My thoughts on seungcheol’s hit the road episode are like this: why show us in detail the situation that took place backstage and have him cry and explain himself on camera and not follow this up with 1) whether he recieved professional help and treatment & whether the rest

Are also given the space to seek mental health support seeing as this should be an eye opening event at the very least 2) his new healthier mentality about how he treats himself and his body and doesn’t push himself to breaking point for the fans or the group or the company

3) any kind of RELIEF he expresses moving forward that doesn’t rely on HIS personal sense of responsibility to anything but himself and his health 4) any discussion of whether this break was helpful to his journey in any way vs. just time they gave him to pull himself together

5) any change in his language about himself from pre-hiatus where he doesnt talk about this job & his role like his life and mental stability need to be on the line for the sake of the show because he is otherwise holding the group back despite giving this 10+ years of his life

What we took out of this is that he’s been suffering for a long time now, that he made himself get back onstage when he knew he shouldn’t and no one stopped him & possibly was traumatized in the process, and nothing about whether he recieved professional help

This isn’t a “our amazing leader” moment, there’s nothing to thank him for here, this isn’t a favor he’s doing to fans, this is years of overwork and sacrifice and an unhealthy mentality, and in the end the episode framed it like it was his sole responsibility to overcome it

I don’t know in what world the producers and the company thought fans who attend seventeen concerts would be happy or thankful to know that the members push themselves to the absolute physical and mental limit to be on stage

Why are we supposed to be touched by him apologizing to fans? In what way is it relieving or reassuring for us to know that he’s been forcing himself to be on stage to the point where he literally could not anymore and had to take a break - & now he’s back & so it’s all good now?

I don’t really know what I’m trying to say here or to whom I’m just frustrated by the responses to this episode I think it’s such an infuriating & USELESS thing to air that gives us nothing but a violation of his privacy and no follow up on his mental health & support he has

And I’m sick of the stupid fucking quotes at the start and end of every episode like it’s an inspiring story of strength and courage when there’s no fucking closure or reassurance or relief that they’re being supported or will be in the future or that any changes will be made