Kingdom (2021)

Someone needs to revoke Mnet’s survival show privileges

There are two things that a good competition show must avoid at all costs:
1. Being too predictable
2. Being totally ~unpredictable~
An obvious outcome lacks stakes and amounts to nothing more than a waste of time, while an obscure outcome leaves the viewer feeling unrepresented and unsatisfied. After all, a well-executed competition doesn’t just pit contestant against contestant, but also viewer against viewer, and viewers against themselves. That “I KNEW IT” feeling you get when you correctly guess the winner, or when the rankings reflect your personal assessment closely enough for them to make sense?
That’s no accident. That’s by design.
And Mnet threw it all out the window.

Stray Kids were always going to win. That was evident from round 1, when it became clear that fanbase size was the biggest determinant of success. To their credit, they did give performances ~worthy~ of winning, but due to popularity privilege, we’ll never know if they rightfully ~should~ have.

As for the rest of the competitors—despite being on more equal footing in terms of popularity, their rankings still lack significance due to their placements being primarily decided by voters who aren’t representative of the general public.
I don’t know about you all, but I am neither a K-pop idol nor an industry expert. It should come as a surprise to no one that the performances I enjoy will likely differ from those preferred by individuals who possess a trained eye. I can’t see what they see unless they explain it to me, which Mnet apparently can’t be bothered to make the time for in their nearly 2hr long episodes, so instead of feeling validated by the rankings, I’m just left feeling excluded and confused.
Which is to be expected, yes. I’ve come to anticipate that much every now and then. We can’t all be right ~all~ of the time… but I’m not used to feeling so blindsided all the time, either.

And don’t even get me started on the selection criteria for the contestants. In what dimension is it fair to require one competitor to earn their spot while all the others get to join with zero barriers to entry?

Ugh. Just throw the whole tv station into the trash.

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My Thoughts

I might end up rewatching the 90-second and Round 1 performance at some point, but for now, I'll start with the two most recent episodes (4 and 5). I'm stealing this "template" from another reviewer, I hope you don't mind!!

*note: someone else has continuously said various parts of performances remind them of The Boyz stages from RTK (implying a bit of copying?). I didn't feel this at all; e.g. timepieces are not uncommon objects to represent the flow of time, use of POV isn't unusual at all, and are crowns really surprising in a show called Kingdom? There were no strange resemblances unless you really looked for them; even if there were, there definitely are more new ideas being implemented than old ideas copied.

*note 2: I also don't pay much attention to distributions and screentime, understanding that 1) this is a competition and what works, works and 2) there are artistic considerations that go into song arrangement and line distribution that don't involve people sitting at their calculators looking at percentages.


{Round 2: REBORN} Overall, this round was better than the past 2, which is to be expected since everyone's starting to really get the hang of how they can put their best feet forward.

