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Fandom 50 S2: Post 8: Eunchae 💜 aespa
May. 25th, 2024 12:59 pmAll right, so. These two episodes are my faves. I've watched them several times cuz they're LOLARIOUS and sweet.
Before I dive into why I like them so much, I do have to add a SRS BIZNESS trigger warning: both episodes (but especially the second one) have a ton of convos around food. Including idols' diets, comparisons between all three idols abt what they like/don't like to eat, and some points regarding body size & body shape (this is v. minor, but I felt it necessary to mention it). So, consider this a general heads up if any of those things are potential triggers for y'all. <3
Eunchae making new friends for realsies!
Episode 8 first aired in late May 2023, back during aespa's promotion for "Spicy". Although they'd met each other in passing, this was the actual real introduction between Eunchae and aespa's Karina and Ningning. IIRC, I had originally skipped it because I wasn't interested in aespa at the time. BUT I did watched it around late November (when I got sucked into aespa via "Drama") and sort of SMH at myself for missing out on one of the most charming (and funny!) episodes in the Eunchae's Star Diary series.
I truly don't know much abt aespa as a group (meaning their dynamics, who's an introvert and who isn't, etc.) and, in a way, I had this idea of the group's overall presentation as "aloof idols"? Which, as seen in this episode, couldn't be further of the truth! Karina and Ninging are HUGE DORKS and GOOFY AF.
One of the things that make this such a watchable episode is that there's an actual connection happening onscreen. Yes, even with the editing (IIRC, filming each episode takes abt 40 mins to an hour?), it's v., v. clear that Eunchae, Karina, and Ningning are becoming friends.
This next episode is a special one. It aired approx 4 months after ep.8 and had Eunchae, Karina, and Ningning fulfilling their promise to go have some samgyeopsal at a restaurant. In between all of the noms, the three of them catch up, play games, and being super entertaining to watch.
What I really loved abt these two episodes (and all of the Eunchae x girl groups eps--including several I didn't include due to schedule limitations) is how clearly they dispel antis and solos' warped ideas that idols hate each other. Although it's true that some folks are friendlier with each other than others, it's also true that the Kpop idol world is V.,V. SMALL and everyone knows/interacts with/is (potentially) friends (if not something more) with each other.
I also really like seeing how close Le Sserafim and aespa have become over the past year. They've appeared in each other behind-the-scenes content (in their respective YT channels), tend to stick together whenever they're at award shows, etc. In short, they're legit friends (at least by all social metrics I can think of) and that's an awesome thing to see.
There hasn't been any new aespa appearances as of yet (though I'm somewhat expecting one? IDK) in current eps of Eunchae's show. #I'll Continue To Wait Tho 😅
At this time, aespa's wrapping up promo of "Supernova", their first pre-release for their upcoming album. It's been v. well-received. I like enough to say that it will probably crack the 2023 top 10 for me.
Trigger Warnings: A TON of visual f/x, dynamic camerawork, and fast edits.
I'm forever grateful to Bookish Theory for explaining everything that's happening in the MV.
AFAIK, there hasn't been any official dance practice for this song. The only thing I could find was this almost 8-minute long video that shows them learning the dance steps for the MV.
...which is a super great segueway to my two fave performances of the song.
Let me go and throw in additional trigger warnings: both of these have V. INTENSE background graphics. The camera NEVER STOPS MOVING including doing panning, zooming in and out, shaking, etc. Even though I love that both shows matched the energy of the song itself, it can be disorienting and/or leave you feeling dizzy.
MOVING ON.
There was NO WAY I WASN'T GOING TO BE * ______ * abt this MCountdown performance given all the neon pastels & silver all over the place. Combined with their MV fits that are v. reminiscent of the puffy skirts from the mid-80s, my brain was squeeing at the Jem! parallels.
My fave moment happens between 2:15 and 2:20.
Okay so, apparently, Inkigayo decided to take everything up to 20 cuz the performance is even MOAR energetic. This time around, the stage is bathed in mostly pink and orange hues. The members are wearing another set of MV fits including Karina as a kind of space vampire (with fangs and all.)
