Episode 52. Broadcast July 17, 2011We’re back with a traditional opening with the entire cast at Seoul
Station. They reminisce about their recent trip to Thailand, still awed
by their massive popularity overseas. Kwang-soo mentions the fan who
donned his signature mustache, and Gary has a new haircut to match his
newly found Hallyu fame.
It’s time to hear about today’s mission: Race to Kyungjoo and find
the 7 gold crowns. Find the most and you win! Hold up there Mr. PD,
isn’t there a catch? Of course there is. The cast will roll a die at
every station and its outcome determines whether they’ll keep going to
Kwangjoo with everyone else or find their own way.
The cast relies on rock-paper-scissors to determine who rolls first.
Sometimes, you just can’t make this stuff up when you classically see
one member fall so short. And that unfortunate member is Ji Suk-jin. He
loses out on rock-paper-scissors and rolls a “fail,” which forces him to
find alternative transportation.
The other members joke that it would be hilarious (and awkward) if
their top star, Jong-kook and their worst, Suk-jin, were eliminated
together. It’s as if the variety gods heard their cries and what do you
know… Jong-kook loses on another round of rock-paper-scissors and the
die. Man can’t catch a break from
last week huh?
Everyone else is off to Kyungjoo by train and Jae-suk suggests a game to
pass the time. They previously picked up a box of sweets, and their
roll order depends on which one they pick. It’s enough to set off some
anxiety as some members reveal their number and others’ sweets are
blank. Finally, it’s between Jae-suk and Ji-hyo and when they pick, it’s
Jae-suk who must roll first. Aww, it’s always the person who suggests
the game!
They’ve got no time to dilly dally at the next stop and Jae-suk reminds
the others that no matter who is eliminated, the remaining members will
pile back into train without any qualms. Jae-suk throws the die into the
air…and the others zoom back into the train car faster than you can say
“fail.” LOL. Jae-suk is eliminated third, sulking along the Sandglass
soundtrack, and a sweet in his hand.
Haha suggests that they choose the next order by voting on who they’d
like to see eliminated. With these four, you’re bound to get some
irregular answers: “Haha. Because it’s Haha,” “Gary. Because he’s ugly,”
and finally (the best, I think), “A bad personality, scolds (me) all
the time, and a sharp stare…
Chun Sung-im (Ji-hyo’s real name).” You can guess whose is whose.
The eliminated think of ways to get to Kyungjoo. Jong-kook and
Suk-jin decide to arrive in style by plane and Jae-suk opts for a later
train. Slick, slick Running Men.
Back to the remaining four, Ji-hyo rolls safe from elimination and in
pure glee Kwang-soo rolls…a “fail.” Just like before, the others zip
back towards the train without looking back. His elimination is like the
shot heard ’round the world. Poor puppy. It only gets worse when
someone recognizes Jae-suk, asks to take a picture with him, and hands
the phone to Kwang-soo. Get this boy a teddy bear!
Everyone is racing to Kyungjoo and it’s Ji-hyo’s turn to spin again.
But of course Gary slips in before she rolls, “(Haha) get lost if
Ji-hyo’s safe (from elimination).” Ji-hyo rolls safely and jumps into
Gary’s arms. Long live the
Monday Couple! Alas, Haha is eliminated fifth and the corresponding number is placed on his back. Hmm, something’s afoot, methinks.
Who makes it to the Kyungjoo amusement park first? It’s Jong-kook and
Suk-jin who traveled by plane. The other members follow in after them:
it’s time to look for the crowns! The
Monday Couple look mighty
happy to be searching for the crowns together. Gary attempts to scare
Ji-hyo to poke a little fun, but he spots the crown before he gets the
chance, much to Ji-hyo’s chagrin.
But there’s something, or rather someone, lurking in the amusement park, carefully tracking their every move. Leave it to
the Capable One Jong-kook to notice that the scenery is eerie, as if people will disappear one by one. Well now that you mention it…
It’s Sukjin who’s afraid of roaming alone and calls Jong-kook but
doesn’t notice the lingering shadow behind him. It’s the hunter! Suk-jin
is no match for the hunter aka guest, actor
Choi Min-soo (
Warrior Baek Dong Soo, Father’s House).
