Variety Review: Running Man Episode 564

Guests: Ha Dokwon (actor), Nam Jihyun (actress), and Chae Jonghyup (actor)


My Entertainment Score: 10 out 10 laughs


This episode was not at all what I expected based on the preview last week, but that is just fine! This episode took me back a little to the old episodes that had a bunch of idol groups on. The games were simple and unpredictable...a back-to-basics episode. I would not mind more of this!


What Happened


Theme:  Be Careful What You Wish For


Opening/Guest Arrivals (start of episode- 11:50)

The combination of guests was nice this week. Dokwon has been on a few times and had an established rapport. Jihyun had been on once before and left a favorable impression, so she was comfortable but not established. For Jonghyup, this was only his 2nd variety appearance ever, so he was nervous and excited. Throughout the show I enjoyed watching him react just like a viewer at some of the things that happened.


Writing Wishes (11:50- 16:38)

Each person writes down one wish that they would like to have fulfilled by the show. They each announce their wishes. I’m going to type them all out here, but watching them react to all the other’s ideas is funny. I would tell you to just watch the segment, but the wishes are mostly irrelevant to the show. Only 2 get chosen as a prize at the end.


Jaeseok- Wants Seokjin to treat him as older for an entire day.

Seokjin- Wants all the staff to cheer for him when he gets off work.

Jongkook- Wants Kwangsoo to come on the show as a guest.

Haha- Wants Kwangsoo to be a crew member for the show in one episode.

Jihyo- Wants the answers to a quiz on one episode.

Somin- Wants the staff to tell her the answers to English quizzes in one episode.

Sechan- Wants Haha to buy him a new tablet PC.

Jihyun- Wants the members to watch the first episode of ‘the Witch’s Diner’ and post about it on social media.

Dokwon- Wants to give a personal training session to Jongkook and have Jongkook post it on his youtube channel.

Jonghyeop- Wants Haha to buy him a high-end speaker. 


Race Explanation (16:38- 19:42)

Wish Box Payment Box. Weird drink to avoid adding to the Payment Box.


The members were put into teams by the staff before the start of the race.


Jihyo Team: Jihyo, Haha, Sechan, Somin, Dokwon.

Jihyun Team: Jihyun, Jaesuk, Seokjin, Jongkook, Jonghyeop.


First Mission: The One Who Gets The Wish Ball  (19:42- 38:50)

Members go one on one against a member of the opposite team. They both hold on to a large exercise ball and on go, have to wrestle the ball away from the opposite member. Each winning member, regardless of the winning team over all, gets a ball added to the Wish Box. The winning team each gets a ball in the Wish Box as well. The matches were pre-determined by the staff beforehand...with one amusing adjustment according to the wishes of the members.


1- Haha vs Seokjin

2- Jihyo vs Jihyun

3- Somin vs Jaesuk

4-Sechan vs Jonghyeop

5- Dokwon vs Jongkook


Matches start at 22:30 and they’re all worth watching.


Gross Drink (34:25- 38:50)

The first drink is the only one they show at length. It is made of cabbage and onion.


Second Mission: Speak With Your Actions-Quartet Edition (38:50- 51:41)

Each team will get a time limit to act out a series of words (charades style), but they must act it out as a group. One member of the acting team will sit facing the group to guess. Two members of the opposing team sit facing backwards. They will be able to guess by looking through a half covered hand mirror. I’m not 100% sure on either the time limit or how they scored this. All I know is that it was surprising and funny.


41:00 Team Jihyun acts first. Jaesuk is the guesser for his team. Sechan and Somin are the opposing team’s guessers. 


45:27 Team Jihyo acts. Somin is the guesser for the team. Jongkook and Jihyun are the opposing team’s guessers.


The drink was made of noni, beet, and garlic.


Third Mission: Strategic Floating Mat Battle (51:41- 1:22:04)

They arrive at a large pool with two large floating mats in it. Obviously, they will be playing a game to push each other off, but first...


Mini-Game For An Advantage: Good Image (51:41- 1:03:17)

This is like the Strawberry Game (YAY!). The beat is exactly the same. Instead of calling on a person, they will call out a descriptor such as “Handsome Man” and the number. Any person on the opposing team that feels they fit that description can respond. If no one responds after 3 rounds or if more than one person responds, the attacking team gets a point. 


Watch this section. It got so silly. Several of the members seemed to be in a hugely good mood and made the whole game silly-fun. Also, there was a moment when Jaesuk needed to leave to use the restroom...it felt so much like the early years.


Strategic Floating Mat Battle (1:03:17- 1:22:04)

There are 5 battles. The first is 1 vs 1, the second 2 vs 2, etc. until the last battle is a full team 5 vs 5 battle. Any one member can only participate in 3 matches for the team. The teams have to set their line up for the matches before they begin and turn them in to the PD. Jihyo’s advantage for this game is that they can set their lineup after seeing the third match lineup for the other team.


This was great! 


I don’t know what the drink concoction was, but it was green...


Results (1:22:04- end of episode)

Two balls are drawn from the Wish Box to be granted. 


And two balls are drawn from the Payment Box. Those two members have to play a random game to see who pays the price for the wishes granted. In this case, they choose between two buckets...one has confetti in it while the other has black ink. The buckets are dumped over their heads.


Preview: Lee Yongjin (comedian) joins the regular cast as they hold the annual meeting of the unofficial comedian’s association, but an urgent announcement brings shocking news! Lee Kwangsoo is suspected of robbing their office! How will they deal with this new threat?

























!!!Spoilers!!!


The One Who Gets the Wish Ball

Round 1- Haha Wins and gets a ball in the Wish Box. (Jihyo Team 1 point)

Round 2- Jihyo Wins (Jihyo Team 2 points)

Round 3- Jaesuk Wins (Jihyun Team 1 point)

Round 4- Jonghyeop Wins (Jihyun Team 2 points)

Round 5- Dokwon Wins (Jihyo Team 3 points.)


Jihyo Team Wins and each gets a ball added to the Wish Box.


Jihyun Team (except Seokjin) is able to drink the gross concoction and avoids the Payment Box.


Speak With Your Actions- Quartet Edition

Team Jihyun Wins and each gets a ball added to the Wish Box.

Team Jihyo fails to drink the concoction and each has a ball added to the Payment Box


Good Image Mini-Game

Team Jihyo Wins. They are able to see the 3rd Round Line-Up for the Third Mission


Strategic Floating Mat Battle

1 vs 1 - Dokwon vs Jihyun---Dokwon wins. (Jihyo Team 1 point.)

2 vs 2 - Sechan and Dokwon vs Jongkook and Jaesuk--Jongkook and Jaesuk win. (Team Jihyun 1 point.)

3 vs 3 - Haha, Jihyo, and Somin vs Jongkook, Seokjin, and Jonghyeop--Jongkook, Seokjin, and Jonghyeop win. (Team Jihyun 2 points.)

4 vs 4 - Jihyo, Haha, Sechan, and Somin vs. Seokjin, Jaesuk, Jonghyeop, and Jihyun-- Jihyo, Haha, Sechan, and Somin win. (Team Jihyo 2 points)

5 vs 5 - Team Jihyun Wins this tie-breaker. Each member gets an additional ball in the Wish Box.


Team Jihyo does not drink the concoction and each gets an additional ball in the Payment Box.


Final Results

Somin and Jonghyeop are chosen to receive their wishes.


Jongkook and Jihyo face the penalty. Jihyo gets the ink. Poor woman.

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