the alien son,
“Is it really because of ?”
“No.”
He chuckled.
“Song Hoon sunbaenim said not to let you touch a drop, with all the drinking scandals going around.”
“Ah.”
“Best to avoid giving them any fodder.”
A few actors had driven themselves, so it was a prudent, seasoned decision. Around us, snippets of conversation swirled:
“Aiming for around 8%, right?”
“I think we can hit 9%—maybe more if we’re lucky...”
Veteran lighting and cara directors traded thoughts on ratings, and everyone perked up. The lighting director crossed his arms.
“The tislot’s great. ‘Oh! Mother’ is trending upward right now.”
On the big screen, TBC’s weekend drama Oh! Mother was in full swing. A family story spiced with thriller elents, it featured two mothers—forr school friends turned in-laws—investigating their daughters’ suspicious deaths. Already a wild, unpredictable ride, it was pulling in 23% ratings despite being early in its run.
“How much can we siphon off from that audience?” soone asked.
Our sitcom airs imdiately after that show, so our ratings will depend on how many viewers stick around—or tune in fresh.
The director of photography added,
“If we hit 8%, that’d be solid.”
“Right—anything around there is great. If we crack 10%, that’s a smash.”
Before our slot, a variety show in that sa ti fra had only managed 4–5%, so anything much above that had the crew thrilled.
“Since our genre skews younger, many will watch via VOD or reruns,” soone noted.
“True.”
The sound director caught my eye and called out,
“Uju, what do you think we’ll get?”
I paused briefly.
“I’m aiming definitely above 10%.”
A puzzled silence fell before laughter erupted. As colleagues teased that nothing would make them happier, I shrugged with a smile.
“They say to dream big. I believe Episode 1 will clear 10%.”
“Why not?” they cheered. Then an assistant director exclaid,
“See? When you really want sothing, it cos true—right, Uju?”
Laughter rippled around as the directors joined in:
“I’m on board for 10%.”
“Make mine 15%!”
“Whoa—changing goals midstream!”
Just then, the familiar TV jingle played and a caption appeared:
–Coming up: Weekend sitcom Our Family Is Aliens–
A roar of excitent rose. From newcors like to Director Hwang Jeonggu and Writer Hwang Jeongyeon, everyone felt a mix of thrill, nerves, and expectation.
“Alright, everyone!”
Director Hwang pounded his spoon on his beer glass.
“Today’s the premiere! When I say ‘alien family,’ you say ‘success!’ Alien family—!”
“Success~!”
We clinked glasses. As the show’s opening the played and the comrcials began, a hush fell.
On the opposite side, Seo Noeul swallowed and licked her lips. Yang Okbun sunbaenim pressed her hands together, and Song Hoon sat up straight. The veteran couple cast their eyes ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) wide, and Inwoo and Ara took deep breaths, all fixated on the screen. Even Maltese Yeongsik was panting contentedly in his owner’s arms.
An ad broke the tension:
–Knock knock, delivery’s here!
–What’s this?
–Hello! Delivery expert Jung In-hyun from NewBlack~!
–I think you’ve got the wrong address.
Everyone laughed as Jung In-hyun popped out of a package in an ad for road-na addresses. But then:
“Ugh...”
The writer clutched her face. A warning flashed: viewers under 15 needed parental guidance. The screen went dark, then brightened.
“Wooaaah!”
“Here we go!”
Finally, Episode 1 began.
As cast and crew watched together, many viewers had gathered around their TVs.
“Mom, what are you watching after ‘Mother’ ends?”
“Nothing.”
“Then let’s stay on TBC.”
“Why?”
“There’s a new sitcom—NewBlack’s Uju’s in it.”
Older and younger generations alike tuned in. Others watched on mobile in real ti. Online, reactions poured in:
–Heart pounding
–Looks fun?
–Aliens) I turned on the TV just now lol ( today’s snacks)
–FamilyIsAliens) Looking at the director’s past work, it seems like any cable drady—will it succeed?