Not only is the camerawork, well, wilder but even the crowd is louder too. I love it.
Before I dive into why I like them so much, I do have to add a SRS BIZNESS trigger warning: both episodes (but especially the second one) have a ton of convos around food. Including idols' diets, comparisons between all three idols abt what they like/don't like to eat, and some points regarding body size & body shape (this is v. minor, but I felt it necessary to mention it). So, consider this a general heads up if any of those things are potential triggers for y'all. <3
Eunchae making new friends for realsies!
Episode 8 first aired in late May 2023, back during aespa's promotion for "Spicy". Although they'd met each other in passing, this was the actual real introduction between Eunchae and aespa's Karina and Ningning. IIRC, I had originally skipped it because I wasn't interested in aespa at the time. BUT I did watched it around late November (when I got sucked into aespa via "Drama") and sort of SMH at myself for missing out on one of the most charming (and funny!) episodes in the Eunchae's Star Diary series.
I truly don't know much abt aespa as a group (meaning their dynamics, who's an introvert and who isn't, etc.) and, in a way, I had this idea of the group's overall presentation as "aloof idols"? Which, as seen in this episode, couldn't be further of the truth! Karina and Ninging are HUGE DORKS and GOOFY AF.
One of the things that make this such a watchable episode is that there's an actual connection happening onscreen. Yes, even with the editing (IIRC, filming each episode takes abt 40 mins to an hour?), it's v., v. clear that Eunchae, Karina, and Ningning are becoming friends.
This next episode is a special one. It aired approx 4 months after ep.8 and had Eunchae, Karina, and Ningning fulfilling their promise to go have some samgyeopsal at a restaurant. In between all of the noms, the three of them catch up, play games, and being super entertaining to watch.
What I really loved abt these two episodes (and all of the Eunchae x girl groups eps--including several I didn't include due to schedule limitations) is how clearly they dispel antis and solos' warped ideas that idols hate each other. Although it's true that some folks are friendlier with each other than others, it's also true that the Kpop idol world is V.,V. SMALL and everyone knows/interacts with/is (potentially) friends (if not something more) with each other.
I also really like seeing how close Le Sserafim and aespa have become over the past year. They've appeared in each other behind-the-scenes content (in their respective YT channels), tend to stick together whenever they're at award shows, etc. In short, they're legit friends (at least by all social metrics I can think of) and that's an awesome thing to see.
There hasn't been any new aespa appearances as of yet (though I'm somewhat expecting one? IDK) in current eps of Eunchae's show. #I'll Continue To Wait Tho 😅
At this time, aespa's wrapping up promo of "Supernova", their first pre-release for their upcoming album. It's been v. well-received. I like enough to say that it will probably crack the 2023 top 10 for me.
Trigger Warnings: A TON of visual f/x, dynamic camerawork, and fast edits.
I'm forever grateful to Bookish Theory for explaining everything that's happening in the MV.
AFAIK, there hasn't been any official dance practice for this song. The only thing I could find was this almost 8-minute long video that shows them learning the dance steps for the MV.
...which is a super great segueway to my two fave performances of the song.
Let me go and throw in additional trigger warnings: both of these have V. INTENSE background graphics. The camera NEVER STOPS MOVING including doing panning, zooming in and out, shaking, etc. Even though I love that both shows matched the energy of the song itself, it can be disorienting and/or leave you feeling dizzy.
MOVING ON.
There was NO WAY I WASN'T GOING TO BE * ______ * abt this MCountdown performance given all the neon pastels & silver all over the place. Combined with their MV fits that are v. reminiscent of the puffy skirts from the mid-80s, my brain was squeeing at the Jem! parallels.
My fave moment happens between 2:15 and 2:20.
Okay so, apparently, Inkigayo decided to take everything up to 20 cuz the performance is even MOAR energetic. This time around, the stage is bathed in mostly pink and orange hues. The members are wearing another set of MV fits including Karina as a kind of space vampire (with fangs and all.)
Not only is the camerawork, well, wilder but even the crowd is louder too. I love it.
