Produce 101, the survival TV show, has been around for a while now. While I'm an observer of the K-Pop world in general, I hesitated watching survival shows. I don't watch Korean TV shows in the first place, with the exception of Music Shows. I just really don't want to be a full-on Koreaboo. K-Pop world is already overwhelming. I also think survival shows are kind of exploitative in nature, and no matter what happen on the show, I can guarantee that these shows WILL MAKE ME CRY.

I survived not watching survival shows for a while until... Stray Kids. I was obsessed with their pre-debut song Hellevator, and was intrigued enough to watch the show. It is not really a survival show to be honest, the eliminations was just a stupid plot. EVERYONE knew that all the kids will debut together. The show stabbed me in the heart and made me ugly cry nonetheless.

I cried watching the last episode of The Unit, even without watching previous episodes. I watched how the trainees were so happy to have made it into the debuting team, only to flop hard with their actual debut and especially following comebacks. The boy team did alright the first time, struggled with the comeback. The girl team struggled harder and now both are disbanded without leaving any marks in the industry.

And then I watched Treasure 13. Which is IDK. Yeah, YG's going to YG. The show was twist after twist after twist it was exhausting to follow. And now, months after the show ended, the kids are still nowhere to be found except for some photos on twitter or instagram. It was so confusing it was funny, ironic, and sad at the same time. To say I am frustrated about how the agency treated the kids is an understatement. Did I cry though? Of course.

I watched Under Nineteen because J-Hope guest-starred in it and I was quite intrigued I continued watching the rest of the season. Honestly I'm happy for the kids who made it, I think they all are really really talented and have a whole bright future ahead of them, but man, this industry is brutal. Their debut album sold 11K on Gaon and I don't think they made any splash with their title song because the timing of the release coincided with BTS' new album release (oof, that was a bad move). For this one, I don't remember if I cried but I most likely did.

My friend Febby got into K-Pop through Produce 48 which was where Produce series and the 48 franchise of Japan collided. She first watched Produce48. She enjoyed it so much she then went to watch the second season of P101 and got obsessed with Wanna One. She made me promise to watch the new Produce series so that we could talk about it, and here I am. I first watched the XI-MA(?) MV and I was just overwhelmed. I asked Febby a stupid question, 'they don't actually have 101 trainees, do they?' and she said 'no, they really do start with 101 trainees'. How am I going to know 101 people????? Even after the episode airs, I still was not convinced of whether I should watch this or not. I asked Febby if she watched it, and of course she did, and she told me to watch it.

By now, I've watched both episode 1 and 2 and I already have a pick. My pick is the same with everyone else, LMAO. Kim Mingyu. This is totally not based on skill, but solely on his looks and personality. He has this charm that is so strong literally every single person in the room fell for him once he enters the stage. He was given the worst grade (X) and he sincerely thanked the judges for his evaluation. When asked why is he grateful for being given the worst grade, without hesitation he mentioned that he is thankful for the opportunity of getting evaluated in the first place, because not everyone can experience that. Even though people are saying that he's the most good looking guy in the room, he is not at all smug about his looks. He is down to earth and so earnest while practicing. During the lesson, he always volunteer to count and or raise his hand to ask questions. He seems genuine and I love that about him. Although, it is a liiittle suspicious how from the start he 's already getting so much screen time without actually having any decent skills. Maybe Mnet's pushing a redemption arc on him, IDK.

After I wrote this entry I went home and watched his fancam for XIMA performance. And wow. It was awful. It was so clear that he does not have the sense to be a good dancer. He was dancing off-beat and his movements are so awkward it was painful to watch. Now I get why he was given grade X. I don't think he has good control of his body movements. So stiff. So awkward. He's trying hard to appeal the viewers with his charm even though he's fully aware that he's lacking skills, so he was smiling (grinning) THE WHOLE TIME which made it even more awkward (and creepy?). I couldn't see why Dongpyo got center position at first, but now I do. That kid's a natural. Mingyu is just tall and handsome, without the necessary skills, sense, or talent to thrive in this industry. I know he will be given time and opportunity to grow and improve, but based on his skills right now I would understand if he doesn't make it to the final line-up. He could make it if it's based on looks, personality, charm, and effort. He ranked first after the first episode, and third after the second.

In the second episode they highlighted the struggle of the trainees practicing X1-MA, both the song and the choreography for their first re-evaluation before shooting the MV. My shirt was soaked with tears as I was watching it.