Why I became a fan of RESCENE
I first encountered RESCENE through the Geoje Parts 1 and 2. Watching the youth road movie vibes and the homecoming narrative culminate in "Amor Fati" felt like watching a masterpiece documentary; at that time, however, my satisfaction was merely with the high-quality storytelling of the content. My liking for Wony was also based on her breaking the idol mold as a "tough girl from Gyeongsang-do." But while watching the videos related to Mr. Yeonsu, I completely fell for Wony's personal charm. Although it's a bit hard to see now, her "maknae" (youngest) energy when she's with her uncles, her eyes that dream of success without losing confidence despite being an unknown idol, and her genuine emotions—like the tears she shed when asking if her relationship with her uncles was just business, only to be told there is zero business involved—all evoked real feelings. Furthermore, the process of the past few months, where the "American Dream" style narrative of unknown celebrities is actually coming true in reality, has been more dramatic than a TV drama, making it even easier to immerse myself emotionally.
What's even more surprising is that it's not just Wony's charm. Looking at Minami's true self in the Chiba episode, she is essentially an "overpowered" character. Singing, dancing, acting—she has the talent to excel at anything, even beyond the traditional mold of a celebrity. While Jena is the ultimate cutie, I feel like she will explode with beauty potential surpassing Go Youn-jung in a few years. After getting to know each member's individuality, the fun of watching their chemistry is beyond imagination. It feels like watching a family sitcom, a genre that has largely disappeared nowadays.
In short, I have grown fond of all the members, and I feel like I want to support them no matter what they do. There's a reason Jang Do-yeon shed tears and said she hopes they don't get hurt in the future.
What is the narrative we have witnessed through them over the past few months? It is not just the "miracle of a small agency idol," but a combination of the unconventionality of breaking existing idol molds, a homecoming narrative of finding one's identity, and the explosive family chemistry of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. Perhaps all of these are the values we have lost in this era of continuous division and individual survival following the COVID-19 pandemic.
It feels as though a thirst for these lost values is being released through RESCENE. This should be viewed as a social phenomenon that deserves serious exploration, rather than just simple popularity for an idol group.
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