As someone who actively watches Running Man, i practically screamed with laughter when the “tense moment” song from Jason Bourne came on. it gets played SO MUCH
wait you do that for a living? what kind of shows or from which country? I'm intruiged into getting to know and analyzing different formats from around the world so I'm naturally curious about your work xD
Just watched S1E1 of the Genius after seeing this video and holy shit there's some Death Note levels of mindgames and deception going on. Love it, thank for recommending it!
Funny that you mentioned Death Note level mind games. I remember that this show was actually criticized for plagiarizing a different manga/live action drama called Liar Game. The production team of The Genius denied it, saying they were just inspired by it and didn't copy any of the actual games. There weren't any lawsuits filed that I know of, but none the less, fans of The Liar Game were not happy with them.
They're great for humanizing the celebrities involved. Unlike here in the US, k-celebs seem much more like regular people, really really talented regular people, but not unapproachable PR-machines.
also the way the editing in south korea captions the "characters" emotions and thoughts right on screen in all those different fonts! it adds so much character and personality. editors in sk really understand how to make dramatic tension pay off, even when not much is going on. i'm literally going to go binge this show now!!
I totally agree! The captions PDs add to variety shows really take them to a league of their own. It gives so much more context to what you’re seeing on screen and pretty much sets the mood. Sort of like watching it with a friend with commentary, except this friend was actually *there* when they shot the scene and with a simple “당황” or “기쁨” is telling you more about the scene and what the mood was
Most of things you pick out as special is kinda common in Korean reality shows, I guess our overall style was something unique . since I always learned about american’s pop cultures with your channel it is nice see our pop culture in another your view. And wow this is awesome.
I became a fan of korean entertainment after watching running man because of how different and entertaining it was. I used to watch wipeout, but i had never come across such a level of storytelling in a TV show. So korean pop culture is definitely something special in contrast to other cultures that most people are exposed to.
The first time I watched a Korean reality show, it was a bit too much. It also didn’t help that Thierry Henry was the reason I watched it and while he was a good sport, I just thought “This shit is so weird.” Two years later, I thought of that show and became a Muhan Dojeon addict. Then I watched The Genius which is easily one of my faves. Might rewatch for the third time.
I've been a fan of the Genius for a while and I figured I would drop a few helpful links in case anyone wants to get into the show. *Episode Links* [EDIT: The episodes have been taken off UA-cam. Links can be provided in the Discord server.] Season 1 Episode 1: ua-cam.com/video/jpwIgWPfNvc/v-deo.html Season 1 Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL9suu7e7YWZ0rw06g9_cOi_cnzpeXeUCc.html *Discussion Sites (Spoilers)* Subreddit: www.reddit.com/r/TheGenius/ Discord server: discord.gg/U37TZNJ This is a slightly difficult show to get into, but I can promise you that it is worth the watch. If you have any questions, I strongly recommend joining the Discord server and asking some of the staff members there. Enjoy!
The Genius is GOLD. No show can beat it yet and I can't recommend it enough. The Great Escape is totally worth watching too. The scale of the escape rooms, and how the writers can at times make certain "escape" intertwined with another "escape" are amazing. Plus the casts personalities will definitely kept you engaged. Anyway the same writer actually also co-wrote a show called "Society Game" too, so the vibe of that show kinda got that Genius-like editing too. The show itself is kinda like the combo of The Genius games (lite ver. ;p) and the old school Survivor that required some real physical stamina and the live-in together part, with some other twist. For example, instead of how teams were typically divided in Survivor, the team is divided into 2 different "societies" with 2 different rules of living, The Green Team vs The Red Team. And basically the Green Team is a society that practice democracy, where things like choosing the Leader is done by majority voting... While the Red Team is the society that is modeled as a totalitarian/dictatorial, where the current leader can only be overthrown by rebellion (there are some rules of who can start the rebel and how the rebel can be successful)... And the thing is, you can feel how it's more like a social experiment. Since each team have different rules to follow in their camps, like how they should decide the leaders, etc, you can see the very different vibe and living condition between the 2 teams. One society is living kinda peacefully (but are they, really?), and one is obviously looking pretty tense most of the time-- and the reasons are not just laying on the individual personality, but the society the kind of society they live in. And their different living condition will somehow impact the relationship between members and the games they played differently. Also, instead of just an individual winning solo at the end a la Survivor, it's more of a team plays, where the final actually required 3 people/team that preferably have different strenghts, as their games are typically required the mix of high IQ, stamina and dexterity. So the decision to bring your ally OR the player your team need to the final is pretty much play a big role. .. That's why I think the show really living to its name - the "Society Game". And I like how, just like The Genius, the narrator will give you "reasons" and some "life lessons" at the end of each episodes where someone got eliminated.. (ps. There are 2 seasons only, and personally, some more proper rule (that you might questioned in S1 "why they didn't do it this way") would probably be in S2.,, So yeah, people who enjoyed both The Genius and Survivor should probably give both seasons a try.)
