The unconventional story of Kakao Entertainment’s virtual idol survival show, GIRL’S RE:VERSE, entered a new chapter with last week’s debut of Feverse. GIRL’S RE:VERSE premiered as a surreal VR take on the survival show formula, but still managed to produce a great lineup with Muneo, Seoritae, Keuang, Rien, and Kim Serena. Only a virtual idol survival show would produce a group consisting of a one-year-old octopus, a struggling rookie idol, a piano-playing individual from a faraway planet, a red panda wishing to build a chestnut bread factory, and a girl desperate to recuperate money from her falling Kakao stocks. With the release of CHO, this unlikely team now walks on a path of promise.

Recapping GIRL’S RE:VERSE

GIRL’S RE:VERSE began on January 2 and concluded last week with Feverse’s mini showcase. GIRL’S RE:VERSE utilized VRChat to highlight 30 virtual participants created by actual female idols. Though real idols controlled their avatars, called a “Girl V,” they concealed their true identities until elimination. Each Girl V hailed from another world, and had their unique reasons to join the show. This anonymity aspect allowed the creation of any kind of character they wanted: some like Kim Serena were Korean citizens, others like Rien resided in places far beyond Earth’s boundaries, and some like Muneo and Keuang were not human-like.

The show filled its 12 episodes with a unique absurdity not found in other survival shows. Though the skills of the contestants and the hosts Boom, Bada, Aiki, and Pengsoo were nothing to laugh at, the interactions within GIRL’S RE:VERSE felt genuinely hilarious. The out-of-this-world format made the environment much more laidback, with trash talk and goofy gestures often seen. It drew out a fun and unfiltered side to many female idols that thrived in a virtual world. Alongside the entertaining personalities of the Girl Vs, GIRL’S RE:VERSE featured idols from all sorts of groups. Not every survival show stars NATURE’s Aurora portraying an alien with a mission to conquer the Earth, or LABOUM’s Haein portraying a cat with emceeing experience.

Feverse’s Debut

GIRL’S RE:VERSE viewers will recognize most tracks on the debut EP, which includes Feverse versions of the show’s theme song “I Promise” and its finale songs “Time takes me to love” and “Like a star.” Although “CHO” appears as the only new song on the EP, it offers a glimpse into the real life talent these virtual idols imbue into their music.

RBW songwriters and producers Kim Dohoon and Seo Yongbae carried on the elegant, fantasy-like feeling from GIRL’S RE:VERSE’s finale into the track. The meaning of “CHO,” “beginning,” works for a debut and the song’s lyrics. The lyrics discuss feeling romantic attraction for the first time. Despite being rookies, Feverse nails the tone of “CHO” with beautiful and powerful singing. Feverse’s wildcard status has finally hit the market and they are not playing games. This debut offers a whole new life to explore for both the idols behind Feverse and the virtual members themselves.

Edited by Omani