#ffg7

Now, I have not been posting about ATEEZ+, because I find it to be a bit of a hard watch. The concept of the show is a bit all over the place, and even if we take the blatant San favoritism out of the equation, the non-linear editing is really throwing me off. Like Mingi and Yunho went to the paragliding place 2 episodes ago, why are we still getting clips of them driving there. It's sloppy and it's lazy, and it makes it hard to focus on the progression of the actual "dates". Not to mention that my man, Jongho, the guy who has been bias-wrecking me on pure unmitigated charm has criminally low screentime. And it's such a fucking shame, because he's so charming and has immaculate comedic timing to the point he's making their activities, which btw are not really compatible with creating engaging variety content, entertaining to watch.

However the point of this post is not about me ranting about how cool I think Jongho is (spoiler alert: a lot), but because episode 6 has made me face my suspicions that Mingi has a bone to pick with KQ.

When I turned on my TV this morning and I put on Ateez+, hoping that perhaps episode 6 is when the editors finally got their shit together and stopped trying to give the viewer whiplash by constantly going back and forth in time, I was very surprised to find out that said episode had an almost 10 minute intro of mostly Mingi going into a very unlike-kpop business sustainability rant, during which he names every single point of friction between him and KQ. And don't get me wrong, I live for these kinds of conversations. I have a degree in business management and not only do I work in finance, but I enjoy it too, but this goes so much against the we-are-all-a-bunch-of-friends-with-no-other-ambition-other-to-perform-for-our-fans bit that kpop has going on that it threw me off.

The episode starts off, with Mingi being very straightforward as usual, and saying that to be considered successful you need to have tangible milestones, whether that be awards or something else. Just like any other field, to prove you are doing well professionally, you need to have something to show for it. Because the image of being successful on its own, can open up a lot of doors for you. And despite the fact that winning a Grammy doesn't inherently make you a better artist than someone else, having a Grammy sure gives you a lot of options. And sure this isn't super aligned with the guidelines of kpop marketing, but it's still sort of on theme.

And then he does it. He proceeds to say that sure, we still want those things, but we are focusing on creating an individual brand identity. At which point, for maybe the first time watching this bizarre show, I was intrigued. It is not every day that you get a member of a kpop group to say that being a coherent team is good, but there's still need to have your own individual brand.

He makes a very interesting point that in order to have synergy in a group and to be able to work together for a long time, each member needs to know themselves and what they want out of their professional life. This is the second instance I see of an Ateez member pointing out that they consider each member's individual activities necessary for keeping the group dynamics balanced. And even though I find this thought process extremely logical and mature, I still find it surprising when it's expressed out loud. With so much emphasis being put on the 8 makes 1 team slogan, I always find it surprising when a member points out that they're still 8 individuals. And Mingi is perhaps the most loud advocate for individuality within the group.

In an earlier episode he straight up says to Yunho; don't tell me what ATEEZ Yunho wants, tell me what you want. And even before that, on the first or second episode he looks straight in the camera and says, the people that give you advice with the intention of cutting you down and constraining you, do not have your best interest at heart. In this episode he continues to express the sentiment with saying how important it is to keep trying new things. He understands the importance of pleasing the fans, but he also knows that you have to keep yourself happy as well if you want your career to have any sort of longevity.

And then the episode starts properly, and once again we're driving to the fucking paragliding place. In the previous episode we established they were going to dinner, but no, KBS the arch nemesis of continuity, takes us back two episodes, because why the fuck not? But anyway, my own personal grievances aside, the episode starts with Yunho saying that he wants to try driving fast and Mingi giving him the go ahead, even though he doesn't look to be super thrilled by the idea. Nevertheless, Yunho doesn't really seem to step on it, seeing as this is a rural road and not really the ideal place to be checking how fast a sports car can go, and they get another ask. An ask that has been asked in at least three different episodes and we're still getting it, because god forbid we make the content cohesive and watchable to anyone who isn't already an Atiny.

Nevertheless, we get another answer to was there a moment you couldn't avoid so you chose to enjoy, and once again the answer is touring. No surprises there. They have a brief conversation about what they do to cope, which although nice enough on its own, it would have been better had it been shown in the same episode for all the duos, to have, I don't know, context? Continuity? Are those words you know KBS????

sorry, I just don't think I can get over how much I hate the way this show has been edited.