-The Boyz- "오솔레미오 (The Red Wedding)/O Solo Mio"
Pros: I loved the latin-inspired theme, especially as it's something they haven't tried before. I enjoy the original song "O Sole Mio" quite a lot. They handled their mistakes professionally as always and safely finished the performance. Their dancing was smooth and synchronized as usual! Pleasant concept and they looked great on stage :) The camerawork was great overall as usual; they had some really great shots and beautiful angles. The bows at the end were a great touch.
Cons [and this is coming from someone who is watching this show because of The Boyz and rooted for them throughout RTK]: Their mistake was very noticeable to me because the scepter seemed kind of pointless and burdensome without the fire effect it was supposed to have. It also wasn't a one-time gimmick but rather a proper that was supposed to last a while, so it was even more noticeable. I feel terrible, however, that Sangyeon had to bear with that pressure and guilt afterwards. Also, I didn't think they added a whole lot to the original song; their actual concept wasn't very obvious (was it just "Latin"??) The cage thing also didn't work for me, especially that part with Juyeon and the backup dancer, which felt kinda anticlimactic, especially during the show. The lighting was questionable and didn't emphasize that amazing dance portion in the intro (not their fault). Sunwoo's rap part was kind of weirdly timed. And although the camerawork was good in general, I felt like the stage overall didn't emphasize how much effort went into the preparation for this stage (e.g. Juyeon standing on members' hands at 2:23, other acrobatics that weren't really shown in the show), and sometimes the camerawork was a bit awkward. In their attempt to get everyone in the shot, the shots for group choreo ended up making the choreo look less impressive. Like someone else said, backup dancers have been a problem in this show so far, but the issue also popped up in this performance. If I looked closely, I could see the female backup dancers doing some great Latin moves, but the camera never emphasized that so in shots where they were in focus, they were at best kind of just there and at worst literally blending in with the stage. Also, some great parts were only visible/noticeable in full version (vocal parts, etc.), making the FV a lot better; in other words, Mnet are snakes.
Overall: It was a great performance but lacked some of the impact I was hoping for. It didn't really leave any lasting images (they ended up being least memorable), which is something I thought they did really well in RTK. Perhaps they are trying to move away from prop usage, as the stage design was definitely less defined/fancy than in the past, but I don't think it's working in their favor. I'm craving a little more creativity in their usage of lighting and space. I understood why they ranked last, sad as I am to say that.

-IKON- "Inception"
Pros: I thought their concept was very clear; the movie is iconic and those who don't get the references, especially on the international stage, are probably in the minority. Even for those who didn't, most of the stage effects were really cool and interesting to watch; pieces of the stage moved continuously throughout the stage, allowing for clear interaction with the stage design, which is something I'm always, always looking for in a great performance. IKON was enjoying themselves on the stage as always, especially Bobby, which is super refreshing to see because Kingdom is often so intense/dark with their concepts and stuff. As someone during the show said, their moves are very clean and streamlined, calculated; I personally enjoy that, but some may prefer a rougher, more organic dance style. The full version definitely shows more of their ad-libs, which I'm a sucker for, and they make the performance more organic. Camerawork was good and lighting was always sufficient and effective!!
Cons: Weird beginning VCR-thing, I thought it was just unnecessary. I wouldn't say I didn't enjoy the remixed chorus, but it was very IKON-style and I don't think it really explored new musical ground for them. I thought the chorus deviated so much from Inception that it wasn't even a remix anymore; it could have been an IKON original song. Personally, I didn't like the camera effect during Bobby's part because I thought it was kinda distracting, although it was pretty effective because Bobby's expressions are great, and his rap was great. The "street lifting up" part at around 2:28 was cool while it was moving, but then I thought it looked kinda awkward just standing there for the second chorus. Didn't really enjoy the dance break; it felt just weird. I enjoyed the effect the backup dancers added to this performance. The ending kind of lacked impact in terms of the performance and music arrangement.
Overall: It was a clean, fun performance and very IKON-like, which is great in terms of establishing their identity but also a missed opportunity to explore the more lyrically intense nature of "Inception". Their story-building definitely saw improvement though, and I thought their exploration of camera effects was a nice touch. Always looking for new ideas to change up a performance.

