It has been long since I watched a drama which centers about the K-pop industry. There are many attempts in the past that honestly didn’t make the cut or was too dragging that it has become boring, but nothing balanced or at least decent enough.

I can say, however, that Youtube Originals‘ ‘Top Management’ made the cut for a k-pop themed web drama. I think it has enough sense despite being a light and short drama that gives us an inside look at the K-pop market through the eyes of a trainee turned manager that has the gift of foresight.

The Story

The story centers on an aspiring, but struggling, idol group, “S.O.U.L,” and the group’s trainee-turned-manager who has the power to foresee the future.

(c) wikipedia

The Cast

Seo Eun Soo as Yoo Eunsung

as Yoo Eunsung Ahn Hyo Seop as Hyun Sooyong

as Hyun Sooyong Cha Eun Woo as Woo Yeon-woo

as Woo Yeon-woo Jung Yoo Ahn as Teo

as Teo Bang Jae Min as Irib

Review

The Good

The web drama is catchy from the get-go as it has an interesting opening with top visuals as the cast. Having the female protagonist become the manager of the idol group in the story isn’t a new concept in the fan fiction world, but I like the point there’s a bit of twist to her character. I mean, who would think an ex-trainee can be a manager? Or does that really happen in the K-pop industry? Either way, it gives Eunsung some interesting backstory and gives the character more dimension, especially that she can use it to her advantage, but it also brings her back the bittersweet memories.

Besides that, Eunsung could have made the cut as part of a girl group, but instead of going the easier path, like a normal person she decides on letting go of her dreams to pursue something unsure. I think that’s more realistic for a person from average living conditions. We think we know where to go only to realize it isn’t the easiest path so we take a different one to pursue a different dream that the limits to our situation shall allow.

However, the drama wants us to believe Eunsung stopped pursuing her dream because her grandma told her so. I don’t feel like it’s a strong enough reason, but maybe her tough circumstances did force her to stop. Or it could also be indirectly caused by SOUL’s plagiarism controversy, which happened like how Eunsung had foreseen coming (which in some way she also caused).

At some point I have my hopes up that Eunsung will end up making it into a girl group, since I really wanna see her singing and dancing due to her backstory, but I also thought at the back of my head it’s just wishful thinking. The story didn’t go that far and instead focused more on the behind-the-scenes of how K-pop is made. Just like how a group is created, how their images are formed, how they train or how they are selected, what’s the extent of influence of K-pop to the world, how they make it to the headline news, how do they make their music, how albums are formulated or concepts chosen, or how these idols also live as normal individuals off cam.

So, many interesting topics surrounding K-pop are discussed in the web drama about the artists, the fans and the industry itself that you wanna tune in and not miss a word as it is portrayed through a lighthearted story that mixes fun, romance and fantasy together in one package.

I’m happy that it’s informative and at the same time able to feed my eyes with great visuals and a cute story line. Add a really good soundtrack to the mix and you’ll get addicted and ask for more. You can really tell that they have invested a lot on this drama because the quality shows greatly in all aspects.

In terms of the fantasy genre, it’s interesting how Eunsung can see the future like her grandma. It adds texture to the entire story line even though the rules surrounding her ability isn’t made clear for the most part of the story. Yes, Eunsung can see the future, but most of the time she isn’t able to change the course of their fate though she saw it before it happens in reality. The fact that it’s like that seems pointless to have an extra gift like foresight. But then, I’m just glad they are able to salvage this idea through the end of the show when a politician (he does feel like he’s faking his gift, so I had my doubts about this guy at first) she visited explained to her that the outcome of her foresight may also depend on her mood–if it is good or bad–when she has her visions.

This is proven during the ending of the show when she outright decided to leave Starlight together with the director after the president of the company came back to claim his spot. Because she has a good feeling at their new venture, her negative visions about the future of SOUL turned to something worth seeing, though I would have wanted to see it for myself come true.

Lastly, I would like to also commend the beautiful cast for their plausible acting. Though all of them are young and newcomers, they have showed acting that is not awkward and emotions that felt genuine.

Eun Soo, though looked mature to fit in a girl group (that’s why I also thankful she is a manager), has portrayed her role believably and has shown great chemistry with all of the boys. Hyo Seop has been one of my favorites since ‘Queen of the Ring’ and I’m totally impressed that besides his acting he knows to play different instruments. As for Eun Woo, though I don’t see much difference to his ‘Gangnam Beauty’ role, he has displayed more emotions in the drama and has shown an even better performance for playing the role of an idol that doesn’t know how to act. Plus, he and the piano in the same picture is totally worth swooning for that I can make a GIF out of it! I will also not forget Yoo Ahn’s performance as the leader. Though he looks too cute to be the leader and looks kind of frail to be an idol, I think he has depicted how most leaders I know are–has some lame daddy jokes, but are really fun. Jae Min as the maknae is quite adorable while going through some puberty stage. He’s quiet and acts mature on the outside but is a real softy and exudes cuteness on the inside. I have no problems with the chemistry since they look as if they’ve really spent a long time together enough to share laughs and their little thoughts.

The Bad

Though I love the web drama in general that I can’t stop watching it, objectively speaking I can’t miss the the gaping shortcomings staring back at me. Spoilers!

The web drama opened the possibility of a relationship between Eunsung and Sooyong, but they eventually stay in a manager-artist relationship with an indirect promise of a possibility they can date once Sooyong’s three-year dating ban is up.

I wouldn’t really mind if Eunsung ends up liking Yunwoo since he’s so prince like and their backstory seems pretty interesting. Add the fact that Yunwoo just gives of the Second Lead Syndrome vibe in this web drama. However, it’s such a downer that he easily gives up on his feelings for her when he figured who Eunsung likes because of a song she has been listening to. It would have been nice if he was more persistent, but then I think this is the best route considering the length of the story. Still, that’s just sad. 😦

I feel like President Kang would have been a better leader for Starlight than President Baek who left after one controversy, but the drama was such a let down when President Kang was easily ousted from her position without any formal procedures as if that’s what is meant to happen right from the beginning. I’m just glad she was well aware of her position in the company and that she’s willing to start small. That gives her character a little bit consolation.

They built so much hype for Song Haena (played by Z Hera) as if she’s the second IU, but I feel like the character lacked the qualifications during her scenes. They also tried to match her up to Sooyong to make Eunsung jealous and for some time I believed Haena has shown genuine liking for Sooyong, but that subplot has been abandoned with an end note that their duet song became a hit.

The same thing happened for the other relationship subplots they started. They tried to hype us with a blossoming love that ended so abruptly or did not even start. Everything is left open-ended that it’s such a cliffhanger. But I get that a lot of web dramas are like that so I am not that disappointed. I just feel like this needs a second season so I know what happens after Eunsung’s visions come true. Nonetheless, what’s left hanging is always open for interpretations. You just have to be more understanding to enjoy the ride.

Rating:

I will definitely recommend this to all K-pop fans because you will definitely get to relate. I’m sure you will greatly understand the subtle references, jokes, fandom jargons, and the boyxboy fan fiction pairings (that part is really funny), and you will also greatly appreciate their effort to show what happens behind the scenes in the K-pop industry. Though this is absolutely 100% fiction, I will bet you’ll have those feels especially when watching our flower boys.

Nothing too serious about this drama, just the feel good kind of show and just the right amount of fluff that you’ll have those butterflies in your stomach!

Rating this web drama, I’ll give it a 4.5 out of 5.