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(Written September 2, 2024)
Here we go for Round Two.
Before I started this episode, I did some research and found that TREASURE fans were very anxious about this show when it was first announced. They did not want their idols dating. That might explain why we’re not getting any one-on-one dates or any real romance between the idols and the girls. I have to wonder how the fans felt about Jae Hyuk being left empty-handed, but I’ll save that research for the follow-up essay.
For now, back to the Treasure
Castle! We’ll be meeting the rest of the
group in this episode.
Our first guy approaches the house. This is So Jung Hwan. He’s the maknae of the group. Good-looking guy. Sports jacket with blurred logo. He sets his things down in the living room and goes exploring.
Next, we meet Guy #2.
This is one of the most chiseled men I have ever seen. Meet Park Jeong Woo. You could cut steak with that jawline. According to the viewer comments, he’s the
main vocalist of the group. He tells us
that he recently spoke with Jae Hyuk, who told him, “You’ll become Mr. Treasure
on Day One.” I imagine Jae Hyuk saying
this in a bitter voice while throwing back shots of Jameson. I really hope he’s okay.
Seeing his bandmate approach,
Jung Hwan hides in the kitchen. When he
does emerge from behind the counter, he doesn’t even try to scare Jeong
Woo. He just gets up slowly and says
hi. Does he not know how jump scares
work? The two of them stand at the
living room window and wait for the others to arrive.
Our next idol arrives on a skateboard. Of course, the brand name is blurred
out. This is Doyoung. The show describes him as having quirky
charms. I like getting additional
background from the viewer comments.
Wow, will we really be getting someone who knows how to flirt? It’s about time. When he gets to the house, Jeong Woo and Jung Hwan are wandering around on the second floor, probably wondering why their fellow bandmates had scrawled HELP US on the walls in eyeliner pencil. The trauma vibes in that house …
Next up, we meet Yoshi, the main rapper of the group. I love his entire ensemble. The man has flair. The long coat, the briefcase, the mussed hair, the jewelry … flawless. If the Volturi in Twilight had a K-pop vampire, it would be Yoshi.
Finally, we meet the fifth member, and … wow.
Goth/skate/punk outfit topped by sparkly jewelry and Grandma’s cardigan. No shade – I love it. Meet Choi Hyun Suk, whose closet I’d want to raid if I had any chance of pulling off this look. We’re told he’s the Leader of TREASURE, which must be news to Jihoon if he’s watching this. (I Googled it, and our chaotic dresser here is, in fact, the Leader.) I haven’t heard a single word out of his mouth yet, and I’ve decided he’s amazing. Give him all the jewels and the key to the house and just call it a day.
Hyun Suk rocks up to the
house in high spirits, amazed by the place and ready to look around.
Our boys gather in the living room. They seem older than the previous group, probably because they have more confidence and swagger. This is the kind of show I was expecting when I first read about this series. Still, they’re talking about how nervous they are. Hyun Suk even says he’s more nervous than he was during the group’s survival reality show. Come on, guys. Don’t shut down like the previous group did. All you have to do is talk to girls. They’re just girls. You can do this.
This group even has an
advantage. They already know the
drill. The show tells us these guys have
seen Part 1 and have been talking to their bandmates. They have a user’s manual to this show.
Whether they’re ready or not, we’re off and running. The first girl arrives at the house. She has a great smile. All right, guys. You remember Part 1. Ask for her name and introduce yourselves.
They bow and say, “We’re TREASURE, nice to meet you.” MUCH better start than the first group. They invite her to take a seat. They all sit, and then … silence. You have got to be kidding me. Not this again.
Suddenly, Doyoung remembers how to talk and asks her if she had heard about TREASURE before. Okay, it’s not great, but at least it’s something. She quotes some lyrics from one of their songs. They all laugh. Then, back to silence. Seriously, guys? ASK. FOR. HER. NAME.
Our nameless girl tells us in a voiceover that the one who really catches her eye is Hyun Suk. Yes, he’s great with the visuals. Too bad he just finished watching Part 1 of this show, and it still hasn’t occurred to him to ask WHAT HER NAME IS.
Suddenly, fueled by nervous
energy, Hyun Suk does start talking. We
can’t hear what he’s saying over the music on the soundtrack and the girl’s
narrating voice, but everyone seems to relax a bit, so that helps.
Woman #2 arrives at the house. She’s tailored and professional-looking, with a shorter haircut than the other women we’ve seen on this show. She looks like the female lead in a K-drama about a woman juggling love and career. Put her in a rainstorm next to Ji Chang-wook, and we have a movie poster.
They greet her, invite her to
sit, and then lapse into awkward silence again while I gnaw on my headphone cord in
frustration. There’s no reason for
this. I guess the girls are all
instructed not to start conversations, but you can tell they want to. Especially Woman #2, who looks like she
usually leads important business meetings in three different languages, and now
she’s sitting on a couch waiting for a K-pop idol to say something. The poor woman is probably on East Coast
time, fretting over the fact that the New York Stock Exchange is about to
close.
Hold up. Wade and Kate make a good point. Is this a cultural thing or a show thing? I did some Googling, and the best answers I could find say that asking someone’s name in Korea isn’t rude, but you do have to make sure you’re addressing the stranger with the proper respect and honorifics. Could that be it? These boys don’t know what words or tone to use? How does the non K-pop population of Korea handle situations like this?
Hyun Suk has an idea. “Can I ask where you’re from?” he asks the
ladies. Okay, not a bad start. Except that the women look startled and quickly
mutter to him, clearly thinking this part will be cut in editing, “Personal
information is prohibited until self-introductions.” What?
Why was this left in?
Woman #1 decides to just go for it and says she’s from Uijeonglou. I looked it up. The guys probably know this city has both US and Korean military bases and is a key location in defending Seoul from North Korea. That would be an interesting thing to talk about. What was it like growing up around these military bases? We may never know, because the guys don’t ask. Although to be fair, that discussion might be a bit of a bummer, since both North and South Korea are still technically at war.
Woman #2 is from Ansan. It’s a coastal city known for nice beaches and great seafood. I wish these guys had earpieces so I could tell them all this and suggest follow-up questions, starting with, “Ansan? Cool! By the way, do you have a name?”
Woman #2 apparently decides
that as long as they’re breaking the show’s rules, they may as well keep
going. She asks the guys where they’re
from. Our K-pop vampire Yoshi says he’s
from Kobe, Japan. Before the others can
answer, another woman arrives. She looks
like she’s just returned from a high-end shopping trip.
She takes a seat, and again, we fall into awkward silence. I expected better from this second group. But then Hyun Suk, who’s been putting in the most effort, offers to get them blankets to put over their laps. Woman #3 gratefully accepts a blanket, and then back into uncomfortable silence we go!
Hyun Suk speaks up again, and I really am impressed with how hard he’s trying. He asks Woman #3 where she’s from, since we seem to be on a roll with that topic. She’s from Gimhae, near Busan. Right away, I know Busan. It’s a sacred city to BTS fans, since it’s where Jimin and Jungkook are from. It’s known for its beautiful beaches. Again, a great topic of conversation. But that seems to be as far as our guys can get. They nod and immediately go back to avoiding eye contact.
Woman #4 arrives. Again, a business professional look, like she’s just coming from speaking at her kid’s school for Career Day.
The show reads my mind. Classical music starts playing through the house. Stairway Mailbox Time!
No one moves. GUYS, I SAID STAIRWAY MAILBOX TIME!
Chiseled Guy Jeong Woo finally speaks up and reminds everybody they have to get the mission from the mailbox. The whole group decides to go together to retrieve it. Once back in the living room, Hun Suk reads the mission.
Welcome to Treasure Castle.
Starting now, please take one minute each to introduce yourselves. Guys, try to show off your charms as much as
you can for one minute. And the ladies,
please give a lollipop to the man you like the most.
Okay, great.
But do the woman introduce themselves as well? We shall see.
For now, introvert Yoshi tells us this is “brutal.” No, Yoshi.
“Brutal” is when Ye Won approaches you with a jewel and then veers off
and gives it to Asahi and you go home EMPTY HANDED. THAT’S “BRUTAL,” YOSHI. AND NO I’M NOT OVER IT, SO JUST OPEN YOUR
MOUTH AND SAY HELLO LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BE –
Sorry. I’m fine. I SAID I’M FINE.
Doyoung begins. His MBTI is ENTJ. And today, he bought a skateboard on his way
to the house. He’s liked skateboarding
since middle school, so he got a new one.
He knows a few tricks on it. He
considers himself super extroverted. He
also likes sports and playing piano in the dark (which made me go right to
YouTube and find that amazing Brenda Russell song from 1988). He also likes meditating in
candlelight. This is probably the most
we’ve learned about a person in these intros from the entire series so
far. I hope they’re all this detailed.
