Free Web NovelThe room fell silent in an instant.
Everyone swallowed hard, eyes glued to the ratings graph bouncing on the network’s control-room monitor. I was one of them, watching the director’s face for any clue.
“...Huh? Uh, and then?”
I could feel every twitch of the director’s facial muscles—he was fighting a grin, pressing his cheek muscles down so he could surprise everyone.
Finally, the call ended.
“Phew....”
He exhaled deeply, and the cinematographer pressed him.
“So? What did we get?”
“Thirteen percent.”
A shockwave rippled outward from the director. Goosebumps shot up my arms. He’d said ten percent would be amazing—but thirteen percent was beyond belief.
It was 10 p.m., the premiere of a weekend sitcom.
“Thirteen percent,” Director Hwang said, his face slack, then he burst out laughing.
“We’re first in the timeslot.”
“...!”
At that moment, a roar of cheers shattered the quiet. I blinked, startled, to find Jung Inwoo throwing his arms around me in excitement.
“This is insane...!”
“Director, does this mean we really hit it big?”
“Not big,” the director corrected emphatically.
“Monumental.”
Another enormous cheer went up. People embraced, cheered—and someone even popped champagne from who-knows-where.
“Wow.”
Seo Noeul covered her mouth in disbelief, tears shining as she smiled. Everyone had expected good numbers, but no one foresaw this. As Ara and Noeul hugged, Song Hoon sunbaenim soothed the mood. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
“These are fantastic ratings. But from here on out is when it really counts—don’t get too carried away.”
“Yes, sunbaenim.”
“If you ride every high and low from Episode 1, production will go off the rails.”
He said it while his cheeks twitched with laughter. Glasses clinked all around. Managers exchanged texts, and Director Hwang stepped outside amid a flood of calls. Rumors spread so fast that messages piled up on the actors’ phones.
“Uju.”
Yang Okbun sunbaenim gently grasped my hand.
“I’m so glad you joined us.”
“Thank you, sunbaenim.”
“At first, I wondered how you’d fit. But you’ve been amazing.”
The veteran actor across from me nodded.
“I know how hard you pushed the promotions—bringing in that foreign singer.”
“The PR team said even multiple agencies together couldn’t have done what you did alone.”
I blushed and downed my cola as Noeul’s praise continued. People thanked me for quietly posting on SNS, arranging cameos, giving interviews. O Tae-ung—the dad in the alien family—raised his glass.
“A toast. We’ve released Part 1 of our 12-episode series. Let’s power through the remaining 11.”
“Fighting—!”
Episode 1 turned out great. Ratings soared. In the festive atmosphere, lighthearted banter buzzed. Though the road ahead was long, relief and excitement floated in the air—this path would be a flower-lined one, not a thorny one.
Meanwhile, I checked my phone:
Kim Deoksun [Watched it]
Kim Deoksun [Your acting was so solid]
She’d sent a photo of Grandma Kim Deoksun, Auntie from the diner kitchen, and Butterfly watching TV in the living room. I laughed at Grandma striking a double peace sign next to Agent Kim Uju on screen.
Kim Deoksun [But why Kim Uju?]
Kim Deoksun [Because of me?]
I tapped back:
Me [No misunderstandings]
Me [The world doesn’t revolve around grandma]
Kim Deoksun [You rascal]
Kim Deoksun [I raised you well]
I grinned at her affectionate scolding. Yang Okbun sunbaenim smoothed my hand, and I suddenly missed my grandmother. I replied that I’d call later. Messages came in from Taehyun, Hanjo, Eunsung, and others, congratulating me on the drama.
Then...
“Hyung~”
The maknae who’d predicted news came running up, draping her arm around my neck. I rose laughing, and my siblings beamed.
“Here to congratulate me?”
“Yeah.”
Jiho nodded with a grin.
“And I brought thanks because it’s all thanks to me.”
“Oh, thank you, our maknae.”
Biju exhaled in relief.
“I was so nervous too. I promoted this like crazy!”
“Me too.”
They’d told friends to watch live. I laughed.
“Thanks. And you know, teaching you acting was worth it—you did amazing.”
Their self-praise made me smile. Ri Hyuk and Junghyun also grinned, congratulating me on the ratings. Each reacted differently, but all were beaming.
“Now for the money windfall....”
“Our Uju hyung’s bringing in more money, right?”
“The eldest’s good at his job.”
...Their motives may have been mixed, but I was happy they celebrated as if it were their own win. Looking around, the restaurant had shifted from raucous to a subdued buzz. The broadcast had ended long ago, and it was time to go—but everyone just sat staring at their phones, excitement still on their faces.
“What’s up?”
Jung Inwoo, looking at his phone, said,
“We just trended in the search rankings!”
My siblings and I tilted our heads.
‘Trending? Of course....’
Oh. We shook ourselves. It was obvious to us, but for a brand-new weekend sitcom to trend was major news.
“...!”
Everyone whipped out their phones and dove into the internet.
