“I can relate!” — Stray Kids React Adorably to Meeting BLACKPINK's Jennie at the 2024 MET Gala
K-Pop made a grand return at the 2024 MET Gala!
BLACKPINK's Jennie graced the event for the second year in a row, stunning everyone in a beautiful blue Alaïa minidress. It was also a memorable night for Stray Kids, who attended the event for the first time.
They made history as the first K-Pop group to grace the MET Gala red carpet together, looking dapper in custom Tommy Hilfiger suits.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: (L-R) I.N, Lee Know, Han, Felix, Seungmin, Changbin, Hyunjin and Bang Chan of Stray Kids attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
The stars aligned when the two artists crossed paths at the event! A photographer managed to capture the exact moment Stray Kids first saw Jennie.
Felix and Lee Know, in particular, were noticeably surprised, their mouths forming the shape of an "O."
The younger group made sure to stand up right away to greet their senior. After all, Jennie debuted two years earlier in 2016.
Fans were unsurprisingly ecstatic to see them interacting. They loved how the BLACKPINK singer came over to greet the boy group and make them feel more at home.
Adding to the fans' delight, they even had a proper photo together. Jennie stood out in the middle with her royal blue dress contrasting the blacks, whites, and reds that the JYP Entertainment boy group was wearing.
As the buzz continues, fans are eagerly awaiting more updates from Stray Kids and Jennie and are sending their love and support to the stars.
Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series
The new OTT series Newtopiahas faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.
Released on the 7th, Newtopiaon Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.
The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.
Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.
Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”
Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.
The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopiaalso struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopiaspent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.
On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.
Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.
The remaining six episodes of Newtopiawill air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!