Overanalyzing Idol: The Coup

This year, I've been in a huge drama slump. Even though I always look forward to upcoming dramas, recently I started "taste testing" many dramas and dropping them because I couldn't get hooked, but Idol: The Coup was a surprising breath of fresh air!

This article is a mix of "Currently Watching" and my new thing called "Overanalyzing": Basically, it's an introduction to the drama, with info from the first 6 episodes with no major spoilers, mixed with my love for expressing my opinion on everything.

✦*͙*❥⃝∗⁎.ʚ Plot ɞ.⁎∗❥⃝**͙✦

A story about a failed idol group's last journey and their desperate attempts to prevent disbandment. Cotton Candy only needs a one time hit to save their group, but it's not as easy as it sounds. Everything is going wrong for Cotton Candy, but the members can't let go of their friendship and dreams.

When the drama Imitation came out, I was hoping it would be as dark as it claimed in the teasers but, not to drag another drama here, it didn't even try. 

With this, it's almost as realistic as idols' real struggles. Their lives aren't glamourous, everyone is struggling, even the most popular worldwide groups. Admitting struggle is also not a sign of weakness, or ungratefulness. To be honest, as a kpop fan since 2013, I always felt like idols had to always smile, even while they go through fake news and slander. ;(

✦*͙*❥⃝∗⁎.ʚ Cast ɞ.⁎∗❥⃝**͙✦

For their ages there isn't any info but we can pretend they're BlackPink's age, i.e. 27 - 25 (maybe CC's maknae can even be 20, like I.O.I's maknae).

From the way they use eonnie, their age order is; Stella, Elle, Je Na, Chae Ah, and Hyun Ji. With Ji Han being the same age as Chae Ah because they were school mates and he said he was 25, and of course Jae Hyuk should be in his early to mid 30s.

I know I'm a little too invested in age gaps.

Kim Je Na (Ahn Hee Yeon)

• Leader

As the leader and the "founding" member in Cotton Candy, Je Na always had a lot of pressure and burden on her shoulders. The CEO, Ma Jin Woo, always depended on her to recruit the other members when they refused him. Naturally, the other members always expected her to be composed and have all the answers.

But she's still "young" as well, and it's too much for her, so naturally she cries, lashes out and chooses things that aren't "the best option".

People might know that I hate crybaby FLs, but there's a difference between a fake aegyo bubbly airhead that cries whenever the ML is around, and someone who's honestly having emotinal overflow.

Stella (Han So Eun)

• Visual

They're using her as the "face" of the group, the actor and the soft sensitive one. Also, she's representing the mental health issues anyone can go through. People, regardless of being idols, go through struggles with confidence, identity, depression and other matters. 

I do wish they focus on her a little and let her talk it out. I feel like even though she did show signs of her mental health declining, they haven't talked openly about it, and now she's taking medicine while hiding the truth because seeing how everyone else is, she doesn't want to be a burden, and that's not right.

Hyun Ji (Sol Bin)

• Main Dancer/Maknae

She's known as the blunt rough edged personality. They gave her a traumatic past and being the youngest, she has no filter, so she's the center of many (if not all) conflicts. 

But to me, I feel like she's the refreshing punch in the face that makes the other girls finally let go of their own pent up anger, and releasing all those hidden emotions they can reveal the things they feel guilty about, and naturally slowly let go and move on.

"It's your fault", "it's my fault", "I deserve the curses", those are the things that shackle them down and put a wedge
 between them. Once they confess, they can feel lighter and move forward.

Chae Ah (Green)

• Vocals

To be honest, I feel like she's the most bland and vague. Like the member you can't help but forget. Though it's not a bad thing for her to be angst free, especially since the rest of the members are so full of it. xD

I don't even know her position in the group, it's as if the writer didn't want us to pay any attention to her, because she represents the most "average" member. Though she also fits the drama because honestly I've never heard of REDSQUARE before, and checking them out now they actually sound cool and their MV is really aesthetic.

Though I wish she was the "comedian", someone they'd send to variety shows. Someone even kids recognized as the talento, like Kangnam/Kwang Hee/JooE. Someone citizens didn't even realize was an idol or cared enough to check the rest of the members out.

