Tears well up with the emotional beginning of IDOL: The Coup, but it also sets forth a desperate fight for survival!
Upon its start, IDOL: The Coup has set the tone of its story about idols that are at the risk of disbanding. Viewers may come to empathize and become part of the journey of the girl group Cotton Candy.
Truly even at its beginning, the series has delivered a narrative that resonates not only with idols, but also with those who continue to dream despite experiencing setbacks.
Opening Week Rating:
Marcie Line watches IDOL: The Coup on iQiyi
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | Finale Episode + Review |
IDOL: The Coup Opening Week Story
“In this cold-blooded age where the winner takes it all, we endure all that with everything we have.”
Guesting in a radio show gig, Cotton Candy leader Jenna goes along with the host in admitting that her group is a failed idol group. Hyun-ji, who dances at clubs, feels frustrated after hearing Jenna tolerate the host humiliating their group.
Hyun-ji calls Elle to pick her up at the club, and also talk about the radio show. Instead of Elle, Jenna comes to pick up Hyun-ji who has passed out at the club. Arriving at their dorm, Jenna and Elle talk about their group’s possibilities of having a second chance. Ending that conversation, Jenna recalls their bright outlook and excitement when they just debuted.
Jenna runs into CEO Ma in their company and asks for him to listen to the song she sent to his email. She also meets Du-ho, their old manager, and plays her self-composed song which catches the attention of Ji-han from boy group MARS.
“Don’t make such an effort on your own. Leading them by the collar can only go so far.”
Agreeing to Assistant Manager Park on performing at the event at his apartment complex, Jenna tells her members about the gig, but Hyun-ji and Elle instantly refuse to attend.
Hyun-ji goes to the club, but a guy who takes chances on her while dancing angers her. Meanwhile, Stella and Jenna recall the time when they needed to vote for their disbandment, where nobody came in to vote saying that they were busy, but in fact were not.
Back at the club, Hyun-ji gets into a fight, and Jenna, Stella, and Du-ho come to settle the trouble Hyun-ji has gotten into. The day of the gig at the apartment complex comes, and Jenna is left alone to perform. Elle goes to her own gig, Chae-ah and Hyun-ji ditch the event to go to a coin karaoke, while Stella is stuck in filming.
Carrying her group at the event, Jenna gives in to the audience’s request and ends without getting to sing her group’s song. Jenna meets with CEO Ma that night, where she gets informed about Cotton Candy’s disbandment, and the CEO’s plans of renewing her contract.
“I guess I wanted to prove to the world. That even in a failed household, people live.”
Du-ho excitedly tells Jenna about the gig he has for Cotton Candy at the marketplace, but Hyun-ji becomes unhappy with this news recalling her childhood experience.
Elle sits down for dinner with an investor, but the meeting ends up awry. She drops her card at the restaurant and comes back when it is closed. Seeing CEO Cha, who shall become the co-president of Starpeace, Elle approaches him and asks him to lend her money for her bus fare.
Jenna confesses only to Stella about what CEO Ma and her talked about the other night, and she messages everyone to vote for their disbandment.
“I can’t do anything about powerful people. But I won’t be stepped on by trash.”
Hyun-ji searches for the man in the club to retrieve the money their old manager lost. Joining the man’s live broadcast, she suggests having a drinking contest with the money as their bet.
Jenna works part-time, and her last delivery is received by the members of MARS. She receives a message about Hyun-ji, and rushes to catch a taxi, but Ji-han drives her to the place. Wearing a chicken mask, Ji-han also involves himself in protecting Hyun-ji.
Hyun-ji cries her heart out as the money she was trying to retrieve was for Du-ho, who had dreams of having a family. The same night, Jenna runs to CEO Ma, informing him that she plans to stick with her group no matter what.
The following day, they all come to practice in their company’s studio, with Du-ho’s efforts and Ji-han’s kindness. However, Elle arrives at the studio, and confronts Jenna about their disbandment.
IDOL: The Coup Opening Week Musings
At its start, IDOL: The Coup is clear on what story it wanted to tell, and also emphasizes the gravity of the issues it plans to tackle. From the opening, you could really say that it has a lot to offer, and the topics it included were researched well.
It really did expose viewers to the unglamorous reality of the industry with idols working part-time jobs, older groups being maltreated & neglected, artists lacking creative freedom, and leaders struggling to handle their members.
Each actress portraying a member of Cotton Candy has clearly shown the differences in their character’s personality. Heavy emotional scenes can well up the tears in viewers’ eyes as the acting of the cast radiates outside the screen.
Moreover, it was also painful to watch Jenna who tolerates the humiliation and mistreatment from various people in the industry. Cotton Candy knows it themselves that they are seen as a failed idol group, yet they still hold on for a second chance.
We can see how humble yet positive their beginnings were with CEO Ma and Du-ho, but over the years, they were left in the dark. At present, even their company sees them as a failure, and that harsh reality exists especially when the group does not produce enough revenue.
Have they really failed as an idol group or did they just lack opportunities to showcase their charms and talents given their company’s treatment? With their group’s collective experience, I am curious about the years between their debut and the present.
I look forward to the next episodes of this series as the plot really captivated my interest. We can expect more tears and heartbreaking moments for Cotton Candy. But, I also see that there will come a time where hope will flow for the group just as PD Noh has said. However, that positivity would be balanced out with some touches of reality.
Watch the latest episodes of IDOL: The Coup every Monday and Tuesday on iQiyi.
Captivating Stills From “IDOL: The Coup” Reveal The Female Lead Cast Pursuing Unrelenting Dreams
“IDOL: The Coup” Acquaints Viewers With Fictional Top Boy Group – MARS
Photos: JTBC
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