Running Man: Episode 110

by gummimochi

Time to stretch your muscles for this action-packed episode! Being rained in doesn’t mean it has to rain on your variety parade. When did numbers get to be so confusing? But stay with me to the end because what you see is what you get on Running Man.

EPISODE 110. Broadcast on September 9, 2012.

Last week, we left off with Haha after his visit to Witch FD. He gathers his other teammates and relays the information that if someone attempts to eliminate him, Jae-suk will be taken out instead.

They decide to take out the weakest link on the Red Team first (Kwang-soo) but the Blue Team is completely unaware that someone overhears their entire top secret exchange: Jae-suk.

Poor Kwang-soo is sent out as bait and he’s quickly spotted by the other teams. He eliminates Gary before the latter has time to size up the situation and hides. It’s not long before the Green Team corner him and in one swift motion, Tae-hwan rips off Kwang-soo’s name tag.

But wait… oho! Beneath his name tag reads “Park Tae-hwan Out” which means that the Red Team must have visited ol’ Witch FD as well. Elsewhere, the speakers blare the announcement and Jae-suk bursts excitedly, “Kwang-soo! Did you do that?!”

Tae-hwan’s dumbfounded and tries his best to laugh off the situation. He shouts, “August sure is awesome!” Well it hasn’t been exactly rosy for you to say the least.

Spartakooks sits in the corner, both his teammates now gone. When the Red Team approach him he’s all, I was resting, not hiding! He finds the Red Team’s request absolutely absurd – how can they ask him to eliminate someone on the Blue Team when he’s got the wings of his name tag snuck under his armpits?

But before they can say who, the Blue Team appears and now Jong-kook is outnumbered for sure. Time to run! And don’t worry – the other teams are too busy trying to rip each others’ name tags to be paying much attention to you at the moment, Jong-kook.

Kwang-soo is eliminated first and then Suk-jin stands back to let Haha and Jae-suk duke it out. But remember – Yeon-jae’s on the Red Team too and she eliminates Big Nose Hyung with ease.

HA – it’s kind of funny that Jong-kook escapes to the same place that his teammate was eliminated him. Unfortunately, his bright sneakers are a dead giveaway and everyone proceeds with caution.

It’s an eerily calm and quiet moment and then Spartakooks charges which cause everyone to jump back. They circle around him (Jae-suk does his best to protect Haha) and though it’s 4:1, it’s no easy business approaching Jong-kook.

Haha jumps ahead, declaring that it’s okay if he’s out and Jae-suk repeatedly pushes him back. And you still haven’t caught on that Jae-suk might already know, Haha? And then… Yeon-jae rips off Jong-kook’s name tag in the scuffle.

Tae-hwan buries his head – the Green Team’s out.

The remaining Blue and Red Team members have a standoff, buying some time until Jae-suk attacks first. He eliminates Ji-hyo and then holds Haha down.

Yeon-jae tears off Jae-suk’s name tag and then like an anticlimactic afterthought, eliminates Haha as well. Haha just stands there, stunned and speechless. Yeah your plan to backfire totally backfired on you. The Red Team wins it.

Day 2. 7 AM. How hilarious is it that Jae-suk is sleeping in Cinderella’s villa? His bed hair makes a stunning return and he wakes Kwang-soo from his slumber.

Yeon-jae is already wide awake when the staff come to collect her and conversely, Mung Ji-hyo who grumbles awake. Good morning, sunshine.

Mr. PD informs them that their originally intended morning mission is cancelled on account of the typhoon. Each of the members are invited to offer a game and can bet pieces of baduks. The member who has the most at the end is the winner and gains an advantage in the final mission.

The first game is gonggi which is Gary’s suggestion. The majority of the cast bet a piece each and Gary initially bets half of his pieces (5) before rethinking it to two. Haha fails right away and they’re impressed by Yeon-jae, who handle the jacks with ease.

Gonggi really is one of those games where the advantage leans to the youth and I forget that Yeon-jae is 18. She gets up to Round 4. Surprisingly, Suk-jin seems to hold his own pretty well and Haha teases: “He’s so good at girly things!”

He has a good run and is distracted enough that he slips up in Round 4. Now it’s Gary’s turn who up to now has been all talk, whooping whenever someone messes up. He clears Round 1 just barely and then fails to catch the jacks in Round 2.

Jae-suk does a fistpump when his suggestion (ddakji) comes up next. It’s no secret that Jae-suk is a master when it comes to this game which involves flipping a paper square.

Only four of the members participate and when they suggest doing it tournament style, Tae-hwan says, “You can’t put the two strongest players against each other!” The Easy Brothers gripe.

It’s Suk-jin vs. Tae-hwan first, and Marine Boy Tae-hwan warm up and slams it down… but does nothing. All brawn, huh? He gets another chance after Suk-jin fails and gets to move on.

Jong-kook wins against Kwang-soo who gets annoyed when Jong-kook lets Tae-hwan try first. Jong-kook wins… to utter silence and Haha breaks the tense moment, “Why are you trying so hard?”