Finally, *some* recognition for this brilliant show. I've been obsessed about it enough to write down full recaps for each and every single episode few years back. I'ts really astonishing how much better the production of this game show compared to every other game show on the planet. Game design is deep, but intentionally rigged with tricks for smart players to abuse. Production design is stylish. Contestants are actually smart. Editing is deliciously deceptive and create fantastic story and character arcs out of unscripted game show. Where other games are simplistic, The Genius is complex and crafty, where other reality shows are vulgar, The Genius is civilized and well-mannered, where other show show you the worst of people, The Genius shows you the best of them.
You would love the South Korean variety show Crime Scene; the editing and storylines are mind-blowing. South Korean tv shows and variety shows are miles ahead of many western stuff.
Yes we love Crime Scene so much! A fun thing we like to do is try to envision what minor U.S. celebrities would be able to handle something like Crime Scene or The Genius (smart enough to keep up and also embrace the genre).
Okay I will give it a shot. Begin of the first episode: okay not bad, cool concept End of the first episode: okay I am hooked, the editing + the music + the cast really makes just a fun concept an amazing show
I am Korean and I subscribed this channel after finding out that it delivers many useful informations about writing. Now I’m really surprised as I didn’t expect to watch video about Korean TV show in this channel. For those who watched this video, I can guarantee that this show is absolutely amazing and highly recommended. If you guys want to know about more interesting Korean TV shows or movies, let me know. I believe I can recommend you guys some good ones. Thanks:)
@@Danieljosol Signal is an AMAZING k-drama that is truly unlike any other I have ever seen - truly amazing writing and acting imo. The plot is that a serial killer profiler in 2016 finds a radio that allows him to speak to a detective in the past, to whom he relays modern-day info in order to solve murders in the past timeline, and change the present (some of the cases are even based on true cold cases in South Korea, i.e. the Hwaseong murders).The first episode is a little slow, but finish the second episode and let me know what you think!!
right it was inspired by the liar game, but it's one thing to have control over all the scripts, stories, and outcome like a movie, but I think it's brilliant how they can actually make this into a REAL reality show.
The Liar Game drama is similar to a Hollywood movie. It is almost the same direction as Saw series and character. Cube (1997), Clue(1985) in similar background setting.
Reality TV always intrigue me as a unique format for creative non-fiction storytelling. But most of the time, I got turned off by the superficiality within the show. Like, the troublemaking sociopath always won or the characters have their relative "died" irl so they stayed for longer period because audience voted for them, what a cheap manipulative way to incite empathy. So thank you for recommending me a smart show that genuine and refreshing. I'll definitely watch it and learn from it.
You should check out Crime Scene 2, an exceptionally entertaining game show which also features Hong Jinho and other dynamic cast members with some interesting writing/framing.
That's another amazing show I would recommend. Interesting that you recommended Season 2 because I agree that that is the best season. The story telling in that show is superb as well.
One of the cast in season 1-2 is a pro Starcraft player who had 2nd place in national competition. He is Hong Jinho and exceptionally smart in building strategy
The biggest surprise was Jang Dong Min. I rooted for that guy like he was my uncle. I honestly liked him as a comedian but was shocked how amazing he played that game. We would wait for subtitles every week and avoid spoilers like crazy, but in the end, I couldn’t because of the rumors that he had been eliminated.
A random youtube recommendation clip of "hong jinho open-pass" game was on my main page. Then i became so curious and addicted and guess what, i manage to find all 4 season and finished it all by myself. I just want to give my highest respect for lord Bumdidlyumptious for kindly subbing all episode. Thank u so much.
