Let’s start with something that kept bothering me this season and I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly. First of all, let me say that I love the show, and I still think that it’s very unique and unbelievably high quality. However, this time around I at first thought that maybe the editing is a bit different because some parts were difficult to follow or to focus on. As the series progressed, I realised that it’s just that the immersive element for the cast sometimes translates as too much information for the viewer. That being said, it’s probably the only downside I would point out this season.
I like the fact that there is a lot to build on and the universe keeps expanding. I also applaud the cast for “studying” before every season to refresh their memories. In my opinion, this creates quite a unique bond with the fanbase since they’re looking up old clips and episodes before shoots and often cite quotes of comments from the viewers.
I feel like everyone shined this season and their abilities got a lot of spotlight. There are two main brains though, so let’s start with them. Shin Dong often says that this is his favourite gig in his whole career and he is always so into the narrative. And also, damn, he’s so smart! This season he also has one shocking moment that steered the course of an entire episode, which showed exactly why he is such an asset to the team. Yoo Byung Jae is another cast member that often finds solutions to seemingly impossible situations. He usually reads all of the instructions and I loved how he said that he often speeds through the text just to be the first one to solve it.
Kim Dong Hyun has incredible moments this season. It blows my mind how one can be a massive scaredy cat and at the same time a genius in the most important moments. When I think about Kim Jong Min in this season, there are plenty of hilarious moments (one certainly comes to mind right away) that happened which made him a complete scene stealer. On the other hand, he usually is just that. The thing is, he is basically a variety show trained machine, goes head first into everything, finds the most important clues, is strangely calm in high-tense situations yet if you ask him contextual questions about the episode’s story, he has only a vague idea. But somehow, he just fits perfectly here.
I don’t know about you, but I always root for Kang Ho Dong to find something epic in the episode, because his enthusiasm then becomes infectious and everything somehow goes smoother. He also holds the team together the most, he is the glue they need to be as awesome as they are. I think that P.O. is a member, who is simultaneously the biggest fan of the show. He often remembers minor details from the past stories because he rewatches the episodes over and over again in preparation. He also had a lot of good moments this season, I think that his growth as an escaper is the most visible.
A cast with this kind of chemistry and good vibes needs just challenging concepts to get through. And oh boy, they had plenty of those this season. There were several concepts where they thought one thing and it turned out to be something completely different, with epic moments scattered throughout or unbelievable finales. I think that at least two episodes (concepts) of this season should be marked as ones of the top five of the whole series.
I really hope that the fifth season will be out soon. And I also noticed that they developed a label for their cinematic universe, so I keep my fingers crossed for something additional. Because I would gladly watch more any day.
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Story - When it comes to the narrative and the plot, this variety show is the go-to choice. It's truly amazing how inventive the crew is with their ideas. Each story offered something unique. Time travel, the metaverse, a zombie prison, entering a terrorist/serial killer's subconscious, disarming bombs, and mind control/hypnosis. Don't all those descriptions seem enticing?
Acting - This season's cast of actors and actresses is excellent. The biggest stand-out would be the Devil in the Crazy House episode. Dude legit showed up for about 5 minutes but stole the show because of his amazing acting. Him just standing there is intimidating enough LOL.
Cast - I know some people complain about how some members aren't pulling enough weight, but I feel like the cast is a perfect balance. If all of them are geniuses, it's very likely that episodes won't be as fun as the current ones since they'll probably solve the puzzles really easily. It works vice-versa as well - only funny people would be frustrating at times since they won't get anything done. Honestly such great casting by the staff.
Music - Every single music/soundtrack fits in with the concept of the specific episode. Intense music when the scene is intense, eerie music when the scene is creepy, etc. The music here makes you really immersed in the story.
Rewatch Value - This one was the hardest to rate. While all the episodes are pretty fun to watch for the first time, it's unlikely that I'll go back to rewatch. The other seasons had better rewatchable episodes.
The staff put so much effort and time into this series. Please send them some love <3
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