u/CalligrapherEast2344

ILLIT are obviously a very popular group internationally.

They've charted on Spotify and Apple Global Charts with their last two comebacks (It's Me, NOT CUTE ANYMORE) and NOT CUTE ANYMORE in particular was a viral sensation and they were charting very highly in countries like the USA and Canada.

However, I think it's important to recognise the loyalty and growth of their fanbase in Japan.

BE-LIFT very strategically released Almond Chocolate at the beginning of 2025, and it became a hit in Japan very quickly. K-Pop groups usually get decent popularity in Japan, but ILLIT were clearly going out of their way to give Japanese songs and really provide for this market.

Fast-forward to NOT CUTE ANYMORE and Do The Dance, and ILLIT were already performing very well in Japan (and internationally, of course). However, they have reached completely new levels with 'It's Me'.

'It's Me' is now charting in the top 10 in Japan on YouTube Music, Spotify Japan and Japan's Line Chart (their biggest streaming platform).

At a time when their fanbase in a lot of SEA countries has still been impacted by the accusations, it's really important to mention the importance of Almond Chocolate and Toki Yo Tamare in helping establish ILLIT's core fanbase.

I think it was quite intentional that immediately after Daki dies and Devon starts getting angry, her fighting against The Crow actually gets *worse*.

There seems to be a common misconception that fighting angry = fighting better, but this is not necessarily true.

In some cases this applies, when being more aggressive compliments someone's lightsabre form - Anakin is probably the best example of this.

But there are lots of examples (i.e Obi-wan fighting Maul in S4x22 of TCW) where being angry actually makes you lose focus and more sloppy.

I also think it's notable that even though Maul was injured, Daki performed better than Maul in the duel - taking out Marrok and even getting a hit on Vader despite being on his own.

Maul understandably gets a lot of love as a character and his duelling feats are worth crediting, but let's not forget there is a reason he consistently falls short. The never-ending philosophy of 'give in to your rage' just isn't sustainable.

Thought this was one of the cooler details that people haven't really spotted.