I never thought I would see this show and that subber acknowledged ever. This is like the weirdest crossover ever. I love the formats of Korean variety shows. People that do well on tv are really well known in South Korea. Kim Gura is infamous for his blunt remarks for example.
i still can't believe that this show was unbelievably underrated outside of south korea. like none of people i know in real life actually watched the show till i recommended it to them (which delighted them because most of them ended up liking it). i hope they will make more seasons of it. it was the most, if not one of the best television shows ever.
I saw Train to Busan and I kinda thought it had the exact same structure as a western zombie blockbuster in the mid 2010's. I was pretty bored throughout
I started watching the genius purely because one my favorite kpop idol (sunggyu) is a part of one of the season, but this show is just TOO good I stay until the last season you guys are missing out seriously!
Someone shared with me this video because I told them my love for the new Netflix Show Devil's Plan. Which is to be the sequel of this show. I would love to see a follow up with that show in mind. I now look forward to watching all the seasons of The Genius.
This video changed my life by introducing The Genius to me. I haven't had such a thought-provoking feast on entertainment in a long time, the Genius gives you so much room to play the game yourself and try to think through it along with the cast.
Holy crap I didnt think I would ever see a video analyzing The Genius. It is genuinely the best show that i have seen and second and third best are probably Society Game and Escape Room and also Crime Scene is also up there. Except for Crime Scene, Society Game and Escape Room and the Genius are all produced by the same guy. All unscripted, and exhilarating. Thanks for this video and I subscribed to your channel because of this video!!! You should also check out Crime Scene and Society Game!!
Society game is insane. it's not as quick to hook you as the Genius, but I still remember the russian-korean player running below a scorching summer sun for an hour and a half.
The PD behind The Genius just made another show called Devil’s Plan! It’s out on Netflix and it’s letting me relive all the fun moments from The Genius. Though, it does have a different editing style I still like it a lot!
finally a youtube video about The Genius! and you even mention the beauty of the soundtrack all i want to say is, you all should watch this show! my favorite moment is the infamous s1 e7 twist and almost all s3 & all s4
I learned a lot from your channel and I'm glad you picked this show from the ocean of Korean variety shows. This is one of my favorites and thank you for analysing it, now I can understand better how variety show editing works. And now that you mentioned it I realized, that Korean tv does this all the time. Focusing on human stories, especially focusing on group dynamics and it's immense fun to watch. Also the familiar soundtracks help to convey the emotion or story of the moment it's used for, helping the viewers digest the story. This storytelling tool is used by many Korean shows and I'm glad you mentioned it because the importance and power of soundtrack is often overlooked when talking about audio-visual media.
huge fan of all the seasons and its so nice to see someone bring awareness of this show to more people! all seasons are great, but especially 3&4 are my favorites. i've probably rewatched the entire show 5-6 times. It's really endless fun.
@@jenniferhashemian4366 This tweet will have all that you seek, happy watching (although mega.nz does have its download limit so you'll unfortunately either have to pay some cash or take breaks) twitter.com/Bumdidlyump/status/1072370230247256066 !
Shows like The Genius, Running Man, and Busted! really show off how creative SK is when it comes to variety/reality shows. The way producers set up story lines and games so that the cast can play through and manipulate it to any outcome is just so much fun. It shows off the talents of both the cast and the creators at the same time.
Thank you for making this video! It is a bit hard to explain, but this show has a great emotional resonance with me. It makes me incredibly happy to see that there are still English speaking fans of The Genius discussing the show in 2019.
Thanks for covering one of my favourite TV shows of all time! I'm glad more non-Korean viewers are getting the chance to know about it. Would also recommend Crime Scene if you haven't had the chance to do so yet, which by the way also features Hong Jinho who appears in The Genius as well.
Hi I found this show from this video being randomly recommended to me like last year and I have to say thank you so so much it's literally my favourite show ever now.
And the cast-crew dynamic. Nowhere else do you see cameramen involved in scheming or blamed for failures, writers called out for being fanboys/fangirls of the guests, PDs directly commenting on events, or, and this warms my heart every time, cast sharing food with the crew.
BUSTED! on Netflix is pretty similar, and more of a recent release! It has more of a scripted plot to it, but every puzzle and challenge the contestants go through is unscripted, and they get no help from the producers (even if they beg for it). It’s HILARIOUS and super intriguing, and they’re releasing Season 2 very soon!! With most of the original cast returning!
