Edward’s determination to become Longshot’s unofficial fifth member meets immediate resistance from nearly everyone around him, and that friction gives the comedy its foundation. Jay Park frames the opportunity as something Edward has repeatedly begged for rather than a genuine audition, while the group members quickly challenge his dancing, singing, age and self-proclaimed status. Edward responds by doubling down on the joke, repeatedly insisting that he belongs despite abundant evidence that nobody else has agreed.
The interactions with Longshot work because the group largely plays against Edward’s exaggerated confidence rather than simply going along with it. Attempts to build chemistry turn into jokes about his age and abilities, while even basic rehearsal becomes an argument over whether his movements have enough control or "swag." Edward comparing himself to LeBron James entering the league captures the intentionally ridiculous scale of his self-belief. The humor is broad, but the clash between his confidence and everyone else's skepticism remains consistent.
Rehearsal provides the most substantive glimpse of what actually separates joining a K-pop group from merely declaring yourself part of one. Edward struggles to reproduce the choreography, receives corrections on his legs and movements, and even misunderstands a lip-roll vocal exercise. These scenes could have explored the performers' training in greater depth, but they still give the premise some structure: Edward has to attempt at least a small portion of the preparation before getting anywhere near the stage.
His improvised rapping pushes the character further into deliberate overconfidence, although the bit becomes repetitive. Edward claims he could be the best rapper if he only had a platform, delivers simplistic rhymes and repeatedly insists that he has the necessary talent while the people around him react with disbelief. The mismatch is amusing initially, but several exchanges serve essentially the same joke, making the middle portion feel looser than necessary.
The backstage material improves the momentum because Edward’s fictional membership suddenly collides with the practical reality of an actual performance. He jokes about being an artist, complains that clothing is too small, continues correcting anyone who denies that he is the fifth member and tries to secure his place onstage. There is a playful sense that he has wandered into a professional environment and decided sheer persistence can substitute for an official role, while Longshot’s mixture of tolerance, teasing and occasional encouragement keeps the interactions lively.
Reaching the stage gives the story the payoff it has been building toward, even though the premise remains intentionally exaggerated rather than a literal account of Edward formally joining the group. His excitement at performing alongside them feels genuine, and the crowd setting makes the moment considerably bigger than the earlier rehearsal jokes. The ending also wisely lets Jay Park puncture Edward’s fantasy by telling him that he has his own movement but should essentially leave Longshot to do what they do. Edward turns the rejection into another joke about the ups and downs of an idol journey, giving the story a fittingly self-aware conclusion.
Pros
- Edward’s exaggerated confidence creates a clear comedic character that remains consistent from his arrival through the performance.
- Longshot’s teasing and resistance give the interactions an entertaining tension rather than simply accepting the fifth-member premise.
- Dance and vocal rehearsals add some genuine challenge to what could otherwise have been only a backstage comedy sketch.
- The eventual stage appearance provides a satisfying payoff to the repeated attempts to earn a place with the group.
- Jay Park’s final assessment gives the story a humorous but appropriately grounded conclusion.
Cons
- Repeated jokes about being the fifth member, having natural talent and being rejected by the others begin to lose impact through repetition.
- The rehearsal segments offer only a limited look at the actual skills and preparation involved in K-pop performance.
- Several improvised exchanges and rap bits run longer than their comedic payoff warrants.
- The intentionally loose, chaotic interactions occasionally make the progression from rehearsal to performance harder to follow than necessary.
A strong personality clash turns a deliberately absurd one-day idol fantasy into an energetic backstage comedy, with Edward’s relentless confidence working especially well against Longshot’s skepticism. More disciplined pacing and a deeper look at the performers’ actual preparation would have strengthened the premise, but the eventual stage appearance delivers the payoff the story needs.
