Origin and release year: South Korea (2024 – I-LAND 2 N/A)

Storyteller: Song Kang

Producers: Teddy (Lead Producer), BIGBANG Tae Yang, Monika, Lee Jung, VVN, 24

Special Judges/Guests: Kim Jae Hwan, Lip J, Jeon So Mi

Warning! This article contains spoilers!!!

Mnet is back with yet another survival show called I-LAND 2 N/A. It’s the sequel to season one of I-LAND where the BE:LIFT Lab boy group ENHYPEN was formed. This time around, it’s time to form an iconic girl group (later confirmed as izna) that has never existed before in K-Pop. Check out our impressions of the show.

Other I-LAND 2 articles: Episode 1 Recap & Review | Episode 2 Recap & Review | Here Are The Final “I-LAND 2 N/A” Winners & Members That Will Debut In The Girl Group izna

Make sure to follow The Muse Culture’s Facebook and Twitter for more updates about the show!

Seasaw mission

In episode 3, the new mission was revealed to be a battle, I-LANDER vs. I-LANDER, where the losing I-LANDER team would be eliminated (sent to the GROUND) as a whole and vice versa for the GROUND team (the Seasaw Game). The members who did the pair mission together would end up becoming each other’s battle opponent.

It was also revealed that after the test, the first two contestants from the GROUND would be eliminated.

I-LANDER Pair mission Matchings & Battle TEAMS:

The two songs for the I-LANDER battle missions would be ‘WHISTLE’ by BLACKPINK and ‘Panorama’ by IZ*ONE.

I-LANDER TEAM 1 – WHISTLE by BLACKPINK	I-LANDER TEAM 2 – Panorama by IZ*ONE
Yui	Choi Jeong Eun (Leader + Main Vocal)
Nam Yu Ju	Mai
Kim Min Sol	Jeong Sae Bi (Center)
Kim Su Jeong (Leader + Main Dancer)	Son Ju Won (Main Dancer)
Ryu Sa Rang (Main Vocal)	Koko
Bang Ji Min (Center)	Choi Soul

Choi Jeong Eun was decided as the leader of the ‘Panorama’ team and Son Ju Won was able to choose her part first as a benefit from the pair mission.

Kim Su Jeong was decided as the leader of the ‘WHISTLE’ team and Kim Su Jeong was able to choose her part first as a benefit from the pair mission.

GROUNDER Pair mission Matchings & TEAMS:

The two songs for the GROUNDER battle missions would be ‘Like OOH-AHH’ by TWICE and ‘Bad Boy’ by Red Velvet.

GROUNDER TEAM 1 – Like OOH-AHH by TWICE	GROUNDER TEAM 2 – Bad Boy by Red Velvet
Kim Gyu Ri (Center)	Ling Ling
Kim Eun Chae	Park Ye Eun
Yoon Ji Yoon (Leader + Main Vocal)	Fuko (Leader + Center)
Kim Chae Eun	Kang Ji Won (Main Vocal)
Oh Yu Na (Main Dancer)	Um Ji Won (Main Dancer)
Yuiko	Nana

REVIEW OF Seasaw Game performances & Results

I-LANDER TEAM 1 – WHISTLE by BLACKPINK

Bang Ji Min ATE with this performance. She was giving and we received it. Yui killed it too and pulled off her rap part nicely in the end. Nam Yu Ju was another standout despite how short her part was, and Kim Su Jeong slayed as usual in terms of dance.

The other members of the group were not fantastic but they were good and the overall performance was solid and clean.

RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

1. Bang Ji Min – 82
2. Nam Yu Ju – 81
3. Kim Su Jeong – 84
4. Yui – 91
5. Ryu Sa Rang – 84
6. Kim Min Sol – 68

I-LANDER TEAM 2 – Panorama by IZ*ONE

Since this team was made up of some of the best contestants, even this writer had very high expectations. Those expectations were exceeded. They truly were an Avenger team. It’s to the point where you don’t even need to point out which members’ performance stood out because each and every single member shone in their own light, making a stunning collective. This was a gorgeous stage on all fronts.

RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

1. Choi Soul – 83
2. Mai – 88
3. Son Ju Won – 83
4. Choi Jeong Eun – 83
5. Koko – 88
6. Jeong Sae Bi – 93

Seasaw Mission RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

1. I-LANDER TEAM 1 – WHISTLE by BLACKPINK (490 points)
2. I-LANDER TEAM 2 – Panorama by IZ*ONE (518 points)

The ‘Panorama’ team won the Seasaw Mission, securing their places in I-LAND. Whereas, the ‘WHISTLE’ team was sent to the GROUND.

GROUNDER TEAM 1 – Like OOH-AHH by TWICE

This group was honestly a mess. There’s no nice way to put it. It felt like Gyu Ri was the only one who had stage presence and was serving the adorable vibe that this song deserves. The other members were trying their best (except Yoon Ji Yoon – more on this later) but Gyu Ri was the only one who served ‘K-pop idol’. As for Yoon Ji Yoon, you could tell that her heart wasn’t in it and it just felt like her body was rejecting this stage the entire time.

I had my doubts about her doing this song, and then becoming the leader, in the first place… Mental strength is also a vital skill for being an idol… and this stage only proved that she doesn’t have the right attitude for this.

RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

1. Kim Gyu Ri – 84
2. Yoon Ji Yoon – 71
3. Oh Yu Na – 76
4. Kim Chae Eun – 72
5. Kim Eun Chae – 65
6. Yuiko – 67

GROUNDER TEAM 2 – Bad Boy by Red Velvet

This performance was not fantastic but it was great… Thanks to Fuko… Honestly, she hard carried this stage and the fact that you were focusing so much on her skills made the group shine, as well. Another contestant who really helped solidify the group’s performance was Um Ji Won. It was this writer’s first time fully taking note of her but she’s super talented and we definitely want to see more of her. Finally, Park Ye Eun’s performance was a treat to watch – we all love a good underdog story and it was so nice to see her developing onscreen.

RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

1. Fuko – 88
2. Kang Ji Won – 63
3. Um Ji Won – 82
4. Nana – 74
5. Park Ye Eun – 79
6. Ling Ling – 73

Seasaw Mission RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

• GROUNDER TEAM 1 – Like OOH-AHH by TWICE (435 points)
• GROUNDER TEAM 2 – Bad Boy by Red Velvet (459 points)

The ‘Bad Boy’ team won the Seasaw Mission, securing their places in I-LAND. Whereas, the ‘Like OOH-AHH’ team remained in the GROUND.

Contestants eliminated From The SHOW:

1. Kim Eun Chae (65 points)
2. Yuiko (67 points)

The contestants who were up for elimination were Kim Eun Chae, Yuiko, and Kim Min Sol.

Unit Battle Mission

The next mission was announced midway through episode 4. It would be a unit battle between I-LAND and the GROUND split into 3 units. Every time the GROUND wins, 3 members from the I-LAND will be kicked out and sent to the GROUND. The most contestants that can be kicked is 9 people.

This time, once again, 2 contestants from the GROUND would be eliminated from the show.

Unit divisions:

I-LAND Vocal Unit – 2 contestants – ‘Fine’ by Girls’ Generation Tae Yeon

The I-LAND vocal unit would be performing ‘Fine’ by Girls’ Generation’s Tae Yeon.

1. Choi Jeong Eun
2. Fuko

Ground Vocal Unit – 2 Contestants – ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips’ by BIGBANG Tae Yang

The GROUND vocal unit would be performing ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips’ by BIGBANG’s Tae Yang (in front of him, ironically).

1. Kim Min Sol
2. Yoon Ji Yoon

I-LAND DANCE Unit – 3 contestants – ‘MY BAG’ By (G)I-DLE + ‘Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife’ By LE SSERAFIM

The I-LAND dance unit would be performing ‘MY BAG’ by (G)I-DLE and ‘Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife’ by LE SSERAFIM.

1. Son Ju Won (Leader)
2. Um Ji Won
3. Koko

GROUND DANCE Unit – 3 contestants – ‘MIC Drop’ by BTS + ‘Sugarcoat’ by KISS OF LIFE Natty

The GROUND dance unit would be performing ‘MIC Drop’ by BTS + ‘Sugarcoat’ by KISS OF LIFE Natty.

1. Ryu Sa Rang (Leader)
2. Oh Yu Na
3. Yui

Next, they announced the creative units that would have to create their own choreography. The creative units of both the GROUND and I-LAND would perform to ‘Rain On Me’ By Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.