–Can soone unify these headers... my brain’s fried
Interest was high, though so remained skeptical:
–Honestly worried; all this hype—will it deliver?
–No recent sitcom has been fun.
–Two idol-actors? Eh...
–Perhaps they’re using caos because there’s no real substance?
Reasonable doubts, given the aggressive promotion and flashy caos. As anticipation and backlash mingled across forums, the show finally launched.
‘Oh...?’
Viewers leaned in. The first scene showed aliens crash-landing after their ship malfunctioned.
‘Wow, the CG’s good.’
CG looked polished—no cheap effects here. For those who rembered sitcoms circa ’09, this felt distinctly ’16.
[KWAANG-!]
A UFO crashes on “sowhere in Gwanak Mountain.” Mountain beasts flee, and smoke hisses from the ship.
“Wait—is NewBlack coming up next?”
“No... probably not.”
Three-eyed aliens stagger out, attempting to blend into Earth life. First, they transform the UFO:
[Excellent!]
[That’s... natural?]
The glowing UFO flickers and poofs into a thatched roof house. Viewers blinked.
“What the—?”
Laughter broke out. When the aliens transform into Joseon-era peasants, viewers chuckled. Then:
[POOF-!]
[What in heaven’s na?!]
“HAHAHAHA!”
With a malfunction, veteran actor Song Hoon abruptly turns into a Maltese dog, and everyone watching burst out laughing. A viewer on the bus laughed so hard they dropped their phone.
–Maltese lololol
–wtf Maltese lol
–Three minutes in, and the Maltese scene kills lol
–Aliens) Is anything funny yet? Everyone’s laughing
┕Song Hoon turns Maltese lol┕?
A seasoned actor becoming a dog right off the bat was a shock. Breaking sitcom conventions, it threw off expectations—and viewers leaned in, intrigued.
‘What’s gonna happen?’
Earth’s most chaotic alien-family adaptation had begun in earnest. In Joseon garb, the Maltese dog angrily chases high schoolers, who scream:
[Kkuwang!]
“Ungrateful brats! Don’t you know filial respect?!”
“Dude, the dog is talking!”
As the students flee, laughter exploded again. Then a fleeting shot:
‘Hey—is that Uju?’
On a wall of screens sat a handso figure’s back. One screen showed the Maltese chase. He was seated in a suit, legs crossed—impossible not to notice his good looks. Though it resembled Uju, viewers couldn’t be sure.
–That back shot was Uju, right??
–Thought it was soone else lol
–This is tense in a weird way
–Director’s good—cold then hot vibe lol
The mysterious pursuer’s silhouette—Agent Kim Uju—added dramatic tension for those unfamiliar with the backstory.
The scene cut to the family boarding a bus, speaking in a Pyongyang dialect—an obvious mix-up.
“...!”
Actors hamd it up, and offscreen laughter rang out:
–Noel’s acting is top-notch lol
–Alien family is wasting sitcom talent lol
–Pyongyang dialect lolol
–First ti seeing them arrested by NIS in Ep.1 lol
–Aliens) Fun? Worth watching?
┕Recomnd turning on the TV now
Cao star Maxi mutters “Oh dear... crazy people” as the family’s hauled off. Then:
‘Ooo...!’
Every female viewer gasped simultaneously. The cara panned up from elegant heels, tracking Agent Uju’s walk like a special operative. First just feet, then a glimpse of a watch, then Uju straightening his tie and walking down the corridor.
“Wow... that’s why actors are actors.”
“He’s an idol, Mom.”
In a love-letter to Uju, the director lingered on him carrying a 007-style briefcase. Back at the restaurant, my siblings ducked in embarrassnt, while viewers’ fingers flew:
–I lived 26 years for this mont, Ujuㅠㅠ
–Director, whoever you are, I love you
–Damn, he looks so good... feels like creating sothing from nothing
–But Uju already has the looks—this is more enhancing than reinventing lol?