I don't know If there is a subtitle for it but "Crime scene" was also a very popular reality TV show in korea and It's really good. It has 4 seoson. You should definitely check it out! There is a crime story for every episode and people act the character from the story. So one knows only about the characters story of themselves and act it. There is literally a crime scene where they can figure out who the killer is and they collect evidence to figure out what happened and who the killer is!
Another cool thing for people who are interested, is that these contestants are not just ordinary people. they're celebrities from many different sectors: you have newscasters, tv hosts, k-pop idols, professional billards and poker players, a top ranked college student, and even a pro-gamer (starcraft). you get a really interesting look as to how each contestant has their own way of approaching games and also a interesting social hierarchy based on their seniority in their field, for example, Kim Gura has been a tv host for a long time and is much more confident around these contestants. there's some insane plot twists in the show as well as really ingenious ways of "circumventing" the rules. the genius is seriously one of the best shows i've seen made with a reality tv show basis. the last season is a battle of the top contestants from the last few seasons so it's important to watch it last. the variety of games is really interesting, and rely on many types of skills: memory, math, logic, and even "social engineering" where you have to persuade someone to protect you over someone else.
There is this one korean reality tv show called "Law of the Jungle" or something like that. Wich sounds like that shit where celebritys have to eat kangaroo parts and its all just drama (I think its called 'survivor' in america?) but it is actually a pretty good survival show. Like they aren't in super dangerous situations (because its actually real celebritys and not just people that won a casting show once) but they have to hunt for their own food, make their own fire and shelters from rain. I just watched a few episodes but I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for this. I am glad that there are others like me who are obsessed with Korean Reality TV or Variety Shows. They are on another level, and they skillfully blend the reality and fiction, where you even question the things you see.
I'm glad that in the time since this video was made there have been numerous more survival game shows made. Having watched The Genius back in the day (and make no mistake, it is still the best show in the genre), I'm happy to see Time Hotel, Bloody Game S1 and S2 follow in its footsteps with twists of their own. And now the genre has reached the wider masses with The Devil's Plan on Netflix. I hope this genre stays strong!
I have never even imagined you would talk about Genius. My favorite show! This show must be really peculiar and largely unknown to American audience. Man, you do watch a lot of stuffs. Thanks for the video!
I Recommend you to watch two other show that also have a similiar concept. It's called "The Great Escape" and " Girl High School Mystery Club". So in simple, both of this show is a role play reality detective show where 1 group got into some role play story but they completely clueless about the story the got in. After that they need to solve and follow to finish and winning the challenge. I recommend it because the editing and also it's always have a new story but in different style. So i'm many people did not feel bore watching it.
This is enlightening. So it's not that reality TV is crap. We're just crap at making it. This sounds like it's well worth checking out. I think the fact that it's in Korean is also a plus. Then I don't have to listen to the contestants "Um", "Uh", and "Like" their way through every conversation.
Thank you so much for introducing me to the Genius. It is a real masterpiece and I'm so glad I stumbled upon your video and was introduced to this great show. I'm forever grateful to you
Ok so i'm a 24 year old white dude from Arizona, back in 2013 i was just casually scrolling through channels when i came across TVN playing an episode of The Genius, "Korean game shows?" I was weirded out at first because it was so vastly different from other reality t.v. shows out there and i never knew much about Korean culture back then and i was so mesmerized by how complex, exciting and fun everything was. Now i am a big fan of this show (i listen to The Genius Know It All's Podcast with Rob Cesternino so check that out after watching The Genius) and Korean Variety shows in general (sorry, i don't listen to K Pop) Running Man, 2 Days 1 Night, NJTTW, Youn's Kitchen (pretty much everything that Na PD makes) and i became a big fan of it all due to this show and i can't thank you so much for making this video so when people get recommended by these types of videos and click on it, maybe they'll get the same experience i have right now. Thank you : )
I started with Running Man in 2011 or so and I know exactly how you feel. Korean tv shows are the best shit ever. Have you seen Baek Jong Won's Alley Restaurant yet? It's currently at episode 76 on SBS, really good stuff. It's like a much better version of Gordon Ramsey's shows were a famous korean chef visits multiple (often problematic) restaurants in an alley that's not doing well in order to help them fix their problems and revive the area. I'm not interested in food shows at all but my brother forced to me watch it and it's since been my favorite (currently airing) show.
