Viral Hit episode 2: Hobin’s Rising Star

On April 17, 2024, at 12:55 am, Fuji TV in Japan released the second episode of Viral Hit. As previously mentioned in episode 1, there is a significant distinction between achieving viral success and consistently creating successful content. In episode 2, titled “Hobin’s Rise,”these concerns are explored as Hobin’s fame begins to skyrocket.

The majority of the episode centers on the pressing issue of handling Pakgo, who is revealed to be a phony and a tyrant. In addition, Hobin must also address the more worrisome matter of improving his fighting abilities and stamina before the next video is released. However, a miraculous turnaround occurs when a secretive man, who runs a fighting tutorial channel with no followers, enters Hobin’s life.

Despite its popularity, Viral Hit episode 2 shows that fame is not always beneficial.

Viral Hit: The Dark Side of Fame

Revenge is sweet

Pakgo exposed in Viral Hit episode 2 (Image via Okuruto Noboru)

In the second episode of Viral Hit, Pakgo continues his attempts to use Hobin and Snapper’s video to increase his popularity. However, Hobin takes a stand and exposes Pakgo as a dishonest person in front of their classmates. He even reveals the physical harm inflicted on him by Pakgo. Despite Pakgo’s stream cutting out due to his phone dying, Snapper’s phone captures and streams Hobin’s bold declaration.

Despite Pakgo’s advantage in muscle and strength, a fight breaks out between the two. Pakgo’s aggression leads to him almost overpowering Hobin in front of a crowd, repeatedly slapping him and insulting his mother. However, the unexpected arrival of rising MMA star Munseong Kim, who was dozing off in class, halts the one-sided beating and demands that the two cease their disturbance as it interrupted his nap.

Despite ending the day with injuries, Hobin’s situation is not completely negative. Snapper’s stream quickly gains viral attention and Pakgo’s subscribers and income start to decrease. In just a short time, Pakgo’s reputation as a scammer, bully, and imposter is exposed, resulting in a rapid loss of subscribers and viewership on NewTubu.

Hobin’s Training and Channel Maintenance Struggles

Channel Maintenance and Training (Image via Okuruto Noboru)

Following Pakgo’s removal, the second episode of Viral Hit introduces new challenges, including a shift in channel focus agreed upon by Snapper and Hobin to concentrate on combating villains, managing ad revenue, and Hobin’s ability to withstand fights.

According to Snapper, NewTubu accounts earn revenue by running ads of appropriate duration. However, the challenge is that Hobin must last for at least three minutes in a real fight to generate significant earnings; otherwise, they will only be one-hit wonders. Audience retention is equally crucial as gaining an audience, as numerous streamers can confirm.

Hobin’s thorough investigation leads him to discover a peculiar channel called “How to Fight,”which has no subscribers but a large number of videos. All of the videos feature the channel’s main host and creator, a man named Samdak who wears a chicken mask and a karate gi. In these videos, Samdak shares tips on winning fights, starting with the importance of maintaining a calm mental state and fighting without experiencing pain.

Hobin’s Newfound Fame: The Pros and Cons

Fame: Pros and Cons (Image via Okuruto Noboru)

In the second episode of Viral Hit, Hobin also grapples with his sudden fame and newfound wealth. He decides to leave his job at WcDanald’s, believing that working there part-time will not be enough to support his mother’s medical expenses. Additionally, Hobin finally gathers the courage to speak to Bomi and obtains her contact details. Throughout the episode, he is seen exchanging texts with her.

With a NewTubu account of 100k subscribers, Hobin has gained more recognition and has been receiving collaboration requests from various individuals, such as Rumi, a fashion NewTuber, who had previously covered him in mime makeup during episode 1. Additionally, his knowledge on fighters’ mental states, acquired through training, has allowed him to remain composed and avoid Pakgo’s retaliatory attacks at school.

Despite the perks, fame always comes with a price. As demonstrated in the second episode of Viral Hit, Hobin is bombarded with attention from people wanting to be associated with him after his videos went viral. Unfortunately, this also attracts unsavory individuals who pose as fans in order to steal from him. Snapper comes to the rescue by discreetly catching these imposters and, with the support of his growing fanbase, Hobin announces that his next Viral Hit video will focus on retrieving his stolen phone.

Final thoughts

The second installment of Viral Hit, episode 2, is a fantastic continuation of the first episode, delving into the pros and cons of unexpected fame. It seems that Pakgo is not finished with Hobin, and there are hints that Gaeul may be taking an interest in the situation, as seen in the preview for episode 3. For those interested, the episode will be available on Crunchyroll.

Despite the slow start in setting up the story, the animation remains top-notch, seamlessly combining exaggerated and realistic facial expressions. After two episodes, the school bully has already been outsmarted and his reputation is rapidly declining. It will be intriguing to witness Pakgo’s revenge, as in most cases the school bully presents more than just a mere threat to others’ reputations.

Despite the possibility of encountering fairweather friends who may leave when the spark is gone, Hobin’s life is currently on the upswing. He has been receiving more positive attention, mustered up the courage to talk to his crush, stood up for himself, and even found a colleague in Snapper. Only time will tell if this positive momentum will continue for Hobin, but for now, things are looking up.