It felt like watching a distinct character—Agent Kim Uju—instead of Sun Wooju. He even adopted a serious expression, making him seem like an entirely different person.
Before interrogating the aliens, he took a deep breath and fiddled with his unique orb pendant.
“Hello. I am Agent Kim Uju.”
He questioned them with practiced calm. When he said “500 million won,” displaying it in his 007 briefcase, viewers laughed again.
‘A seriously ridiculous character?’
Despite his earnest deanor, his lines hit as cody. After revealing the aliens’ identities and arranging protective custody until their return ho, viewers felt a brief lull.
[What? An unlicensed building?]
Simultaneous laughter exploded: the thatched-roof UFO was deed an illegal structure on Gwanak Mountain. Agent Uju’s stunned face closed out Episode 1.
‘What now?’
The dense, 25-minute episode ended and imdiately rolled into Episode 2. If Ep.1 introduced the characters, Ep.2 showcased them in action: the family hoists the house aloft to relocate, and Agent Uju grapples with various crises.
“Uh?”
“It’s Biju!”
Biju’s surprise cao made headlines. As she moaned in alien growls, viewers chuckled—until Agent Uju reappeared in produce-vendor garb:
[Hello, residents! Today’s sale is not your everyday bargain~]
He hawked fruits like a sixty-sothing grocer with sly flair. During that cao, audiences finally noticed sothing unexpected in the two-shot of Biju and Uju:
‘Wait...?’
Unlike Biju’s obvious cao acting, Uju seed entirely natural—more like Kim Uju in disguise than Sun Wooju playing a fruit vendor.
‘How is he this good...?’
Before the mber cao, viewers hadn’t even considered his acting chops. Comnts flowed:
–Is that natural acting? Uju’s amazing lol
–Ara and Uju blend seamlessly—no alien vibe at all
–They’re NewBlack, but here they don’t look like NewBlack—that’s wild
–They cut Biju’s part quite a bit
–Is his real personality close to Kim Uju’s??
Audiences loved the unexpected depth, and after laughs through Episode 2’s finale, consensus was:
‘This is so fun...!’
It felt like discovering a rare gem—sothing to binge when you need a good laugh. Clearly, all the hype hadn’t been for nothing.
But then:
‘Might just watch VOD or reruns?’
It wasn’t a “must-watch live” kind of show, so people pondered catching later. Then:
‘Huh?’
Thump. Thump.
In a post-credits-style scene, Noeul descended a tal ladder to the basent of the thatched house, revealing a vast bunker lined with shelves of hundreds of orbs.
–??
–Isn’t that the sa orb Uju fiddled with?
–Looks like the sa orbs
–What is this?
Noeul counted the orbs with a blank expression, then revealed a chilling smile. At that gasp-inducing mont:
Ding!
–Our Family Is Aliens–
Episode 2 ended on the split-screen of Kim Uju and Seo Noeul, with production credits and OSTs rolling.
–Uh..?
“Uh..?”
Both online and offline, viewers reacted in unison.
At the sa mont...
“Everyone!”
Director Hwang raised his beer glass.
“This is the idea that Uju and Writer Hwang Jeongyeon created together! Applause!”
“Woooah!”
“Now viewers can’t help but watch live! Hahaha!”
They laughed like villains, and then...
“Hyung, hyung!”
I turned to see my siblings calling frantically.
“What’s up?”
“What was that? What are those orbs?”
“What orbs?”
Curious, I beckoned them closer and whispered the secret.
And that secret is... gulp.
I whispered to them:
“I don’t know yet either.”
“....”
“So, my siblings, be sure to watch live from now on~”
Their faces fell in disappointnt, and I laughed. Then:
“Hold on a second!”
Director Hwang hushed us and held up his phone.
“We’ve got the call from the control room!”
It was news of the Episode 1 ratings.
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