@@Alex-go6le Baek Jong-won is probably the most iconic South Korean chef, he's been in a lot of shows i've seen. He was recently on Kang's Kitchen too so i'll probably check it out later : )
"Crime Scene" on JTBC is another SK variety show that I highly recommend. It's basically the game "Clue" in variety show form. Each season has a celebrity cast that has to act out their appointed roles while we (the audience) and the cast have to figure out who did the crime. It's super fun, not only because of the plot twists (thanks to editing) but how it incorporates humor throughout the episodes. Instead of using drama as their winning formula in variety shows (as American reality shows do), Korea uses humor instead - and it works well for them. Honestly I prefer their style more.
Crime Scene is a similar show in the aspect of using intelligence in order to win the day and win the grand prize. What's different about crime scene is that it's 6 celebrities stepping in roles of real crimes and only the criminal knows the real culprit. So rather then competing among each other its 5 v 1 where no one knows the true culprit until the very end.
ever since i've found korean variety shows, i never watched american variety shows anymore. i've always wondered why i just couldn't get into american tv shows like i used to, then i saw this video and you explained everything i love about korean variety shows so clearly, and you even gave me a new one to watch. thanks man!
I actually know both, but I think Kaiji came before liar game, and I remember reading an older manga that's in a similar vein but was short and not that well known. Still, I think The Genius is different enough from the liar game though it's been years since I read the manga.
The mangaka has another series about baseball (yes baseball) that is also full of intricate and fascinating mind games. It's called One Outs. I personally found it to be even more amazing than Liar Game.
I've been obsessed with korean tv shows for like 8 years now. People keep talking about k-pop or k-drama, but even more so it were korean variety shows that made me fall in love with Korea and its culture. Edit: Also, thank you for giving bumdidlyumptious the praise he deserves. We (fans of the show) treated him as a god, but for good reasons: He was able to provide us with english subtitles of the highest quality within a week of the episode's release. I think the average might've even been 2-3 days, not sure.
KOREAN TV SHOWS ARE GREAT literally never stopped recommending them to my cousin but he's always like nah i don't want to watch your k-pop shows they are boring BUT EDITING AND THE PLOT AND HUMOR ARE REALLY NICE i recently (like yesterday lmao) started learning korean just to stop waiting for subs lol
ahhh i love korean variety shows so much and this video really does a great job at explaining why. I feel like busted on netflix is within the same genre and does a lot of the same things that this show does really well, but is made for a broader audience, so if you wanna get into this type of tv i feel like busted is a good place to start!
The show is absolutely amazing, I extremely recommend it, even if you never watched korean tv shows before (like me). Just watch the first episode it's completely worth it. Everything it's very detailed: the games, visual effects, sound effects, bgm, camera shots, editing. Also the producer has other shows: Society Game and Crime scene that have the same essence that are pretty interesting too
The producer/writers of The Genius also has a recent show called Great Escape (대탈출), which just concluded its 2nd season, also on tvN network. It’s less brain-wrenching and more story-driven than TG.
is that the zombie one? i think i like the genius' tone better. cant imagine how they can make the overplayed zombie quarantine trope not boring after one ep haha
Have you ever seen the Dutch show Wie is de Mol? (Who is the Mole) I'm not aware of any versions of it outside the Netherlands, but it's similar to Genius in that it's a reality game show, but it's a very psychological game and you really get to know the 'characters' (people) in it. I can especially recommend earlier seasons of the show when the contestants were 'common folk'. They have since switched to 'celebrity' contestants and it's way less fun because they're all too used to being on camera and the viewer is too used to what they're normally like on camera. Plus, the celebrities aren't invested in the game in the same way that the 'normal people' are, since the prize money is relatively less impressive to them. I don't know if there are English subtitled versions out there, but from what I understand from your review of Genius, fans of that show will also enjoy 'Who is the Mole'!
I’m from the U.S. We had the show here (it was just called “The Mole”), but it’s been off the air for about a decade. I loved it! Anderson Cooper was the first host, and in my opinion his seasons were the best ones.
I always have a hard time highlighting and explaining why I love Korean variety shows so much. While not all variety shows are like The Genuis, the editing styles and how they draw in a viewer is very similar and so i think 'll just send this link to them if they ask again lol
tbh it's so fun watching korean game/variety/ect shows bc in a lot of shows it almost feels like then editors themselves are characters along with the cast. although s korean shows love pop culture references which gets a little confusing if you arent familiar like using the soundtrack from a popular soap opera or randomly playing kpop sonngs as a joke
Thanks for making this. It's rare to find someone who's reviewed The Genius and I really enjoyed watching this! The Genius is an absolutely epic show and worth all the attention.
