Maj

What label are they releasing under? Because SM is hyping Hodong (and only Hodong).

Thanks, I didn't chack wiki yet this week! So they were probably just late with filming, hence, no preview...

Anybody know what's up with this week's episode? IS there a this week's episode?

I loved the last episode (as well as the sisters double) amd the next one looks fun too. I'm also stupidly invested in Suju getting the 100th ep, eventhough they weren't even announced to appear yet.

I liked Sungkwang, especially the drunk act he did. That would be hilarious. Also kind of F*** Y** of JTBC towards MBC - a TV station that brought down the ex-pres poaching talent from a station that supported her (and is infact striking partially because of it).

Yes, they are having a comeback. I mean, I don't have anything against them and they will probably handle themselves well since they are a bit older group (compared to rookies anyway); also it helps their number is still somehow manageable; but PD's need better scheduling if they want to keep this up. Really most of those variety controversies surrounding idols are due to fans blowing tiny things up and taking it completely out of context. For KB, boygroup stans are especially bad (though girlgroup ones had their moments, too). Even with Infinite there were complaints about the introduction corner (where they were guessing the names), eventhough it was just a funny way to introduce maybe not-so-known members; but luckily that died down quickly. Then of course there were Taemin stans who blew up over him being called pretty as a girl (Brothers must have been shocked, it's basically the same stuff Heechul gets every episode and no one makes a peep). The funniest part is they went after Heechul for it (even though it was mostly other saying it). It's what basically got them the warning that made them tone everything down. BOTB and EXO went fine but they mentioned several times they were treating them extra carefuly not to make fans blow up (not that it wasn't obvious).

It's obvious they are holding back with idols - hey often even say so and the most ridiculous thing - fandoms seem to be proud of it! Like, yay, they are scared of us and so they treat our precious Oppas/Unnies with kid gloves. While the idols would probably be just fine if they acted normally but everyone needs to be so careful that it takes the fun out of it. It does seem like it's connected to the fact that most fans just watch that one episode and totally misjudge everything as mistreatment. Another issue is this format just doesn't work as well with many people, especially if they are variety rookies/not that natural at it. It's usually just some people that stand out and many just standing around and KB regulars have to work hard to include them all and still keep it entertaining. Probably it would be better even for the idols if they just sent representatives - those that can handle variety. The last episode seemed better even if the NUES'T guy isn't a variety star, just because Brothers had space to interact with him (and also because he had a good sense to adapt and work with everyone - also, it helped that he's inherently likable). They do need to mix it a bit with non-idol episodes - at least 50/50. I hope that put in more regular episodes after the latest boygroup goes on next week (though that one at least doesn't look like it comes with crazy stans).

Lol just look at the reaction fans had when they were on Weekly idol. About half of YT MANY comments is just drama calling out show/hosts/editors horrible just bacause they thought some members didn't get exactlly equal screen time. On another show they made a host make an official apology bacause he wouldn't eat some food a BTS member offered and it apparently made the BTS guy look like it 'hurt his feelings'. The group will probably do just fine and there won't be anything controversial (though it will probaby be boring since the brothers will be careful as hell) but this fandom has an ability to make a thin air into a mountain.I'd be very glad to be proved wrong but I'm not holding my breath.

Those two guesting is not even hidden Night Goblin promo (which I'm all for it, I like that show, it's cute and it needs better ratings if they want to keep going so it's a great idea to do promo - and just a day before it airs, on the same network). Soogeun will be very invested to make it work and I look forward to see him work extra hard for it (+ the guests seem nice). Could be that there+s just not space. Since KB has gotten popular pretty much every episode was someone promoting their new album/drama/musical... And there seems to be an actual competition even for those spots (not by mega-stars obviously, but still by well known entertainers/idols/actors... They will probably put 'locals' on when there is empty space in the schedule.

A lot of people confuse it as direct sales prediction, so it's a common mistake to make. Of course high ninki means good chances of a successful sale, but low one isn't necessarily the doom - as I mentioned, if there are people buying a lot of copies salese, will be higher, also sales will be higher if mayority of fans/buyers is from a very specific segment that is not represented in same amount in average population, like, for example, something that appeals mostly to pre-teens or people over 60, or a specific subgroup of fans. Not to forget Twice is promoting a lot right now, so they could sell to people who a week ago didn't intend to buy - Ninki is past prediction, charts are current sales.

Ninki is not number of CD's. It's number (or rather share) of people interested in the album/single out of the sample Ninki polls. High numbers just show a lot of people intend to buy it (out of thet sample). If it correlates to number of CD's sold, that's a complete coincidence. So let's say, number 100 means 100 people out of x amount (x being size of the sample, I forgot the exact number) intend to buy it etc. People buying multiple versions of course breaks the correlation since one fan can buy let's say 5 copies but on Ninki that one fan's vote can only count for 1 - same as with someone who intends to buy just one copy. Basically Ninki predicts number of people buying and charts count copies sold - two different quantities. 1 day is pre-orders (albums shipped from online stores and actual shops for release day, the online ones can arrive even before 27th) AND 'pre-sale' or actually tuesday sale from the stores (pre-sale in a sense since official release is a day later, but it's actually 1st das sale). So everything sold to up to including 27th.

