EPISODE SIX SUMMARY
Episode Six Aired August 22nd, 2020, on MNet.
The most exciting episode yet and the last one before the finale, Episode Six was the perfect way to wrap up the season. Each trainee was aided in creating their own solo song. They all took part in a group song, and then performed not only both of those, but the group songs from the previous episode in a guerilla concert.
The previous week ended with the departure of quite a few trainees. The remaining trainees are dismissed and return to their dorm. With only eleven of them left, they decide to bond a little, and stay up for half the night sitting in a circle playing games, talking, reminiscing about the early episode of the show, and making predictions for the future. Some of the trainees go to bed, but a few of them fall asleep right there on the floor.
All of the trainees are tired after the previous night but manage to get themselves to the main stage to find out the last challenge of the show. When it is announced that they all will be writing their own solo song, there is a divide in the room between those who are excited and those who are terrified. The excitement swells at the mention of a group song, only for the nerves to swell when it is announced that they are all to perform these songs live in a guerilla concert. The trainees are sent on their way, and all of the hurry back to their own private areas to write their songs
Some finish earlier than others, Eunsung and Hyunjoo finishing first and therefore getting to be the first to have their songs tweaked and the music created. One by one, each trainee finishes, and we slowly see the songs come to fruition. They all seem to have very different styles. Some create classic pop songs, some create upbeat songs, some create sexier songs, and some experiment with all new genres. All of the songs end up being what the trainees want from them except Junxi’s. Their producer seems to be pushing a very specific image for them, and they express in confessionals that they don’t love it but don’t feel confident enough to contradict a professional
They record their songs and the group songs. There are those who are very happy with the line distribution they got, though not everyone is happy. Some seem quite let down by how few lines they really get
They learn the choreography for their solo songs, and the complexity in those also varies. There are a few, like Raein, who opt out of choreographing anything, and others push for harder choreography. They learn the group choreography, and then have ample time to practice before the concert. Eunsung spends the most time practicing, only sleeping a few hours each night because he’s staying up so late and getting up so early to prepare, but not everyone matches her level of preparation. Kiyoung doesn’t practice much at all, and instead spends a lot of time wallowing in his nerves.
Most of the trainees nail their performances, but the ones that really stood out were the bad ones. Hyunjoo’s song seems made only to show off his dancing, and the response to the song itself is mediocre. Kiyoung struggles a lot performing a song on his own that is actually his. And Junxi’s heart really doesn’t seem to be in it.
After the performance, the crowd is tasked with voting for their favorites. After they have cleared out, the trainees are gathered onstage and Prince announces that there will be no eliminations, and all 11 will advance to the finale.