Next up, Hyun Suk. I love how expressive he is. He reminds us he’s the group Leader. He’s ENFP, which is supposed to be extremely lively. He likes watching movies. He also likes accessories, as evidenced by everything he’s wearing. He likes hip hop. Normally, he likes dressing up a lot, but he says today he’s toned things down. He’s been doing nail art recently. Woman #4 says, “Your nails are prettier than mine.” This opens the floor to a conversation about nails, as they all hold up their hands and compare their manicures.
These introductions are more
entertaining and interactive than the ones we got from Group 1. Hyun Suk goes on to say he gets restless and
can’t stay home. He needs to be out and
about, which matches the vibe I get from him.
His metabolism must be through the roof.
Jeong Woo’s turn. He’s one of the introverts, so this is more of a struggle. He’s 20 years old, ISFP, and likes playing games. (Hyun Suk, a true group Leader, has to keep encouraging and prompting him.) That’s all he can think of to say. “You like staying at home,” Hyun Suk says. “Yes, I’m a homebody,” Jeong Woo responds, relieves to be able to say something else. The others applaud, and the torture is finally over for him. Moving on.
Now our maknae Jung Hwan introduces himself. Again, prompted by his group Leader, he tells us he’s ISTP. He brought a cherished item with him: his headphones. Everyone applauds. They do look like nice headphones.
Jung Hwan tells us in a confessional that he collects headphones, which would have been an interesting thing to tell everyone in his introduction.
Finally for the guys, it’s Yoshi’s turn. He says he’s really nervous talking, which is kind of funny, considering he’s a rapper. He says, “I like … “ and then turns helplessly to his bandmates and asks, “What do I like?” Oh, this poor guy.
He says he likes fashion, which I can tell by looking
at him. He also likes listening to
music. He can’t think of anything more
to add. Prompted by Woman #1, he says
the beloved object he brought is a bracelet he’s wearing. He wears it all the time and got his necklace
to match.
I agree with Lina and will be curious to hear the women’s ages when they start introducing themselves. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear that they’re actually clinical psychiatrists hired by the show to help these guys overcome their crippling shyness.
Time to find out. The ladies now introduce themselves. We start with Lee Ha Yul. Unlike the other women, she’s dressed casually in denim. She enjoys drawing and working with her hands. Hyun Suk asks if she makes beaded bracelets, and she says she loves it. Okay, Hyun Suk does not need this show. He may be a little nervous, but he’s doing fine. We’re about 24 minutes into this episode, and I’m already wanting to see him on the women’s team, helping the guys.
Ha Yul also likes making clothes, a statement that evokes bright expressions from our guys. Her most cherished item is her diary, which she brought with her. She drew the cover herself. She shows some of her drawings, and I like how the dark themes contrast with her sunny personality. This girl is interesting. Even the shy guys are speaking up in admiration.
Next up, Han Seung Ji. She’s ISTP.
Her cherished items are photos of her childhood. She’s brought a little photo album with
pictures and drawings. Seung Ji also
likes dancing and playing piano. Like Jeong
Woo, she’s a homebody who enjoys her solitude.
I like that we’re getting way more insight into these women than we did
with the first group, with the exception of nursing vlogger Ju Hee.
Next up is Jo Min Ji. She majored in ballet at Hanyang University and now works as a ballet instructor. She likes to cook, especially since she’s had to manage her weight most of her life. She’s a total foodie now. She also likes cooking for others.
Hyun Suk kiddingly says she
can do the cooking for the next four days.
Seriously, he does not seem to have a problem with conversation. Min Ji even mentions it in a confessional. He’s friendly and engaging, makes eye
contact, asks questions, and is pretty much the guy I predict will win the Mr.
Treasure title.
Min Ji also likes music, and
surprisingly, she’s a hip hop fan. I
think both Hyun Suk and Yoshi instantly love her. She says her favorite rapper is Lil Uzi Vert,
and Hyun Suk is so excited, he jumps out of his seat. Both he and Yoshi attended one of his
concerts. This is the most excited I’ve
seen these guys so far. Min Ji says she also
likes Frank Ocean, and now I’m pretty sure all five guys are ready to quit the
group and elope with her.
Finally for the women, we
have Park Ji Soo. She’s majoring in
dance at the Korean National University of Arts. She’s a senior, specializing in Korean Dance. She’s been dancing since she was six and has
dedicated her life to dance for 17 years, which tells us she’s 23 years
old. She likes listening to music,
especially ballads. Vocalist
Jeong Woo lights up at that. I predict
we’ll see him serenade her at some point in the show.
With the introductions over, it’s time for the ladies to award their First Impression Lollipops. Instead of leaving the room, the guys put their heads down and close their eyes. (Although Yoshi does peek.)
