For someone who was not involved in season one at all and practically ignored IOI until Whatta Man... I must say I did not expect myself to follow produce 101 season 2 haha.

Long story short, but I watched IOI's subunit on weekly idol, then they were on Leeteuk's Star Show 360 and Heechul's Knowing Brothers, so I ended watching them a couple times and fell for their chemistry. Out of pure curiosity, I started to watch produce 101 season one (like maybe one week before the second season started). And after that now I'm following the second season as well, currently up to the 3rd episode.

In general I think it's kind of hard to watch... especially this season. For S1 it's a situation when I clearly know who are the final 11 who debuted, so although it was kind of sad to watch the other trainees work so hard, there was less sense of tension since I already knew the outcome. But here... I'm literally following the show from scratch. And there ARE a few members who I really hope can make into the final 11, so I'm actually quite tensed.

I feel like this program is both good and evil at the same time... Good because it gave the smaller company a better chance... it exposed them to a better system that they will never be exposed to in their company. The big3 doesn't need to send their trainees to produce101 because they can give the same, if not better, but this is probably a training system many levels higher than a lot of the smaller companies. This puts them on a more equal ground to compete. Even if they got eliminated in earlier rounds, they could at least take away important lessons from the experienced trainers (that is, if they kept the right sort of attitude). And of course, while the system is really cruel, what BoA said is totally true: "this industry that you dream of entering is a lot more cruel, so get used to it" (sth along the lines) - I feel like a lot of trainees have unrealistic dreams and expectations. Produce 101 can help them realise if this is what they truly want and can do, so if it's not suited for them they can quit earlier and find another path faster, and if it is what they want to do, they can see how they can achieve it. 

The bad is of course the the sad, cruel reality, and how this is a group built off not talent, but popularity. And popularity is about 70% based off looks. This rules out about half the contestants this season (no offence but the overall visual in s1 is much higher than s2) (and I thought I would be more favouring towards the guys but... yeah). And then people who had prior backgrounds (audition programs, debut experience etc) will have a clear advantage (just like Somi did in s1).

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Regarding Nuest... I guess it's heartbreaking to see them. I'm not much of a fan, only heard of them briefly when the debuted, and their only song I saved was Face and only name I know is Ren because people claim that he's prettier than Heechul. I feel sorry that things didn't work out for them (but then again, things don't work out for a lot of people), and I guess it's natural for others to feel like they had an unfair advantage with their established fanbase. They do sometimes give me the feel that they are out of place and reluctant to be there, and I'm sad to see how much stress they have to bear from the expectations people hold of them. They probably had it worse than Hotshot because Nuest did better so they've seen higher positions, it must have been hard to adjust.

I don't think any Nuest member will make it to the final 11, and honestly speaking I do not hope that will happen because that will be quite a strange group make up. But I do hope this program drew fans back to support them and they can be active again. Same goes for Hotshot, I don't think they will be able to make it, such a shame for their ability (which shone very clear in the first company performance, but then again idk how well they were able to learn the IOI dance so hard to judge their talent). Wishing them all the best.

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And frankly speaking... if there's one person that I don't actually like on this program (so far)... it's Daehwi. I don't know... I just don't like the vibe around him... Since episode one. I feel really turned off by most comments he throws in (when the other company trainees enter and he's be giving lots of comments like omg so handsome we should go home etc, there isn't anything necessarily wrong with the content but idk the way he said those stuff made me really uncomfortable idk, he doesn't seem to lack confidence and I don't feel like he meant a lot of things he say).

I feel like he's really suited for this industry, and I get the vibe that he's more of pretense and sly than I preferred. When his other hyungs from the company got a B, he was showing off his A. He picked out an avengers team based on popular members leaving the other trainees quite at despair. And esp the part when they were given 1 hour to come up with a performance to get the center position, he went to a place that hides his performance from others. That, I really can't. Like first up everyone's quite caught up with their own stuff it's only one hour to make up a whole performance, who has the time to study your competitors? And overall it just made me feel really uncomfortable, he's so sly and cunning. If I were a trainee I don't want to be in a team with him. I honestly don't feel like he's sincere in his actions and words (he lowkey reminds me of Chanmi from S1).

All that being said, I don't have much question about his ability. He has definite talent for composing, his company's performance was the most eye-catching and the song was well arranged. He can dance pretty alright, and have acceptable vocals. He has all the physical stuff of an idol, and I guess some people buy his looks as well. I have my (not so subtle) doubt on his character, but I wonder if that's also the kind of character that idols inevitably need.

So yes. I'm torn.

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As of the first round of song performance, I haven't seen most of it, except the 2pm song for both groups, sorry sorry by daniel's group and the so called avengers team. And here are my thoughts. I'll update this when I watch all performances.

I don't remember much about the 2pm performance. Visual wise no one from either group catches my eye. Dance was neat from both sides. Vocal nothing outstanding. The less visually attractive team clearly had a much better vibe as a team though - if I remembered right, the other team had some sort of a double leader (woojin and tae something...? idk too much drama).

Sorry Sorry was a blast omg like not even kidding I looked forward to this performance most, even more than the avengers team. Mainly because in ep3 when they showed the preparation part, when this team sat down to discuss the roles I get the feeling that they're really trying to arrange what's best for everyone, I really liked the vibe - and not gonna kid I liked daniel since ep1 he has such a harmless smile and I love him for approaching the smoll boy first (that, and stepping up during the dance class) (like seriously he has the right mix of okay visual, sturdy standards, relative kindness, leadership and a largely accurate understanding of 'idol'). I think they did the song justice and definitely added their own touch to the song (this coming from someone who's seen sorry sorry be done like hundreds of times over the years lol), especially vocally. The last part of the dance was not very convincing (with ong as center) but overall the performance was fantastic and they picked their center very well HAHAHA. Dance great, vocals on point and very much in harmony.

The 'avengers team' did Boy in Luv, and I'm not gonna lie it was a huge disappointment for me. Although I don't like Daehwi's character I think the members he chose, and he himself, are all some of the most talented and capable trainee... but what was it that I see? They simply tried to replicate BTS... like...??? And it wasn't even a good enough replica. The vocals were weak, dance was so-so, and where is this entire "bad boy/true man" vibe? They changed like nothing about how the song is arranged, how the vocals are done and as far as I remember, the dance was the same as well. I was expecting so much more, especially knowing that a lot of them are actually musically capable so they actually are able to rearrange the song slightly to better bring out the team's colour. But what is this? Strained vocals, and dance moves that are just not powerful enough? Sure, this is a popularity test, but at least show me something about your capability. Really disappointed this time round, they really didn't live up to the name of avengers. Maybe it's because they gathered too many capable people, but don't have someone who could try keep everyone in check (in S1 they generally complied with CHanmi since she was the oldest and had debut experience). Just my guess, idk.

Yeah that's all for now. I'm currently rooting for Daniel, Ong Sungwoo and small Woojin haha. Maybe Sameul too.