Note: Square brackets indicate a behind-the-scenes confessional is taking place.
Note: I write this show on my own, so there are bound to be mistakes. DM me on Discord (@pakehaswag) if anything needs fixed. Note: Dialogue is in Korean unless stated otherwise.
The episode began with background music of a piano cover of The Girl’s song “HEYA”.
Each young girl faded into view, leading with a simple introduction.
“Hello, I am 20 year old Kim Jia. I have been an LSG Entertainment trainee for 2 years and 7 months.”
(in Vietnamese) “My name is Hoang Tien. I’m 18 years old and a 2 year, 6 month trainee of LSG.”
“Hello, my name is Esther Kwon. I am a 17 year old, 1 year 10 month LSG trainee from New Zealand.”
(in English) “I’m Madison Thao, I’m 17, and I’ve been in Korea [as a trainee] for a year and 4 months.”
(in English) “Hi, my name is Esmae Santana. I’ve been a trainee for 7 months, I’m 16 and I’m from New York.”
“Hello, I am 16 year old, 1 year 4 month LSG trainee Hong Jiseo.”
(in English) “Hi, I’m Nelly Psarrou. I’m 15, I’ve been a trainee for 12 months and I’m from the US of A.”
“Hello, I am 15 year old, 9 month LSG trainee Kim Joobin from Korea.”
“My name is Marina Brahimi. I’m 15 years old, from France, and I‘ve been an LSG trainee for 1 year and 4 months.”
(in English) “My name is Jasmine Pinchantha. I’m 14 years old, I’m from New Zealand and I’ve been a trainee for just 6 months.”
(in English) “Hi, I’m Iyah Tanaka. I’m from Hawaii, I’m 13 and I’ve been an LSG trainee for 6 months.”
“Hello, I am 13 year old, 4 month LSG trainee Malibu Han from the USA.”
Lee Seogeon (LSG CEO): “These girls, who you may recognise from LSG Rookies, have one dream in common: Debut. You are here to see them compete against each other in order to achieve said dream. LSG’s girl group, The Girl, has 3 open spots for these trainees. The final 3 will be chosen by me, and only me, after a series of missions to prove their worth. Which girls will be launched into guaranteed stardom, and which will return to training with nothing but hope for their future?”
The scene cut to a studio centered with a small stage flanked by 6 seats each on the left and right, with a judge’s table before the stage.
Lee Seogeon sat at the table and spoke into his mic. “Backstage are the 12 female members of LSG Rookies. They will each compete against each other to become one of the next 3 members of our pre-existing girl group, The Girl. Today, the 12 girls will each give 2 solo performances they themselves have prepared; one vocal and or rap, and one dance. I will judge them, first to last, based on talent and talent alone. Episode 1 will be the only episode in the show where nobody will be eliminated. It won’t be for nothing, though. First impressions are important, and I’m sure the public will keep this stage in mind while watching in the future.”
Lee Seogeon: “First up is… the oldest contestant: Kim Jia, 20, from Korea.”
Jia entered the stage and bowed. She began with her vocal song: “Dangerously” by Charlie Puth. She sang with power, hardly struggling even with the most difficult parts of the track.
[Esmae Santana (in English): “I mean… It's Jia. Girl can sing, everyone knows.”]
As Jia’s vocal segment ended, Lee Seogeon nodded in approval.
Lee Seogeon: “Jia, I think you might be the most skillful singer here. You put so much emotion in your voice, it’s very impressive to listen to.”
Kim Jia: “Thank you.”
Lee Seogeon: “Now, your dance performance.”
Jia stepped back as Tyla’s hit song “Water” began to play. She hesitated for a moment, unable to remember her starting position. Once she had gathered herself, she gave a slightly lacking performance. She was unable to capture the vibe of the song, radiating a more girl crush-esque energy than the sultry aura called for by the song.