God Jeong-PD. Honestly an absolute legend. I love The Genius so much, such clean and clever editing! A kickass soundtrack (don't forget that they use the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack too!), a cast that's smart and entertaining!! Boardgames!!! What did we do to deserve The Genius, and Bumdi wh generously subbed all 4 seasons. Would love to see your take on The Great Escape, too! Another great show by the same creator, but for different reasons!
This almost reminds me of Kaiji. I wasn't expecting to start watching a Korean game show when I woke up this morning, but I guess that's what I'm gonna be doing for the foreseeable future.
Literally love bumdidlylycious or whatever for subbing this show! They single handedly gave birth to the whole international fan base of this show. This show, along with the Great Escape and another show also produced by this PD is literally why I love tvN shows! If you’re a fan keep your eyes peeled because you may soon see a UK version (I hear it’s in the works) 😄😄
@@kagetsu13there's a subber team inspired by godbumdi called baechu squads, they have great subs for great brain survival shows and they also have all seasons of the genius. Recently i watched bloody game s2 because of hong jinho, and it's sooo good. It also has a great duo, i feel like watching another vers of jang dongmin and oh hyunmin duo.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE GENIUS it is by far one of, if not my favourite, Korean reality TV shows of all time. My top two favourite episodes are Episode 2 of The Genius Season 3: Black Garnet aka the Jury Game, as well as Episode 6 of The Genius season 4: Grand Finale aka the Garnet Thief. The twists in both episodes really amazed me and that's what I love about The Genius.
bruh i've watched so much sk tv, but i've never heard of "the genius". it sounds just like my cup of tea tho :) (also, my kpop ass noticed that some of the cast are idols heheheh so that's an incentive too)
This adds to my confusion with SK tv show like Running Man etc. Their guests are big-name K-Pop stars or SK actors/actresses and I don’t know who they are! They tell all sorts of inside jokes that one would only get if one knows the history of that singer/actor/entertainer. So, they’ll say something generally innocuous, I’ll understand basically what is said (I speak Korean), and everyone will laugh and some kind of laugh emoji thing pops up, but I’m sitting here thinking, “That was very funny at all. Why’d everyone laugh?” Well, sometimes I’ll get a chance to talk it over with a Korean or someone who knows who that guest is. They’ll explain that because of something in that person’s history that comment was funny. But, most of the time I’ll just be lost, despite knowing most of what is said.
@@sronicker most of the cast are generally not really famous in entertainment, but famous in their own field. but as mentioned, some of the inside jokes are explained (thankfully) by Bumdi in his subs
sunggyu was another level on the genius. started off weak, but turns out it was all a show. subsequent idols have failed to reach his standard, and even non-idols have tried to imitate his gameplay on subsequent seasons. i love the genius and sunggyu so much oh man
@JustWrite if you liked The Genius then you'll love Crime Scene another Korean TV reality game show it's literally Cluedo but with a full set as props. 1 player is the detective with the rest of the players as suspects however one of the suspects is the murderer. Goal is basically to find out who did it by going through the set for clues.
I'm a French guy living in Seoul and I would never have imagined discovering a Korean TV show on this channel ! I think asian TV shows often find some original ways to manipulate TV show codes. I recommend Terrace House, that's also really interesting how they use this format
I love the Genius so much! So happy it's being covered! The Genius is well worth watching; the puzzles, the social dynamics and the way the story of the show is told is so unlike anything in western television right now!
I haven't even watched the episode yet, I'm just so excited that someone's talking about this show! For anyone who's reading this that hasn't seen the show, please do yourself a favour and watch the first 3 episodes of the first season. If you're not absolutely hooked by then, then the show is not for you, but if you're anything like me, you will be all in from that point onwards.
You might want to watch Running Man earlier episodes, like ep 20-200. It's just gold. They made creative missions out of the most simple thing. And the members had their own character.
And they interacted a lot with the general public in their filming locations, even involving them in small ways from time to time. There was an even an episode written by a fan.
Thanks for this. I had never heard of this show, and I'm loving it now. I'm fascinated by the dynamic in which, in a game with individual scoring, individual winners and losers of each round, and the certainty that only one player will make it to the end, the first season players are nonetheless forming strong and loyal "teams". I think the producers would have to include team dynamics in the rules to make that happen in the US.