But, to get back on track, they talk about concerts and what they like about performing, Yunho once again brings up Mingi taking off his shirt at the festival a year ago, which btw damn dude, it must've really rattled your feathers if you are still bringing it up a year later. And then, as they do if you have them speak to each other long enough, they sync up, because they are the same person. They can deny it as much as they want, but I am delusional. The conversation gets geared to festivals, which they both want to do.

Fans are nice, but they want to appeal to a larger audience. Having a long lasting career is not just about having a dedicated fanbase. You need to be casual listener friendly. There need to be people that add your music to their playlist without giving that much of a damn about the person that's actually making it. And Mingi recognizes that Ateez lack that and he believes that they need to make this kind of music too if they want to last as a group.

This is a very pragmatic view to have, because quite simply, they are not going to be young forever. At some point this level of performance is going to stop being possible for them, and if they don't diversify their portfolio Ateez is going to be no more when that happens. And this checks out with most of his behavior so far. For the most part, Mingi has never shied away from showing that he thinks the lore is stupid and judging by how he has a whole different team he works with for his solo stuff, he isn't all that into what Edenary is doing.

Yunho seems to agree, seeing as he was the one who literally made Mingi go there, but he also doesn't want to be broadcasting any conversation that can be seen as dissatisfaction with their company, so he starts talking about pros and cons, and kind of weighs in with his own opinion that their live performance is their main advantage. Which adds up, when you take into account that Yunho clearly wants to go into acting and their live stages sometimes end up bordering on musical theatre.

Mingi doesn't take the hint, because he clearly doesn't want to and says that sure it's fun, but we need to develop.

All in all, I found it quite surprising that Ateez is something that Mingi is interested in keeping up long term. I'm not saying that they want to disband, but the only people to strictly state that they want to do Ateez as long as possible have been Hongjoong and maybe Seonghwa. So to see that Mingi has been trying to find ways for them to be more sustainable as a group kind of threw me off, because strictly speaking, I don't think he needs Ateez to be successful. Not anymore, at least. Sure it's a big boost, but in the event that they crash and burn, he is one of the most likely members to come out relatively unscathed. But, damn, he sure wants to continue to be in Ateez.

A quick side note, because apparently I am the Yungi guy now, but he really is all in when it comes to Yunho. I believe he wants all the members to succeed individually, but he really is laser focused in on Yunho. He's been going out of his way to ask him on camera, fuck everyone else, what do YOU want to do, and he doesn't even know what he likes to eat.

It is also rather refreshing that they're not really doing the whole cat and mouse game as intensely, where Mingi goes I love you and Yunho goes, ew, cooties. I didn't expect Yunho to say on camera, yeah, I am close with all the members, but I am the closest with Mingi.

RIP Youth, you will always be alive in my memory

btw, I couldn't find any decent videos from Zurich, and for the double dates I only did one night each because I am lazy like that. Maybe this could be the yungi saga pt.3

Lyon:

First night of the Europe tour. Stakes are high. Mingi goes slightly gayer than expected by caressing Yunho’s face. Yunho smacks his hand away, but it throws him off, so he turns the wrong way and slouches in full “I can’t believe I did that” mode. At the end, Mingi goes in for a hug, but Yunho’s still salty, so he gets a playful get fucked fake slap and walks away, leaving Mingi to throw a heart at the audience.

Improvisation level: 6/10 ( this is actually a 2/10, because Mingi was clearly a man on a mission, but I gave it a +4 because I enjoy watching Yunho get flustered)

Milan

Nothing of note before the last chorus. Mingi seems like he wants to do something, but Yunho (probably on purpose) doesn’t turn around until it’s time for the last chorus. They end it with a heart and Mingi says ti amo.

Improvisation level: 3/10, Mingi definitely looked that up ahead of time. Not very yolo of him

London (not sure which day)

This one was actually adorable. The moment the dance break ends and Mingi’s part starts, Yunho whips his head back dramatically, making Mingi laugh. They hug it out and move on. The song ends and since they already hugged once, they decide to hug again, but since neither wants to be the one to lean in first they do a side hug with their arms fully stretched out like two very attractive slendermen.

Improvisation level: 8/10, mostly because Yunho almost getting whiplash just to make Mingi laugh was pretty enjoyable

Manchester

Again, nothing much happens pre last chorus.At the end, Mingi leans forward, so Yunho thinks they’re going for the spin—but no. Mingi hits him with a heart at a thirty-degree angle, and Yunho retaliates by making him kiss a feather (?).

