I caught the first episode of new Time To Twice reality show called Tdoong Workshop on Youtube. As usual, it was a guilty treat for all us Onces, as we watched our girls performing silly tasks and being incredibly adorable whilst doing them. This first ep saw them receiving their own colour-themed team jackets (all Twice members have a colour they are associated with – and true Onces can name them all). Then they were packed into a small bus to be taken to their first workshop activity. Much of the episode featured this bus ride, where the members played some word games, then an entertaining round of Pass the Onion Ring Snack. This activity required each member to pass an onion ring snack to each other using a Pocky stick in their mouths. Fans love this because it gives them a chance to see the girls get up close and personal. In a previous version of the game, Jeongyeon pushed Mina and Sana together so that they ‘kissed’. No such incident occurred this time, but the girls had fun, and so did we. The first destination turned out to be a go kart track and, after some brief safety training, the members were racing around the track. Well, some were. Sana was miss Speedy, whilst Chaeyoung, Nayeon and Dahyun were dubbed ‘turtles’. The show continues next week. Plenty of time to watch the episode again and maybe catch another ten or so viewings of the new Dive music video. There’s also the final Ready To Be concerts in Japan this week. Wow, that’s been a long one. I saw them twice last year on the same tour. The Twice product keeps coming.
For episode two the girls were racing each other on the go-kart track. There were three preliminary races featuring the members in groups of three. Super-competitive Jihyo beat out Dahyun and Nayeon in the first race. Super-cool Mina won over Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon in the second race. The third race was an entertaining farce with Sana, who had been leading all the way, taking a wrong turn allowing Momo to win easily; while Tzuyu, who was last, got confused and did an extra lap of the course. The final, between Jihyo, Mina and Momo, was a nail-biting (well, not really) contest between Jihyo and Mina. Momo, who had won her race by default, was content to stay in the back and let the other two duke it out. Mina made a good effort to keep up, but nothing could beat Jihyo’s competitive fire. A well-deserved win to the group’s leader, who’s driving skills on the road are just as good as her go-karting skills. The second half of episode had the members taking a leisurely rail bike ride through a very pleasant nature reserve. Again, it was three members each in three rail bikes pedalling their way through the countryside and chilling out. Jihyo, in car one, got spooked by a bug but recovered quickly. There’s not much else to say here, really. The girls were relaxed and obviously enjoyed the scenery and the laidback activity. I must say, for a show that’s called Tdoong Workshop, it’s not what I thought it would be. I was thinking of an actual workshop with tools and things, but clearly this one is all about working on themselves, like therapy. I think it’s working. And I’m feeling pretty chill, happy and relaxed watching it – so it’s working on me as well.
For episode three the girls had a task to do on the way back on their rail car trip, doing a video based on their song Jelly Jelly. Two of the groups were onto it straight away, but it took Mina’s team, which included Momo and Chaeyoung, a while to twig coz they were too busy chilling. Ah my cool, cool babies. They eventually worked out there was a task to do and quickly got it done; then later, won the Director’s award for best clip. My genius intuitive babies. Then Jihyo had to leave for some unspecified reason. I wonder what it was. Jeongyeon joked they should now start talking about Jihyo; but if they did, we didn’t get to hear the goss. After a delicious Mukbang session, the others got into four speedboats, two a-piece, and went for a joy ride on the river. Scaredy cats Momo and Nayeon seemed to enjoy the ride, but also were seen holding onto the side of the boat and their partners for dear life. The ep was over way too soon.
It being Friday, I watched the fourth and last ep of Time To Twice: Tdoong Workshop. The ep started with the eight members (Jihyo still away) still enjoying their speedboat ride. Nayeon expressed interest in going to nearby Nami Island, then Mina, sitting with her, pointed out they were Nami – Nayeon/Mina, get it? Back on land, there was some ‘unity sessions’ or team-building with a giant skipping rope and a version of pass-the-ball, then a free-form soccer match. After that there was some rest and ice cream before the members retired for dinner and dessert at the nearby coffee truck, which had been Mina’s prize on the previous Death Note TTT. Each of the members were given a mission to complete during the course and here was when they were revealed. Most were successful except Mina and Jihyo, who probably didn’t have time to finish it, or couldn’t be bothered. Mina’s mission, to have someone say Mina, I love you, almost succeeded, with Jeongyeon at least saying Mina, I like you, but not quite. I liked what happened with Momo’s mission – to receive a hug from someone. She guilted Jeongyeon into giving her one; then seeing it, Sana ran over to join in the hug-fest. As the show ended, the other members joined in to complete Mina’s mission, saying Mina, I love you. Yes, Mina, I love you – and Twice. More than life itself.