Lee Seogeon sighed and sat in silence for a moment. “I don’t think this was the right song choice for you. It’s not really something that suits your vibe. I want you to remember how important your image is. You need to think of your own identity as an artist, and the impression you’re giving off.”
Lee Seogeon: “Now, I’m going to ask you a question that matters to me just as much as your skill and talent: Why do you, over everyone else here, deserve to debut?”
Kim Jia was taken aback. It appears his question was not anticipated by the contestants.
“I uhh… I have been a trainee for over 2 and a half years. I believe I am a strong singer and…” she took a deep breath. “I’m in my 20s now. If it doesn’t happen for me now, it’s too late.”
Lee Seogeon seemed satisfied with her comment. “Ok, take a seat by the stage. Next performer is… Hoang Tien, 18, from Vietnam.”
As Tien entered the stage, Jia cheered her on from the sideline. Tien’s vocal song, “Hello” by Joy, began and she gave an energetic performance filled with aegyo, but also shaky vocals and a notable voice crack.
Lee Seogeon flipped through his notebook, at a loss for words. “Amateur is the only word I can think of. You sounded like a middle schooler in a talent show. Not good enough”
Tien looked down in shame before beginning her dance cover; “Lush Life” by Zara Larsson. Her performance was once again sloppy and riddled with mistakes. She ended the stage flustered, dissapointed in herself.
Lee Seogeon: “Yeah. Not good.” He shook his head. “I expected better from you. I’ll ask you the same question I asked Jia. Why do you deserve to be an idol?”
Hoang Tien: “I’ve been training for over 2 years and I’ve worked very hard to achieve it.”
Lee Seogeon: “Ok. Take a seat by the stage. Our next contestant is Esther Kwon, 17, from New Zealand.”
Esther, the most experienced pick of the bunch, began her vocal stage with confidence. She sang Rihanna & Mikky Ekko’s “Stay”. Despite being far from the most technically talented singer in the world, she skillfully portrayed the track’s raw emotion with her soothing yet powerful vocals.
Lee Seogeon gave her a small round of applause. “Very impressive. As expected from you, Esther.”
Esther thanked him and began her dance stage. Her song choice nearly knocked Hoang Tien off her seat; “Lush Life” by Zara Larsson.
[Hoang Tien: “Are you kidding me? She’s going to show me up, I’m so embarrassed.”]
[Iyah Tanaka (in English): “Uh oh, drama!”]
Esther executed the choreography expertly, blowing Hoang Tien’s version out of the water, as Hoang looked on in envy.
Lee Seogeon: “Yeah. I have no notes. You couldn’t have done any better. I’m sure you get how this goes now; why do you deserve to be in this girl group.”
Esther Kwon: This is my third survival show this year alone. I’m incredibly desperate for it, and I believe that that matters. I wouldn’t let anyone down.”
Lee Seogeon: “Thank you Esther. Next performer is Madison Thao, 17, from America.”
Madison entered the stage waving at her friends on the side. She sang “Kill Bill” by SZA, struggling to express the emotion of the song, though making no mistakes and displaying her vocal range well.
Lee Seogeon (in English): “It wasn’t exactly something to write home about, but you are a good singer with a whole lot of potential, which matters a lot more than you think.”
Madison’s dance cover, “On My Mama” by Victoria Monet, felt remarkably professional. She had been hailed as LSG rookie’s main dancer in the past, so this was no surprise to veteran fans.
Lee Seogeon (in English): “Great job. Easily the most talented dancer here. However, there is a skill you severely lack in: Korean language. Thinking back on when you joined here, over a year ago, it would be a lie to say you’ve improved enough. Some of the girls have been here shorter and are bordering on fluent. Why, despite this, should you deserve one of the spots in the group?”
Madison Thao (in English): “My Korean skill is something that can be easily fixed, or improved. But my performing talent will always be my strong suit, and I think it would be a missed opportunity to pass me up.”
Lee Seogeon: “Great. Next up is Esmae Santana, 16, from the USA.”