I-LAND Creative Unit – 7 Contestants – ‘Rain On Me’ by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande

1. Jeong Sae Bi
2. Mai
3. Ling Ling
4. Nana
5. Kang Ji Won
6. Park Ye Eun
7. Choi Soul

GROUND Creative Unit – 5 Contestants – ‘Rain On Me’ by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande

1. Kim Su Jeong
2. Nam Yu Ju
3. Kim Gyu Ri
4. Kim Chae Eun
5. Bang Ji Min

Review Of UNIT BATTLE performanceS & Results

I-LAND Vocal Unit – ‘Fine’ by Girls’ Generation Tae Yeon

Goosebumps. That’s it. That’s the review. Both of them were stunning. Vocals. Visuals. Everything.

Ground Vocal Unit – ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips’ by BIGBANG Tae Yang

This performance was pleasantly surprising. Firstly, it was satisfying to finally see Yoon Ji Yoon put her best foot forward on stage. Secondly, this writer had no idea that Kim Min Sol had such a pretty vocal color. This was so lovely to discover.

VOCAL UNIT RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

• I-LAND Vocal Unit – ‘Fine’ by Girls’ Generation Tae Yeon (91 points) – LOSE
• Ground Vocal Unit – ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips’ by BIGBANG Tae Yang (92 points) – WIN

I-LAND DANCE Unit – ‘MY BAG’ By (G)I-DLE + ‘Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife’ By LE SSERAFIM

Killed it. That’s it. That’s the review. Each and every single one of them was killing the moves, the facial expressions, everything. Loved it!

GROUND DANCE Unit – ‘MIC Drop’ by BTS + ‘Sugarcoat’ by KISS OF LIFE Natty

Again with the goosebumps… The contestants came to crush it with this mission and it shows. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this performance and all three members killed it.

DANCE UNIT RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

1. I-LAND DANCE Unit – ‘MY BAG’ By (G)I-DLE + ‘Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife’ By LE SSERAFIM (83 points) – LOSE
2. GROUND DANCE Unit – ‘MIC Drop’ by BTS + ‘Sugarcoat’ by KISS OF LIFE Natty (89 points) – WIN

I-LAND Creative Unit – ‘Rain On Me’ by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande

This was just a feel-good performance. It felt so good to watch and you found yourself so proud of the members for overcoming the nothingness that they started with. Mai’s storytelling, her and Jeong Sae Bi’s energy and charisma on stage, the collective fun vibe from all of the members, Ling Ling’s spotlight moment, all of it came together incredibly.

GROUND Creative Unit – ‘Rain On Me’ by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande

This performance had you holding your breath, it was that level of captivating. The choreography and key moments were brilliant, the execution was top tier and every girl shone in their own respect. This stage also looked really fun, which made you as an audience member enjoy it even more.

CREATIVE UNIT RESULTS (Based on Judges’ Scores):

1. I-LAND Creative Unit – ‘Rain On Me’ by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande (83 points) – WIN
2. GROUND Creative Unit – ‘Rain On Me’ by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande (84 points) – LOSE

Contestants eliminated From I-LAND (Who went to the GROUND):

1. Um Ji Won
2. Nana
3. Kang Ji Won
4. Choi Soul
5. Park Ye Eun
6. Son Ju Won

Contestants Boosted To I-LAND:

1. Ryu Sa Rang
2. Yui
3. Bang Ji Min
4. Nam Yu Ju
5. Yoon Ji Yoon
6. Kim Su Jeong

Contestants eliminated From The SHOW:

1. Kang Ji Won
2. Nana

Final thoughts on Episodes 3, 4, and 5 of I-LAND 2 N/A:

There wasn’t much drama in these episodes so there’s not too much to comment on. It was just a standard survival show vibe where there’s some passive aggression and a lot of stress but everyone is just trying to do their best to bring their talents forward.

We were trying to give Yoon Ji Yoon the benefit of the doubt the whole time… However, like the judges said, she needs to change her attitude and that fact remains. When she finally got a mission she liked then she showed a better side of herself, but what happens the next time she doesn’t like the mission?

Since we had our first round of eliminations in episode 4, the episode was one of the first episodes with a somewhat heavy mood and more tears than the rest. However, you finally got the feeling that this is a survival and that only the best contestants will survive and make the final debut group.

What did you think of I-LAND 2 N/A? Let us know your thoughts and your favorite contestant in the comments!