Chapter 86: MIRO MAZE (4)
86. MIRO MAZE (4)
Every scene of MIRO MAZE's first episode achieved astonishing buzz, and after main MC Seo Tae-il's appearance, the pacing accelerated rapidly. The show had finally transitioned into a full-fledged idol survival program.
—Those who wish to touch the sun must soar high!
The episode introduced the debut lineup of seven members and the basic rules of MIRO MAZE. While this segment could have been dull compared to earlier scenes, viewers remained engaged.
[The production team really used their heads]
Since it's a company survival show anyway, they didn't need to evil-edit the trainees, so they just spent the entire first half thoroughly establishing everyone's characters lol
They hooked interest with the fun maze escape concept first so by the time the survival aspect kicked in, viewers were already fully immersed in the trainees' personalities
—Yeah I thought the same thing lol The producers are smart
—OMG so true my mom usually says she can't tell these kids apart but after watching with me she memorized all 17 names LOLOLOL
[Just my speculation (subject omitted)]
Since the performance video already leaked and spoiled the first mission song anyway
I think the extended maze escape segments were partly because of this
Normally survival shows focus on preparing stages and showing the final product, but since the first mission was already exposed, they went with a strategy to build recognition for the trainees themselves...
Still, abandoning the stage focus in a survival show wasn't an easy choice, but judging by the current buzz, MIRO and the producers made the right call
—You're right but I'm still a bit disappointed. It is a survival show after all, yet there's barely any stage discussion
—Wait does that mean we won't see the stage today? It's almost ending time now?
└They'll probably just briefly show team divisions and practice before ending
—Huh guess I'll have to wait until episode 2 then. I wanted to see the stage prep
While opinions were divided on this somewhat experimental format, the response was largely positive. Ending at just the right point to make viewers curious for the next episode would have been successful enough—but MIRO MAZE didn't stop there.
—Yo apparently episode 1 is 150 minutes long OMG just checked the schedule
Originally planned as a 90-minute broadcast, they extended it by a full hour! This was one of the conditions Ji Soo-ho had negotiated with PD Kwon Myung-eun.
—Extend the broadcast time and showcase all trainees equally and attractively.
PD Kwon also had many great scenes she hated to cut. After fierce negotiations with the network, she secured the 150-minute runtime and even boldly extended what was originally a 10-minute opening to 40 minutes.
PD Kwon didn't deny that this worked slightly to Kang Hajin's advantage—with the extended opening, all of Hajin's catchphrases that would have been cut for time survived intact.
However, there were no complaints about fairness or PD favoritism since with the increased runtime, all other trainees received balanced screen time too.
—Not a single scene should be boring.
True to her philosophy, PD Kwon went all-in for episode 1. Competition, friendship, growth, trials, conflict... Any hint of drama was captured and broadcast.
And of course, the results were successful.
@strongjin (Kang Daejang)
[Video clip of Kang Hajin leading Team B's practice]
Our Hajin is all about angles and lines
Literally a madman for angles and lines
Team B's dance captain is killing it
But now he's dance center AND leader
Shares: 781 Quotes: 22 Likes: 1,009
[The chemistry between Yubbang and No.1 is chef's kiss]
Honors class main dancer Yubbang who slipped in monthly evaluations and dropped ranks
And regular class Kim No.1 who finally got attention through monthly evals
This pairing is gold srsly
Yubbang learns choreo crazy fast and teaches No.1
No.1's dance break idea gets adopted
Isn't this the classic genius-enjoyer and hardworking-talent dynamic?
—Instead of the rivalry I expected, they're giving youth growth drama
—I get No.1 but why is he called Yubbang?
└Gun=gun=bang!
└The fandom naming universe is truly wondrous
[Boyhood Under Heaven's Seo Tae-hyun shows amazing growth after 3 years...MIRO MAZE premiere]
[Ha Young-seo's Media View] A survival show without evil editing? MIRO's new paradigm
[TOW-M's performance video finally hits 1 million views]
[Who stood out most in TOW-M for you?]
For me it's Seo Tae-hyun—his Boyhood experience shows
I keep replaying the part where he nails the one-day details
—Thought Jung Si-woo was just a pretty face but turns out his personality is totally different
└After ep22 realized my boy's a schemer type
—For me it's Jae-youngㅠㅠ When he cried while learning choreo from Hajin because he couldn't memorize it, my heart broke
—Honestly wasn't Strongjin the episode's biggest topic? His GIF account already hit 10k followers
└Yesterday was definitely Strongjin's world lololol
└Typical cool-leader type, hexagonal member material
└Strongjin is also ㄴㄱ여
└Strong + Jin
└Man stanning is so hard these days
[Anyone else can't pick a TOW-M one-pick?]
Finally found a rapper I like but he gets barely mentioned
—His dancing...
└His dancing...222 but his rap is legit
Episode 1 concluded successfully, packed full of Team A and B's practice sessions, with an exciting preview that left viewers eager for next week as a bonus.
