Challenge Corner discussion

Eighteen-year-olds Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining under the pressures of fame, and Ruben confides in Zach that he’s feeling smothered by management’s pressure to stay in the closet.

On a whirlwind tour through Europe, with both an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, Ruben and Zach come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. But when they decide they’re ready to tell their fans and live freely, Zach and Ruben start to truly realize that they will never have the support of their management. How can they hold tight to each other when the whole world seems to want to come between them?

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ This very much reminds me of groups like One Direction. I bet they went through similar things like having their entire image curated and being forced to "stay in character" all the time. I feel bad that the boys can't be themselves (hide spoiler)]

Starting this now!

6%
(view spoiler)[ I wish one of my friends would throw a party with peacocks lmao (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree. Kinda makes me take a second look at all the bands I've ever loved and wonder if they singers actually look/act like they're portrayed as (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

For me that's One Direction. Some of the members have said how pressured they were, how they were drinking a lot but pretending to be sober, stuff like that. It makes me feel so bad

12%
(view spoiler)[ I've always found it weird how people just wait around at airports or hotels where they know celebrities are going to be. They're just people trying to get from one place to another (hide spoiler)]

19%
(view spoiler)[ Oooh. I thought they were gonna dance around each other a lot longer. Pleasantly surprised to see a kiss this early on (hide spoiler)]

22%
(view spoiler)[ Gotta love the gay panic. At least Zach is willing to think on it and figure out what everything means instead of just yelling from the rooftops that he's not gay and going about his day as usual (hide spoiler)]

38%
(view spoiler)[ So is it ever going to be addressed that Ruben's mother is emotionally abusive? I get angrier with her with every interaction she and Ruben have (hide spoiler)]

59%
(view spoiler)[ This is stupid. Weren't they just concerned about the fans thinking they hate each other? Isn't keeping them as far apart as possible just going to perpetuate that idea? I genuinely don't understand. They can joke about a relationship between Jon and Angel in interviews, but a real one between Zach and Ruben is frowned upon? What??? (hide spoiler)]

70%
(view spoiler)[ Oh. My. God. I knew things weren't going to go well for Angel. I hope this doesn't kill him :(( (hide spoiler)]

Finished
There are a few things I still have some issues with, but I enjoyed this for the most part

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for Ruben. He's waiting on Zach to decide his feelings and then Zach makes that comment that makes Ruben feel bad. And everyone thinks they're fighting now (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ I'm very wary of Geoff. I don't for one second think that after Russia they'll get to come out. I'm surprised they haven't set up a fake girlfriend for one of them yet (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 7 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ And I really hated the fact that Ruben was getting blamed for the fight too. Like it wasn't just him (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 15 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I was fully expecting to have a fake girlfriend situation. It seems like something they would do for sure (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Chapter 15 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Right?

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ So much has happened! I hope Angel is okay and gets the help he needs. I also think the band either needs to break up or get new management because Geoff is horrible and Ruben and Zach will never be allowed to come out. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I'm so happy the moms came together and the boys will likely get new management. It did feel unfinished to me, Ruben never talked to his mom about how mean she is and I would've liked an epilogue or something to wrap it up (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "Finished
There are a few things I still have some issues with, but I enjoyed this for the most part"

I was disappointed that we didn't see (view spoiler)[Ruben confront his mom about her abuse. That really needed to be addressed. And the ending as a whole felt unfinished. Maybe more will be added before December (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 22 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah I was actually more worried about Angel in all of this to be honest. Dude could have a whole book of his own with the issues he was having (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Finished
There are a few things I still have some issues with, but I enjoyed this for the most part"

I was disappointed that we didn't see [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah that was one of the big things I talked about in my review. Other than the relationship with Zach and Ruben, I don't feel like anything really got resolved the way it should have and I found that to be disappointing (hide spoiler)]

30% (view spoiler)[The tension is real. I feel bad Zach can’t figure out his feelings. And Ruben is all defensive thinking all the worst things about Zachs behavior. Kiss and make up already 🥰 (hide spoiler)]

45% (view spoiler)[Glad their band mates are happy for them (hide spoiler)]

78% (view spoiler)[Poor Ruben, I feel so bad with him thinking hey I'll enjoy Zach while I have him. It doesn't help the ppl around him suck. His parents and most importantly the record company cronies. The band needs to collectively say screw them and do their own thing. If they are that famous, with social media they could probably reinvent themselves on their own! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[AWw I really loved this. So glad they gave Geoff the big old flip off, so messed up how much that whole company manipulated them and didn’t even treat them as humans with their own personalities. Glad John at least has a mom whose decent. I wish we had an epilogue though (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING SEPTEMBER 10TH 2021

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RESTARTING FEBRUARY 19TH, 2024

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