‘Handsome Trot’ revealed unprecedented elimination results in a historic trot big match.
In the fourth episode of tvN STORY’s ‘Handsome Trot’ aired on the 14th, the 1:1 trot directing mission continued in the second round. Choo Sung-hoon, Ji Seung-hyun, Jung Gyeo-woon, Tae Hang-ho, Hyun-woo, and Han Jeong-wan were part of TEAM Jang Min-ho, while Jang Hyuk, Choi Dae-cheol, In Gyo-jin, Kim Dong-ho, Lee Tae-ri, and Kim Jun-ho joined TEAM Lee Chan-won, creating a thrilling 1:1 battle where team members' survival was at stake.
As TEAM Lee Chan-won continued its winning streak, the results of the highly anticipated T4 big match from last week were also unveiled. Hyun-woo faced the strong opponent Choi Dae-cheol and chose to go last, performing ‘Mom Flower (originally by Ahn Seong-hoon)’ on stage. His heartfelt performance towards his mother moved even the composer, who turned out to be in a coma (Kim Ji-hwan, Kim Kyung-beom).
The competition, which sang about the feelings towards parents, was so close that even the five judges were in deep thought. The result was a 4:1 victory for Hyun-woo. Hyun-woo, who brought the first victory to TEAM Jang Min-ho, expressed his emotions, saying, “I think my sincerity was conveyed.”
The next match was a friendly competition. Close friends In Gyo-jin and Ji Seung-hyun, who had appeared in a past project together, faced off as unavoidable opponents. In Gyo-jin chose Lee Chan-won’s ‘Convenience Store’ and created a musical stage reminiscent of fathers of this era. Especially, the narration by So Yi-hyun added to the immersion, and the original artist Lee Chan-won also applauded.
Ji Seung-hyun sang ‘Seoul Tango (originally by Bang Sil-i)’ and showcased the traces of his intense efforts on stage. With a rhythm-filled deep voice, he captivated everyone and received thunderous applause. The result was a narrow victory for In Gyo-jin by just one vote. In Gyo-jin credited his wife So Yi-hyun, saying, “Honey, I think I won thanks to you.”
With TEAM Lee Chan-won leading 3:1, the match between Jung Gyeo-woon and Lee Tae-ri continued. Both showed remarkable improvement after receiving special training from their team leaders, moving the audience. Jung Gyeo-woon, a trot novice who hadn’t enjoyed singing, showed tremendous growth under Jang Min-ho’s tailored training and delivered a heartfelt rendition of ‘Miyun Love (originally by Jin Mi-ryung).’ Jang Min-ho, who watched Jung Gyeo-woon’s sincerity towards trot, was moved and showed his emotions.
Meanwhile, Lee Chan-won ran backstage to support Lee Tae-ri before his performance, saying, “If you get nervous, just look at me,” showing his sweet care. Lee Tae-ri, who chose ‘Nimi-yeo (originally by Jeong Ui-song),’ focused on the emotional depth, recalling Lee Chan-won’s advice, and even shed tears during the performance. Lee Tae-ri, who won with a final score of 4:1, expressed his gratitude towards Lee Chan-won, who had been a great support.
The final match featuring Choo Sung-hoon and Jang Hyuk was the highlight of the broadcast. A trot match between the representative men of the entertainment industry took place. Choo Sung-hoon chose to go last as a T4 benefit, while Jang Hyuk, equipped with the mindset of a racehorse, summoned his TJ persona to deliver a rap filled with a declaration of war, heating up the atmosphere even more. Jang Hyuk’s performance was a twist from the selection itself. He reinterpreted Park Sang-cheol’s ‘Unconditionally’ in his own style and even showcased TJ dance, turning the venue into a frenzy.
Choo Sung-hoon’s song choice was Jo Yong-pil’s ‘Come Back to Busan Port.’ Choo Sung-hoon recalled his days when he wanted to wear the Taegeuk mark and practiced judo under the Busan City Hall, saying, “Whenever I hear the word Busan, I feel like I want to go back to that time.” He set aside his musical belief of sticking to the original key and performed in a lower key for a more stable stage. The finale was marked by the roar of a manly man, eliciting cheers. Jang Min-ho commented on the heated performance of the two men, saying, “It felt like watching a fight drama.” The result was a resounding 5:0 victory for Choo Sung-hoon.
The special judges for the day, Yoon Il-sang, who turned out to be in a coma, Hong Ja, and Solji, selected the final four among the six T4 candidates. As a result, Choo Sung-hoon, Hyun-woo, Lee Tae-ri, and Kim Jun-ho advanced to the second round T4, earning additional score benefits for the next competition. Trot producers Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won used ‘SUPER T’ to save one person from each team among the six elimination candidates. With Ji Seung-hyun and Choi Dae-cheol saved, Jang Hyuk, Jung Gyeo-woon, Tae Hang-ho, and Han Jeong-wan were ultimately eliminated from ‘Handsome Trot.’
Jang Hyuk expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s really hard to express the feeling of ‘transforming sorrow into joy,’ but I’m very thankful for helping me realize that.” Tae Hang-ho said, “I wondered if I had ever worked this hard for singing rather than acting; it was so enjoyable.” Jung Gyeo-woon and the youngest Han Jeong-wan also expressed their gratitude, saying, “We are thankful just for having grown.”
Meanwhile, next week’s broadcast is expected to heat up with the third round of the trot war. ‘Handsome Trot’ airs every Friday at 10 PM on tvN STORY and can also be seen on Saturdays at 10:40 PM on tvN.
[Jin Ju-hee, MK Sports Reporter]
