When the Stars Gossip Episode 7 Recap: Ryong’s Fate Turns Tragic in Space

Episode 7 of When the Stars Gossip opens with Eve Kim sitting in front of the cameras. She’s being interviewed on live news about her space journey.

She looks calm, but her words are careful. The scene feels quiet and distant. Then the show cuts away. The focus moves to Ryong’s mothers, who is deep in conversation.

They start discussing if it’s even possible to make love in space. The talk is funny but also awkward. Zero gravity makes things complicated, and they laugh at how strange human life becomes away from Earth.

Up in space, Ryong and his team are celebrating their success. Their mission is done, and for a short while, they can relax. The three friends talk about the lottery ticket they share.

They argue over whether Kang-su deserves his part of the money. The mood is playful, but also tense. After some thinking, they decide to do the right thing. That night, while Kang-su sleeps, they sneak into his room and leave the ticket near him. It feels like a small act of honesty among chaos.

Crisis on Earth and Tension in Space

Meanwhile, Eve and Ryong are focused on another mission. They are trying to make two lab mice mate. But the female mouse keeps running away. Eve watches closely and notices how the mouse behaves just like her — distant and cautious.

She laughs it off, but starts to think more deeply about it. Maybe it’s about hormones. Maybe it’s about fear. Either way, Eve gets to work, determined to make the experiment succeed.

Back on Earth, Min-jeong’s condition gets worse. After Ryong’s call, she is rushed to the hospital. The Chairman and his people rush to see her. Everyone looks worried. Doctors are unsure what will happen. The air is heavy.

At the same time, danger builds in space. The crew receives news that debris is floating near their station. It’s a risky situation. One wrong move could destroy everything.

Eve takes charge and uses the thrusters to move them out of danger. She does this alone in the middle of the night. When it’s over, she can’t sleep. She sits quietly, reading a book under dim light.

A Crisis Grows in Orbit

Dong-a grows more nervous each day. He notices Eve and Ryong getting closer. Dong-a doesn’t know that Eve already knows about his affair with Tae-hui. He still sneaks around and meets Tae-hui.

At one point, they even kiss in Eve’s apartment. Guilt hits him soon after. He ends the affair. Dong-a says he can’t keep doing this. He looks lost, unsure about what he really wants.

Later, Ryong wakes up and finds Eve asleep. He notices that her bandaged feet need care. He quietly changes her dressings without waking her. It’s a small moment, but it says a lot about him.

After finishing, he apologizes softly. He admits that he heard her badmouthing him during his first day at MCC. That memory stayed with him. Since then, he’s been trying to prove his worth, even when no one asked him to.

Greed in Space

Soon, Ryong calls from the station with good news. He tells everyone that the egg has been fertilized. He promises that Min-jeong will hear the word “mum.” His voice sounds full of hope. Somehow, that hope works. Min-jeong opens her eyes and wakes up. It’s a miracle moment.

On board the space station, Kang-su starts to act suspiciously. He finds the incubator locked with a new password. He gets angry and demands answers. What he doesn’t know is that his friends already returned his lottery ticket. Instead of thanking them, he focuses on the incubator. His greed starts to show.

Tension grows fast. The debris cloud returns, and this time, it’s too close. The system announces Code Yellow. Everyone must prepare to leave. They need to grab only the essential things — the fruit flies, the mice, the incubator, and food supplies.

There’s no time to think twice. Kang-su acts strange again. He hides his belongings and avoids questions. Everyone assumes his bag holds the lottery ticket.

Ryong doesn’t care about money. His focus is on the incubator. It holds the fertilized egg, and he refuses to leave it behind. He runs to the lab, even when the alarms are blaring.

A Heartbreaking Turn in Space

The debris hits earlier than expected. It’s chaos. The station shakes violently. Alarms scream. A Code Red is declared. The team rushes toward the Scorpion escape craft.

Somewhere in the middle of this, the lottery ticket slips away and disappears into a vent. Ryong still holds on to the incubator, trying to protect it with his life. A heavy blow hits, trapping him in the Observation Module.

The others make it into the Scorpion. They realize Ryong isn’t there. Eve freezes. Her face says everything. She wants to go out and save him, even if it means risking her own life. But the Mission Control Center refuses.

They lock the doors. Eve stands helpless, staring at the screen as the Scorpion starts to move.

Ryong remains alone, floating inside the damaged station. It’s silent, except for the sound of his breathing. The stars outside shine coldly, watching him. His sacrifice feels both brave and tragic.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR THE CRITICAL VIEWER:

• The Human Condition in Microgravity: The episode explores how core human experiences—sex, friendship, guilt, sacrifice—are complicated and intensified in space.

• Parallel Narratives: The story cleverly mirrors Min-jeong’s fight for life on Earth with the struggle to create life in space.

• Ryong’s Redemption: His sacrifice is the culmination of his arc to prove his worth, finally answering the “badmouthing” he overheard on day one.

• What’s Next for Eve? Her helplessness at the end signals a major shift; how will this trauma change the typically composed and mission-focused astronaut?

Episode 7 of When the Stars Gossip leaves a heavy mark. It mixes humor, science, guilt, and heartbreak in one story. It also questions how far people go for purpose — and how loneliness can exist even in space.

What did you think? Was Ryong’s sacrifice a brave choice or a tragic mistake? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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