I was looking for the right word to label this show and you nailed it with “wholesome.” It was refreshing to watch a competitive reality show where the participants were very respectful of each other and understood the Herculean efforts some of these competitions took in order to survive and much less dominate. I had a particular fondness for the famous MMA fighter (I’m blanking at the name and also realize there were several MMA fighters) and the reverence bestowed upon him by all the others.
Given that it appears to be a popular and successful show due to its continuous standing on Netflix’s top ten, a second season would seem to be a no-brainer. I’d welcome that. What I’m also sensing is that an Americanized version wouldn’t be too far behind as well. Other than for comparison’s sake, I’m not sure what I’d think of that.
I totally agree with what you wrote about Physical 100! I loved the support everyone (or nearly everyone) showed for each other. More than once, someone would say something like, "Let's have fun, don't get hurt." It was just so refreshing to see.
I also agree the wrasslin'was repetitive and bit boring (a few good matches) and the sound editing was quite annoying.
I would like to see another season and/or an American remake, but with the latter definitely bringing the camaraderie.
I fully agree with you that Physical 100 was wholesome. It is funny that they did that keep away game at the front. It was weird because they weren't going to actually throw punches at each other in order to get the ball away. The first event where they were hanging are more compelling and perhaps a greater showing of a particular kind of strength (the show is good at bringing in different realms where one body type would be superior to another.)
I was reading there was another problem with the edit in that we never really got to know the winner very well. A lot of other contestants were built up from the edit and given time on the screen, but the eventual winner didn't receive that same kind of attention in the edit.
I'm about about a 60% success rate for media Chendorsements. Thankfully, Physical:100 was a solid win.
Comparatively (to me), these people are all demi-gods. My favorite aspects of the show were the aforementioned wholesomeness and support and respect every athlete seemed to give each other, and then the genuine awe these physical specimens (tops in their respective arenas) seemed to have for the inhuman feats some of these people seemed to do.
The weirdest thing for me was how the show kept using the phrase "best physique". I don't know if it's just me (American), but the word 'physique' to me generally implies more of a use as an aesthetic descriptor. At first, I was assuming they were just competing for the best-LOOKING body, but then they cut to the torso of the big-bellied car dealer and that assumption went right out the window. I had to constantly translate it for my brain into "best physical specimen".
My only complaints about the show are kind of hard for the show to avoid. It took until episode FOUR to get through the first challenge?? That was brutal. I started just skipping ahead once it was a few minutes into episode three. The repeat-edits were annoying, but not as bad as I was expecting based on your (Dave's) initial warning. And the other thing that kind of can't be helped is that there were just so many contestants that just blended in together to me. I gather that for Korean audiences, most of these contestants were at least vaguely well-known. I had to ultimately rely on physical descriptors to remember any of them. "Older MMA guy" "Guy who won first challenge" "Deep-voiced woman" etc. I imagine if (or "when" I should say) the do a Western remake of this show, they will use some athletes I've potentially heard of, so I can at least have a tiny bit of pre-existing connection to some of the athletes.
One question I haven't been able to find an answer to yet:
What was the "Benefit" the guy who won the hanging challenge received? Was it just getting to pick his opponent first? I kept on waiting for a last-minute twist where he would get to have one final crack at winning against the person who seemingly won the game.
All in all, a fun time that didn't overstay it's welcome (as long as you fast-forward liberally through some of the first two challenges).
Nice shout-out to Battleship Pretension. I think I may have originally been turned on to their podcast by you at some early point (I remember you being a guest at some point and them coming on the slashfilmcast) and have been a consistent listener. I was also stunned by Tyler's sudden sickness and it's not often a podcast makes me cry, but I was definitely there on his return episode.
Just wanted to quickly comment regarding the editing and use of replay. I'm no expert on Korean television but this is a pretty common technique on Korean productions. I would liken it to how Hong Kong martial arts sequences will sometimes show a strike twice to emphasize the impact. I agree they could probably utilize it more sparingly but I think watch enough Korean reality shows and you get used to the custom.
Wholesome, indeed. I got a little misty when (mild spoilers)...
.
.
.
.
.
.
...during some elimination events toward the end a couple participants volunteered for events they clearly would not win in order to allow their teammates to have a chance on other events. Just amazing.
I do not believe am American version would work, if for no other reason than US network executives would be insisting on more conflict..
