"Oh?." I was taken by surprise. Who would have expected an open ending in a variety show rather than a drama. The finale of 'The Wonder Coach' left viewers on edge with an all-time great ending.
On the 23rd, the MBC variety show 'The Wonder Coach' episode 9 aired, featuring the final match of the Sure-win Wonderdox led by director Kim Yeon-kyung against the pro champion team Pink Spiders.
The result was a shutout victory for the Sure-win Wonderdox. Even though the Pink Spiders were coached by coach Kim Dae-kyung rather than a director, the pro champion team and Kim Yeon-kyung's former team faced a valiant effort from the Sure-win Wonderdox that earned a precious win. Led by captain Pyo Seung-joo, the performance of Inkushee 'Nepkushi', who grew from a sore spot to an ace, particularly shone.
Originally, the Sure-win Wonderdox had aimed to establish the eighth team in Korea's women's professional volleyball. Sweeping weekly attention, Kim Yeon-kyung pursued a transition from volleyball queen to variety queen, and the eight-episode program, after one extension, concluded with the ninth episode aired that day. Naturally, attention also turned to the possibility of an eighth team or season 2.
However, even at the production press conference held on the 17th before the finale, there was no official mention. Led by producer Kwon Rak-hee, the production team was reserved about season 2 and the establishment of an eighth team, saying, "The audience has given us such enthusiastic support and encouragement that we will try to come back to you with really good news," treading carefully. Especially since Kim Yeon-kyung's participation is decisive, they added cautiously, "We will persuade Director Yeon-kyung well and persuade the players and all of us at MBC so we can bring good news."
In the long-awaited finale, episode 9, the production team finished covering the Wonderdox's matches and revealed updates on Wonderdox players, including Lee Na-yeon, who returned to the pros. The reunion between Kim Yeon-kyung and the production team was also depicted. Kim Yeon-kyung met the production team in the MBC office meeting room where 'The Wonder Coach' first began, meeting them with hair and makeup still set.
The conversation was also encouraging. The production team said, "You delivered an incredibly good result for a first challenge," leaving room for a possible next challenge, and emphasized the numbers, saying, "Seven matches: five wins, two losses, and two of those were shutout victories. A winning percentage of 71.4%, while the director's championship winning percentage during her active career was about 75%." They even added, "In fact, we've received many contacts regarding an eighth team."
However, the rest of the conversation was not properly captured. Only the surprised reaction of Kim Yeon-kyung saying, "Oh?" was audible. It was as if it left an open ending promising more to come. Coincidentally, that day Kim Yeon-kyung and the Wonderdox players gathered with the production team and fans at a theater in Yongsan, Seoul for a group viewing. Consequently, attention turned to spoilers from fans who attended the event.
Of course, the 'The Wonder Coach' side operates an official YouTube channel showcasing unreleased broadcast footage called "Wonderdox locker room," as well as the MBC official website viewer opinion board. As a result, immediately after the conclusion of 'The Wonder Coach,' the MBC official website viewer board erupted with reactions mixing viewers' curiosity and confusion.
Even though the game is over, does the emotion of sports ever truly end? While the variety-style ending is intriguing, the effort required to look for what comes next after the finale angers viewers, sending them between heaven and hell. 'The Wonder Coach' is taking volleyball fans, Kim Yeon-kyung's fans, and viewers on an emotional roller coaster. However, golden moments are always brief. Before viewers who expected a strong finish grow weary of waiting and cry foul by calling it a weak ending, attention is on the production team of 'The Wonder Coach,' which chose the first open ending in a variety show. <
[Photo] Provided by MBC, source: Kim Yeon-kyung SNS.
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