Esmae took her spot and began her vocal performance, singing “Lose You To Love Me” by Selena Gomez. She had little power in her voice and seemed unsure of her own ability.
She proceeded with her dance performance, “Hype boy” by DREAMSCAPE, which cleared her vocal one with ease. She was a natural.
Lee Seogeon (in English): “I have to say I’m impressed. You’ve barely been training half a year, but you can dance like a professional. Of course, I now have to ask you: Why do you deserve to be an idol?”
Esmae Santana (in English): “I only have a few years left before I’m too old to debut. This could be my final chance, and I don’t want this time of my life to go to waste.”
Lee Seogeon: “Next up is Hong Jiseo, 16, from Korea.”
Jiseo came onstage and sang “I Am” by IVE. Her vocals were impressive for the most part, but she strategically avoided the more difficult segments of the track.
Lee Seogeon: “Your song choice was a bit… ambitious. But I respect your confidence, and the vocals were far from bad.”
Jiseo began her dance stage; “Baddie” by The Girl. She completely changed the choreography, which drew controversy as the song’s original choreographer posted an Instagram story calling her act “disrespectful coming from a junior”. Nevertheless, her actual performance was charismatic and skillful.
Lee Seogeon: “Good job. One thing is, you’re overdancing a little. Too much energy can come off as attention-hogging, and in a group you would feel out of place, and the dance wouldn’t be in sync. But, in any case, I will ask you what I have asked each of the contestants: Why do you deserve to debut?”
Hong Jiseo: “I performed The Girl’s song with my own twist, which is what this show is trying to do. I really want to be in this group specifically, I’m desperate for it.”
Lee Seogeon: “Great answer. Next to perform is Nelly Psarrou, 15, from America.”
Nelly entered the stage and bowed. For her vocal track, she performed “I’m Like A Bird” by her namesake, Nelly Furtado. Despite being known for her vocals, the performance was underwhelming. Her voice lacked the emotion the song required, and at one point she sang the wrong lyrics.
Her dance stage, “Dalla Dalla” by Itzy, also left much to be desired. She was stiff, a common critisism for her in the past, and she struggled to keep her stamina until the song’s end.
Lee Seogeon (English): “You have a lot of potential, but right now that’s about it. To be honest, and I hope you prove me wrong, but I don’t think you’re ready to debut at this stage in your training. However, I will still ask you. Why do you deserve to debut?”
Following his comments, Nelly stuttered. (in English) “Um, this is just one performance. I can prove myself throughout the show. I wasn’t at my best today.”
Lee Seogeon (in English): “Ok. Take a seat. Next contestant is Kim Joobin, 15, from Korea.”
For her vocal performance, Joobin sang “Pop” by Nayeon, with her own self-written rap verse. While her vocals were nothing special, she was praised by netizens for her lyrical skills and wordplay.
Lee Seogeon: “You’re a great rapper, we already knew that. But as you also know, The Girl does not have set positions. You are expected to do everything; dance, sing and rap. At the moment your vocals are not up to par.”
Joobin began her dance performance; “Hype boy” by DREAMSCAPE. She executed the choreography’s notoriously difficult footwork with precision and hit every move so freely, as if it came to her naturally.
Lee Seogeon: “Perfect. I’m really impressed. Not something I would have expected from you, I really have no comments. Anyway, you know how this goes. Why do you deserve a debut?”
Joobin: “Debut has been my dream for my entire life. I know I have the skills for it, and I believe it will happen for me.”
Lee Seogeon: “Ok. Next up is Marina Brahimi, 15, from France.”
Marina entered timidly and bowed. For her rap performance, she chose a self-written track titled “Copycat”. The song featured 4 verses in each of her spoken langauges: English, French, Korean & Arabic. The track went viral across Korean media, with many viewers, including K-celebrities, using the song on TikTok
[Nelly Psarrou (in English): “I didn’t know she could do all that, damn girl!”] . Lee Seogeon: “I have to say I underestimated you. You walked in here so unamusing, you really pulled a 180 with this song. Incredible.”