<Finally, the first mission Daylight begins!>
<Who is the special mentor that made trainees nervous?>
<Unexpected situation>
<What happened between the two team leaders?>
The preview ended with slow-motion shots of Hajin bowing his head as if holding back tears and Si-woo pressing his forehead while confronting someone.
Now DESTIs (MIRO MAZE fandom/voter name, short for Destination) began analyzing the preview to predict next week's mission. They made GIFs from episode 1's various scenes with funny captions to promote their favorite trainees.
But the surprises didn't end there—the individual appeal videos from the maze escape benefit were released!
—OMG Monthly Evalz New Wave LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Admin the title is suspiciously cringy
—Si-woo sunbae remember me? During our Louvre field trip I touched you thinking you were a statue and you reported me...I'm still in prison...Jung Si-woo's prison...
└Yo this meme has evolved into something really weird
@tae_day
#MIROMAZE #TOWM #SeoJuDan
#SeoTaehyun #JooEunchan #DanHaru
Who put rabbit ears on SeoJuDan's heads
May you live long and prosper...
(SeoJuDan benefit video edited GIF)
∥
@MM_Official
The rabbit ears and animal pajamas were
genius idol Seo Tae-hyun's idea♡
∥
@tae_day
WHY doesn't Seo Tae-hyun have his own country yet?
@rossy_1017
2X0504 MIRO MAZE Benefit Special
Monthly Evalz / JustThreeGuys - New Wave
(LIVE ver.) MP3 download
(Cover OK / Lyrics OK)
Available at link below
https://url.kr/lp1tyd
#LeeDoha #KangHajin #KimWonho
#MIROMAZE
Shares: 419 Hearts: 694
@roxeeey (locked)
Doha you're K-pop's future how is this a trainee's self-composed song???? All you haters who criticized his dancing go watch Doha's dance break RAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
∥
@roxeeey (locked)
Kim Wonho's solo dance insane right? Lee Doha's rap diction+dance break insane right?? Kang Hajin's dance break+3rd chorus adlibs absolutely deranged right??????????????
As soon as the 3-minute, 2-minute, and 1-minute appeal videos dropped, DESTIs went wild. Whoever planned this perfectly targeted each fandom's desires with these gem-like contents.
Of course, the producers who created this unprecedented pizza-party survival show didn't leave fans of lower-ranked trainees disappointed either—they released 30-second charm appeal clips for the remaining trainees too!
While these were compiled into one video to differentiate from top ranks, no one complained. The pacing wasn't rushed like a relay, and the quality clearly received as much care as the top trainees' content.
Naturally, some quality variation between trainees was unavoidable—but this stemmed from skill differences rather than production issues, making it understandable.
[What is MIRO trying to do to us]
How am I supposed to survive when they keep doing this for an 8-episode show?
Only one episode aired but my heart's already breaking knowing I have to send 10 out of these 17 precious gems home
[Is this really survival show stanning?]
I've watched many survival shows but
Isn't the essence of survival shows suffering through blood, sweat and tears while worrying daily if your pick will get evil-edited or lose screentime as you pray over water offerings?
Is it okay that I feel this peaceful right now?
[TOW-M newbie impressions]
Pros:
No evil edits (crazy pizza-party screentime)
All 17 are adorable
Seo Tae-il is handsome
Cumulative scoring means no mid-show eliminations
Cons:
Already attached after just one episode
Every minute is fun and happy which makes
The sadness of sending 10 home in two months
Even more devastating
Feels like watching happy flashbacks before a drama's sad ending...
Fans conditioned by years of spicy survival shows were confused. A healing survival show? Could those two words coexist?
But since this was a new flavor, many took tentative bites before realizing—too late—they were already addicted, as countless testimonial posts began flooding in.
NTV didn't miss these unusual signs.
<MIRO MAZE episode 2 extended...now 120 minutes>
<MIRO MAZE finale confirmed as live broadcast..."Details to follow">
<MIRO MAZE PD Kwon Myung-eun: "We want to preserve each trainee's shining moments" (Group interview①)>
Though the calculated headlines were obvious, DESTIs welcomed them eagerly. After experiencing the well-structured 150-minute premiere, they trusted extended runtime would mean more diverse trainee moments rather than drawn-out editing.
'Ha.'
And now.
At a gymnasium just outside the metropolitan area.
Where additional filming to showcase those 'diverse moments' is underway.
'Now is the time, regressor. Return.'
[System Alert: Beep―! Detected Fixed Regressor's impudent remark!]
[System Alert: Penalty issued to Fixed Regressor (Reason: Audacity)]
[Penalty: Fixed Regressor's athletic stats reduced by 10% (Duration: 10 minutes)]
'Good. At least you're having fun.'
Kang Hajin, age 20, regressor—immediately felt his energy draining in real-time after receiving the penalty. Currently yearning to regress for certain reasons(?)...!
"Hyung Hajin, do you play foot volleyball with your feet? Oh wait, you're supposed to use feet."
"......"