Redundant title, but that's the point. Watch it if you like reality tv, competition shows, cliffhangers, and twists.
The show has a very unique perspective. I came into the show after I discovered Katseye. I personally loved building a deeper appreciation for the newly formed group.
Some aspects were slow. The competition itself does not start until episode 5, and the first 4 episodes consist of the training before the competition starts. This makes you build a connection with the girls that have been there at the beginning of the bootcamp.
I've only watched singing competitions; I like this more. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to be in a girl group and this shows that hard work. The show also displays how dedication and hard work are the basics. There are 5 categories to consider such as Dancing, Singing, and Star Quality. This becomes more prevalent when the girls start to compete against each other. Unfortunately, the girls don't really understand until the competition really starts.
Is it cruel? Maybe, but the audience needs to decide it for themselves. The twists may push some girls over the edge. I was on the edge of my seat due to twists and cliffhangers. Despite knowing who makes the group I did have the occasional trainee that I was secretly rooting for. You'll never see the twists coming.
Just like any competition/reality show, there's gonna be drama. It's easy to pick a side but every result has an underlying reason.
Overall:
I liked the perspective and execution of the show. In the end, despite already knowing the results, I was crying for one of my favs that didn't get in. It really takes you through all of the emotions and perspectives, so if you feel a certain way then this show did its thing. I wasn't planning on crying but the music and timing really had me crying then happy for all of my favorites. If I could rank on making me feel something alone it would be a 10/10. However, the show is slow. I think it's valid to criticize the show for not telling the trainees it was as a competition show until the 5th episode. Then I go back to loving how intentional every aspect of the show was. I really only removed 1 star because I wish episode 1 started with the competition versus the very beginning of this training bootcamp. The title of the show is accurate, but I wish it was just "PopStar Competition". Or, "Popstar Academy to Competition", which is wordy but is more accurate to the show. Instead it focused on the origins on Katseye. It's easy to be confused by the rules for each mission but I recommend making sure you understand the rules before watching the elimination rounds or you might find things unfair. Again, everything is intentional.
Shoutout to the Philippines 🇵🇭
