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#TheInfluencer - My Impressions of the first 4 Episodes



SHOW DESCRIPTION: In the world of online influencers, attention is the name of the game. 77 influential influencers with more than 120 million followers combined compete in the reality survival series THE INFLUENCER.

The first season consists of 7 episodes, with the first 4 episodes since launched on Netflix, from August 6th. These are my impressions of what I'd watched. Minor Spoilers ahead, cheers.



The 77 "influencers" mentioned and featured are all South Korea-based personalities, from YouTube, Instagram, AfreecaTV and TikTok, as well a celebrity "actor", who is currently also a YouTuber. I also noticed "Magenta" (from Kpop girl band "Qwer", a 1 & 1/2 seconds acknowledgment), and as well YouTuber contestants you might recognise from the first season of PHYSICAL 100!



The genres represented ran the gamut of the online landscape; from mukbang to beauty influencers, to gamers and short-form video content creators, cosplayers to sexy broadcast jockeys, all of which resulted in a truly interesting hodge-podge cauldron of Internet personalities, which frankly reminds you of whomever you might have seen online around the world, both folks you follow, and folks you log off from. A literal walking cliche awaits patient folks in Episode 1, indeed.

An interesting add to the line-up worth mentioning , was a "Drag Queen", whom was openly queer, and they did not shy away at all from his (basic) interview. He brought along and showcased his fellow queens on a mission too. He did not progress further than the 2nd mission, and it all felt a bit performative of the producers, but I might also be over-reacting, as it is not the norm for SK-TV, methinks. Kudos for the effort tho.

All this while watching, I was wondering how Singapore-based "influencers" would fare in all of this...which was what made this reality game even more relevant, even if they featured SK-influencers I was wholly unfamiliar with.



Episode 1 - Titled "Worth" essentially showcases the influencer contestants (not all profiled), and reveals the "(dollar) worth" of all contestants, relevant to their Follower-count. The first mission is revealed, and contestants start strategising.

The first episode was essentially a focus on description of who the folks are, and introduction to them. As they were wholly unknown to myself, I was intrigued and curious, and their follower-count had me riveted, and wondering how they would fare against everyone else in different genres and platforms. And in the episodes to come, you'll realized "numbers" are not as effective as "personality" is important, and the all crucial strategy needed to navigate the assigned missions and actions and effects needed to complete the tasks, which turn4d out to be the factor that had me glued to the TV with back-to-back episode watches. This is a "survival show" after all.



Episode 2 - titled "Influence" continues from Ep.1, with the result of the first mission completed and people eliminated. 2nd mission begins, with "live streaming" a boon to some, and bane to others. Nail biting fun, along with "surprise" guests brought on by the contestants to help bump up viewership count.

The next mission is revealed.

Episode 3 - titled "Strategy or Luck" has remaining contestant bidding among themselves, to partner up in the next mission. This to me was wildAF, with contestants taking turns to go inside the cube, while others bid on him/her based on her "worth" indicated. By this time you realise this is way more mentally brutal than expected, and is less of a "influencer-led" game, than a strategic pursuit.

The next mission is revealed before the next episode.

Episode 4 - titled "Gaze", is by far the most impressive (at least top me) segment, where a line-up of built-dioramas are revealed for the partnered-up contestants to take still images from. The result of which is determined by 100 judges, whose "gaze" is recorded via motion detection... "big brother" surveillance on your face!

This episode ends on the cliffhanger for WHO won the segment, to be revealed in the as-yet-premiered Episode 5...!



The formula is very much PHYSICAL 100 (less "Squid Game", as folks online want to get them clicks). There are 5 missions to complete, with each mission eliminating a chunk of contestants by the end. The first mission will leave 30 contestants standing at the end, eliminating 47, as far as being "brutal" goes ... if the primary aim of physical and mental exhaustion in Physical 100, then for The Influencer, it is the mental struggle to survive your "shame" and use your experiences, beyond your "Follower" numbers, which were in turn switched to monetary value. But once you are eliminated, your perceived value will be added to your opponents', and with that structure, the last man/woman standing/surviving will walk away with 300 Million Won.



Before I started my watch, I was bracing myself for "the cringe", after seeing the teaser+trailer, but as the show progressed, my attention was invested, and I devoured all 4 episodes in a single night, and am looking forward to the completion of the series!

This watch somewhat reminded me of Season 1 of PHYSICAL 100, and my enjoyment of it, not at all in Season 2 tho, as the schtick was no longer "new", and everything these days hinges on "newness" of concept, if not the strength of content.

The missions here so far test both the short form and question the longevity of the old guards, all of which maintained a balance of interest, neither Boomer or GenZ, and everyt5hing in-between.

I am intrigued with the status of reactors and creators, where in this day and age, everyone's a judge and critic while watching the computer or TV screen(s), while everyone being the screen, are to be judged, whether they want to or not. How a creator dictates his/her schtick and being accepted and adopted by their fans/viewers, is an island being fortified by a bubble of their own creation, and not what everyone thinks "will burst", as they all inevitably will, until the next thing comes along to capture everyone's attention.

I am old enough to remember the days without the internet, much less social media. Of hope the world was connected, as much as I am now sharing Insta reels with my family on WhatsApp , all the while with less words being spoken. I consider myself a Boomer, and all this is still interesting to me LOL

"The Influencer" provided niche entertainment, and even a sliver of tips and strategies from the contestants, but honestly impacts naught my everyday, even if at a previous point in my toylife, someone called me an "influencer" (Bless his soul), which by the end of Episode 4, is to me someone who faces the public (something which I have not actively done so), and showcases and shares his or her schtick, and his/her being received by the public, makes them a successful influencer, IMHO.

Cheers,
Andy TOYSREVIL
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