To my lack of surprise, Hyun
Suk gets two lollipops. I can’t believe
he didn’t get all four. I’m initially
surprised that Duyoung also gets two, but then I remember how interesting his
introduction was, with him buying a skateboard and having several other
interests, including playing piano in the dark, and how cool that Brenda
Russell song is, so yeah. I get it.
As an introvert, I do find it a little irritating that so much emphasis is placed on extroverts being more charming than introverts. I find Yoshi incredibly charming, even though he’s shy, just like I found Asahi charming from his very first episode. But that’s a whole essay I won’t get into right now. (And yes, I know that “introvert” doesn’t automatically equal “shy.” I’m just saying the show doesn’t seem to know that.)
We learn that Seung Ji and Ji Soo gave Duyoung his lollipops. Seung Ji, the woman with the photo album who likes dancing and playing piano, felt that his eloquent speaking showed strong leadership. Okay, I wouldn’t go that far, but he’s definitely an interesting person. Ji Soo, our ballad-loving dancer, likes how well he listens to others.
Hyun Suk’s lollipops came from Min Ji (our ballet-dancing hip hop fan) and Ha Yul (our gothic artist who makes jewelry and clothes). They like him for the same reasons I do – his style, his friendly personality, and how well he reacted to their introductions. He puts them at ease.
Our three introverts are a
little bummed but determined to do better.
Our boys gather in one of the bedrooms to take a break, and Yoshi tells us he wishes he were extroverted too. Noooo, Yoshi! You can learn to come out of your shell more and still be happy being an introvert. I really wish this show would stop telling us otherwise.
In the next shot, everyone’s
back in the living room, and it’s time to cook a meal. I can’t tell if it’s lunch or dinner
time. They need to grocery shop first,
so it will probably be dinner. Yoshi
volunteers for the grocery shop team because it will give him a chance to both
interact with people and look at blurry groceries. Win-win!
Jung Hwan, our headphone-collecting maknae, also volunteers for
shopping. They leave with Ha Yul and
Seung Ji.
Yoshi does a great job right away, asking Ha Yul in the car ride over if she likes going to art galleries. She loves them. Yoshi goes to them a lot when he has time. She mentions loving museums as well, and he tells her last time TREASURE went to Paris, he wanted to go to the Louvre, but it was closed that day. She says she’d love to see the Louvre someday. I love this conversation. This group of people is way more interesting than Part 1. It’s hard to believe the guys in Parts 1 and 2 are all part of the same band.
Meanwhile, Jung Hwan starts a conversation with Seung Ji. She mentions she had kimchi fried rice earlier that day, and he says one time he only ate kimchi fried rice for a month. That’s … concerning. Is he okay? Then she says one time she only ate kimchi fried rice for a week, and now I’m seriously worried about the both of them.
The four arrive at the blurry grocery store with the blurry signs and blurry newsstand out front. They look at the blurry products, buy some blurry food and WE CAN TELL THAT’S SPRITE. IT’S CLEARLY SPRITE.
Back at the sharply-focused
house, everyone unpacks the groceries and gets to work. This is a very different scene from the first
dinner in Part 1. This feels like a
party. Everyone is comfortable and
talking with each other.
Min Ji and Jeong Woo are concerned that the kimchi stew is too bland, so their storyline has them working together to spice it up. Yoshi cooks beef in the prep kitchen, and it looks amazing. The kimchi stew gets spiced up, the whole meal turns out perfect, and they all gather at the long kitchen table.
Everyone is talking and enjoying themselves like they’ve known each other for years. Afterwards, they clean up, and honestly, the show could just end here. Part 2 was a success. Everyone’s charming. Good job, people!
I guess the show realizes it needs some drama now that the kimchi stew emergency is over and no one is trying to escape the house to avoid talking to people, so they give us a storyline where Yoshi and Ji Soo are washing dishes together and getting along well, but when Yoshi steps away to get more dishes, Jung Hwan swoops in, and now he’s talking with Ji Soo. Yoshi does not look happy. He tells us in a confessional he should have stayed and offered to take over on washing dishes, and this is where the episode ends.
Questions for next time:
- With everyone
already being charming, will the rest of the show just be a K-drama? (I’m fine with that, by the way.)
- In the final
episode, will Hyun Suk and Jihoon battle for the true leadership of
TREASURE? Who do you think would
win? Show your work.
- If I opened a grocery store in Korea and put blurry labels on everything, and a film crew came in with their blurry lens filters, would viewers just go blind?
See you next episode.
Episode 7: We have our villains.
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