Variety Review-Running Man Episode 546

Guests: Jang Dongyoon (actor), Keum Saerok (actress), Park Sunghoon (actor), and Kim Dongjun (actor, member of disbanded group Z:EA). They worked together on a new drama called Joseon Exorcist. 


My Entertainment Score: 7 out 10 laughs


This was a solid episode. I enjoyed watching it and didn’t lose focus or feel bored at any point. I would recommend it. That said, there was nothing outstandingly funny in it, so I probably won’t think back on it in the future and think, “I want to watch that episode again” as I do with some of the older episodes. 



What Happened


Theme:  Running Records Dynasty Race


Opening (start of episode- 22:02)


Members Arrive/Guest Introductions (start of episode- 4:02)

 This was alright, but I don’t think it was the best guest introductions they’ve ever done.


Race Explanation/Role Assignments (4:02- 11:45)

There are 2 evil spirits that invade bodies that have infiltrated the palace. They will be able to hold 3 trials testing 1 person at each. If they are able to catch both spirits in those trials, the humans will win. The spirits will then take the punishment and the humans with the most rice will get a prize. If any spirits avoid capture, the spirits win the prizes and the humans with the least rice will take the punishment. Rice is earned in each round of games. First place team members can each scoop rice 3 times and put it in their pots. Second place can scoop twice and Last place will scoop only once.


There will be 3 social classes: Nobility (King, Queen, Premier, Vice Premier), Eunuchs, and Slaves.


The King is chosen by random lots: Congratulations Sechan! He then chooses everyone else’s roles. (heehee)

Nobility: Queen-Saerok, Premier-Jaesuk, Vice Premier- Jihyo

Eunuchs: Haha, Kwangsoo, Jongkook, Sunghoon

Slaves: Somin, Seokjin, Dongjun, Dongyoon


The social classes will play as a team for the games. The King will be able to trade 2 people’s roles after each game at his will, thus changing up teams as the day progresses.


Moving to Location (11:45- 22:02)

Sechan used his power as King to draw mustaches,moles, and unibrows on all the members. He was totally in character. 


As they go, they chat and suspicions rise about who might be playing the role of the evil spirits. They arrive at a place decorated in older styles and banter or play their roles. That was funny all around.


First Trial (22:02- 40:00)


Explanation (22:02- 23:24)

The King has the right to name a person for trial. If more than half the group disagrees with the choice, they can break gourds on their heads and choose a different person for trial. If an innocent person is put on trial, the spirits can choose a person and take their rice. If a spirit is caught, they will be made a slave for the rest of the game. If both spirits are caught and they have the least amount of rice, they will receive a double penalty.

First Trial (23:24- 32:24)

The members learn that the spirits have been doing a secret mission to protect their identities. There is a heated and sometimes random debate about who the most likely people are to be spirits and a member is elected to be put on trial.


Trial Results (32:24- 40:00)

The show reveals the results of the trial. King Sechan makes his choices for a change of position in the members. Sechan made some excellent comedic choices each time he was given the option to change member positions.


First Game: Syllable Count Poem (40:00- 46:57)


Explanation (40:00- 40:43)

One member of each team would have to guess the word described by the other three. The three describing members would be creating a ‘poem’ for the description by giving 3 (Korean) syllables, then 4, then 3 again, for 10 syllables altogether spread out among the members. Each team would do 3 questions.


Game (40:43- 46:01)

They only showed two teams’ games, but the ones they showed were pretty funny. Haha, for some reason, is great at this game. We also got a look at one of the spirit’s hidden missions.


Rice Scooping (46:01- 46:57)

Antics...a word I would never have expected to use in regards to scooping rice. This is the only time rice scooping was shown at length, so I think the staff didn’t expect it to apply either.


Second Trial (46:57- 54:15)


Trial (46:67- 51:26)

The members again dance around with suspicions, but one of the spirits acted boldly to complete his mission during the first game and the members are fairly sure when making the election for the trial.


Results (51:26- 54:15)

The show reveals the results of the trial. King Sechan makes his choices for a change of position in the members. 


Second Game: Ironic Survival Game (54:15- 1:07:37)


Explanation (54:15- 55:13)

The overall scores will be as a team, but the members will play individually. Each member will wear 5 balloons on their back and be given 30 bullets for a nerf type gun. Two people will be chosen using two roulettes to be the targets for 2 minutes. Their team members will want to protect anyone targeted and hunt down targets from other teams so that the team can win. All five balloons must be popped to get a person out. The team with the most members still standing (or the most balloons), will be the winner. There were (or appeared to be) 8 rounds for a 16 minute game.


Game (55:13- 1:06:57)

The balloon popping with nerf guns has been a good idea for the show. Nametag ripping is a classic game, but it favors people who are exceptionally fast or exceptionally strong. The nerf guns make a leveler playing field as none of them are particularly skilled at it. It also allows for more chances, so we get to see the players for a longer time...generally. I enjoyed it.


Results (1:06:58- 1:07:37)

This was brief. The spirits were revealed to have completed their mission and everyone scooped rice.


Third and Final Trial (1:07:37- end of show)

Debate (1:07:37- 1:15:06)

At this point, 1 spirit had been caught. Watching from the outside, even I was confused about who was the other spirit. The posturing and arguments and acting of everyone on the show made this really hard to pinpoint. Do you think the humans figured it out? 


Results (1:15:06- end of show)

I was surprised! 


Preview: Running Man is the only show currently airing that has two “Grand Prize” winners as members. Next week will be a battle of the winners with Jaesuk and Jongkook each leading a team. Will they prove their value?


















!!!Spoilers!!!


First Trial Results

Somin is not an evil spirit. We, the audience, learn that Dongyoon is an evil spirit.


Sechan switches Jaesuk (Premier) with Kwangsoo (Eunuch). He also switches Seokjin (Slave) with Saerok (Queen).



Syllable Count Poem Game

Eunuchs score a perfect 3 and win.

Slaves score 0 and are in last place.

Nobility’s game was not shown, but they came in 2nd.. 


Second Trial Results

Dongyoon is elected and caught as an evil spirit.


Sechan switches Kwangsoo (Premier) with Jaesuk (Eunuch). He also switches Jongkook (Eunuch) with Seokjin (Queen).


Game: Ironic Survival Game

1st Targets: Dongjun, Jihyo---Dongjun out, Jihyo safe

2nd Targets:Jongkook, Sunghoon-- both safe

3rd Targets: Jaesuk, Seokjin--Seokjin out, Jaesuk safe

4th Targets: Saerok, Sechan--Both out

5th Targets: Jaesuk, Sunghoon--both safe

6th Targets:Jongkook, Jihyo-- both safe

7th Targets: Haha, Jihyo-- Haha out, Jihyo safe

8th Targets: Kwangsoo, Jaesuk-- both survive


1st Place: Team Nobles

The other 2 teams tied and were both allowed to take 2 scoops of rice.



Final Trial

Jaesuk is elected and is not a spirit.The humans lose.


The spirits were Dongyoon and Saerok who won a prize of Western fruits and macarons.


The humans] with the lowest rice was Kwangsoo . The punishment was flogging. This is not as bad as it sounds. It’s more like one spanking with a paddle...uncomfortable but not terrible.

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