We are back with ATEEZ! Four of them are taking us paragliding and
amusement park riding today. Two of them
are still night fishing, and we never figured out where Hongjoong and Wooyoung
are headed. Tumblr users have informed
me that there’s no age restriction on ATEEZ concerts and that they’ve even seen
toddlers at the shows. You’re now up to
speed. Let’s do this!
I’ve mentioned in my other show recaps that I’m new to K-pop. I became a K-pop fan about two years ago, and as we open the show with our night fishermen Jongho and Yeosang talking about how much they love ATINY, I’m having a K-pop epiphany. A popiphany, if you will. I’ve always thought it was cute that K-pop groups not only had fan group names but talked about them like they were a person, an actual loved one. But listening to Jongho and Yeosang now, I’m starting to realize more about what that bond is. If you have taken the name ATINY, then ATEEZ is talking about you when they talk about how much they love ATINY, and how grateful they are to ATINY, and how they can’t wait to see ATINY again. To an actual ATINY, it might seem like they’re not just referring to their fan base. It might seem like they are referring to you personally.
This might explain why some K-pop fans lose their minds when their favorite idols are caught dating. If you call yourself Monbebe and start reading rumors that Minhyuk might have a girlfriend, it might actually feel like your boyfriend is cheating on you. The motivation to threaten and harass is not all all justified, but I’m starting to understand the motivation. Giving your fan base a unifying name is a great way to bring those fans together, but the downside is that some unwell fans see it as a parasocial relationship.
By the way, I didn’t just pull that Minhyuk example out of thin air. About three months ago, he was rumored to have a girlfriend, and instead of being happy that a 31 year-old man might be finding a real human connection in the chaos of show business, the poor guy had to go on Bubble and write an apology that included sentences like, “I believe I deserve the criticism and blame from Monbebe for the things I did wrong. I’m really sorry for making your hearts ache.”
Oof. I didn’t mean to start on such a downer. To lighten things up, here’s a screenshot from a YouTube video of
Wooyoung and Yeosang playing with a baby named Yuchan.
Feeling better? Okay! Back to our dates. Jongho and Yeosang get a Hidden Ask question on their phones. It’s the one Wooyang and Hongjoong were talking about last week. “What is a trophy or honor that you want the most?”
Yeosang says being in ATEEZ is already his best honor. His only goal is for them to rise higher in the industry, leaving a legacy that all music fans will remember. Meanwhile, the ever-practical Jongho’s goal is for everyone to stay healthy. That goal is about to be challenged by his bandmates Yunho and Mingi, who are about to jump off a mountain with selfie sticks.
We cut to our paragliding team, still waiting for the wind to die down. They’re pondering the Hidden Ask question, and Yunho echoes Hongjoong’s desire for a Grammy. He also wants to stay in ATEEZ until he’s eighty and be remembered as someone who was chill, loved, and true to himself.
Now over to San and Seonghwa. We’re rewinding a bit – when we left them, they were at the amusement park, but now we go back to them still getting there. As they drive their open-top convertible through the city streets at night, people are starting to notice. I’m surprised no one tries to jump into their car at a stop light.
“Do they still sell churros at the amusement park?” asks Seonghwa.
“Of course. I need at least two,” San replies.
I’d like to remind our
viewing audience that these boys have just finished a 52,000-course gourmet
meal that was mostly beef.
Back to our paragliders. They get another Hidden Ask about a day they felt so exhausted, they thought they might collapse. Given Mingi’s ability to nap at will, I can imagine he stays pretty well-rested.
Yunho remembers the physical toll of performing at Morocco’s Mawazine Music Festival in 2024. COVID had forced the festival to close for three years, and not only did ATEEZ help bring it back, they were also the first K-pop group ever to perform there. Yunho also says that some group members passed out during their Summer Sonic performance in Japan that same year. They played both festivals on outdoor stages in scorching heat. Yet both Mingi and Yunho agree that the mental stresses are worse than the physical ones.
Back to Jongho and
Yeosang. They’re still enjoying their
dinner by the lake, giving us ASMR slurping.
They discuss the question from last week about a moment that they couldn’t avoid, so they just pushed through and enjoyed it. For Jongho, it was his solo performance on the show Immortal Songs. Back in the studio, Jongho’s bandmates talk about how proud they were of him, and Seonghwa tells him he saved the video and still goes back and watches it. I love when maknaes get a chance to shine.
They discuss some of the other Hidden Ask questions, and my takeaway is how physically and mentally demanding their lives are. Even now, on these dates that are supposed to be fun and relaxing, they’re working. They’re filming these dates for a show and have to stay in Idol Mode. They can’t just switch off. This isn’t even the only show they have going on right now. As I write this, ATEEZ is also being featured on an Apple TV show called KPOPPED. It never ends.
The fact that they’re still in Idol Mode is making this Hidden Ask segment start to drag a bit for me. I believe they’re being sincere in their answers, but they’re also careful to promote their activities and include ATINY, and I’m here for the moments that force them to be more spontaneous.
Finally, we get one of those
moments. The winds have died down, and
Yunho and Mingi are ready to fly. I just
now realize that our boys are using stuffed animals as kneepads.
I feel my heart pounding faster as they position themselves for the jump, selfie sticks in hand. I mentioned back in Episode 1 that some idols are banned from driving, and now we have two idols about to jump off a mountaintop. (I’ve since learned that the driving ban mostly applies to YG Entertainment idols, and after recapping YG Treasure Box, I’m really not surprised. Founder Yang Hyun-suk is certifiably nuts.)
