Hello! ^-^
My Thoughts on Idol School (2017) Episode 1!
Bing bong bing bong~
So, I had heard of Idol School (2017) before, but all I really knew about it was that there was a lot of pink involved. Since pink is my favorite color, I just had to check it out...
Usually though, I'm a little scared of survival shows. Often I end up feeling too sorry for the losers, and I want everybody to go through. I find it hard to pick favorites ^^; But I try. Also, the judges can be so frightening! I imagine standing up there myself and how flustered I would feel. I think the contestants are always very brave.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the same as Idol School (2014), which was a variety show (though I wish that Tiny-G could have come back to compete!).
The show is themed around the female contestants being students at 'Idol School', and the episode opens by introducing us to Principal Lee Soon-jae. He has a single white streak in his hair so I am convinced he must have superpowers.
Actually, he is a famous actor, and he even voiced Carl in the Korean dub of Up.
The message of the school seems to be 'Develop Yourself', and I like that. I think it's good to give anyone a chance!
Apparently we, the audience, are the 'Educational Members' who decide how the girls rank. Aha~ I will just pretend I can vote.
And then, suddenly...
Yes, it's Heechul. I did not expect him to show up, but apparently he is the homeroom teacher. Ahh...this school is like a dream ♡ May I attend?
(He also really suits glasses...)
'Even though it's awkward and lacking, it's okay. One day they will shine.'
This show feels so wholesome so far, and I love how grand the music is. It makes it all feel very prestigious.
Each girl has to go into a little booth with a robot encouraging them to show off their qualities. Lee Chaeyoung is the first girl to arrive, and she explores the classroom alone. I think because she is the first she feels like the main character type, haha!
Anyone who is already in the classroom gets to watch the other girls introduce themselves on the screen, but they aren't aware of it until they go there themselves. It leads to some pretty funny reactions! There are many different types of contestant, one looks like Tzuyu (I love her!), another has an 'aviation accent' because she is studying to be a flight attendant, and Chu Won Hui is especially adorable because she's 19, but she looks like a kid! However some, like Park Sun (14), actually are children. I wasn't sure of the age range but given the 'school' setting I think it makes sense. Some girls are in their twenties, some are teens.
I already like Chaeyoung a lot, she seems to be very genuine and quirky. Many of these girls are also experienced in training too, for example, some have trained with YG or JYP before. Chaeyoung even reunited with her friend who also trained there, which was unexpected. I think it is quite common for people who have been trainees before to take part in these kinds of shows, and the experience must help a lot.
Chu Won Hui seems to doubt her looks a little as all the girls are beautiful, but I think she is just as pretty! She has such a cute expression because she has 'mochi cheeks', a bit like Jimin. I think this is why she looks so youthful.
There is another girl introduced called Michelle White. She is from Daegu, poses dramatically when she comes in, and I am an immediate fan XD
There seem to be students coming from a lot of different countries too, like Taipei or England. Lee Hae In was in Produce 101, while I never saw her in the show I want to go back and watch it to see her.
Kim Joo Hyun (Jenny) takes in a plush rabbit with her which is so endearing, and while Hae In has to sit alone at the back for a while she looks very graceful and is soon joined by one of the other girls. I think she seems like the most mature and experienced one there. Well, Jenny is pretty much a meme with that 'ohmagah!' and I am instantly faving her too.
What's really cool is seeing Natty again, she was very cute on Sixteen and it's sad that she didn't get to go further. It's hard to watch her cry so I'm glad that she's come back with confidence! I think too that this show is a lot more lenient than Sixteen was so hopefully it will be kind to her.
The school bell is like something from GBA. But what's even more noteable is Heechul entering the class and being cheered. He writes his name on the board...I wonder if anyone there didn't know him, haha. Jenny's father was Kim Hong Guk, from 'Butterfly Tigers' which I am not very familiar with, but I plan to check out now. It is clear that he must be very well known in Korea.
People get called up to dance and sing at the front of the class which is a good way to bring in confidence I think.
Sidenote...whenever I see the school from outside, I think it looks like such an impressive place. Like it is some secret campus up in the mountains, aha~
'Cosmic Superstar' Kim Heechul is so...extra, aha. When he is on screen I think I can only laugh, ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
When the Principal talks...I can only think of a house, floating in the sky XD Luckily he is not grumpy with the children here.
After all the introductions and inductions are over, there is the first challenge, where the girls have to line up and sing. At times the mics are turned down for others, so you can only really hear one person. The two trainers, Bada and Jan Jin Young also have histories as idols themselves, and so there is a lot of admiration but also a lot of pressure.
The students are encouraged to hum or make up words if they forget the lyrics, so they can keep going. I also like the system of muting the other mics at spontaneous points.
Kim Nayeon has a very good voice I think. It sounds very pure, and reminds me of Jpop vocals. Natty also does really well, I think she is talented in both dancing and singing. The judges clearly think so too, calling her 'perfect'! I'm very happy for her.