Choi Min-soo says: “You were the first…” and we flash back to the very
beginning, when Sukjin rolled his fate and when Choi Min-soo received
his mission: take the members out in order. Now the pieces are starting
to come together…
How is it this man is so nimble and agile? Choi Min-soo is just
climbing over gates and traverses through tall grass as if they were
annoying little obstacles in his path. He’s a man on a mission and his
next target is Jong-kook. The captions play up their potentially epic
battle: It’s
Hunter versus
Spartakooks and Min-soo’s voiceover narrates that between beasts, there exists a different language…
Which is why I love Jong-kook’s transformation from a manly man from one
second, to an obedient puppy the next. Jong-kook catches on fairly
quickly and sans an epic battle, is taken away by men in black. Thus is
the swift and quick end to Jong-kook.
This man must have keen hunter instincts or something because he
spots Ji-hyo dragging two scaredy cats, Haha and Kwang-soo, to an
amusement park ride in the distance. Min-soo: “The scared stick
together.” True that, brother. Then suddenly, insight. Haha figures out
that Min-soo must eliminate them in accordance to the order on their
t-shirts. He doesn’t worry since Jong-kook is tough to catch. Oh, how
little you know, Haroro!
It takes a dangerous close call for everyone to refocus on the
mission at hand: Find the seven gold crowns. Come on, time’s a-tickin’!
Jae-suk gets to work but he walks right up to where Min-soo is hiding.
Yooruce Willis is an easy catch for Min-soo. A terrified Jae-suk asks to
confirm if his mission is to hunt down the Running Men. Min-soo: “What
number are you?” Jae-suk: “3.” Min-soo. “Then you’re right…”
In jail, Choi Min-soo takes a breather with the eliminated, educating
them about all things Hunter. He chastises Jae-suk that he talks too
much, calling him “5 mm deep,” as in, shallow. Oof. Min-soo mentions
that fish that swim in shallow water move rather carelessly whereas
deep-sea fish move in swift, calculated movements. When Suk-jin
mentions, “Doesn’t it differ on the species of fish?” he’s met with a
sharp smack to his thigh. HA.
It’s Jong-kook’s uncomfortable and awkward sitting position in this
entire conversation that has me in a fit of giggles. Never has a man so
dominating look so timid.
Haha did you really think a snailing train ride would save you from
the Hunter’s grasp? It’s easy pickings for Min-soo to hop across the
wall and capture Haha – for fun. Oh my god, dear man, you’re giving ME a
heart attack! Evidently, they’re neighbors and it looks like Min-soo
harbored some resent towards Haha for not greeting him properly. To
remedy this social sin, Min-soo employs Haha to bring him Kwang-soo
instead.
Kwang-soo is hiding in a corner, hoping to remain alive. He heads
towards the carousel, and just when he turns the corner, something
scares the living daylights out of him. It’s Min-soo, who has been
patiently waiting inside the booth. Min-soo even offers that they “ride
the carousel for a minute,” even breaking out into a smile before he
rips off Kwang-soo’s nametag. I can’t tell if you’re being cute or scary
anymore Choi Min-soo…
Okay, this man is not someone to be trifled with. Haha comes back,
confident that he’ll take his elimination like a man, and Min-soo offers
him a last chance to run for it. The offer shakes up his confidence and
Min-soo taunts, “If I chase you…who do you think will win?”
That’s enough for Haha to run away and after some time, a noise in
the darkness jostles him and he screams, “Just take my nametag!” Min-soo
hunts him down a second time just as easily as the first. Two Running
Men left and just one crown…
Gary realizes that they haven’t checked
inside anywhere.
Hand-in-hand, Gary and Ji-hyo enter the haunted house. Slowly they make
their way through and BAM! Min-soo jumps out in front of them, capturing
Gary, and Ji-hyo evades the attack. Some creepy lines later, a smiling
Min-soo says that he’s fond of the Monday Couple. Heh, cute.
It’s now Ji-hyo versus Min-soo in a last stand and Ji-hyo’s heart is
racing – and points to her belly. Oh Ji-hyo. Keke. She continues to
search all over the park for the remaining crown, all the while, we hear
Min-soo’s booming voice calling out her name.
Aha! Now this is Ace Ji-hyo as she removes the last crown from its
hiding place. Now it’s a matter of just setting it down with the others…
Ace Ji-hyo darts across the park, slinking her way through openings,
setting a false trail for Min-soo. Will she get there first? Will she be
caught by Min-soo? We see her running as fast as she can and sets down
the last crown, sealing the victory for the Running Men! Yes, Ace
Ji-hyo! This is why we love you!