Improvisation level: 4/10, not very planned, but also kind of weird

Amsterdam

The early stops weren’t remarkable fanservice-wise, but this one stood out. Nothing special pre-last chorus. At the end, Yunho throws a heart and Mingi, bless his heart, doesn’t give a flying fuck. He does his Squid Games impression instead, because, screw fanservice, this is important. Yunho rewards him with a head pat.

Improvisation level: 5/10, because although Mingi probably decided that that was what he wanted to do early on, Yunho didn’t seem to be in the loop

Barcelona

Not much to say here. After the dance break, Yunho throws a heart and Mingi’s like “sure, why not,” and they toss out a few variations. After the final chorus, they go with the classic head spin.

Improvisation level: 2/10, doesn’t seem planned, but it’s pretty standard stuff.

Cologne

Spirits are high.

The dance break ends, and Mingi who after the halfway point of the tour has been on a roll, does something that’s less like traditional fanservice and more akin to slapping your best friend’s ass in public after seeing them in a new pair of jeans. With a watchu gonna do now motherfucker look on his face, he does this whole, slightly sensual, tie/blazer pull. Yunho answers by smacking his hand away and they move on to the last chorus.

Yunho decides that Mingi is too high on life right now and initiates a headspin, Mingi proclaims his love (again), and they end on a heart.

Improvisation level: 9/10, probably the least planned Youth bit

Copenhagen

An iconic performance. Right from the start you can tell they’re both feeling pretty great overall. This is not the case for all of their performances, which is pretty understandable since that’s their job and no matter how much you like your job, it can still be tiring, but here it’s pretty clear they are having fun.

Now this performance happened right on valentine day, so there is not an alternate reality in existence where this performance doesn’t end with Mingi asking Yunho to be his valentine. I know that, you know that and Yunho clearly knew that. What I think Yunho did not expect was for Mingi to go down on one knee, so early on. Maybe he expected it for the ending, but not pre last chorus. And I think the way they both just kind of smile at each other like “hehe, nice” as Yunho pulls him up just goes to show that. 

The performance ends, Mingi drops down again, and Yunho, ready this time, takes his hand. Mingi pops the question, and Yunho brings back the Still Here hand kiss as a limited-time event. Mingi earns the slap of approval on the way out.

Improvisation level: 5/10, mostly because they probably agreed on the will you be my valentine part, but both went off script.  

Berlin day one

They’re wearing those '80s office worker fits that I hate again. I honestly can not understand the kpop stylists' obsession with the business casual/ jehovah's witness look. These people have never worked a 9-to-5 and probably never will. Be creative, ffs. Anyway.

After the dance break, they clearly have a plan. Riding the high from the Copenhagen proposal, Mingi takes off his blazer and eyes Yunho. He briefly considers going off script and handing it to him, but ultimately tosses it aside. They move into the last chorus and Yunho takes off his blazer too. Mingi turns, following the script, and lets him drape it over his shoulders.

Was it cute? Yes. Was it planned down to the second? Also yes.

Improvisation level: 0/10

Paris

Another day, another Nanami cosplay from Yunho. They’re visibly hyped during this one. Mingi does the slightly sensual blazer tag again (see: Cologne), and when Yunho hits him with the classic “not this again” shoulder grab, Mingi shoots him a heart. They exchange thank-yous and “I love you”s, throw a few hearts, and wrap it up.

Unrelated note: but when Mingi does something Yunho thinks is cute, he tends to give him a shoulder tap right before the last chorus.

Improvisation level: 4 /10, standard, but solid

Brussels

Yunho, who is in a good mood here, is actually the one to initiate the post dance break fanservice. He does a heart for Mingi (and not for the audience, which is his go to move)  and then snuggles up to him for a couple of seconds while they’re leading up to the last chorus. At the end Mingi rehashes the Copenhagen bit and asks him to be his friend and they do a finger grab to side hug sequence before walking off stage.

https://www.tumblr.com/karmacharmeleon18/783352901371346944/yes-and-you-can-bet-mingi-noticed-as-he-tends-to?source=share

Hello there. Bet you thought I’d never reply.

