I will be sticking with Mnet survival shows in the future...

I had high expectations for this show, particularly after the previous season (MTG) which was quite refreshing in the world of survival shows. However, this season was underwhelming at best. They lost much of what made MTG special, and as a result, the show felt like a poor imitation of Boys Planet, tainted by a visibly lower production value.

- The talent pool was disappointingly narrow, leaning excessively on visuals. In some episodes, I felt like I was watching a beauty pageant instead of a talent show, such as the one where the contestant photographed by the most audience members won.
- If you're expecting to be blown away by the performances, lower your expectations. They fluctuated between subpar and average at best.
- The editing was atrocious, and I mean really atrocious. It improved slightly in the final episodes, but the initial ones were almost unwatchable due to the incessant random cuts, incomplete scenes, and events unfolding in a reversed order, among other issues. I am not even speaking of the first episodes where doors opening and closing almost got more screentime than the contestants... So frustrating to watch. Also they ran into some copyright issues so some performance are cut.
- The set design left much to be desired, featuring dated pastel white & blue colors. Some parts even appeared unfinished or neglected, such as hastily painted, unsanded wooden podiums, and wires dangling between TV stands. These details may seem small, but they are quite noticeable on camera and look unprofessional.
- Audience voting was quite frustrating. The "noona" audience, constantly voted for their favorites, regardless of their actual performances, even the mentors were shocked. They also seemed to favor extremely young contestants who, arguably, were not ready for or should not be debuting at such a young age.
- The episodes were really short, averaging around 1h30 (vs ~ 2h30 to 3h for BP). I know this was probably a constraint they had because it airs on MBC, a public channel with tight program schedule but this resulted in a hurried pace. It was as though we were presented with a quick succession of performances with scarce opportunity to get to know the contestants, their interactions in the dorms, or their journey... which is usually what makes surival shows great. I started to recognize and know the contestants' names around episode 7, when it's usually around ep. 2 or 3 in other shows.

On the positive side, I really liked some contestants. Sadly, their relationships were not shown enough. The mentors were also great but sadly, the training/feedback process was not showcased enough like it was in MTG.

I'm not sure who made the decision to broadcast this show concurrently with Boys Planet, but it was a big mistake, they just didn't have the budget and air time to compete and it made them loose a lot of popularity as a lot of viewers were already busy. The comparison between the two shows is unavoidable, and this one unfortunately comes across as a low-quality rip off. I mean, just compare the final episode of both show..

Regardless of the show's shortcomings, I genuinely wish the best for the FANTASY BOYS' group.

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Good acting, stunning sets but too much action and not enough focus on characters' psychology

"Home Coming" is a Chinese movie that centers around embassy staff aiding their fellow citizens in evacuating from a fictional North African country during a time of war. The movie boasts visually stunning sets that provide a captivating ambiance. The acting performances by the main leads are impressive and bring depth to their respective characters.

However, the plot of the movie does not give the characters enough development (there is some but clearly not enough, we are left wanting more ... instead of brainless action scenes). The focus on action over character development may not satisfy viewers seeking a more psychological and character-driven experience. A greater emphasis on exploring the relationship and psychology of the two main leads would have added greater depth to the plot.

Another issue with the movie is the lack of English subtitles, which may pose challenges for non-Chinese speaking viewers. It is worth noting that I had to rely on Whisper Speech to Text AI engine (with VAD) to obtain the english subtitles, which may not be as accurate as human translation.

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