Mnet’s “Road to Kingdom: ACE OF ACE” Kicks Off with a Bang

By iamraeiam | September 23, 2024

Who will rise to the challenge?

Mnet’s “Road to Kingdom: ACE OF ACE” made its highly anticipated debut on September 19 KST, captivating K-pop fans eager for fresh content. This season marks a departure from its predecessor, which served as a prelude to “Kingdom: Legendary War” in 2020. Instead, it stands alone, featuring up-and-coming K-pop boy groups and offering new rewards for the winning team.

In this new iteration, “Road to Kingdom: ACE OF ACE” implements a unique ranking system that includes not only the standard group rankings but also highlights the standout member, or “ace,” from each group. After three competitive rounds, the group with the highest overall team score and the member with the highest ace score will automatically progress to the finals. While there are currently seven groups competing, only five will earn the chance to perform in the final showcase.

The First Act

The warm-up match began with two rounds of competition. The first featured an ace battle, where one representative from each group performed a solo 100-second routine to showcase their talent. Following these performances, the idols voted for the top three aces they felt excelled, excluding their own group’s member.

ONEUS – Hwanwoong

8TURN – Myungho

The CrewOne – Lim Jimin

TEMPEST – Hanbin

THE NEW SIX – Cheon Jun Hyeok

YOUNITE – Dey

CRAVITY – Hyeongjun

In an unexpected twist, host Taemin from SHINee announced that the group whose ace received the fewest votes would automatically take the last place, forfeiting their opportunity to compete in the team battle. The results of the second round were determined by a combination of 30% from the contestants’ votes and 70% from a streaming evaluation panel, adding another exciting dimension to the competition.

THE NEW SIX – “MOVE” + “FUEGO” (Mash Up version)

The CrewOne – “One light becomes one time”

8TURN – “WE” + “THE GAME”

ONEUS – “Intro: Who Got the Joker?”

TEMPEST – “Find our LIGHTHOUSE”

CRAVITY – “ACT II: VENI VIDI VICI”

YOUNITE – “Bad Cupid” (Remix)

Where to Watch

Fans can catch all the action as the series is available to stream on Mnet’s K-Pop YouTube channel, TVING in South Korea, Abema in Japan, and VIU in the Philippines. However, it remains unclear if or when it will be accessible on VIKI for international audiences. As the series progresses, viewers can anticipate electrifying ace performances and group showcases, making “Road to Kingdom: ACE OF ACE” a thrilling watch for K-pop fans.

Image and Video Credits: MNet