Aww Master Jae-suk doesn’t even get a shot as his own game as Jong-kook wins right away, letting out a hearty cry of victory. Jong-kook feels bad and so agrees to go for 2 out of 3… and wins it again. Game over, man – where’s Sad Violin when you need it?

The next game is a test of flexibility and Yeon-jae has the clear advantage here. She shuffles forward and shyly shows them a basic stretch: a split.

She then reaches for her toes (the boys guffaw), and then nervously admits that she can’t bend backwards because it’s too early in the morning.

Oh honey I don’t think anyone in this room can even attempt that last move (a vertical split). They ask how many she’ll bet and she meekly says, “4? 5?”

Since all of the moves are supremely difficult for this cast, she initially allows them 1 out of the 3. But Tae-hwan bends over to touch his toes without difficulty and then changes the rules to 2.

So all the boys start a round of, “Do you wanna do the split?” and then Haha steals one of Ji-hyo’s pieces to put it in the pot. Jae-suk calls out that counts for his own participation.

Haha fails to reach his toes and bend down so his chest touches his legs and that vertical split attempt has got to hurt. I’m thinking that no man should attempt that last move – even with help, Kwang-soo’s face burns a bright red.

Tae-hwan folds his upper body over easily and Yeon-jae is nice enough to consider amending the rules so that Tae-hwan doesn’t have to do a full split. Once she sees it, however, she starts, “Originally…” and shows the split again. Yeah, I think it’s safe to say you won.

Kwang-soo what kind of game is yours? He explains that the winner is whoever has the most water in their mouth in one try. There’s no better way to describe that. Yeon-jae whispers, “How strange…”

All the boys participate (Yeon-jae passes on account of the strangeness of the game) apart from Tae-hwan and they all complain how nervous they’re getting. Bottoms up!

This is just a disaster waiting to happen. Jae-suk spits up at Kwang-soo, Gary bursts and so does Suk-jin. They line up the water bottles to compare and the judges declare that Kwang-soo’s Adam apple moved twice – he swallowed.

They run through the remaining ideas dismissing them as they go (Ji-hyo: Identifying faces blindfolded, Tae-hwan: holding your breath). Settling on Haha’s game of “Cola Cider,” Haha explains the rules: if it crosses the line mid-way it’s “Cider,” completely within the line “Cola,” and out if you pass it.

Jae-suk is first and Haha teases that he’s eliminated, “Because you’re ugly.” Gary: “Then I can’t play?!” Jae-suk passes the line and by Gary’s turn, Jong-kook’s piece is closest to the line.

Yeon-jae tosses her piece and it lands just past the line and Haha declares it as “Cider.” Finally it’s Haha’s turn and he sets himself up for the toss. Someone’s piece is knocked out of the way and Jong-kook seethes, “Did you just knock my piece out?” Gulp.

Yeon-jae enters the final mission first, having come out first place in the morning games. Everyone picks up a card that denotes a number. Wait, are we at Haha’s alma mater? He gets super embarrassed by a poster of himself hanging in the hallway.

Mr. PD introduces the mission through the speakers as target hunting. Stay with me because this can get confusing. The target starts from 9 to 1. If the target remains alive after the allotted time, there will be a secret opportunity.

This means that Number 9 will be hunted by the other members but he can also eliminate them for a more favorable number. And to make it worse, Mr. PD announces who Number 9 is: Kim Jong-kook.

The cast begin their search for Spartakooks and Suk-jin starts to sweat – if they eliminate Jong-kook, he’s next (as Number 8).

Gary and Tae-hwan find a door locked and they have no idea that Jong-kook is behind it, hiding. They leave without checking further and Gary muses, “Did he go home?”

Haha and Yeon-jae swing by a minute later and Jong-kook bides his time before he bursts out of the room to sneak attack them. But he finds himself fighting 3:1 while the others rush to join them. While the boys corner Jong-kook, Yeon-jae coolly passes by them, “I’ll call for the others.”

Woah now Jong-kook is doing his best to fight off the guys, falling to the ground to protect himself. And though he puts up an impressive fight, Tae-hwan rips off his name tag. Yeon-jae asks where Suk-jin is which is when he’s announced as Number 8.

Cut to: Suk-jin who hides in the costume room.

Jae-suk notes that everyone is calm now that Suk-jin is the target. They head out to find him but then we see that Tae-hwan is Number 7.

Ji-hyo searches through the costume room and almost leaves before she spots the VJ. She silently calls Tae-hwan over and then Suk-jin hops out of his hiding place. You could have just stayed in there! He’s easily eliminated by Tae-hwan. But… doesn’t this mean you’re next?

And just when the speakers are about to announce his name, Tae-hwan rips off Ji-hyo’s name tag. Now he’s Number 1. Impressive.

Kwang-soo and Jae-suk contemplate what their next steps should be. They could try to eliminate Number 6 (Gary) but their biggest problem is Tae-hwan who seems practically untouchable in their eyes.

