The JB Show ('HUP!' YouTube)
Kim Rieun: The JB Show subverts expectations by taking what the media usually expects from idols in newer girl groups and turning it on its head. The show’s hosts, KISS OF LIFE members Julie and Belle, only debuted a year ago, but the last thing they’re worried about is how viewers will perceive their words and actions. They instead draw on their personal backgrounds—born in Honolulu and in Seattle, respectively—to play the part of the adults on an American kids’ show, turning their powers toward the male rappers they have on as guests to correct their attitudes and behavior. Whether pressing for answers about unflattering moments, like grilling BIG Naughty over “lovestagramming” or pulling up video footage of Han Yo Han struggling to hit high notes, or expressing their impatience with Layone’s slow, rambling way of talking, Julie and Belle are the perfect hosts to keep things funny and light. But the ultimate goal of the show isn’t to highlight the cultural differences the guests have with the hosts, nor to make a caricature out of them. Instead, the kernel of The JB Show lies in its moments of sincerity, like the “battle of romance” between Belle and BIG Naughty to see who can come up with the cringiest definition of the word that is followed up later with Julie expressing respect for the way the rapper is open and honest about love, or when Han Yo Han goes from gushing about wanting to be a rock star to opening up about how his ultimate dream is “to keep doing music for a long time” and how he works hard to be good to his fans. The result is a rarely seen zone of peace where the hosts can break free from the media image so often demanded of new girl groups and speak openly to be as entertaining as possible, while at the same time giving their guests space to show off what makes them human and what they bring to the table as professionals in their field. Worlds may collide in this series, but it’s a peaceful coexistence.  As Layone says, “If there are a thousand eyes, there are a thousand different worlds.”

Will you please stop, please
Jeong Seohui (Cinema Journalist): There’s a publishing company next to a Buddhist temple. Prayer space and office space. Working adjacent to a temple under the watchful eyes of the Buddha as bodhiasattvas practice their beliefs, one feels how trivial everything is in an indifferent world. Officially, Hye-in (Kim Yeonkyo), now in her fifth year working for the company, oversees proofreading and editing Buddhist books, but as she’s always been the newest employee there, the actual scope of her duties is surprisingly broad. As the only other person on staff alongside head Jin-hee (Jang Liu) and assistant manager Tae-mi (Son Yewon), Hye-in never lets herself forget that her deferential persona is nothing more than a facade she puts on to navigate the business world. Her colorful bosses may be rough around the edges and change their minds on a whim, but they never shy away when it comes time for them to step up and exercise their power against anyone who treats her poorly. Each month is a series of events from working through the night on a file she forgot to save to keeping her head down when one of the temple’s followers chews her out and accuses her of sponging off their donations. What stops her from letting out her pent-up frustration are all the utility bills, money pools, credit card payments, and loans that are weighing her down. Hye-in finds herself neither in heaven nor hell but the everyday world where she fluctuates between a vague sense of shame and the occasional flicker of pride, and she never feels sorry for herself. Her attitude of sticking to it because she has to is indicative of her level of professionalism. She reaches the end of each day she slogs through feeling she made it on her own terms, confident that she doesn’t bow down to make herself submissive, but so that she can get right back up again. When the going gets tough—and especially when there’s thunder and lightning outside—it pays to remember to mash Ctrl+S!

Apple Music Playlist: Permanent Vacation
Seo Seongdeok (Music Critic): Summer is the season of music. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music put just as much effort into their summer playlists as they do into the ones they make for the end of the year. But unlike the somewhat more specific parameters of those holiday hits, the songs on these summer playlists show off a greater variety of personality. But if you’re not looking for that predictable seasonal vibe, how about something more easy, breezy, and laid-back?

My recommendation is to give the playlists of the latest hits, club beats, and backyard BBQ crowd-pleasers a rest, and instead tune into Permanent Vacation, where you’ll be treated to a nearly endless stream of everything from reggae, funk, and bossa nova to Brazilian beats—a selection that’ll redefine what the words “hot” and “cool” mean to you this summer. The playlist is less worried about sticking to certain genres and more about how they carefully draw from and influence one another. There’s cool new 2024 songs like a new summer funk track from Menahan Street Band, a cover of “Genius of Love” by Toro y Moi featuring Brijean, music from the 1990s like indie pop songs by Saint Etienne and the Cardigans, and the magical beats of Röyksopp and J Dilla. Permanent Vacation helps you to discover a fantastic mix of absolute classics and brand-new artists. It’s like a trade secret belonging to the coolest cafe in the world: They took every last track from some curator’s closely guarded music collection and then just kept on adding to it. You don’t even have to take a trip to enjoy a permanent vacation—just pop in your AirPods.