I just wanted to come back to this vid to thank you for introducing me to this amazing show and the huge fun world of Korean Reality TV. I genuinely believe this UA-cam Vid has changed my life and inspired so many ideas. Keep doing great work Just Write
There's many other shows which are actually great! Crime Scene for one is one of my favourites, where a crime scene is set up each episode, and the cast of the show are given a character which they must act as and try to figure out which one of them is the murderer by investigating the crime scene!
Ahhh you don't even know how happy I am that one of my favourite youtubers is talking about one of my favourite shows!! If you really liked The genius and The great escape try out The society game. It is by the same PD and it's really interesting as well. But of course, nothing beats The genius Imo 🙌👌
Ahh... the "ominous flash forward"... one of my favorite tropes from Korean variety shows
As someone who actively watches Running Man, i practically screamed with laughter when the “tense moment” song from Jason Bourne came on. it gets played SO MUCH
meremaid 😂😂🙋🏾♀️🙋🏾♀️ I laughed so hard ! Younc Bond !! 👏🏾😂
@@imanblose8337 Yooruce Willice ;)
...... infinite challenge is the real deal. running man is a poorly imitated crappy copy of infinite challenge
First season of the Genius, is basically all Moby
When is the song played in this video?
As someone who works in reality tv editing this whole video made me so endlessly happy
wait you do that for a living? what kind of shows or from which country? I'm intruiged into getting to know and analyzing different formats from around the world so I'm naturally curious about your work xD
Please do share more about your experiences in your field of work!! We'd love to hear from you
What tv shows have you worked on?
Just watched S1E1 of the Genius after seeing this video and holy shit there's some Death Note levels of mindgames and deception going on. Love it, thank for recommending it!
Funny that you mentioned Death Note level mind games. I remember that this show was actually criticized for plagiarizing a different manga/live action drama called Liar Game. The production team of The Genius denied it, saying they were just inspired by it and didn't copy any of the actual games. There weren't any lawsuits filed that I know of, but none the less, fans of The Liar Game were not happy with them.
An American version would just lose all that makes this show good. So much of what you mentioned is not common in American reality TV shows
Like how they ruined 'Masked Singer' *sigh*
Yeah thats what I hate about American adaptations is how they have to dumb it all down
@@EM-rm2xh There is german version that made it even worse, don't worry.
korean reality shows are amazing either their so calm and relaxing and personal or so cleverly high intensity its like a high budget scripted us show.
Epic Beats I also love the chemistry the cast members tend to have, my favourite has to be the cast of new journey to the west.
They're great for humanizing the celebrities involved. Unlike here in the US, k-celebs seem much more like regular people, really really talented regular people, but not unapproachable PR-machines.
@@Lilyyyyy20588 but i cant find it in youtube no more? Did the remove it?
also the way the editing in south korea captions the "characters" emotions and thoughts right on screen in all those different fonts! it adds so much character and personality. editors in sk really understand how to make dramatic tension pay off, even when not much is going on. i'm literally going to go binge this show now!!
I totally agree! The captions PDs add to variety shows really take them to a league of their own. It gives so much more context to what you’re seeing on screen and pretty much sets the mood. Sort of like watching it with a friend with commentary, except this friend was actually *there* when they shot the scene and with a simple “당황” or “기쁨” is telling you more about the scene and what the mood was
Korea? Board games? Good story telling? Ominous guy with a bandaged face?
Sign me the hell up.
if u'r new to this show the 3rd and the 4th season are mind blowing
@@viniciuscesar1637 How much episodes each season?
@@Pedro_eqw 12 episodes each season. 13 contestants and each episode one is eliminated.
Don't forget the hot Korean chicks :)
Season2 was super dirty, but I really love it.
"4 seasons was just the right amount"
You could say that about another show
GoT?
@@ronshvartsman7630 Definitely GoT.
@@ronshvartsman7630 you GOT it
The show needed to go on passed season 4 given all it set up. Its just the execution....
i thought this was about supernatural lol
Most of things you pick out as special is kinda common in Korean reality shows, I guess our overall style was something unique . since I always learned about american’s pop cultures with your channel it is nice see our pop culture in another your view. And wow this is awesome.
I became a fan of korean entertainment after watching running man because of how different and entertaining it was. I used to watch wipeout, but i had never come across such a level of storytelling in a TV show. So korean pop culture is definitely something special in contrast to other cultures that most people are exposed to.
