Running Man Episode 673 Review

Guests: Kang Haneul (actor), Jung Somin (actress)

My Entertainment Score: 8 out of 10 laughs

I think the PD is starting to learn what works and what doesn’t (although we still potentially have 5 more trips made by members to get through, so I’m hopeful but apprehensive about that assessment). We had games again this week! And, unlike the last 2 couple’s races which felt so awkward, this one had no romantic feeling to it so it was a more enjoyable episode. 

What Happened: 

Theme: Amnesiac Couples Race

Opening/Guest Introductions (start of episode- 7:35)

Race Explanation (7:35- 8:53)

Everyone has lost their memories for the purposes of the game, but among them is one popular guy and one popular girl. Those two had a significant other before the amnesia swept across through, while everyone else had crushes on the popular people. Winners of the games during the day will get clues about the popular pair. At the end of the day if the popular people find their original partners, they will win a prize. If they team up with someone that had a crush on them, they will lose and face a penalty.

Also, Seokjin was a girl for the purposes of the game so there were 5 men and 4 women because that was much more balanced.

First Mission: Couples Who Lost Reason (8:53- 21:22)

This was a twist on cham-cham-cham, where both players held water in their mouth and the first to spit out water loses the round. For the cham-cham-cham, when a player ‘lost’, the winning member would hit him with a pillow covered in flour. Best of 5 rounds wins (or first to 3) and two members of the winning team receive hints.

This was played in teams.

Haneul’s Team: Seokjin, Haha, Jihyo

Guest Somin’s Team: Jaesuk, Jongkook, Somin, Sechan

Hint Check (18:00)

The hint was given about the popular girl this time. A composite photo was created of all the women that were NOT the popular girl. BUT to see the photo, the member had to push against a bungee cord without being pushed back. 

Second Mission: Couples Who Lost Speed (21:22- 44:55)

Bus Seating (21:22). To choose partners for the next game, the girls all got on the bus first. The men had to ask if they could sit next to a partner and the girl could accept or reject at will. I’m going to list the partners without any regard to the order they were created or any rejections that may have happened.

Seokjin and Jongkook

Jaesuk and guest Somin

Haha and Jihyo

Somin and Haneul

Sechan was left alone.

Game (32:14). A huge obstacle course was created. Two sets of couples would run it at a time (so there were 2 rounds). The couples that got the fastest times (even if they were both in the same round) would get hints. First place would get 2 hints, so both members would get to see the hint. Second place would get only one hint.

Hint Check (41:30). This time there was a short time limit, but no bungee. The hint was about the popular guy this round. **Note: I’m including the obligatory PPL lunch spot here.**

Final Mission: Couple Match (44:55- 1:29:10)

The members have 30 minutes to search for hints and form couples. The lone wolf at the end of the race faces a penalty regardless of the couple results. Members travel around in couples with couple bracelets while looking for the hint and can break the bracelets at any time to change partners.

Signs that Haha is both good at his job and a good guy: He created a hint just for funsies that was utterly false and COMPLETELY messed up EVERYONE. And then, after a while, admitted to the falsehood before sitting at a table feeling guilty for messing people up. 

Final Results (1:29:10- end of episode)

The couples that formed are checked. Anyone who gets a prize wins a lovely fruit basket. The penalty for those that earn it is to write a letter to a loved one.

Preview: Yoo Seungho (actor), Kim Donghwi (actor), and Yu Subin (actor) join the crew for a Loyalty Race to see who can accumulate the most money. 

!!!Spoilers!!!

Couples Who Lost Reason

Guest Somin’s Team won 3-0. An extra round was played with the left over members. A hint would be given to the winning team for the extra round.

The members to get hints were decided through a random draw.

The hints were given to Haneul, Jongkook, and Sechan.

Couples Who Lost Speed

Round 1: Jihyo and Sechan (filling in for Haha with a back injury) v. Somin and Haneul.

Round 2: Jaesuk and Guest Somin v Seokjin and Jongkook.

Fastest was Jaesuk and Guest Somin. They each get to see a hint.

Second fastest was Jihyo and Sechan (and Haha). Haha gets to see the hint by random draw.

Final Results

Couples That Arrived:

Seokjin and Jongkook

Jaesuk and Jihyo

Haneul and Somin

Sechan and Guest Somin

Haha is without a partner, so he automatically gets the penalty.

NONE of the couples were correct! 

The popular girl was Seokjin. So Jongkook is exempt from penalty and gets a prize.

The popular guy was Sechan. So guest Somin is exempt from penalty and gets a prize.

The popular couple and their original partners (Somin and Haneul) all get the penalty.