K-pop fans are in for a treat as Mnet has announced a new survival show that is sure to be a hit. Mnet’s Queendom Puzzle sets to air in June and expects to feature individual artists from popular girl groups competing to form a special unit group. While this new show is generating a lot of excitement, it is also raising some concerns among fans. In this article, we will take a closer look at Queendom Puzzle and what fans can expect from the show.
If you’re new to K-pop, survival shows have been present for quite a while now. Do you stan Kep1er? They came from Mnet’s most recent competition show, the Girls Planet 999. Currently, the Boys Planet is nearing its end, and Mnet’s having a new survival show on its sleeves. Here’s what you need to know.
Mnet’s Queendom Puzzle: A different kind of survival show
Mnet is known for its popular survival shows that feature aspiring K-pop idols, and K-pop artists themselves, competing against each other in various challenges. Queendom and Kingdom are two such shows that have been very successful. Queendom featured six artists from girl groups and one soloist competing in a series of performances that highlighted their incredible skills. Kingdom, on the other hand, focused on boy groups. Both shows were praised for their exciting performances and intense competition.
Mnet’s Queendom Puzzle, however, takes a different approach. While it shares some similarities with its predecessors, this show is unique in that it focuses on individual artists instead of groups. The premise of the show is somewhat similar to Kakao Entertainment’s recent survival show, GIRL’S RE:VERSE, where currently active girl group idols competed via virtual avatars to debut in a new virtual girl group.
- Yes, you got it right. Debuted K-pop idols from different girl groups compete in Queendom Puzzle to create the ‘ultimate girl group’. As much as it sounds exciting, fans can’t help but think about some concerns and who’s going to join the show.
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The First Look at Mnet’s new survival show
The first idols to reportedly join Mnet’s survival show happened to be former IZ*ONE members Honda Hitomi and Yabuki Nako, according to Seoul Kyungje. Moreover, former MOMOLAND member JooE is reported to join as well, according to Sports Chosun. However, none of this is confirmed yet so far. Currently, Mnet is in the midst of the casting.
The first teaser for the show included songs from popular artists like BLACKPINK, (G)I-DLE, Girls’ Generation, IZ*ONE, LE SSERAFIM, OH MY GIRL, Red Velvet, STAYC, and WJSN (also known as Cosmic Girls). This has led some netizens to speculate that some of these groups will be included in the show.
[#퀸덤퍼즐] QUEENDOM PUZZLE | 2023.05 FIRST LINE-UP OPEN
걸그룹 최강의 조합을 완성하라! Mnet 〈퀸덤 퍼즐〉
2023 COMING SOON #퀸덤퍼즐 #QUEENDOMPUZZLE #퀸덤 #걸그룹 #GIRLGROUP #Mnet #엠넷 pic.twitter.com/knk5QxHFJQ— Mnet (@MnetKR) April 10, 2023
However, it seems unlikely for artists like BLACKPINK or Red Velvet to join these types of shows. Instead, we think that these songs were likely chosen for their popularity and to create hype for the show. On a lighter note, the first line-up for Queendom Puzzle gets to be revealed on May 2023!
Let's be serious for a moment, all those songs are just for hype because there's NO WAY Mnet can convince any member of SNSD, RV or BP to be part of a survival show https://t.co/nxrA6DEnjf
— Javiʳᵛ (@PerfectRouge) April 10, 2023
- There should be 28 participants competing in Queendom Puzzle to create a seven-member girl group. This has been deciphered from the clue shown in the latter part of the video. While it nears, fans may see more hints at the possible idols to join Mnet’s newest survival show.
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Create your own Girl Group
After dropping the teaser, Mnet also dropped a template to hear the fans’ dream girl group lineup. Feel free to use Mnet’s photo template and place the photo of your dream K-pop girl group. Certainly, you may add every female idol you can think of in the seven spaces provided. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
- Start by downloading the template. You can find it on Mnet’s official Twitter, or just head to the link of their Tweet. Then, think of any girl group member you want. Whether it’s your favorite member or the one you think will fit best with your combination, it’s up to you.
Image Courtesy of Mnet via Twitter (@MnetKR) - Now comes the fun part – it’s time to complete your own combination! Choose the other members you want to include in your group and write their names down on the form too. You can mix and match members from different girl groups, or even add members that don’t exist in any current girl group.
- Once you’ve completed your girl group combination, it’s time to show it off to the world! Finish your template and upload it on social media with the hashtag #QDPZ_PUZZLING. This will allow other fans to see your creation and possibly even discover new girl group combinations of their own.
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Mixed reactions from fans
After the announcement of Queendom Puzzle, many fans were excited about the possibility of their favorite artists participating in the show. They felt that it would be a good chance for their idols to gain more exposure and potentially form new connections with other artists. However, not all fans are thrilled about the prospect of their favorites joining the show.
One of the main concerns that fans have is Mnet’s reputation for “evil editing.” This refers to the practice of selectively editing footage to create drama and manipulate the audience’s perception of certain contestants. Fans worry that their idols could be portrayed in a negative light, even if they perform well on the show.
me having to watch another mnet show w/evil editing https://t.co/9ro8u4axzR pic.twitter.com/A16lioxMMv
— kate ♡ KAMDEN DEBUT IN NOV ♡!! (@dongwinwu) April 10, 2023
Another concern is the potential for fanwars to erupt between supporters of different artists. In past survival shows, fans have engaged in heated online debates and even resorted to unethical tactics to ensure their idols win. This kind of behavior is not only harmful to the contestants but also to the K-pop community as a whole.
Finally, some fans are worried about the concept of the show itself. They believe that forming a temporary unit group could be damaging to their favorite groups’ dynamics. Losing a member, even temporarily, could affect the group’s chemistry and potentially lead to future conflicts.
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Queendom Puzzle is an exciting new addition to Mnet’s lineup of survival shows. The first teaser for the show generated a lot of buzz, with many netizens speculating about which artists will be featured. However, the show also raised some concerns among fans, particularly regarding Mnet’s editing practices and the potential for fanwars.
Are you among the fans who are excited to see what this Mnet’s new survival show has to offer? Also, you might want to share with us in the comments who you think would be a great girl group combination.
If you missed any updates or have any questions about K-pop, you can also share them below. Until then, stay with us here at Spiel Times for more content.
