Enjoyable high school sitcom musical with Asian influence
Unlike the eleven previous reviewers here, I've actually watched every episode of "Make It Pop" and waited till the first season was over before sitting down to write a review. I came to this series as a fan of J-pop (Japanese pop music) in the hope that I might finally find something on American TV that captures the exuberant musical spirit of groups like Morning Musume and other Hello! Project all-girl acts. I was pleased to see that the three main female characters here were either Asian or Asian-American, surely a first for a series like this. I was even more pleased to find two complete musical numbers in every episode. With one exception, they all seemed to be original songs created for the series, mostly generic upbeat pop songs about teen life, often with a motivational theme—just like Hello! Project songs. There was an occasional love song and even a break-up ballad at one point as well. I generally enjoyed the songs and found the dancing that went along with them quite a joy to watch and delightfully choreographed. All three of the actresses playing the lead roles—Megan Lee (Sun Hi), Louriza Tronco (Jodi), Erika Tham (Corki)—are quite talented and have lovely voices and excellent dance skills.One aspect of the show that I found most admirable was the emphasis on the girls' camaraderie. They meet as roommates in the first episode and become solid friends in short order. When they have problems, they share them and talk them over with each other. While two of them acquire boyfriends in the course of the series, those relationships never jeopardize or overshadow their friendships with each other. The girls have distinctly different personalities and come from different ethnic backgrounds as well. Sun Hi, who is presumably Korean-American, is the constantly energized narcissist, obsessed with selfies, blogging and recording her every move. Such a personality could get obnoxious really quick, but Megan Lee keeps it funny and endearing at all times. Lee not only sings and dances well, but she's great at comedy, both verbal and physical. Jodi (who I'm guessing is Filipino) is the artistic one, an aspiring fashion designer who has the most developed empathetic imagination among the three. She keeps them all grounded throughout. Corki is a daddy's girl, daughter of a Chinese billionaire from Beijing, and constantly stressed by the need to conform to her father's image of her while also trying to spread her wings in this new environment and with new friends who encourage her to express her talents. At no point are they under any pressure to be sexy, which takes quite a burden off these young actresses and results in more relaxed performances.
A fourth main character is Caleb (Dale Whibley), a tall, lanky, blond white boy who acts as a DJ after hours and composes beats and songs and quickly becomes the girls' musical collaborator. He uses his after-school job at a roller rink to set up concerts for the girls once they form their act and he essentially functions as their manager/producer, quite a big leap for someone who starts out so physically clumsy and socially awkward in the show. Jodi sees what a good guy he is at heart and she bonds with him over their equally inspired creative drives and the two become an item before the season is over. Their romantic scenes are handled with supreme taste and sensitivity.
There are four other significant supporting characters and all are treated a little too cartoonishly throughout, although they all have moments as the series progresses where they get to display their human sides. These four are: Jared, an egotistical jock who falls for Corki; Valerie, a "mean girl" senior and head cheerleader who constantly taunts the three lead girls; Mr. Stark, a drama teacher, with the emphasis on drama, who has dreams of show biz success for himself; and Ms. Diona, a hard-nosed principal with an agenda of her own who seems curiously unconcerned with the aspirations of her students. The acting is good, but I wish the characterizations had been a little softened and more nuanced.
There seems to be a lot of uproar in the comments and message board here about the lack of any major Asian male character among the student body in the show. (There are two adult Asian males who make appearances, including Corki's father.) Yes, it would have been nice to see at least one of the girls (Sun Hi, perhaps) link up with an Asian male friend and I don't know why the producers chose not to pursue that casting path. (There is a post in the message board that offers a behind-the-scenes account that's pretty damning—if true.) When Sun Hi finally gets a male buddy in the last few episodes, he's at least non-white (black). But I have to confess that I identified with Caleb's character, who reminded me of myself at that age when I was in a multiracial performing arts-centered high school. And I certainly would have gravitated to someone like Jodi back then. And having been immersed in the world of J-pop girl groups for the last decade, I tend to be quite accustomed to an Asian pop music universe with little on-camera male participation—which is exactly how the Asian male fans of Morning Musume and AKB48 seem to prefer it! Go figure.
A second season of "Make It Pop" will soon be upon us and I hope they keep the focus on characters and musical numbers rather than contrived plots and slapstick mishaps. And perhaps they'll introduce an Asian male character or two. I also hope they issue a soundtrack CD.
score 7/10
BrianDanaCamp 3 May 2015
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3231324/14440
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