Drama Review: Idol: The Coup

12

Rating

★★★★

Duration

1 Hrs 25 Mins

Episodes

12

Drama Digest

An account of the final journey taken by a failing idol group and their frantic efforts to stay together. To salvage their band, Cotton Candy just needs one hit, but it is not as simple as it seems. For Cotton Candy, everything is going wrong, but the members will let go of their friendship or their goals. The girls learn from their struggles and mistakes as they grow and run toward their dreams.

The Feel-Good Part

The drama focuses heavily on the ups and downs of idol life and how not everything is as rosy as it appears. The girls struggle to gain fame and fulfill their dreams while staying afloat in their lives. Idol life is not as easy as it seems, even if you end up making your debut or are still training to become an idol.

The Disappointing Factor

The fact that the drama ended on a bittersweet note might not be liked by several viewers who generally prefer sweet endings. Other than this, the series is very short, which makes viewers wish there were more to watch because this is that good of a series.

In-Depth Analysis

Cotton Candy, a K-pop idol girl group, has been forced to consider disbanding after losing support from its parent company, Starpeace Entertainment. They have been ignored by the firm. A subsequent boy group, Mars, emerged during this time and was elevated to the status of a major idol. Cotton Candy struggled mightily with the harshness of the entertainment industry and the disdain of the general population, who labeled them as ‘failed idols’ for six years while attempting to make a comeback. Cotton Candy, however, is not yet prepared to take on such a label and admit defeat. They are determined to find a way to make it work. To increase their visibility and finally earn the right to have one last release, the girls, each in their own way, accept various assignments. Ultimately, Cotton Candy makes the decision to stand up to the individuals and forces who want to bring them down, trying with all their might for even just one chance at success: they want to take first place in a music competition before breaking up permanently.

Star Power

Ahn Hee Yeon plays Kim Je-na (Jenna), leader and backup singer of the failing K-pop girl group Cotton Candy, which is managed by Starpeace Entertainment. Jenna is a great producer and composer who creates music for the group. Despite being ignored by Starpeace and the problems that obstruct their route to success, she carries the responsibility of keeping their team together and working for their achievement. She is a tenacious and courageous artist, but she also has a tendency to waver when presented with challenging issues.

Cotton Candy, a failing K-pop female group under Starpeace Entertainment, has Ahn Sol-bin as Oh Hyun Ji, its youngest member, lead dancer, and rapper. Hyun Ji is in charge of planning their team dance movements because she is a skilled dancer and choreographer. She may have a reputation for being a troublemaker who is prone to yell, but in reality, she is kind toward others around her and has aspirations of making her ailing grandmother proud of her.

The oldest member and sub-vocalist of the failing K-pop girl group Cotton Candy, managed by Starpeace Entertainment, is Han So Eun, aka Jang Stella. Stella is a kind-hearted young lady who supports the direction of Jenna in the organization. She is fighting anxiety disorders brought on by her troubled background, which she worries may harm her team.

The lead vocalist of the failing K-pop girl group Cotton Candy, represented by Starpeace Entertainment, is Chu So Jung as Kang Yu Ri (El). After quitting her former female group, Killa, El joined Cotton Candy. She has a realistic, icy attitude that occasionally makes her appear egotistical. She became very motivated to seek a solo career as a result of the failure of Cotton Candy and her impending breakup.

Kim Ji Won, who plays Park Chae Ah, is the main dancer and backup vocalist. Despite coming from a wealthy household, her mother does not provide for her. She struggles with her lack of talent and confidence, which motivates her to work hard in practice to improve the team’s performances.

Overall Opinion

Fans of Korean pop will find this series quite intriguing. The series has been made interesting by a number of performances. The interaction between students and businesses is clearly demonstrated. Also nicely shown are the relationships between idols and their subjects, their happy and terrible days, and their memories.