Time flew by really quickly. ‘Boys Planet’ Season 2 feels like it just began, yet we are already at the last episode. While I personally have fun watching survival shows, a downside is that you bond with trainees and cheer for them, only to part ways at the end. While it’s not really ‘over’ and the journey of eight trainees has just begun, deep down, we know that not all our faves will make it. These kinds of shows pull you in emotionally, where you can’t help but get attached to many trainees, only for the finale to cut things short.
By now, I’m sure many of you have watched the live broadcast of the last episode and know exactly who made it into the debut lineup and who didn’t. The season is over; eight boys were chosen, and the rest were eliminated. There is this bittersweet element that, way before the finale, you’d already felt the sting that not everyone—at least not all your faves—would debut.
But on a global scale, I think most people are satisfied with the debut lineup. While there’s still some mild critique, it’s nothing compared to the backlash that ‘Girls Planet 999’s debut lineup faced. So, let’s take a look at the final performances, the debut lineup, and who you think was close to debuting but didn’t.
Final Performances
‘Hola Solar’
As tradition goes, trainees once again performed the show’s signal song, ‘Hola Solar,’ for the finale. Given the bullying controversy, I was quite surprised to see that they still kept Geon Woo as the K-Center, along with C-Center Zhou Anxin. However, the most shocking element was Sang Won, who was placed at the center during the whole performance, confirming that he is the center of centers.
Since I didn’t get to talk much about the signal song before, I’ll do it now.
Usually, signal songs are like an introduction, representing the trainees and their debut spirit. Signal songs for survival shows like ‘I-Land’, ‘The Unit’, ‘Starlight Boys’, ‘Produce 101’, and ‘Boys Planet’ were refreshing and filled with passion for debut. This season’s signal song, though, fell short for me.
‘Brat Attitude’
Fans really loved the iconic Chinese duo—Anxin and Jia Hao—as ‘killing parts’ for this season. After the last two episodes, it’s clear that Jia Hao was the dark horse of this season, yet he managed to rise very high. His performance in ‘Brat Attitude’ was commendable, especially the high note.
Another individual who shone throughout the performance was none other than Chen Kai Wen. Although it was the first time he performed as a Main Vocalist, he aced his part and was called an ‘all-rounder’ by many viewers.
Now, coming to the controversy part—many of you may have heard that for this particular song, Mnet was accused of plagiarizing the poster concept and graffiti of the famous K-pop boy band ATEEZ. But I think the real issue is that, unlike ‘Hot Summer’ from the first season, this song somehow felt like a knockoff.
‘Never Been 2 Heaven’
Throughout the whole performance, one contestant who really made a strong impression was Leo. At the beginning of the show, I was really looking forward to Sang Won’s performances, but after hearing Leo sing Heeseung’s parts in ‘No Doubt,’ I just knew he’d be my favorite. Sure, he’s got an alluring stage presence, but his vocals were the main highlight. In just one performance, he delivered visuals, vocals, and rap. In addition, his model-like walk went viral all over social media platforms.
While the other members did a good job, most viewers remember Leo’s parts. And once again, while the song was good, it felt like the producers rehashed Season 1’s ‘Jelly Pop’ vibes and created a copy.
The Top 8
During the live broadcast, special master and MC Kim Jae Joong announced that the debut group’s name would be ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1). Needless to say, once the group name was announced, the internet lit up with criticism and jokes—this was totally expected.
So, here is the ranking and the names of the top 8 trainees who would debut as members of the group ALD1
- Lee Sang Won
- Zhou An Xin
- He Xin Long
- Kim Geon Woo
- Zhang Jia Hao
- Lee Leo
- Chung Sang Hyeon
- Kim Jun Seo
Starting with the first rank, I would say I’m glad that Sang Won got to keep the first place. Many feared that history could repeat itself and Sang Won could suffer the same fate as Sung Hanbin in Season 1: always ranking first, only to lose the crown in the end.
When it comes to the group lineup, I must say it’s quite expected and not surprising at all. Of course, it’s sad that talented trainees like Dong Gyu and Junmin didn’t make it. K-pop survival shows are always considered tough due to the intense competition, strict training schedules, and immense pressure on trainees. While it’s a little disappointing that many skilled and experienced individuals like Kang Min didn’t debut, it’s a relief that they’ll finally get some rest from the competition.
So, this is it—we’ve come to the end of the show. But tell me, did your fave make it? If not, don’t worry—you can still support and root for them!
Written by Diksha Gangadeen
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