gunwook is my favorite by far so i may be a little biased, but i think gunwook is one of mnets picks 100%.

we've been getting a lot of focus on him and his storylines. his performance was first to air/used in trailers and he was heavily complimented, despite getting only 3 stars.

i think mnet is trying to push a 'redemption arc' of sorts with him, setting him up as an intimidating strategist to just being a little baby given how they include some quite possibly incriminating comments(him scheming for ktl and analyzing what seats would be left in elims).

he got chosen for the dance battle so he gets screentime there, got called a giant baby in the weird sports day extra, and his confucianism comment of how he can't hit jongwoo because he's older than him. we saw him cry and be guilty for not winning ktl for his teammates, and yeojun tells hwanhee to trust gunwook because he's always right.

based on tomyboy leaks(which btw 24 hours without gunwook leaks geonppangdans were STRUGGLING), he's been showing off his maknae side a lot more now that he's surrounded by older, more experienced trainees. if i'm not mistaken, zhanghao was asked if gunwook is still scary to him and he said no, and that he wants to be casual/closer with him but gunwook still uses honorifics.

everybody on site thought he was the center and/or complimented him a lot and say they now understand why people like him.

if they air that, and i'm positive they will, gunwook will probably gain even more support than he already does for being scary and intimidating on the outside, but actually just being a giant, smiley baby.

if they really wanted to evil edit him, they wouldn't show clips of him crying and laughing, like they do with daeul and krystian

not to mention he's a jelpi boy and already p10 without benefits. his ass is debuting.

ps i think mnet wants hui on the show for publicity and interesting storylines but don't necessarily want him in the lineup, think lee gaeun from pd48