I watched a bit of the old episodes and for me it's not even mostly about format, but the combination of people. Even just without Sangmin who isn't as exposed as some of the others, there's a difference. I mean I happily watched the 5% episode which is just a bit of up-budget version (by not much) of the old eps. For me, it's the cuttent collection of brothers + Jang announcer as extra that makes it, the school format is just what enabled them to put up their strengths, because it's so bare and flexible, yet structured. It forces them to rely on their personalities and makes them more of a team, which makes it so that they are growing better as a sum of parts instead of stale routine group which could easily happen with diffeeent combination of people (including PD's of course).

I liked how Heechul wouldn't let him rule the show. Hodong was ready to roll over and show his belly but Heechul resisted and it was funny to see the guest sort of stunned. And then everybody else rallied behind.

Good bye Yeongcheol lol. I wonder how they'll save him this time. I hope he gets another ceremony.

That's what it looked to me too. Though at first it looked like they were just taking their blood.

The first ep was great! I hope they continue like this. The main (and side) characters are all so likable.

Kim Jongwoon was Yesung's name before his mother decided to legally change it on a whim (without telling him) to Kim Jonghoon.

I think he doesn't have priority, but he's next in line since Jidwi doesn't have son(s) that we knew of. Firstly, Sam Maek Jong wes already crowned so the sucession order of the two is a moot point - he either has to resign or be deposed (most likely that would happen with him being murdered). Besides, even before, we know DogBird was not a son of a king since his father newer got the throne so that advantage isn't there and he's also most likely younger than Jidwi since his mother was pregnant wehen the queen was already talking about having a son.

I tried to like Go Ara's character so much but she's getting worse by the episode and she didn't start all that great to begin with. It's not like even the writers can't write female characters - all the others are fine (if mostly evil): the queen, the princess, the (real) sister. And that romance is so forced and strangely off putting. Maybe because they were supposed to be siblings, but I think it just doesn't fit and takes away from the series. Doesn't help that Go Ara is such a bad actress and that pouty expression for everything is getting overbearing. At least she finally put down the King so I hope there's the end of that nonsense (and it looks like it is). That BTS guy acting is getting better, though. He does well in the scenes with his brother, where he actually has lines. He exaggerated too much at the start (but that could be just your standard KDrama acting) but he's much better now (when he actually has emotions to express). I wonder what will happen in the next part - looks like the king finally decided he wanted to be king but now everybody thinks DogBird is the king (though he doesn't look all that thrilled about it). I hope they don't make some big switcheroo and install DogBird as a king - he makes a fine hero, but actual king is probably more suited for the role (less volatile for one thing - also, he knows how to write). And I think BanRyu actually betrayed his uncle and that's why they knew the assassins are there - but that's just a guess.

Of course he doesn't look old - it's just that he looks student-age and they look like high school age or even younger. But the most important thing, he looks healthy and well.

Finally a pic where the other soldiers look younger than Ryeowook (if just for the fact that they seem to be/look like teenagers. I'm glad he looks healthy and non-miserable. Some of the other Suju members army pics I've seen in the past gave off very save-me-from-here vibes and with Ryeowook it seems he's doing well (he's actually looks healthier than before, but that's probably because of thelack of super-pale bb cream).

Sure - but I actually meant she couldn't just die in die at the beginning of the series.

It's evil. I mean, logically I know she has to be saved since she's the main character, but still...

The main pairing is terrible and the king/Ahro pairing is not good either (since she clearly feels nothing for him) - but at least the latter provides some conflict and drama not just a meaningless filler. Ahro's character started interesting but now they are writing her into this pathetic whiny thing that can't make rational decisions and Go Ara's terrible one note acting isn't helping either. In the last two episodes I started to skip this pairing scenes and it seems to me that makes the viewing experience much better and so far I don't seem to be missing any plot development. I'd much rather watch some more BanRyu and SooHo's sister if we need some romance. It's a shame what they did to the character because they could have made her much more interesting and likable. Princes might be pretty heartless but at least she's interesting to watch. That scene with Sun Woo was great you could see the wheels in his brain turning and grinding; I'm pretty sure he figured it out but he's in denile because they are sort-of friends. Hansung probably either gets killed or kills somebody - either way it should be something big for him. Banryu and Hansung are both descendants of clans who ruled before (there are 3 clans, the currently ruling one + the former two). That's why Ban Ryu and Hansung both have expectations laid on them and people are trying to kill the king/king is in hiding Ban Ryu more obviously, because his family is stronger and more powerful): king doesn't have an heir in his clan, so if he dies now, the ruling would pass to another family. The queen only rules as a regent - without king she's only an ex-royal with a lot of enemies.

It's good so far! A little formulaic but the actual situations / reactions are believable enough (sometime too believable even). The actors are all great, too, even the 'vistims/criminals of the episode'.