As TBC’s official Our Family Is Aliens SNS account posted thanks, online communities exploded with similar posts:
[Hot new weekend sitcom after Episode 1]
[Alien family blows up in Ep.1]
[Mind-blowing ‘Ugawe’ ending in Ep.1]
Some argued it wasn’t that hot since official ratings hadn’t been released—yet almost everyone who’d watched Ep.1 shared the excitement.
‘You have to watch this.’
It was a laugh-out-loud sitcom, but it wasn’t just mindless fun. From Episode 1, you could see the well-crafted plot. Subtle setups and directorial touches appeared on rewatches:
—Today’s wow-worthy direction in Alien Family
(GIF: Kim Uju standing before gray buildings as the aliens approach)
Every time Kim Uju and the aliens met, lines appeared in the background—then bursts of color, like a green bus or the sky—signaling the drab agent being colored by the warm alien family.
That hinted at the agent growing warmer, more human. Other detailed touches thrilled drama buffs.
‘Finally, a must-watch drama...!’
Meanwhile, most viewers simply adored how funny it was:
[LOL the Maltese transformation]
[Want to move? Lift this house! (feat. Alien Family)]
[Alien ancestor appearance]
Scenes like the aliens eating ancestral table offerings in spirit form, carrying the house like a palanquin, and the veteran actor turning into a Maltese dog in Ep.1’s narration all had viewers in stitches:
–Hilarious lolol
–I was pissed about Monday’s work, but this sitcom had me laughing so hard lol
–So funny, for real
–Ep.1 just made this my favorite show lol
–Keep the laughs coming, just don’t mess up the ending and it’ll be life-changing
–Is it good? Haven’t watched a sitcom in ages, debating
┕Definitely watch lol it’s so funny
┕Director’s past work suggests he won’t botch the ending
–Worst part: now we have to wait until next Sunday
Seasoned sitcom sleepers encouraged those wary of endings to give it a go. Meanwhile, the hottest topic post-show was the final cliffhanger bait:
–Is that orb in the UFO bunker the same one Kim Uju had??
–The leading theory is that he’s blood-related to the aliens
–“Our Family” being aliens—could that be it??
–Wow lol lightbulb moment
–Too obvious though... and that ominous laugh at the end suggests something else
–If it’s blood ties, that creepy laugh doesn’t make sense
–Praying they don’t botch the bait—so many shows die trying to avoid speculation
Fans speculated whether the orbs marked Kim Uju’s lineage with the aliens, or if the hundreds of orbs symbolized crimes the aliens committed. Naturally, opinions split:
–It’s fun, but why can’t it just be funny??
–Feels like unnecessary baggage
–Feels like a ratings grab
–I’d stop if it drags out too much—just be a sitcom
–Wish it would go full American sitcom style
These were viewers who disliked a main plot in a sitcom. But overall, more viewers liked having a main story—it made it more than just laughs.
–Without it, it’d just be LOLs and VOD binging
–It’d be just reaction GIFs otherwise
–I liked the bait!
–Those who say “I’d never watch” are the ones who won’t if it really happens
While debates raged over the cliffhanger bait, one consensus emerged:
–Whoa... why is Sun Wooju so good??
–Kim Uju fits perfectly
–Didn’t even realize it was NewBlack before Biju’s cameo lol
Everyone praised Uju’s acting. Expectations were high, but his performance exceeded them.
–Look at his expression when he sees the pendant—so wistful
–That look is poignant, not “break the pendant” style
–Isn’t that expression amazing?? lol
–Suddenly mixing up his real name
By the time discussions of the bait faded, praise for his acting took center stage:
[GIF collection: NewBlack Uju’s acting in first episode]
(Images of his nuanced expressions)
“The once-ferocious spaceship has evolved into Grade 7 civil servant Kim Uju.”
+Sorry for calling him Grade 7—I don’t actually know ranks.
+I’m honored to even... comment on this.
–Beyond expectations for real
–I wasn’t interested in his comedic image, but now I’m hookedㅠ
–At this point, it’s like Gyuh Ho sold his hair to bring in Sun Wooju
–His performance is so subtle—you don’t even see the idol behind the character
–His physicality is amazing—every walk feels like an agent
–Truly outstanding
–His tone is perfect—could’ve been over-the-top, but it’s just right
–Fusing a serious character into a sitcom is genius
His acting felt like the real Kim Uju stepping into the drama. Neither too much nor too little—it was natural enough to let viewers believe it was reality. Reviews hailed him:
–[First-episode review] NewBlack Uju praised for ‘Civil Servant Kim Uju’ debut
–First-episode “Alien Family” grips 20–30 demo... deserved praise shower
–“Alien Family” Uju’s flawless special-agent transformation earns acclaim for stable acting
From the first episode, reviews praised both the sitcom and Uju’s performance. For Souffle fans, it was a happy weekend.
‘Tonight’s midnight snack—!!’