-BTOB- "Back Door"
Pros: I loved this performance. Right from the opening drone sound, the camera is focused on Stage 1, hinting at the concept in a really efficient way. Story-building was crystal-clear and very, very effective in showing different variations on the same song ("Back Door"). Their goal was to show 4 different characters and they did it, on multiple levels. Musically, they went between 4 genres, and if you look more closely at their expressions, Changsub's character is goofy while Minhyuk's is intense/sexy throughout the whole stage. Just look at their ending poses/expressions and you'll see their characters. The stage was very exciting, start to finish, because it just kept building and building. That moment when the "stage doors" opened was really great. Great vocals, as always; they did a great job of showing their strengths in a new context. I love Peniel's rap omg. Tasteful use of backup dancers to give the ending a really exciting audience feel. I also appreciated that their (amazing) high note wasn't stuck in the middle of the last chorus but rather in the pre-chorus leading up to it, leaving space for their vocals to shine. I couldn't have hoped for a better expression of the backstage-to-concert vibe. And did I mention that Minhyuk is hOT?? He's hot.
Cons: Didn't enjoy that part at 1:20 because while I realize it's a nod to the lyrics, it had a weird effect... Also, the continued use of the knocking sound to transition was fine but seemed a little OP cause they kept using it LOL. Personal preference, but I really like the original version of "Back Door" and the vibe the original chorus has, so while I understand this was how BTOB interpreted it for themselves (and it works!), I personally prefer the original, more choreography-based song. Contrary to other stages, I thought the last chorus actually looked better and more exciting during the show than during the FV.
Overall: I love a good theme and variations, and that's what this stage felt like. It was well done and maintained excitement and freshness throughout the performance with each new genre. The concept was so clear even an idiot would get it, and their acting was on point. The backup dancers weren't overwhelming. As a side note, they got votes from all 5 teams in the group evaluation, which makes sense because they conveyed that concert vibe really well. Since all the other groups are idols, too, they understand that feeling of missing an audience and the excitement of performing in front of one, and I think it was pretty emotional for them.

-Stray Kids- "기도 (I'll Be Your Man)"
Pros: I LOVE THE ORIGINAL SONG so I may be a bit more biased in this. Han showed his singing prowess in this; all-rounder indeed. I was so proud of him!! Seungmin started off well :). I love Changbin's rap part, the lyrics (or what I could glean from them) were also really pretty. The moment Felix's lines start was great; very memorable and effective in moving the stage forward (though I'm always a little sad Felix's voice is kinda just used for that effect all the time). I loved the use of the blood sacrifice prop thing, as well as the heart. Dance break wasn't earth-shattering but it was effective and appropriate for this performance; I enjoyed the use of the breaking pillars. I enjoyed the transition into bridge/verse 1 (since they never used the original verse 1 up till now), and it really suited Seungmin and Chan. Impressive final chorus, and though I.N.'s voice break was noticeable, it didn't really detract much imo.
Cons: I thought the concept was difficult to fully understand unless you had an explanation, especially if you were familiar with the original song as I was. I know their tone was meant to be desperate and pleading, but I wasn't sure if they were just struggling to reach the notes at times lol, so this was more evident in the rap parts than the vocal parts. Seungmin and Minho's vocals lacked a little in comparison to Han in this performance, which is understandable but did create a bit of unbalance. Personally disagreed with Han's choice to belt at 0:40... it sounded a little much for the lyrical intro. I'm not sure about that use of black-and-white filter because it didn't seem very effective; ditto for the blur effect during I.N.'s part. Felix's whisper at 2:23 was hot but he looked kinda awkward doing it. The random demon on the screen kinda made me laugh ngl. That ending bit with the kid seemed unnecessary and didn't really add to anything; the stage could have ended with Chan's last line and been perfectly fine.
Overall: I really enjoyed the arrangement and appreciated that they explored more with vocals this time. Use of stage design and props was good, despite the complicated concept, and though I did notice they had a lot of backup dancers, I don't think they were too noticeable/spotlighted. A lot of really lovely shots were seen in this stage, and their intended tone was effectively conveyed through this more lyrical stage.