I appreciate that even if the lyrics are wrong they focus on the actual singing and don't criticize them for that. Shin Sia also kind of gave me chills with her escalation! They said she has a 'tall voice' and I can see where that comes from.
Something quite cool is that there is someone called 'Snowbaby' from Taiwan. That's quite an interesting name I think! However, Som Hye In was put on the spot and blanked. I think I can understand how she might have forgotten but it was risky, as they already gave her a second chance to sing another song. I hope she will be alright and can feel less nervous as time goes on.
As far as judges go, I like that Bada and Jan Jin Young are tender. I think it is good not to be too harsh and rather to encourage the students' strengths. Especially because so many of them are young too. Tasha has a nice unique voice, and I think she has a unique look too which makes her stand out in a good way.
Ah but I felt bad for Lee Hae In. She was clearly sick during filming and her voice was incredibly fragile, so she could not sing properly. I wanted to give her a big hug T^T Especially because she started to cry. So I worried for her but hoped she would get better soon for the next test. I have a feeling she will have a comeback and be one of the strongest contestants in the competition.
I think Natty deserved the top rank for her work, she did really well! I am rooting for her too.
To be honest...I root for all of them, but I should pick some three to support at least I think. It's better to decide at the end of the episode though, when I 'vote'.
Next they have to do their dancing assessment. The teachers show off with '45 degree footbacks', I didn't know there was such a term for that move, but it's cool! They seem very talented, and so far I like all of the judges a lot.
Yet the show makes me worry about Hye In. She's sick too...so I can't completely have fun watching the rest until I know she is okay.
I think that Natty still shines the most. She sings well and when she dances she has a lot of eagerness. However, it's Bae Eun Young who gets touched first! Some girls get left over without getting touched and sent out of Group 1, and then Group 2 is brought in. Tasha is another very talented one I think, she dances really well!
Cho Yubin is fantastic too and deserves to be sent out (which is a good thing in this case, haha). Lee Si An unfortunately seemed to give up towards the end, and she said it was because of 'slow response'. I think I can understand, it is hard to remember all the moves especially for a song like Beyonce's Deja Vu.
They then go for their physical test which I think is tough after all that. I'm guessing they are doing this in the same day, so they must be exhausted! Eun Suh did very well during the posture exercise, it's tough to stay like that for a long time.
Natty gets commended and as such she leads the speech at the end of the episode. I think that she deserves that.
Sidenote: Principal's hair is now pure white. He has reached maximum power level.
My favorite part of the episode actually comes at the end, where we get to see their pure pink and lilac pastel dorms! They are so cute, and I love aspects of these shows where we get to focus on people simply living. They get little fans and boots, mirrors and such which is so cool. I think it's a really good set up, but it gets a little scary when...someone like a soldier comes in...
Yeo Kyung Sun is the 'Supervisor of Discipline'. Ahhh please don't discipline anyone! I think this place is best when it is just fluffy and cozy. But all the girls have to bring out their personal items and arrange them for inspection.
One of them snuck in some Twix chocolates! They quickly hide them together, which I think I would have to do...I ate a peanut butter cookie (Cre8 Cookies are so good...) while watching and I do not think I could stay there without some chocolate for company...even just a little ABC cube...
I am just glad that Park Sun stands up for her unnies and their teddy bears. I could not part with them either!
What is scary too is that points can be deducted for disobeying, and they can be made to leave school because of that. I am just glad they hid the chocolate in time...
But my heart...Michelle starts crying too because she misses her family, and I want to cry too. She has her sisters to comfort her though, and soon they all get set up and writing in their diaries which is especially wholesome I think ♡ Their diaries are where they can be most honest about how they feel.
I still worry for Hye In though, as she posts in the advice box. It turns out she was sick because of stress...but...we don't find out what happens! Well, until later on while the students are asleep.
It's Hye In of course. I am really sorry to see her go because I think she seemed like a gentle person, but maybe she is not ready yet.
So far, I really love this show. It feels like a gentle kind of survival show, and while it will get more competitive with time I feel like these students will stay close despite that.
My top 3 are:
1. Natty
Because I think she is talented in all regards. She has a nice personality, charisma, dancing ability and a good singing voice. I think JYP saw that talent too but I am glad that she came here.
2. Tasha
I really love her look and I think she is also very talented, especially in dancing. I could definitely see her being in a group (even if I already know the group that comes from this show, I can see the future!)
3. Yubin
I also know the group she ends up in, aha! But truly, I think for her dancing Deja Vu alone she deserves a place. I got some chills watching her.
As for the episode ranking, the top 3 were:
1. Lee Hae In
2. Natty
3. Lee Chaeyoung
I am actually very happy with this ranking too. I did not let it influence my own decisions, but I think it is very close to how I feel too. I believe Lee Hae In also deserves to be ranked highly, and perhaps I did not see enough of her this episode, but hopefully I will in the next. Lee Chaeyoung is still one of my favorites but I cannot remember seeing her talent, only her personality. However, I love her personality for sure! I hope to see more of her too.
All in all, I am excited for more <3
화이팅 !
Vanille~
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