I browsed article comments, idol communities, and SNS with a smile. Uju’s stellar acting made even responding to haters fun. My happiness circuits were firing full blast.
‘If Uju’s this good... how good will Jiho be?’
Jiho’s web-drama plans ignited further excitement. Meanwhile, another reason Souffle fans loved Our Family Is Aliens:
‘Director, Writer... you’re the best.’
They’d made Uju look so good visually, and the disguise concepts were brilliant.
‘Special Agent Kim Uju, Fruit Vendor Kim Uju....’
Photos from outdoor shoots teased future costumes—doctor’s coat, pilot uniform, magician’s outfit. It seemed the production had resolved to let Uju try every profession. As a fan, I was thrilled.
‘Feels like collecting sticker sets.’
From now on, Sundays would be something to look forward to.
As filming gained momentum, a new event loomed for the cast and me.
“.......”
“.......”
Actors wearing “Earth Awaits Your Visit” T-shirts exchanged warm glances with me, then looked at Jung Inwoo, who stood gloomily like a culprit.
“Hey....”
He mumbled, as if he had something to say.
“Who expected over ten percent? I just threw it out there as a maybe.”
“.......”
“At the press screening, everyone laughed and said /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ OK. Why pick on me....”
Everyone sighed and stared into space. The reason the managers holding cameras stifled their laughter was the ratings promise.
–“Ten percent? Ha! If we go over, it’s an honor. A promise, huh? After all, our show is Alien Family.”
Jung Inwoo had jokingly suggested filming a dance video to send to real aliens. And that joke promise everyone laughed at had come true...
“Phew.”
Seo Noeul inhaled deeply and said,
“Let’s film this quickly and be done.”
“Let’s go.”
As the alien-family leader, Noeul faced the camera.
“It is an honor to send this message to you, aliens... We portrayed you freely in our drama, so please don’t sue us for defamation...”
Her witty line had everyone laughing. We each filmed ourselves saying “Call me Alien,” then Noeol said,
“Maknaes.”
The prankster adults gave Ara and me a gentle push.
“...We stand in front?”
“Of course!”
Someone chuckled,
“Thanks to us, you get to be main dancers, huh?”
“...I never wanted that kind of main-dancer role.”
“Me neither.”
“Hey, maknaes, too chatty!”
Ara and I exchanged woebegone looks, then danced the alien jig alongside the backing dancers. Jung Inwoo clapped, shouting, “Look at these insiders!”—so infuriating.
Still, we had to do it well.
“Hahaha!”
Managers cracked up at Ara and me dancing like flamingos doing the alien jig. We’d hit ten percent, but what I’d earned was a humiliating video. I asked Yang Okbun sunbaenim, who shielded her mouth in laughter,
“How did we do, sunbaenim?”
“You did well, you two.”
She added,
“I think real aliens would get mad and invade us... but you danced well.”
“Should we change to a courtship dance? Like this?”
“Oh, kid! Don’t get all wholesome. With faces like that, why do you always do weird things?”
Her cutting remark made my eyes mist, and everyone laughed. She tapped my arm, still chuckling.
“Let’s get something to eat. Dancing makes you hungry.”
“Yes, sunbaenim.”
As I answered requests about what the maknaes wanted, a manager spoke up on the way out.
“Uju.”
“Yes?”
“Someone just posted something online, and it’s spreading everywhere... have you seen this?”
“What is it?”
A review had gone up online—the title made my eyes widen:
[Grandpas in my neighborhood had a huge fight over Sun Wooju’s sitcom]
A fight in my honor...? I clicked, then burst out laughing.
Though Alien Family targeted young viewers, not everyone watching was 20–30. Middle-aged audiences who’d fixed on TBC after Oh! Mother included...
“I have no idea what they’re saying.”
“They’re from another planet and making a ruckus, I suppose?”
Some seniors catching the daytime rerun tuned in because Uju from NewBlack was in it.
‘Must watch.’
After a few weeks’ cameo earlier this year, NewBlack still appears every Friday for about three minutes on Now My Hometown. One elderly viewer posted timidly on a forum,
“Why does Sun Wooju appear so little?”
Meanwhile, in a community center, a dispute erupted:
“So his name’s Kim Uju?”
“No.”
“They said Kim Uju over there.”
“They only said it there.”
“But Song Hoon’s Song Hoon, Yang Okbun’s Yang Okbun—why is he Kim Uju?”
“Well...”
They knew his real name was Sun Wooju, but seeing “Kim Uju” in the credits confused one elderly man. A petty argument quickly turned ugly:
“You rascal! He’s the son of Sun Myung-ju—how is he a Kim?!”
“Done talking? If I’m a rascal, you’re an idiot!”
Grandmas peeling fruit sighed.
“Here they go again, always fussing.”
“Kim Uju or Sun Wooju—who cares? He’s handsome, and that’s what counts.”
And so, as the sitcom played, the naming conventions of Korean sitcoms sparked a fierce debate among the elders.