Elle/L (EXY)

• Main Vocalist

She's the OST queen, the one who'd easily succeed as a solo artist, but also the one with the most baggage. I feel like she does have the right to be angry, but she doesn't have the right to lash it all out on Je Na.

She blamed Je Na for being CEO Ma Jin Woo's choice to stay as a solo artist, but she goes around begging for the same thing. Sure, vocally she's the best, but tbh with her personality she'd not go far enough. Even soloists need to respect the efforts of the company and people behind the scenes.

I hope there's good climax and revelation on why Je Na stays quiet.

Cha Jae Hyuk (Kwak Shi Yang)

• CEO

I called him "Psychopathic Mr Darcy". xD But, after that elevator scene (which I've added in the "Romance" section),  I've forgiven him.

For one thing, him being raised in the US feels like an excuse to make him "colder" and even more overreactive, which at some points is overboard but it also makes him more adorable.

In his perspective, he sees Cotton Candy as a group whose contract is ending and they've been inactive for so long, unworthy of the investment.

He's not different from the usual jerk chaebols, he's too business focused, no emotional attachments, no time for nonsense, BUT! And it's the best part, but he's not trash. He doesn't treat the FL with disrespect. He does try to apologize and sometimes he's misunderstood (which makes him flustered and adorable).

Also another great part is that the Je Na doesn't grovel in front of him. She doesn't back down and she makes him flustered so there's no power trip, he's not the big bad boss no one can touch. He's actually intimidated by her. Even Yoon Se Yul easily makes fun of him. 

In some ways, he reminds me of Eugene from Mr. Sunshine.

Seo Ji Han  (Kim Min Kyu)

• Mars Leader

This whole article is me overanalyzing, but I don't like how he's actually 20. Especially since the girls are 29ish, he just looks like a baby.

I have the same problem with new idols, they're all too skinny and fragile looking. Though I will say shallowly, I prefer him with the black hair (even though my brain doesn't like hairstyle changes and I thought he was someone else), it makes him slightly more mature, like by 1 year. xD

Now if I were the writer, I'd have chosen a better conflict for him than being not taken seriously artistically, just to suddenly have him way too invested in Cotton Candy, and all of that just because of a crush...

Though, I'm slightly shipping Mars with Cotton Candy, like Girls Generation and Super Junior, or Red Velvet and EXO. KPOP needs more group collabs...

Jin Doo Ho (Kang Jae Joon)

• Manager

He's easily my favorite character here, if not even one of my favorite male characters ever. He's like their real brother, he's selfless, sweet, hardworking, loyal, and stubborn. Killing him was the biggest mistake, even if he was the final spark to start the flame for their last fight. Choosing to kill him on the same day as CEO Ma Jin Woo just to get that heartbreaking scene where everyone went to the CEO's funeral and left him all alone? HEARTBREAKING and cheap. ;(

✦*͙*❥⃝∗⁎.ʚ Idol Life ɞ.⁎∗❥⃝**͙✦

There's a variety show called Miss Back, and basically it showed the dark sad side of "failed" idols' life, so this drama isn't being "unrealistic". Maybe not many can afford to fight back, many aren't the "1st idol" in a company, many aren't their CEO's "dream and start", so the fact that Je Na can even bargain with the company and the new CEO isn't a luxury many can afford.

But since it is a drama that needs the conflict and drive to strive and fight forward, it's understandable how the writer made their existence in the company have sentimental values.

They are facing a little too many "obstacles", their manager and CEO die (at the same time), their new CEO is a bit of a jerk, Je Na's attempts are interpreted in the wrong way and the reporter dude thinks she's trying to seduce the new CEO, their company's big producer hates them, their old producer/friend hates them, Elle wants to leave.. I mean, there are A LOT of things happening that it's too hard to digest, but it's a drama after all.

✦*͙*❥⃝∗⁎.ʚ Romance ɞ.⁎∗❥⃝**͙✦

Technically, there's no romance genre, so there's a high chance no one ends up together. But will that stop me from shipping Je Na and Jae Hyuk? Nope, I will sink with this ship and then have enough content to finally write my "Sunken Ships" article. xD 

Also, I'll be mentioning some signs I take as the "green light", and it might be a spoiler for some so you can just scroll past this.

