IF you know me, you’d know that I’ve been a fan of Korean pop culture for a long time and the first K-pop act I saw live in 2010 was Super Junior. My daughter was just a teenager then and I got to bring her along. This started her love for K-pop, of which she’s still a fan of to this day.
Thus, it was an honor to get the chance to review the documentary Super Junior: The Last Man Standing on the Disney+ streaming service.
Super Junior is an SM Entertainment group that debuted in 2005. The boyband has a rich history filled with challenges but there’s no doubt that their fans have remained loyal to them. There are nine active Super Junior’s members: Lee Teuk, Hee-chul, Ye-sung, Shin-dong, Eun-hyuk, Dong-hae, Si-won, Ryeo-wook, and Kyu-hyun.
The group and its members have not been without its critics but there is no doubt that even 18 years later, they are still relevant. Most of them, aside from being idols, work as variety show MCs, comedians, concert and music directors, actors, and YouTuber content creators. They are still successful. Their concerts still sell-out. They are still big stars in Korea and overseas.
The documentary Super Junior: The Last Man Standing is a surprisingly candid look at the group’s history with even more surprising insights from the members. I use the word “surprising” because it’s not common to see K-pop idols being candid.
How candid? In the documentary, you will see video clips from the archives featuring Hangeng, Kangin, Sungmin, Kibum, Zhoumi and Henry without any blurring. I remember that my daughter and I once watched a Super Show with Henry still part of the Super Junior line-up and she said, “I want to marry him.” She still loves Henry and continues to support his career.
I love how the song “Superman” introduces all the members to the viewer, without assuming that we know them already. I watched the documentary through the eyes of a stranger. I tried to look at the members as if I was seeing them for the first time. Also, it was nice to see a young Hee-chul. Although Kyu-hyun is my favorite because of his lovely voice, I’ve always said that Hee-chul is the best-looking member.
It was heartwarming to see Super Junior’s first-ever stage and how young and confused the boys look. It made me wonder if they also watched this documentary and what they think of their younger and less confident selves.
Seeing old and new stages brought back a lot of memories and comparisons between K-pop then and now. For instance, when I started watching K-pop concerts, there were no lightsticks yet. All we had were the light-up bracelets. No one cared where you sat during a concert. Securing a ticket was not that difficult. Most people still laughed at K-pop fans because our interests were deemed not classy.
At the time, everyone was asking, “How can so many people debut?” They also wanted to know, “How can so many people sing together?”
But Super Junior did it. They sang and danced together and they were a big success. They have made their mark in K-pop and they are still big stars. If “Sorry, Sorry” is the only Super Junior song that you know, please watch this documentary and you’ll realize that the group has a rich discography. Their popular songs, aside from “Sorry, Sorry” include “U,” “Miracle,” “Twins,” and “Mamacita.” Even their B-sides are worth listening to.
If you’re an OG fan of the group, then the documentary will not tell you anything new, but it will give you insights from the members themselves. It’s so heartwarming to hear the members talk about their personal and professional struggles, and how they overcame this. For instance, Dong-hae, whose father drove a taxi, tried to become an idol because his family was in debt.
The two-part documentary has so many dramatic moments. But perhaps one of the most impactful statements was when leader Leeteuk said, in reference to their debut, “I’ve debuted. I’m a pro now.” It is not easy for any singer or group to debut. Some artists train for years and never debut.
The documentary also touches on the not-so-good things that happened to Super Junior, including accidents and members’ loved ones passing away.
If you’re someone who has never heard of the group or casually knows them, Super Junior: The Last Man Standing is a good way to get to know one of K-pop’s pioneers.
So what’s new from Disney+?
On February 17, it will air j-hope IN THE BOX, a behind-the-scenes documentary special showcasing the creation of j-hope’s first solo album.
Starring j-hope of the 21st century pop icons BTS, j-hope IN THE BOX, a documentary special produced by HYBE, follows the international music sensation every step of the way as he works to release his first-ever solo album Jack In The Box. Viewers will get a never-before-seen look at the creative challenges faced during the album’s preparation process, as well as front row seats to j-hope’s 2022 Lollapalooza performance and the album’s listening party.
Image credits: Disney+