-ATEEZ- "리듬 타 (The Awakening of Summer)/Rhythm Ta"
Pros: The intro scene in the car was pure genius (and the part where they get off and Wooyoung shoots the guards). I loved it so, so much. I must have rewatched about 20 times by now. Such a strong, memorable beginning (though I still don't know what that weird spinning light by Hongjoong was... a fan?) The message of anarchy was very clear and 100% a vibe. In fact, it was 100% ATEEZ's vibe; they did a great job of preserving the original energy, rhythmic focus, and natural swag of "Rhythm Ta" while making it completely their own through their expressions, dance style, and arrangement. It's hard to explain, but they did a better job than IKON did with "Inception." Their choreo was great, and their focus on performance really shone in this stage. The choreo didn't repeat between the choruses, which I thought was a great touch. I loved San's riff at 1:22, and I'm obsessed with the way they delivered the following lines too (Yunho + Wooyoung); it suited them really well. In that sense, the whole arrangement suited them really well. Props to Hongjoong and Eden (and the others who helped). Hongjoong's rap worked with the Latin-type music well. My bias is Seonghwa, but every time I see Wooyoung perform my resolve weakens a little. Great use of props; the mask and money flying throughout the performance served not only as reminders of the concept but great stage effects in general. I enjoyed the use of flyers coming from a blimp in the final chorus instead of confetti or something. Also, they looked hot; the concept really suited them.
Cons: I didn't watch "Money Heist" so I didn't fully get all the references (though doubtless I would have been blown away completely if I did), but nevertheless, even without that added context the ideas and concept were very clear. An anarchic speech is an anarchic speech; I thought it added to the concept a lot and gave the performance a defined memorable moment, but not sure about how it added to the music itself. Mixed feelings on that one. The eye at the beginning was kinda weird ngl, but I liked the background audio and flyer props because they really helped introduce the concept from the get-go (especially to an international audience bc they were in English!!) The backup dancers were a little bit distracting in this stage for sure. I didn't think they were totally necessary. Also, the part where San climbs the rope was creative, but a weird transition from the previous chorus. Not the biggest fan of Jonho's high note at 4:00, since it didn't really seem to add significantly to the stage at that point. Looking back on it, the last part with the hourglass does seem a little weird, but it was already introduced in a previous stage, and it's been established that ATEEZ is going with one continuous story, so that made sense (especially in light of the heist/stealing theme.
Overall: A really exciting, well-delivered stage that had a strong concept and tons of personality. ATEEZ's identity was very clear in this song; they didn't overpower the "Rhythm Ta" influence but made their message and presence very pronounced. Some things I did find a bit gimmicky, but lots of creativity was shown in this performance, from San's dance with the rope to the car in the beginning (still not over it).

-SF9- "The Stealer (The Scene)"
Pros: They went all-out with this stage's concept and energy. I loved how they used the drone sound in the beginning to heighten the tension before the two gangs even before the song begins. The fight scenes were a liiitle bit awkward if you looked really closely, but as a whole were well-done and seemed very organic. Loved the use of the guns/assassination, I thought it helped drive the characters they were playing home. The rap wasn't groundbreaking but effective and suited the arrangement and mood well. Also they looked hot?? Jaeyoon please calm down. I really enjoyed their creative use of POV for a fight scene because it helped convey the expression and tone of the second rap verse really well. The rain scene was great and suited the bridge super well, lyrics and all. The following dance break was effective as well, not just serving as a dance break but also showing how they "defeat the bad guys."
Cons: It was a little bit gimmicky with the props, they went a bit overboard with it in my opinion. I did notice they ended up going with suits again, but well, it works I guess. The arrangement wasn't my favorite, especially that part at 1:37; I didn't get the vibe they were going for. The chorus was a bit too EDM-y for my taste and seemed, again, a bit of a weird fit for their concept, and the music cuts off oddly at 2:37 when Chani turns (which wasn't very natural, by the way). The flamethrowers at 3:58 were in rather poor taste, in my opinion, though they made for a good background for the start of the last chorus. Use of backup dancers wasn't overwhelming but wasn't great, either; they just seemed kind of unnecessary except for fight scenes. Chani's part at 2:07 was a bit too soft considering he was armed. I thought the last chorus could have used a bit more aggression in terms of choreography and deliverance of concept/character, but it suited them well.
Overall: I really liked their twist on the "The Stealer" concept and thought they did a good job of conveying it to the audience. Use of props and backup dancers was a bit much, and I'm not so sure about that musical arrangement, but their storytelling, stage design, and camerawork ideas got so much better. Love the creativity they brought to this stage.

----------- Round 2 Personal Ranking -----------
1 - ATEEZ
2 - BTOB
3 - Stray Kidz
4 - SF9
5 - IKON
6 - The Boyz

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