Brutal reality of the new Knockouts segment on The Voice

If viewers of The Voice thought ‘The Cut’ was a brutal segment, just wait until you see the harsh reality of the new ‘Knockouts’.

Sunday night’s episode of The Voice was all about the ‘Knockouts’: now that the coaches had trimmed their teams down to only five members after ‘The Cut’, they were all set to perform live.

Unfortunately, the coaches then needed to get rid of a further three members from each of their teams.

The episode saw coach Keith Urban’s team members go up against Guy Sebastian’s, and in another Voice first, the coaches were given three options after hearing their team sing: Send them straight through to the finals, put them out of their misery and send them straight home or make them wait until the end of the night to make their final decision.

While Keith made most of his team wait (save for Arlo, who was sent straight through to the finals after singing a Billie Eilish song), Guy sent his members home right after their performance.

Arlo was sent straight through to the finals, as expected. Picture: Channel 7

After getting a major makeover, Guy’s team member Adrian Hood sang his heart out to Try A Little Tenderness. While he rocked it, Guy wasted no time in sending him home. At least he got a groovy haircut out of it...

Adrian doesn't look like this anymore. Picture: Channel 7

He had a swanky makeover. Picture: Channel 7

The same was said for Penelope Pettigrew, who Guy made sing a song by fellow Voice coach Jessica Mauboy, This Ain’t Love.

With the nerves getting to her, Guy couldn’t foresee the kind of future she would have if he were to sign her to a record label straight away. With that lack of vision, Guy sent her home too.

Ouch.

In the end, Guy chose to go through to the final shows with contestants Bella Taylor-Smith and Jordan.

Keith will be taking Arlo and Lau.

Bella's rendition of a Christina Aguilera classic got her straight through to the finals. Picture: Channel 7

Guy chose Jordan to be his second member to go through to the finals. Picture: Channel 7

Some fans may be upset by this new format, as they first expressed their disappointment after ‘The Cut’.

“This format doesn’t allow for us to connect with the contestants. Couldn’t care less who wins when people are dumped after a 10 second sound bite,” one person wrote on social media.

Lau will be performing at the finals. Picture: Channel 7

“This whole cut experience was so sh***y, they got rid of so many people who we had all grown to love and we barely had time to see them go,” another said.

“The ‘cut’ was grossly unfair and terrible TV. So disappointing for viewers,” another remarked.

The Voice continues on Channel 7 on Monday night at 7:30pm.

Originally published as Brutal reality of the new Knockouts segment on The Voice