The reason it took me so long to answer is that I originally planned to include this in Part 3 of the Yungi Rampage™. However, the essay I wrote ended up being a bit too delusional — even for me.

So now that I’ve scrapped that idea, I can finally respond to your ask with a clear conscience.

So wait a moment while I wrap a piece of tinfoil around my head in preparation for some completely off-the-wall statements I have absolutely no viable proof for — other than divine premonition. (I did an edible.)

The apple of Eris. The other woman. Hyeongyu.

Yunho claims they’re close. I call his bluff. Sure, they might be friendly — but close? Unlikely. If they were close, Yunho wouldn’t pick a fight with him in front of an audience. He knows that if Mingi showed even a hint of favoritism toward him, some fans wouldn’t be too thrilled. No — Yunho is bitter.

Mingi, from the moment they met, has worshipped the ground Yunho walks on. In the early days, he looked at him with almost religious conviction. And to receive that kind of attention and not let it get to your head? Nearly impossible.

So imagine how Yunho must’ve felt when Mingi couldn’t choose between the two of them during that pre-debut business dinner. Yunho had no reason to believe Mingi wouldn’t pick him. After all, if Mingi’s consistent about one thing, it’s singing Yunho’s praises.

But no — weirdly egalitarian Mingi, who I genuinely believe doesn’t have a single mean bone in his body, put his foot down. He liked them both. Why should he have to choose? They were both his friends. Whatever choice he made, he’d be wronging one. It didn’t matter that Hyeongyu wasn’t there and might never find out. It would still be unfair.

Yunho did not mess with that. To him, there’s no such thing as a draw. You either win, or you lose. And he lost. He lost so hard he waited several years for the perfect moment to bring it back up.

Because at that point, winning was a matter of principle.

Which brings us to the most recent — and quite conveniently livestreamed — instance of “me or him?”

This time, Yunho came prepared. Holding the Chekhov’s gun that is their fanbase straight to his temple.

This wasn’t just between the two of them and Sandra from Accounting anymore. No. The choice was now a standard friend and a friend/ coworker/ roommate. And, oh! Don't forget that being publicly shipped with the latter is an active part of your shared worklife. And now, whatever answer Mingi gave would be immortalized on the internet.

Understandably, Mingi caved to the pressure.

“Right now, it’s you. We even work together,” he said — leaving just enough wiggle room to backtrack if Hyeongyu ever confronted him.

And Yunho once again hated that. Technically, he won — but it didn’t feel like a win. Sure, he was declared the favorite, but not for the right reasons. He didn’t want a pity point because they work together. He wanted a clean, perfect score — for being the tallest, most handsome, great-at-everything, bestest friend Mingi has.

He wanted to hear something like: I’ve been planning everything I’ll do with you since the moment I met you, you sexy, sexy man who’s also athletically gifted!

But Mingi didn’t deliver (dare I say, on purpose?). And the Chekhov’s gun misfired — making them both look a bit silly and hurting Yunho's feelings/pride (I’ll leave it to you to decide which one took the bigger hit).

One shot, two kills.

The way Yunho’s attempts to control the narrative around Mingi keep blowing up in his face — like a forgotten WWII hand grenade dug up in central Europe — should be studied. They’ve known each other for 11 years, and somehow he’s still bad at handling Mingi.

And so, once again, Yunho launches into damage control:

“Hahaha guys, Mingi is being so silly again… Why is he so serious about this? I swear I’m super chill… Me? Mad? Of course not. In fact, I’m so not mad, I’m going to ignore any comment that doesn’t exclusively talk about how hot I am — until you all forget this happened…”

Super demure. Super mindful.

A month has passed since you asked this, so sorry about that.

Anon is talking about this instance:

Here I am reading into every interaction I have at work, when I could be bulldozing through my daily life like Mingi. I love that guy.

Anyway.

haha, thank you, I'm doing all of this mostly for attention, so I'm really glad you're giving it to me.

i love them

you are somehow in my brain speaking the exact same things that i have been thinking onto tumblr

thank you

also please write more (honestly about any of them im very intrigued on how you see dynamics like matz or woosansang (bc i have some thoughts about that one) or jongsang or woosan or really any of the dynamics that are seen as the "iconic ships" of ateez)

Oh fuck, I have so many thoughts about Woosansang, I wouldn't know where to start. My hyperfixation on Yeosang is reaching Yungi-levels of psychosis.