Intense Rivalry Unfolds in 'Universe League' as Contestants Compete for Debut

'Universe League' has ramped up the competition as main contestants showcase their passion for debuting. The second episode, aired on November 29, featured a tense bench test for participants facing elimination and the first round of league missions for the main players.

In a last-ditch effort, 21 independent contestants who did not survive the previous mission were given a final chance through the bench test. Participants expressed their determination, calling it their 'last opportunity.' Notably, Nam Do-yoon secured a spot as a bench player for Team Beat after three tests, while Kwon Hee-jun was brought on as a bench player for Team Rhythm, leading to emotional tears. Hiroto, who had not been selected until the end, finally found a team in Team Groove, shedding tears of relief. With Hiroto's addition, all 21 independent contestants successfully became bench players.

The first round of league missions then commenced, with main players competing against each other and bench players facing off in their own matches. Each team had to perform a song chosen by their respective team leaders, with the added pressure that the lowest-ranking team would receive a yellow card, risking the elimination of a bench player. This set the stage for a fierce battle to avoid the yellow card.

Team Rhythm kicked off the competition with WayV's 'Give Me That.' Jayel and Park Joo-won, who had received 'duplicate picks' in the previous mission, were highlighted as the team's aces. Jayel impressed the team leaders with his flawless performance, securing the killing part and main vocal position.

The performance of 'Give Me That' received widespread acclaim, showcasing exceptional teamwork. Audience voting crowned Park Joo-won as the MVP of Team Rhythm.

Team Beat ambitiously chose tripleS's 'Girls Never Die,' preparing a male version titled 'Boys Never Die.' However, the team faced internal conflict due to Park Ji-hoon's lack of commitment during practice. Cha Woong-ki expressed his confusion over Park Ji-hoon's behavior, leading to a disappointing performance from Team Beat. Team Beat's director, Yoo Kyum, sighed in frustration as mistakes were made by Park Ji-hoon and Geum Jin-ho. Despite the setbacks, Cha Woong-ki, a seasoned idol, was named Team Beat's MVP.

Team Groove selected BTOB's 'Missing You.' With a strong vocal lineup, the competition for the main vocal position was fierce. However, Jang Kyung-hoo struggled with pitch issues, failing to impress during evaluations. Despite his attempts to reclaim his part, he faced further pitch problems, expressing frustration with himself. Seo Jung-woo, a trainee for just three weeks, also received harsh criticism from director Lee Chang-seob for his lackluster performance.

During the main stage of 'Missing You,' Jang Kyung-hoo made lyrical and timing errors, causing disappointment. In contrast, Seo Jung-woo delivered a stable performance, successfully completing the ending part and earning the MVP title, creating a surprising turnaround.

At the end of the first half, Team Rhythm led the scores with 1,234 points, followed by Team Groove with 1,172 points, and Team Beat with 996 points. However, the results could easily change in the upcoming bench matches. Fans are eagerly anticipating which team will claim the top spot in the final rankings next week.

'Universe League,' co-produced by SBS and F&F Entertainment, is a survival show where contestants compete for a single Prism Cup. Following the success of Season 1 'Universe Ticket,' it aims to create a new global idol group.

The third episode of 'Universe League' will air on December 6 at 11:20 PM.