Marina’s dance stage, Aespa’s “Supernova”, wasn’t nearly as earth shattering as her rap, but was far from falling short. She made no mistakes, but appeared to lose stamina by the end.
Lee Seogeon: “You’re definitely not perfect. But we can work with this. You have the skillset and potential. Of course, there’s one more thing. Why do you deserve to be in The Girl?”
Marina: “I’ve had my fair share of experience. I know what I’m doing and I would consider my skills as a great asset to the team.”
Lee Seogeon: “Great. Next contestant: Jasmine Pinchantha, 14, from New Zealand.”
Jasmine entered the stage and smiled. Known as the visual of the group, her peers whispered about her beauty to one another and cheered her on. Jasmine’s vocal song, “We Can’t Be Friends” by Ariana Grande, began as Jasmine’s face became visibly nervous. Her vocals were soft, described as “soothing and honey-like” by netizens, but her skills were slightly lacking, and her voice cracked in the track’s second verse.
Her dance stage, “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored”, again by Ariana Grande, was charismatic and powerful, she however repeated the same move in 2 separate parts of the song, leading to critism for her choreographing skills.
Lee Seogeon (in English): “You’re full of charm and potential, but you don’t quite have the adequate training to completely utilise it. However, I know you, and I know you’re a fan favourite, which is obviously something I will be considering in this competition.”
[Kim Jia: “That’s news to me. I hope he doesn’t mean fan voting… there’s no way I can win that.”]
Lee Seogeon (in English): “Jasmine, you know what’s coming by now. Why do you deserve to debut?”
Jasmine Pinchantha (in English): “Like you said, I have many supporters already. To me that says people want me to debut, and I believe the opinion of k-pop listeners definitely matters here.”
Lee Seogeon: “Ok. Next contestant… wow, we’re almost done. It’s Iyah Tanaka, 13, from the States.”
Iyah gleefully skipped onto stage. Standing at 5’2”, she was by far the shortest contestant in a label known for its tall idols.
[Madison Thao (in English): “She’s so cute, I feel like I could just pick her up like a puppy or something. She calls me big sis in the dorms. Love her.”]
Iyah’s vocal song was “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” by Paloma Faith. The track was a large task to take on, but Iyah executed it without a sweat. Despite her stature, her voice was powerful and she had an expert control of it.
Lee Seogeon (in English): “I told Kim Jia she’s the best vocalist on the show. I take that back, Iyah. I’m very, very impressed by this. Such an incredible voice from such a young kid. On the topic of your age, as you know, we have an age minimum for debut at LSG. It’s 14. Why do you, as a 13 year old, think you should be exempt from this rule?”
Iyah Tanaka (in English): “I think my vocal talent exempts me in and of itself. I’m good enough to debut. Age is just a number.”
Lee Seogeon laughed. “I like that. The final performance of the day will be Malibu Han, 13, from the USA.”
Malibu entered the stage and smiled at her fellow trainees. She chose to sing “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish. Her vocals were amazingly emotional, and she expressed the aura of the song in a near-perfect manner.
Lee Seogeon: “Another phenomenal vocalist. Artists like you make me proud to call myself LSG’s CEO.”
Malibu, flustered, started her dance performance. She used Red Velvet’s “Feel My Rhythm”, but her performance lacked the same understanding of the song as her vocal one did.
Lee Seogeon “Malibu, I will finally ask you the same question I asked Iyah. Why should we bypass our age minimum to facilitate your debut?”
Malibu Han: “Alice unnie was also 13 when The Girl debuted. It’s happened before and I think I have the skills for it to happen again, with me.”
The show ended with a syncronised thanks from the contestants, and Lee Seogeon encouraging viewers to tune in next week for episode 2.