I was looking for the right word to label this show and you nailed it with “wholesome.” It was refreshing to watch a competitive reality show where the participants were very respectful of each other and understood the Herculean efforts some of these competitions took in order to survive and much less dominate. I had a particular fondness for the famous MMA fighter (I’m blanking at the name and also realize there were several MMA fighters) and the reverence bestowed upon him by all the others.
Given that it appears to be a popular and successful show due to its continuous standing on Netflix’s top ten, a second season would seem to be a no-brainer. I’d welcome that. What I’m also sensing is that an Americanized version wouldn’t be too far behind as well. Other than for comparison’s sake, I’m not sure what I’d think of that.
I totally agree with what you wrote about Physical 100! I loved the support everyone (or nearly everyone) showed for each other. More than once, someone would say something like, "Let's have fun, don't get hurt." It was just so refreshing to see.
I also agree the wrasslin'was repetitive and bit boring (a few good matches) and the sound editing was quite annoying.
I would like to see another season and/or an American remake, but with the latter definitely bringing the camaraderie.
I loved how misfits kept on each phase while the flashy Jocks fell to their amazement.
I fully agree with you that Physical 100 was wholesome. It is funny that they did that keep away game at the front. It was weird because they weren't going to actually throw punches at each other in order to get the ball away. The first event where they were hanging are more compelling and perhaps a greater showing of a particular kind of strength (the show is good at bringing in different realms where one body type would be superior to another.)
I was reading there was another problem with the edit in that we never really got to know the winner very well. A lot of other contestants were built up from the edit and given time on the screen, but the eventual winner didn't receive that same kind of attention in the edit.
I'm about about a 60% success rate for media Chendorsements. Thankfully, Physical:100 was a solid win.
Comparatively (to me), these people are all demi-gods. My favorite aspects of the show were the aforementioned wholesomeness and support and respect every athlete seemed to give each other, and then the genuine awe these physical specimens (tops in their respective arenas) seemed to have for the inhuman feats some of these people seemed to do.
The weirdest thing for me was how the show kept using the phrase "best physique". I don't know if it's just me (American), but the word 'physique' to me generally implies more of a use as an aesthetic descriptor. At first, I was assuming they were just competing for the best-LOOKING body, but then they cut to the torso of the big-bellied car dealer and that assumption went right out the window. I had to constantly translate it for my brain into "best physical specimen".
My only complaints about the show are kind of hard for the show to avoid. It took until episode FOUR to get through the first challenge?? That was brutal. I started just skipping ahead once it was a few minutes into episode three. The repeat-edits were annoying, but not as bad as I was expecting based on your (Dave's) initial warning. And the other thing that kind of can't be helped is that there were just so many contestants that just blended in together to me. I gather that for Korean audiences, most of these contestants were at least vaguely well-known. I had to ultimately rely on physical descriptors to remember any of them. "Older MMA guy" "Guy who won first challenge" "Deep-voiced woman" etc. I imagine if (or "when" I should say) the do a Western remake of this show, they will use some athletes I've potentially heard of, so I can at least have a tiny bit of pre-existing connection to some of the athletes.
One question I haven't been able to find an answer to yet:
What was the "Benefit" the guy who won the hanging challenge received? Was it just getting to pick his opponent first? I kept on waiting for a last-minute twist where he would get to have one final crack at winning against the person who seemingly won the game.
All in all, a fun time that didn't overstay it's welcome (as long as you fast-forward liberally through some of the first two challenges).
Nice shout-out to Battleship Pretension. I think I may have originally been turned on to their podcast by you at some early point (I remember you being a guest at some point and them coming on the slashfilmcast) and have been a consistent listener. I was also stunned by Tyler's sudden sickness and it's not often a podcast makes me cry, but I was definitely there on his return episode.
Just wanted to quickly comment regarding the editing and use of replay. I'm no expert on Korean television but this is a pretty common technique on Korean productions. I would liken it to how Hong Kong martial arts sequences will sometimes show a strike twice to emphasize the impact. I agree they could probably utilize it more sparingly but I think watch enough Korean reality shows and you get used to the custom.
Wholesome, indeed. I got a little misty when (mild spoilers)...
.
.
.
.
.
.
...during some elimination events toward the end a couple participants volunteered for events they clearly would not win in order to allow their teammates to have a chance on other events. Just amazing.
I do not believe am American version would work, if for no other reason than US network executives would be insisting on more conflict..
I have been trying to get through Episode 2 (let's have 50 pairs wrestle) for a long time. Good to hear it picks up from here.