Their chemistry is legit fire! That tension between them? The over over dramatic melodrama? I LOVE that. This elevator/helmet scene in episode 5 was the final blow! Usually, and some know this but I hate jerks, so IDK why this is working for me. 

I thought I hated "poor/helpless" FL that fights against that big bad boss, but I LOVE THAT here, especially since even though she's helpless, she doesn't back down. Maybe it's the natural acting, or the power balance? No one is weak and mistreated, no one has the upper hand. Let's just say it's the type of tension usual romcoms think they're having, or fear having because it's not a "mature" drama (mature being like Her Private Life, and the ability to discuss their feelings). 

Cliche signs that this is a romance:

1. He closed his eyes and even pouted his lips?
2. Wrist grab!!?
3. He's bothered by her and can't stop worrying about her?

That just shows the best romances come from non romance genres. I will NOT talk about episode 7 or episode 8. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

✦*͙*❥⃝∗⁎.ʚ OOTD ɞ.⁎∗❥⃝**͙✦

I find it refreshing and rare to see female characters wear shorts or tank tops in Dramaland. Usually, they can't even dress well and just wear oversized badly matched outfits. Not everyone wears short clothes or skirts and that's ok, but it feels like Dramaland just wants an excuse: "This FL is so badly dressed no one wants to date her, this FL is not girly, this FL is poor, the ML will be jealous if she shows skin..."

None of the girls wear "expensive" clothes, and they're mostly in sweats, t-shirts, tanktops or shorts, so they're not being fancy/girly/stylish, but they're being realistic, especially for girl groups. On their normal non training days though, they do have the effortlessly classy vibe.

✦*͙*❥⃝∗⁎.ʚ The Songs ɞ.⁎∗❥⃝**͙✦

The main reason Cotton Candy flopped is because their CEO made them "Candy Pop". In 2016 it was the start of edgy hip hop for girl groups, like BlackPink, (G)I-DLE, Itzy and others I don't really know like SM's new girl group, aespa.

Before that, "cute" vs "sexy" were the only two concepts for girl groups and many didn't dare to break away, they were stuck in the wash, rinse and repeat. Which is exactly what the other girl group in the drama, KillA, is. Their song Me Too is another bop. Also Highteen's Funny Dawg! I really hope they release those!

Honest: it's a full bop, it actually reminds me of Red Velvet because of the vibe, smooth I dare say, RnB(?).

White Day: it's a song I'd ignore, or randomly listen to like that BANANA song from Red Velvet (I can't even remember the title).

The OST: I LOVE their main OST, whenever it plays I feel the angst coming, but I have no idea what it's called or when it'll be released. I don't like when dramas do that. 

Talking to the Moon: is a sweet little duet between Hani and Kim Min Kyu. And even Mars have their own "title" song, Cloud 9.

Many groups and soloist debuted in 2016; Astro, BlackPink, EXO CBX, Gugudan, Imfact, I.O.I, KNK, Momoland, NCT 127 and Dream, SF9, Pentagon and WJSN, and many also disbanded; 2NE1, 4Minute, Kara, Rainbow and Speed.

I had only recently discovered Speed back then, so actually that year was sad. ;) Until this day, the members post pics together, some continued as soloists, some became actors, and others just went a different path.

The previous year was the big "BigBang vs EXO" comeback showdown, I remember Speed released their song to fit in that fight hoping people who watched music shows for the "showdown" would discover them, but that didn't work out and so they disbanded.

And that's the story in this drama, many idols do disband -I don't know the percentage- and many never get the chance to have their 1st win. Many don't even have the luxury to "fight", even if their company makes random attempts to make the public remember their groups. Like the idol group that had short members only, or the one who had all their members dye their hair blond, or that boy group that always wore shorts with shaved legs.

Overall, this drama is easily one of my favorites this year, a rare little gem with great acting and emotinal moments that shows how the writer actually put some thought behind it rather than just creating trauma for the drama. I really had to control myself and not add episodes 7 and 8, but if this goes well, I might do a second part and over analyze the 2nd half of the drama after it ends.

It has everything from slice of life, friendship, sismance, youthful vigor, loyalty, backstabbing, fear, hope, confidence, lending a helpful hand, sadness, heartache, desperation, and subtle hints of happiness and love.