Haha roams the halls for Gary, looking through a suspicious locker room. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Haha opened the door and Gary popped out? Which is exactly what happens.

The other boys join them in the basement and Kwang-soo tries to signal to Gary to eliminate Tae-hwan. But Gary misinterprets this and rips off Jae-suk’s instead. Innocent Gary: “You should have said so earlier!”

The most hilarious and sad part about this? Jae-suk was Number 5 which means Gary still is the target. Haha has finally realized that they need to set their eyes on Tae-hwan (who’s literally skipping through the halls).

Gary hides in a locker and Kwang-soo counts to three before he shrills, “Tae-hwan!” Ahahaha.

Tae-hwan comes running and Haha leads him through the lockers, whispering that he saw Gary’s DJ. And while his back is turned, Gary slips out of his hiding place… and tears off Tae-hwan’s name tag. All Tae-hwan can mutter is, “Daebak.”

The boys praise each other on a job well done (Kwang-soo: “It was like straight out of a movie!”) and then Yeon-jae asks to Kwang-soo: “But aren’t you the next target?” Sure enough, the speakers confirm it and Kwang-soo starts running.

Gary hops along, telling Yeon-jae that she has to be the one to eliminate him and she whimpers, “But I’m Number 3…”

In a surprise turn, Kwang-soo eliminates Haha and moves up to Number 2.

In jail, Tae-hwan fumes at his elimination and Jong-kook pipes that he fell for Haha’s trap because Tae-hwan is only thinking about himself. They spy the same cards on a nearby table and Tae-hwa hopes it means a second chance for either himself or Jong-kook.

And what do you know, two people will get to be reinstated. Gary, Kwang-soo, and Yeon-jae’s jaws drop. Kwang-soo: “There’s no way that Tae-hwan will be reinstated, right?”

Jae-suk picks first and then gripes when he gets a dud. Jae-suk: “But it’s a “R” [sticker]!” We can’t see Mr. PD’s reaction but I get the feeling it’s a “So?”

Jong-kook picks next and Jae-suk comments that if Jong-kook is freed, “It’s like heaven in here and hell out there.” HA.

It’s a “0” and the staff gasp in awe. Not only is Jong-kook back in the game… he’s now Number 0 and ahead of everyone else.

The remaining four pick simultaneously but here’s the catch – whoever gets released will be Number 4 aka the immediate target. Jae-suk: “It’s probably better than you stay in here than becoming the target as soon as you leave.”

… Holy… Crap… it’s Tae-hwan.

Now Gary, Kwang-soo, and Yeon-jae are sandwiched in between the strongest players in the game. Uh, now what?

Kwang-soo runs straight into Tae-hwan who immediately reaches for his back to exact his revenge. Then Kwang-soo yelps, “Gary’s Number 1!”

Tae-hwan calls over Yeon-jae who readily comes like the cute dongsaeng she is. I’m thinking he going to ask if Kwang-soo is lying but then she tells him to look ’round the corner… where Jong-kook is hiding.

She’s so scared and shocked that all she can do is laugh. Yeon-jae: “Can’t I just go to jail?”

Tae-hwan’s got both Kwang-soo and Gary’s name tags in his reach. Not enough hands? No worries because he wraps his leg around Gary to topple him over. Then Kwang-soo reaches over Tae-hwan’s back as Tae-hwan rips off Gary’s name tag.

HAHAHA – this is priceless. Kwang-soo runs away from Tae-hwan who’s now Number 1 and then comes to a screeching halt when he spots Jong-kook. Even though Yeon-jae is the next target she goes chasing after Kwang-soo which now brings his hunter count to three.

Back in jail, the others praise Gary for lasting so long even with his back injury. He saw Jong-kook on his way here, wondering why he wasn’t announced. When they tell him he’s “0,” he breathes a sigh of relief.

But wait a minute – Tae-hwan’s Number 1. They’re like, Now that’s worth watching!

Kwang-soo eliminates Yeon-jae and then takes a breath before he realizes that he’s still the target. He runs into Jong-kook and whispers that he’s going to eliminate Tae-hwan. Of course, he has no idea that Jong-kook is Number 0.

His real plan, however, is to team up with Tae-hwan to eliminate Jong-kook but he gets caught seconds later. In disbelief, Jong-kook says, “I wasn’t supposed to let you live…” Kwang-soo starts to plead and then reaches for Jong-kook’s back. Omg, will you really do it?!

Jong-kook is too quick for him and immediately Kwang-soo apologizes for the attack. Kwang-soo goes for a second try and now they’re both grabbing at each other’s shirts. Tae-hwan just watches from the sidelines, laughing.

Kwang-soo loses (You put up a good fight there!) and the speakers begin to announce Target Number 1. Tae-hwan reaches for Jong-kook’s back… and with one swift turn has Jong-kook’s name tag in his hand.

Tae-hwan wins it all (and the kalbi set). Things are starting to look up, don’tcha think?

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