I’m going to quickly break continuity to note that all of the following videos I embedded are full versions – meaning, they just show the group’s performance and don’t include any of the other groups’ reactions. This is because I personally hate MNET’s editing for these types of videos, and I prefer to watch a performance uninterrupted without a reaction spliced in every ten seconds. The regular broadcast versions are available on YouTube as well.
TOO – “Into the dysTOOpia”
TOO kicks things off with a dystopian version of their debut song, “Magnolia.” I hadn’t heard it before I watched this show, but I think it’s very distinctive sounding – which is not usually the case for a group’s very first release (at least in my opinion). I know next to nothing about TOO, so I don’t really think 90 seconds is enough for me to get a strong impression of them. However, watching them makes it clear to me that the standards for rookie groups have been getting higher and higher since I joined the K-pop fandom. Their dancing and synchronization are great, considering that they had just debuted around the time of filming. It makes me interested to see what kind of stages they will bring to Road to Kingdom.
The group who performs is allowed to choose who goes next, so TOO picks the ones who clearly avoiding their gaze… The Boyz. This, however, turns out to be a bit of a mistake. Because as much as The Boyz grumble about having to perform second, they soon show that they’re not playing around at ALL.
The Boyz – “Sword of Victory”
My initial thought after watching this is, “Wow, I guess The Boyz really came here to win.” Dressed as Hwarang warriors, they give a picture-perfect performance filled with charisma. The only thing I really knew about The Boyz before this was that they had solid dance skills, which is immediately apparent here. Many groups are very synchronized with their timing (like TOO above), but The Boyz are also synchronized with in terms of their forms and angles. They are so freaking precise, it’s crazy. I bet if they all danced in one line, it would just look like one person dancing. It’s actually nice that I don’t know most of them so I can just focus on the overall stage, but I did take note of “the one with the red hair” and “the sandy-haired one with the headband.” (I told y’all, I’m really bad with names!!!)
I also just want to point out that stunning moment when Q goes soaring into the air and effortlessly catches that sword, which literally made my mouth drop. I was so busy staring at the visual in the center (no, I don’t know his name either and I’m sorry) that I didn’t even see them preparing to launch Q in the background. Well played.
Replayed this moment so many times.
Pentagon – “Road to the Throne”
I can already tell Road to Kingdom is going to be a very emotional journey for Pentagon, because this short performance reads like a commentary on their past troubles. In the beginning, the members walk away from the happy times of “Shine” – their most famous song and the peak of their career (so far) – leaving Wooseok to have what looks like a panic attack amongst people wearing creepy masks. I’m guessing this is a reference to the rumors plaguing the group that they mention earlier in the episode. After that comes a powerful dance break with a similar vibe to “Dr. BeBe,” contrasting the bright and upbeat music they were making prior to that, and they end with Kino’s declaration that “Pentagon is the king. There is no doubt.” When Pentagon released “Dr. BeBe,” I noted that it was a new creative era for them because I though they were taking inspiration from their dark times and pouring it into their music. Given this performance, it seems like they’re going full steam ahead with that plan.
ONF – “Lights On”
ONF chooses to do a mashed up version of their songs. “We Must Love” and “ON/OFF” are the two ONF songs I know, so I’m into it. Their performance is spot on, and their dance skills are obviously stellar. Unfortunately, I think it lacks some impact because of ONF’s unfortunate placement in the lineup. The Boyz were incredibly ambitious, while Pentagon packed a lot of emotion and personal sentiment into a short time. ONF’s performance serves as a nice self-introduction, but it doesn’t give me enough and leaves me wanting more… and not in the good way.
Golden Child – “Beginning”
While I know Golden Child has been aiming for a more mature image as of late, I always kind of associate them with their “happy go lucky” style early music. So, I’m very impressed by this dynamic and energetic power dance. The laser lights are a bit much for me – I always think those kind of effects are better in live concerts rather than on TV – but their teamwork and skills are very evident. I’ve seen Golden Child perform live about three times, and I think they really know how to own a stage. It’s definitely the same here.
VERIVERY – “FACE It”
I’m REALLY into whatever music VERIVERY chose for this dance routine – the beat is really intriguing, and the choreography matches perfectly well with it. I like how they slow down in the middle for a smoother and more flowing part. I also enjoy some of the tricks they added in, like the famous scorpion move and how they caught one of their members in midair. It’s very different from the one song of theirs I’ve heard (the fun and fresh “Ring Ring Ring”), and it does remind of their brother group VIXX. It definitely shows their skill and potential.
ONEUS, “Phantom of ONEUS”
ONEUS ends the mission by putting on a performance of their song “Twilight,” adding in a Phantom of the Opera themed dance introduction. While it’s well-staged, I do feel that it gets lost in the shuffle of all the other routines. It’s kind of like a special version of their song that you might see at KCON or something like that. However, I think that the aesthetic is a nice creative twist, and I look forward to seeing if they keep coming up with creative ideas. Also, I totally had a moment over Hwanwoong – I was really rooting for him in Produce 101 even though I figured he wouldn’t make it to the end, so I’m just so delighted he’s debuted.
After the performances are over, the groups learn that they’re going to choose the winner amongst themselves. Each team will rank the other performances from 1st to 6th place (they can’t evaluate their own). Each ranking comes assigned with a certain number of points: 100 for 1st place, 80 for 2nd, 60 for 3rd, 40 for 4th, 50 for 5th, and 5 for 6th. The team with the highest amount of points is the winner, and that group will have a special advantage for the first mission. The results are as follows:
| Ranking | Group | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boyz | 560 |
| 2 | Pentagon | 480 |
| 3 | VERIVERY | 340 |
| 4 | Golden Child | 320 |
| 5 | ONF | 155 |
| 6 | ONEUS | 145 |
| 7 | TOO | 125 |
There’s a clear division between the groups who came up with original performances and the ones who did new versions of their songs. Looking back, I think this really sets the stage for what’s to come and pushes the groups to be as creative as possible. But for now, we have the first mission to prepare for: “Song of King.” Each team can choose a representative song from a boy group who they think is the “King of K-Pop.” And judging from the preview, it looks like there’s going to be a lot of 1st and 2nd generation covers!
NOTE: All videos belong to MNET and Road to Kingdom. All images and GIFs are also made from those videos.
Katherine Does K-POP 