Mnet is back at it. If you sat down to watch Boys Planet Ep 1, you already knew what you were getting into: high-stakes drama, questionable editing choices, and a massive amount of talent that somehow gets squeezed into a two-hour premiere. It’s the successor to Girls Planet 999, but the vibe felt different right from the jump.
The atmosphere was thick.
Ninety-eight trainees walked into that studio, split between the K-Group (Koreans) and the G-Group (Globals), and you could practically smell the nerves through the screen. It wasn't just about singing or dancing; it was about survival in an industry that moves faster than a TikTok trend.
The Star Level Test and Why It Mattered So Much
The core of Boys Planet Ep 1 revolved around the Star Level Test. This isn't just a formality. It’s the first time the mentors—and more importantly, the "Star Creators" at home—get to see who actually has the goods. The mentors didn't hold back. Baek Kooyoung’s stare alone probably took five years off some of those kids' lives.
One of the standout moments, for better or worse, was the "Kick It" performance. We saw multiple groups tackle NCT 127's hit. Some crushed it. Others? Well, let’s just say the vocal cracks were heard 'round the world. It’s easy to sit on a couch and judge, but when you realize these trainees are performing in front of legends like Lee Seok-hoon and Solji, the pressure is astronomical.
The ranking system is brutal but simple. You get zero to four stars.
If you get zero, you're basically invisible. If you get four, you're a god for a week.
Pui Pui and the Rise of the Meme Kings
Let’s talk about the Global Group for a second because they stole the show in the first half. Specifically, the Yuehua Global trainees. When Ricky, Ollie, Brian, and Zhang Hao walked in, the room shifted. Zhang Hao, playing the violin? That’s not your standard idol trainee move. It showed a level of musicality that Mnet usually ignores in favor of "who can hit the highest note while doing a backflip."
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Then there was the "Hot" performance by the Thai trainees. It was… a lot.
"Pui pui pui."
If you know, you know. It became an instant meme. While some viewers cringed, others saw the brilliance in it. In a show with 98 faces, being the "cringe guy" is unironically better than being the "boring guy." You need to be remembered. That’s the secret sauce of survival shows that many trainees don't realize until it's too late and they're on a bus back home.
The K-Group Powerhouses
On the flip side, the K-Group came in with a massive chip on their shoulder. They had to prove that they owned this turf. The performance of "Glitch Mode" by the Jellyfish Entertainment trainees (Park Gun-wook, etc.) was a masterclass in aggression and precision. Gun-wook, specifically, was framed as the "villain" or at least the "intimidator" early on.
It’s a classic Mnet trope.
They take a kid who is confident and edit him to look like he’s ready to start a fight in the cafeteria. But honestly, that confidence is what you need. When he challenged the other trainees, it wasn't just ego—it was a calculated move to ensure the cameras stayed on him. You have to respect the hustle even if the editing makes you want to roll your eyes.
The Hui Factor: A Moment of Realness
We have to address the elephant in the room. Lee Hoe-taek. Better known as Hui from PENTAGON.
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When he appeared in Boys Planet Ep 1, the mood shifted from "fun competition" to "wait, this is actually kind of sad and intense." Here is a guy who wrote "Energetic" for Wanna One. He’s a seasoned pro. Seeing him stand there as a trainee, waiting to be judged by people who are arguably his peers or even his juniors, was a gut punch.
He didn't get a lot of screen time for his actual performance in the first episode—Mnet loves a cliffhanger—but his presence alone raised the stakes. It forced the younger trainees to realize that even "success" in K-pop is fragile.
Why the First Episode Works (And Why It Frustrates)
Mnet’s formula is predictable but effective. You have the "poor performers" who are there for comic relief, the "ace" who everyone is scared of, and the "underdog" who we’re supposed to root for despite their lack of training.
The pacing of the premiere was chaotic.
We jumped from high-level choreography to emotional backstories faster than a heartbeat. But it works because it creates a narrative. You aren't just watching a talent show; you're watching a soap opera where the characters happen to be really good at dancing.
One thing people often get wrong about Boys Planet Ep 1 is thinking the talent is the only thing that matters. It’s not. It’s about "star quality." Some of the four-star recipients weren't the best technical singers, but they had that thing. That magnetic pull.
The Mentor Lineup: No More Mr. Nice Guy
The mentors this season are a highlight.
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- Vocal: Lee Seok-hoon, Solji, Lim Han-byul.
- Dance: Baek Kooyoung, Choi Young-jun, Lip J.
- Rap: pH-1.
Lip J bringing her "waacking" energy to the panel provided some much-needed lightness. But when Choi Young-jun gets serious? You can feel the temperature in the room drop. They aren't there to be friends; they’re there to build a group that can actually compete on a global stage. Their critiques in the first episode were surprisingly blunt, which is a breath of fresh air compared to shows that sugarcoat everything.
Navigating the G-Group vs. K-Group Rivalry
The show leans heavily into the "Korea vs. The World" narrative. It’s a bit heavy-handed. Every time a G-Group member did something well, the camera panned to a shocked K-Group member. Every time a K-Group member dominated, the G-Group looked intimidated.
In reality, many of these kids have trained together or know each other from the small world of idol auditions. The rivalry is largely a production construct, but it serves a purpose. It gives fans a "team" to root for.
What to Actually Look For in Future Episodes
If you’re just starting your rewatch or diving in for the first time, don't get distracted by the flashy lights. Look at the background. Watch the trainees who aren't performing. Their reactions often tell you more about the true hierarchy in the room than the edited segments do.
The first episode is a filter.
It filters out the people who are just happy to be there from the people who are willing to do anything to debut. You see it in the eyes of trainees like Sung Han-bin. There’s a level of focus there that is almost scary. He and Seok Matthew (the "Canadian sugar pop" as fans called him) established a "friendship-rivalry" arc that basically carried the emotional weight of the early season.
How to Follow the Journey Properly
Watching Boys Planet Ep 1 is just the entry point. To actually understand what's happening, you have to look at the "signal song" evaluations that follow. But for now, the takeaway from the premiere is simple: the talent gap between the top and the bottom is massive, and Mnet is going to exploit every second of that for our entertainment.
If you want to keep up with who is actually trending versus who the show wants you to like, check the independent fan polls on platforms like Reddit or Twitter (X). The discrepancy is often hilarious.
Next Steps for Potential Fans:
- Watch the individual "Eye Contact" cams: Mnet releases these for every trainee. The episode edit hides mistakes; the individual cam hides nothing.
- Check the songwriting credits: Some of these trainees, like Hui or Keita, have deep discographies already. Knowing their history makes their "trainee" journey much more meaningful.
- Ignore the "Evil Edit": If a trainee looks like they’re being a jerk, wait for the behind-the-scenes clips. Usually, they’re just hungry or tired.
- Track the Star Counts: Keep a mental note of who starts with zero stars and makes the jump to three or four. Those are the "growth" narratives that usually make it to the final lineup.