Leveling Up with Red Velvet!

Red Velvet girls LEVEL UP!!!

Been spending the week binge-watching the Red Velvet Reality show “Level Up” and it has been SUCH a joy seeing the girls as they "really are”…or at least, as “real’ as reality shows get, anyway!

Yeri and Irene

Seulgi and Wendy

The show focuses on Irene, Seulgi, Wendy and Yeri as the cameras follow them on their first trip to Thailand! Joy couldn’t attend this one as she was filming a drama (what is it about these SM artist Reality Shows…even when f(x) had their show f(x) Koala, Amber was missing) but the girls were so much fun and full of energy they easily made up for the loss!

 

 

Sometimes reality shows suffer because the members aren’t as “personable” as you’d think they would be, but from the minute the girls arrived in Thailand and began running around the apartment they were going to stay in, screaming and squealing as they playfully fought over which room they wanted to sleep in, I knew I wasn’t going to have any problems with ANYONE being too shy or quiet to entertain!

Irene was as stoic as I expected and wasn’t much different from how I knew her already: smart, serious, strong and silent, (unlike a lot of leaders, Irene really does exude a very "leader-y” vibe, and everyone respects her) but the other three girls showed a whole new outlook on what I first perceived! 

I always knew Wendy was the sweet and caring one but didn’t know wound-up and high-strung she was about things. Seems she is so focused on doing things properly (reading and re-reading instructions a million times, looking up everything on the internet before she buys) that she barely has time to relax and enjoy herself!  I also never knew of her (hilarious) role as the “bad luck” member of the team who always loses when playing games or drawing straws, VERY funny!

 

Yeri. I knew Yeri’s position was as the “”little sister” of the group but never realized how adorably giggly and clingy she could be. Also how mischievous, sassy and naughty she could be, fans have long dubbed her the “evil maknae” and it’s clear to see why! But her bright and friendly personality trumps it all, making her one of the most lovable characters ever!

There was this scene where Yeri wanted to buy a dress but since the seller couldn’t haggle down the price, the tour guide told her to try another store. But when she walked around, she realized she just HAD to have the dress, and immediately scampered back to get it. SO CUTE!

I already knew from a challenge on Weekly Idol that Yeri had a soft spot for children and it was heartwarming whenever she saw a child in Thailand and just HAD to hug, kiss and fawn over them, very sweet! 

Usually it's Joy and Yeri who make up the "dizzy" teammates of the group, but boy, the duo of Yeri and Seulgi proved to be one of the funniest ones ever, they were so GOOFY and silly that any scene with them in it was sure to be something to see! 

 Additionally, both of them LOVE to eat and will do ANYTHING to snack on something, even if it requires sneaking a few bites in when waiting for their unnies to show up...LOL

And...Seulgi. I have to make special mention of her, because she absolutely stole my heart with this series.I always thought she was the "Cool Chick" of the group, but what I saw was a very sweet, warm, fun and goofy girl, and out of all of them, she seemed to be the most relatable reacting to situations… actually, she gave me this “local” vibe like friends I grew up with in Hawaii, somehow! 

A couple of scenes that stood out for me was like when the girls were  walking around a night market, and Seulgi heard their song “Oh Boy” being played in a store. She was so cute running to the other girls exclaiming, ”They’re playing our song!!!” to which Wendy said “All right, calm down.” LOLOL

There’s this one scene where Seulgi is wandering off by herself and comes across one of those claw machines with stuffed duckies as the prize, and, upon seeing how much they reminded her of her absent member Joy, decided she needed to win one. Fun ensues as she struggles with the 'weak" grip (her explanation, LOL) but in the end she jumps for joy (pun intended) when she gets one!

Seulgi announces she wants to make Kimchi Fried Rice and says they should make teams. But when Yeri says she will join her team,  a wary Seulgi (who knows all too well how lazy and lackadaisy Yeri can be when it comes to tasks) stammers, “Y-you’re gonna do kimchi fried rice?” to which a slighted Yeri says “Forget it then!!!” LOLOL, no one wants to get stuck with the spoiled maknae!

I don’t know if it’s her raspy voice or the way she speaks in these lilting bursts that always sound like question marks, but I could watch Seulgi just walking around talking and eating for the whole hour…and have done so over and over again! I really, really fell for her in this show!

I'm going to be watching these 22+ episodes of Red Velvet Level Up over and over again, they are so much FUN to watch!

EDIT: WOW, looks like the stars are aligning for my newfound Red Velvet obsession as JUST TODAY the very FIRST episode of Level Up SEASON TWO aired...and with member JOY, yet!!!! SWEEEEET!

Whoa, looks like my evenings are gonna be filled with even MORE Red Velvet love!!!!!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com