tvN STORY's first trot entertainment program 'Handsome Trot' has touched viewers with an emotional legendary performance.
On Feb. 21, the 5th episode of 'Handsome Trot' (produced by Hwang Da-won, written by Jeong Soo-jeong) aired, and the 'Duet Ranking Determination Round' began. In Gyo-jin, Ji Seung-hyun, Hyeon-woo, and Kim Joon-ho showcased special performances with their respective duet partners, creating an unprecedented synergy.
The lineup of duet challengers was also an unmissable point of interest. Kim Dong-ho's duet partner, the unique vocalist Jo Hyun-a, Kim Joon-ho’s brilliant voice partner Son Tae-jin, the trot queen Yang Ji-eun supporting Ji Seung-hyun, and the youngest competition winner Jeong Seo-joo teaming up with Italy added expectations to the luxurious lineup. The original sexy fairy Ayumi teamed up with Choo Sung-hoon, and actor Cha Hyeon-seung, who is a former dancer, revealed his special connection with Hyeon-woo, drawing attention. Meanwhile, the late-blooming trot singer In Chi-wan heightened expectations by hinting at a real family chemistry with In Gyo-jin.
The duet partner of Choi Dae-cheol, who had not been revealed prior, finally unveiled. The main character is actor Jang Hyuk, who was eliminated last week. Surprising everyone with his return, Jang Hyuk noted, 'I will show the emotional essence of trot as much as (Choi) Dae-cheol has sung for me.'
The third round was conducted in a format where participants evaluated the rival challengers' performances excluding their own team (total of 700 points). Notably, due to the T4 benefit in the second round, Choo Sung-hoon, Hyeon-woo, Italy, and Kim Joon-ho were awarded 50 bonus points, which became a significant variable. The scores of trot producer Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won's scores (total of 300 points) were not announced during the interim tally, raising curiosity.
The first stage featured the duo of Ji Seung-hyun and Yang Ji-eun, named 'Not Losing.' Trot trainee Ji Seung-hyun practiced repeatedly to show a genre change different from the first and second rounds, selecting 'You Like It' (originally by Nam Jin and Jang Yoon-jung) to present a fantastic chemistry with Yang Ji-eun. The performance felt like watching a romantic comedy, with In Gyo-jin, their close friend, applauding enthusiastically, and Choo Sung-hoon expressing admiration by saying, 'When a trot artist appears, it truly feels different.' The interim score, totaling 605 points from the seven teams, automatically placed them in first.
The second team, 'Golden Prince,' featuring Kim Joon-ho and Son Tae-jin, also delivered an impressive performance. Son Tae-jin, as a trot competition winner, emphasized the importance of song selection, and the pair chose Nam Jin's 'It's Me' to create a performance reminiscent of a musical. The vibrant stage showcasing the duo's synergy drew high praise. Jang Min-ho noted, 'Every stage exudes a love for trot,' while Lee Chan-won remarked, 'If the first round was a bronze medal and the second round was a silver medal, today's was a gold medal performance.' The Golden Prince team scored 584 points.
As the competition intensified from the outset, the next on stage was 'Winning Brothers' team Hyeon-woo and Cha Hyeon-seung. Hyeon-woo, who has been on the T4 list for two consecutive rounds, took a bold move with the fun song 'Chanchan-Chan' by Pyeong Seung-yeop, designed to highlight the chemistry with his friend. He rearranged the lengthy original piece into a shorter version, and prepared a sharp dance performance, among other diverse arrangements, but the reactions were mixed. The Winning Brothers team ranked 3rd with a score of 566.
The performance presented by the duo of In Chi-wan and In Gyo-jin was arguably the highlight of the broadcast. In Gyo-jin, selecting Kim Yeon-ja's 'Mother's Season,' was so emotionally immersed during practice that he couldn't hold back his tears. The once-awkward father-son relationship, and the father’s yearning to return to those times through the stage performance with his son, resonated strongly with viewers. In Chi-wan and In Gyo-jin sang passionately while holding hands tightly, and old photos of the two appeared in the background, making the venue a sea of tears.
Even after the stage ended, the emotions lingered. A surprise video letter from father In Chi-wan to son In Gyo-jin was revealed. In Gyo-jin expressed, 'I am really proud that you are my son. I love you, son,' causing him to shed the tears he had held back, as he absorbed his father's heartfelt words. Yang Ji-eun, who lost her father last year, noted, 'My father wanted to be on stage with me. Watching today's stage brings a variety of emotions, including regret and envy,' as tears filled her eyes. The stage of the 'Introt' team, which moved everyone to tears, scored 609 points and took the top position. In Gyo-jin shared his thoughts, stating, 'I have captured today’s performance in my heart’s photo. I am so happy and grateful without any regrets.'
Meanwhile, the next stage is expected to feature a stronger duet performance from Choo Sung-hoon, Choi Dae-cheol, Kim Dong-ho, and Italy, raising anticipation. 'Handsome Trot' airs every Friday night at 10 p.m. on tvN STORY and can also be seen on tvN on Saturday night at 10:40 p.m.
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