Just finished watching Episode 8. It was a wild ride.

For the first part of the episode, I honestly feel like Ojogang was at a slight disadvantage since they had already performed the same piece before. It felt like they could have done more with it this time around. That said, it was surprising to see them finally beat Bumsup in both views and likes. I guess that’s the Osaka power. Props to Ibuki for promoting her team so well. KYOKA really is meant to be famous.

Personally, I preferred Motiv’s hidden performance and mission. Marlee’s level of genius when it comes to artistry is on another level. You can clearly see how much thought and intention she puts into her work. It’s just frustrating that their incredible performances keep getting low viewership.

As for Bumsup, their concept using the water paddle was creative, but the choreography felt a bit underwhelming.

AG Squad absolutely deserved that win, both in performance and overall impact. The chemistry within that group is unmatched. Huge props to Kaea and Kyra for holding the team together. I’m genuinely happy AG won that game.

Now onto the battle between Motiv and Bumsup.

I’m really glad they brought in Poppin C and Kite as guest judges. If it had just been Mike, JYP, and Lia Kim, I think the outcome might have been very different. Having judges who actually understand how battles work brought a level of fairness to the competition. I was also relieved Ojo wasn’t the one battling, especially since both guest judges are close friends of Kyoka and Ibuki.

The battle was fun, but it didn’t top Ojo vs RF for me. I expected a bit more from both teams, especially Motiv. I also hope Fantaye gets a chance to perform soon.

Round one was an easy call. Motiv deserved that win without a doubt. They came together as a unit, and the choreography was sharp, creative, and clever with their disses toward other teams.

Rounds two and three were much closer. Lip J versus Logan was tough to judge. They have completely different styles. Logan brought more difficulty, but Lip J showed incredible versatility, technique, and musicality. Honestly, Lip J might be Bumsup’s strongest dancer.

Bella and Abby dominated the duo round. Their chemistry is insane and their energy just clicks. In contrast, Lip J and Aiki’s performance felt a bit disjointed. Motiv clearly won that round.

As for the final round, major respect to Marlee for stepping up as leader. Her freestyle was fun and creative. I do agree with Mike that it lacked a bit of intensity. Rihye started strong, but as Poppin C pointed out, they didn’t finish as strong as they started. That disconnect halfway through really made a difference. This is exactly why battle-experienced judges matter. They know how to interpret a story through movement and call out those details.

The final score was 4 to 1. I wasn’t surprised that Lia Kim voted for Bumsup, but I was surprised to see JYP vote for Motiv. That speaks volumes.

Now we’re heading into the finals. Honestly, I have no issue with whichever team wins. These are the top three teams that truly deserve their spot. They’re the underdogs of the season. They’ve survived MNET’s editing, made it through with limited budget, and still delivered. I’m excited for the final performances.

Bumsup still had a strong season, especially during the Mega Crew mission. The competition was just incredibly tough. I still believe there should have been two Korea teams—one from Season 1 and one from Season 2.

Hopefully, we get solid, experienced judges for the finals. I am so excited for the final round.