Yunho makes the jump first,
and he loves it. He gets up so high, his
ears actually start popping.
Back on the mountain, Mingi is
very nervous. He looks like it just
occurred to him that he’s going to have to do this too. I’d like to remind our viewing audience that
this date was HIS idea.
He gathers his courage and
makes the jump. What we see next is just
gorgeous. “So this must be how birds
feel,” Yunho says breathlessly as he marvels at the scenery from hundreds of
feet up.
Feeling emboldened, they let
the instructors pull some steep turns, spins, and free falls. Back in the studio, their bandmates can only
stare in amazement.
They can only stay up there for about ten minutes. The winds are still too strong for a longer ride. But the instructors make every second count, and our Twin Towers are still dizzy with excitement when they land. The rest of their bandmates agree they all want to try it.
Now that we’ve returned to solid ground, it’s time to catch up with Seonghwa and San. They’ve reached the amusement park, they’re in their school uniforms for some reason (including stuffed animal backpacks), and it’s time for more thrills and adventure.
After taking pictures in
front of the fairy tale castle, they head for the rides. Now I think I understand why San wanted to
wear the school uniforms. They really
are like big kids right now, reliving their childhoods. While on the rides, they’re screaming so
loudly, their bandmates back in the studio have to yank out their earpieces.
We cut back to Hongjoong and Wooyoung and finally get to see the second part of their date. They’re headed for Dongmyo, a huge flea market in the Jongno District of Seoul. (Wikipedia tells me the merchants donate a portion of their profits to underprivileged people in the area.)
“This car feels really out of
place here,” Wooyoung says.
Everyone is staring, so they put the top up. Hongjoong finds a parking space, runs around to the passenger side, and escorts his date out of the car. We get a great moment in a confessional when Wooyoung criticizes his date’s driving skills. He says, “Other than composing, dancing, singing, and rapping, Hongjoong can’t do anything else.”
Our boys spend the day
shopping. I would totally love this
date. Especially since Hongjoong says
he’ll buy anything Wooyoung wants. He
clearly hasn’t seen his date’s confessional footage yet.
We get the funniest moment yet when Hongjoong takes him to a vintage clothing stall, saying he knows how much Wooyoung loves that style, and then we get a confessional clip of Wooyoung saying, “Actually, I don’t like vintage clothes.” The other bandmates in the studio get a huge kick out of this.
Back in the shop, our boys
decide to pick clothes for each other and let the other bandmates vote on their
favorite looks. The loser has to wear
the least favorite outfit to the band’s next Music Bank
performance. This date just took a dark
turn. Although it is fun watching them
try on clothes. These guys can pretty
much wear anything.
Now back to the amusement
park. San and Seonghwa get on a ride
called the Atlantis. That sounds like a
peaceful water ride. Maybe it’s a relaxing
sail along a river with pretty views of the park.
I had no idea Seonghwa could hit notes that high. I know he’s a tenor, but wow.
Back in the studio, San gets the provocative question of whether he’d rather rent out the amusement park again, or … rent Yeosang. Come on, guys. We finally get an episode where San isn’t complaining about not being Yeosang’s date, and you just had to go there.
San thinks about it for a minute while Yeosang protests, “What about my opinion?! I became a choice all of a sudden!” Sorry, Yeosang. This episode hasn’t had a lot of fan service, so it’s time to serve you up on a platter. Of course, San chooses Yeosang, who looks like he’d like to choose his own security guard.
Back at the amusement park,
San and Seonghwa move to the indoor part, and I desperately want to go there.
It’s not just an indoor
mall. It’s a full-on indoor city. I’m surprised that so many of the signs are
in English.
Our boys enjoy a tray full of junk food and neon-colored drinks. This date has taken them from the gourmet end of the food spectrum to churros and soda.
Back to Jongho and Yeosang at the lake. They’ve finished dinner and decide to try fishing again. Their egos are deflated when they see fish scales at the end of their lines, meaning the fish have been enjoying the bait and swimming safely away. They may as well be dumping the bait right into the water.
“The fish are getting a fish bait omakase!” Wooyoung teases them in the studio.
But they are determined to
catch at least one fish. They throw out
their lines again. While they wait for
the already-full fish to bite, Jongho has a surprise for his date. He excuses himself, pretending he has to go
to the bathroom, and comes back with dessert.
It’s a birthday cake for Yeosang!
In a confessional, Yeosang says he should remember to celebrate Jongho’s birthday as well. A producer asks if he knows when Jongho’s birthday is, and he clearly does not. “Jongho’s birthday? Jongho’s birthday is … that time. That time is when … it’s a good day. Jongho was born on a good day.”
Yeosang will NEVER live this
down.
The only other bandmate whose birthday he knows is San. Hearing this, San is even happier than he was on the roller coaster.
Jongho checks the fishing lines, and the fish have stolen the bait again. Aren’t these guys using hooks? They’re not just scotch-taping worms to the lines, are they?
Maybe our fishermen will get
lucky next time. The episode ends
here. It looks like next week we’ll have
more adventures at the amusement park, and the members will vote on the winning
outfit on the vintage clothing date. In
the meantime, as a birthday present for Yeosang, I’m giving him this handy
chart. See you next time, ATINY!
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