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MBN's 'Legend of the Unknown' Heats Up with Intense 'Unknown vs. Famous Team Deathmatch'
The fourth episode, airing on the 18th, will feature the first round of the finals, the 'Unknown vs. Famous Team Deathmatch'. The 49 contestants who survived the 'Unknown Selection' and 'Famous Selection' will clash with experience and ambition.
This episode will reveal the TOP5 from the 'Unknown Selection' held in episodes 1 and 2, and the last joint 9th place spot from the 'Famous Selection' that was not disclosed in episode 3. With unexpected rankings causing a stir, 10 teams will compete fiercely in the deathmatch centered around the 'Unknown and Famous TOP5'.
Team leaders will recruit members regardless of their fame status, forming teams to face off in the match. The outcome will be determined by combining scores from the first round 'Team Battle' and the second round 'Top Leader Battle'. The winning team will advance to the next round, while the losing team will face elimination.
Given that all contestants are participating with their lives on the line, the team formation process was reportedly fraught with desperation and urgency. Ryan, who placed second in the 'Famous Selection', was chosen as a team leader but admitted, "I was unpopular as a leader," facing difficulties in recruiting members. This led to the formation of an 'underdog team' with unselected participants, sparking interest in whether they can pull off an upset.
Despite the challenges in forming teams, unexpected variables continue to arise. In one team, a member's voluntary departure left them with the minimum number of members, leading to conflicts over song selection and emotional moments among team members. An unknown contestant expressed determination for the deathmatch against the famous team, stating, "If you're weak, you lose," raising curiosity about the performance they will deliver amidst ongoing challenges and conflicts.
Notably, Sungri, who received overwhelming support from the national and top pro panels in the 'Famous Selection', faced harsh mid-evaluation criticism during team mission preparation, heightening tension. Unexpected feedback such as "You seem tense" and "If you're ambitious, you need to practice" reversed the atmosphere. With the pressure of being the preliminary first-place titleholder, attention is focused on whether he can overcome this and deliver a successful performance on the main stage.
Amidst this, contestants are pulling out all the stops to survive the competition. The stage will feature large-scale group dances reminiscent of mega crews, barbed wire and flame effects, and large sculptures, captivating the audience. One Million's dancer Harimu reportedly couldn't hide her surprise, saying, "I thought it was a dance audition set."
As the dramatic performances continue, the pro panel offers mixed reviews, with comments like "It's a stage that can't help but persuade," and "It felt like a final," clashing with criticisms such as "It didn't meet expectations," and "The singing was lacking." With audience and pro panel votes diverging, an unpredictable showdown is expected with the outcome potentially decided by a single vote.
In a situation where audience choice determines survival, the 'Legend of the Unknown' national vote 'People's Choice' begins. The first voting period runs from 11 PM on Wednesday the 18th to 11:59:59 PM on Tuesday the 24th. Viewers can participate by searching 'Legend of the Unknown' on Naver.
Having secured the top spot in Wednesday entertainment for three consecutive weeks, 'Legend of the Unknown' will release the 'Unknown Selection All-Top Best' soundtrack on various music sites at noon on the 19th, continuing the show's momentum. The album will feature performances that received top marks during the 'Unknown Selection', capturing the live energy and emotion of the event. Performances like Hangarak's 'Because I'm a Man', Kim Hanyul's 'Do You Know My Name', Jo Seonghwan's 'I Loved You', and Haru's 'Mother's Season', which became hot topics post-broadcast, are included, expected to stir a strong reaction once again.
The fourth episode of 'Legend of the Unknown', marking a new phase with the team deathmatch and national voting, airs on the 18th at 9:40 PM on MBN.
Ryu Yeji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr