Devil's Editing
Midway through Invasion from Seoul's Episode 0 footage, which clocked in at a full two hours of filming. Right after a band that had busted their asses to show what "youth" really meant—only to get knocked out in the preliminaries for sucking at playing—came an interview clip spliced in like it was mocking the hell out of them. Quick cuts between these "lousy bands" and the reactions of a certain "female contestant" watching them. Somber BGM with zero levity, tension-building sound effects. And the judges smirking in disbelief.
[Q: Could you introduce yourself?]
[A: …Hello. I'm Ha Suyeon from Group Sound.]
And then "Ha Suyeon" clams up again, stone-faced silence. The blatant editing intent was obvious to anyone, and internet communities exploded.
The prelims venue for Group Sound, originally filled with awe and cheers, had been recast through editing as a razor-wire tightrope walk.
[Judge 1: No experience at all.]
[Judge 2: They've seen nothing. What are we supposed to do with this?]
[Judge 3: Even if it's not public broadcast, it's an audition. You can't just mess around like this, right?]
Comments from judging other bands were edited to play as if they were aimed at Group Sound. Viewers know these audition shows pull "devil's edits," but they swallow the visuals whole anyway. The broadcast rolled on right up to Group Sound's performance... then...
[Monimoni monimoni~ Monimoa~]
Ads crashed in, killing the flow. Pointlessly catchy, infuriating jingles.
"Ah, fuck!"
Iseo shot up from the sofa, bellowing in rage. Myeongjeon watched her, shaking his head.
"Why the hell did they edit it like that?! We look like total psycho bitches!"
"Shows like this always do that..."
"Does that make it okay~? Is that how it's supposed to be~?"
Iseo hollered, playfully shaking Hyeona like a reed in a typhoon. Hyeona wobbled miserably, whimpering, "Don't do that~." Myeongjeon ignored them, lost in thought.
I knew TV was like this, but this is over the top.
For instance, the guitar difficulty comment was meant to encourage newbies: "Anyone can make music." Post-edit? It came off like "Guitar too hard? GTFO and die."
"Feels like they're out for blood, right?" Seoha's mutter.
The short ad break ended, broadcast resuming. The fired-up kids scrambled back to their seats. Group Sound's performance kicked in—and the vibe flipped completely.
Already the shadow of the first snow has come to you once more
"Ashen gray, return to me."
Languid, emotive vocals murmuring, crowds cheering. Judges gawking in awe, cross-cut. Communities flipped instantly.
Then the prelim guitar solo layered in. Judges clapping in shock, other bands outside clutching their heads. A full minute-plus solo, unedited from start to finish.
[Judge 1: That's what a genius is.]
[Judge 2: Felt it the second the guitar hit. We're done.]
[Judge 3: Almost cried from joy. Finally, a real talent in Korea's band scene. Rock revolution begins.]
Endless praise for their skills. Gushing compliments that'd make you cringe. Other bands' interviews too.
[Hit a wall, I guess.]
[One year? Self-loathing hit hard the second I heard... ha...]
[What I played was just child's play.]
But all the edits zeroed in solely on the "insane skill." Zero humanizing cuts for "Ha Suyeon" or Group Sound. Just emotionless machines nailing perfect performances onstage.
[Q: How long have you been playing bass?]
[A: About a year and a half, I think.]
[Q: Wasn't it tough?]
[A: Didn't feel that hard.]
This robotic treatment hit every Group Sound member—even Choi Iseo.
"Wait, why me too?!"
Onscreen "Choi Iseo": a blank machine perfectly thumping bass. As she freaked, the others got the same treatment. Group Sound painted as arrogant geniuses with god complexes.
"...Is this even allowed?"
After the broadcast moved to other bands, Iseo muttered.
"We look like total trash. Like, cocky about skills and shitting on everyone."
"Straight-up malicious. Shouldn't we complain? I never said it like that."
"I talked about my experience, but they cut it all. CCM band stuff, gone."
"Eh, TV's always like that..."
The kids bickered playfully over who got screwed worst by the devil edit. Myeongjeon, chin on hand, finally spoke.
"I'm the one who got hit hardest, no? I came off as a total rude bitch."
"Uh... isn't that true tho?"
The band stared like he'd said something dumb, baffled.
"That's just normal you. You didn't even get edited much."
"Me like that?"
"Spot on. Carbon copy."
"You always go 'been playing guitar a year' then flex in front of everyone. What? That's regular Ha Suyeon."
"When have I ever?!"
His protests fell flat. Seizing the rare roast opportunity, Iseo cackled, "Whaaat~ when'd you ever do thaaat~ bullshit khuhuhu you're exactly like that~ classic Suyeon~." Myeongjeon shook his head.
Anyway, he hadn't meant it that way—if they took it wrong, their bad.
The back half focused on boy bands from agencies like [TWR] or [WEKIDS], indies like [Muzaku] or [Seolga Hyang]. All edited as hardworking with solid skills. As the 30th band took the stage, Episode 0 wrapped. Ayoon thought:
Our girls came off like villains.
Front half: Arrogant genius band "Group Sound" massacres scrubs. Back half: Tall, hot, skilled, decent bands. They're growing, will evolve via the show, and topple the big bad "Group Sound." That vibe.
Communities echoed it.
Across communities, same vibe.
Totally backwards. Opposite of impressions from Paradox gigs. But "[our girls aren't like that they're sweet ]" posts drowned in promo spam and bait.
At least we got screen time.
Ayun, exhausted from posting, settled on that. Some skilled bands got zero edits—be grateful for this.
"Watched the broadcast? Editing was brutal. You all looked like robots."
Intermediate shoot for Episode 2. In the studio, mentor team [Dohwa-seo]'s "Doyeon" spoke up.
"Ugh, tell me about it. Me especially! Came off like a mute bass-bot."
Iseo hammed it up; Doyeon chuckled. Guitarist "Kim Jinseo" beside her grinned lightly.
"Auditions and TV are like that. Back in my young days, tons of my footage got cut, made me look like a dick—went at the PDs, fought 'em."
"You did that? What happened?"
"What? Got told to shut up with the bullshit. PDs were gods back then. Still kinda are, but better now."
TV tips exchanged, the director signaled: "We're starting~."
Everyone straightened.
"Alright! Mid-check time. Vivid Orange's 'JUMPING!'. Last song standing from other bands—definitely tough."
"Random Q: Doyeon, how old when this dropped?"
"This one? Right as I hit college, prepping to debut."
"I was late 20s. Group Sound, you hear this in... elementary?"
Iseo shook her head; "I was first grade, I think," from the other two. Myeongjeon stayed mum out of conscience.
"Whoa, generation gap. Anyone hear it before?"
No hands. Jinseo feigned shock. "Am I that old?" he muttered.
"Old track, trends shifted—must've been hard," Doyeon reeled in the mood.
"Disco vibe, tough to band-ify. Concept set? If not, let's brainstorm."
"We got one."
Myeongjeon opened his laptop. MV queued.
"Far from our lane, so we picked refs and adapted. This is primary."
"Primary? Secondary too? Can we see?"
He showed it. YouTube title screamed the song, but Doyeon and Jinseo blanked. Iseo, Hyeona—especially Seoha—grinned, holding back laughs.
MV played: Full stage. Clear girl's voice... then technical, heavy sound.
"Huh?"
Three Japanese girl idols in frills and skirts. Cute faces, choreo, vocals—all peak "Japanese idol." Except the heavy metal backing.
"Our primary ref: so-called 'Kawaii-Metal'."
Myeongjeon declared it to their "am I seeing this right?" stares.