The first time I watched a Korean reality show, it was a bit too much. It also didn’t help that Thierry Henry was the reason I watched it and while he was a good sport, I just thought “This shit is so weird.” Two years later, I thought of that show and became a Muhan Dojeon addict. Then I watched The Genius which is easily one of my faves. Might rewatch for the third time.
I've been a fan of the Genius for a while and I figured I would drop a few helpful links in case anyone wants to get into the show.
*Episode Links*
[EDIT: The episodes have been taken off UA-cam. Links can be provided in the Discord server.]
Season 1 Episode 1: ua-cam.com/video/jpwIgWPfNvc/v-deo.html
Season 1 Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL9suu7e7YWZ0rw06g9_cOi_cnzpeXeUCc.html
*Discussion Sites (Spoilers)*
Subreddit: www.reddit.com/r/TheGenius/
Discord server: discord.gg/U37TZNJ
This is a slightly difficult show to get into, but I can promise you that it is worth the watch. If you have any questions, I strongly recommend joining the Discord server and asking some of the staff members there. Enjoy!
John Alwin thanks for the links. Just watches the first episode and it was really interesting. My first SK show at all :D
Namorat bangarang
Oh hey Alwin.
John Alwin just write please can you make attack on titan video on how to tell a story.
I’ve only watched s1 e1 and already this is the most genius reality show ever produced. This is not me making a pun, it is literally genius.
South Korean reality TV show editing is absolutely hilarious and I love it
The Genius is GOLD. No show can beat it yet and I can't recommend it enough. The Great Escape is totally worth watching too. The scale of the escape rooms, and how the writers can at times make certain "escape" intertwined with another "escape" are amazing. Plus the casts personalities will definitely kept you engaged. Anyway the same writer actually also co-wrote a show called "Society Game" too, so the vibe of that show kinda got that Genius-like editing too. The show itself is kinda like the combo of The Genius games (lite ver. ;p) and the old school Survivor that required some real physical stamina and the live-in together part, with some other twist.
For example, instead of how teams were typically divided in Survivor, the team is divided into 2 different "societies" with 2 different rules of living, The Green Team vs The Red Team. And basically the Green Team is a society that practice democracy, where things like choosing the Leader is done by majority voting... While the Red Team is the society that is modeled as a totalitarian/dictatorial, where the current leader can only be overthrown by rebellion (there are some rules of who can start the rebel and how the rebel can be successful)...
And the thing is, you can feel how it's more like a social experiment. Since each team have different rules to follow in their camps, like how they should decide the leaders, etc, you can see the very different vibe and living condition between the 2 teams. One society is living kinda peacefully (but are they, really?), and one is obviously looking pretty tense most of the time-- and the reasons are not just laying on the individual personality, but the society the kind of society they live in. And their different living condition will somehow impact the relationship between members and the games they played differently. Also, instead of just an individual winning solo at the end a la Survivor, it's more of a team plays, where the final actually required 3 people/team that preferably have different strenghts, as their games are typically required the mix of high IQ, stamina and dexterity. So the decision to bring your ally OR the player your team need to the final is pretty much play a big role.
..
That's why I think the show really living to its name - the "Society Game". And I like how, just like The Genius, the narrator will give you "reasons" and some "life lessons" at the end of each episodes where someone got eliminated..
(ps. There are 2 seasons only, and personally, some more proper rule (that you might questioned in S1 "why they didn't do it this way") would probably be in S2.,, So yeah, people who enjoyed both The Genius and Survivor should probably give both seasons a try.)
Finally, *some* recognition for this brilliant show.
I've been obsessed about it enough to write down full recaps for each and every single episode few years back.
I'ts really astonishing how much better the production of this game show compared to every other game show on the planet. Game design is deep, but intentionally rigged with tricks for smart players to abuse. Production design is stylish. Contestants are actually smart. Editing is deliciously deceptive and create fantastic story and character arcs out of unscripted game show.
Where other games are simplistic, The Genius is complex and crafty, where other reality shows are vulgar, The Genius is civilized and well-mannered, where other show show you the worst of people, The Genius shows you the best of them.
You would love the South Korean variety show Crime Scene; the editing and storylines are mind-blowing. South Korean tv shows and variety shows are miles ahead of many western stuff.
Yes we love Crime Scene so much! A fun thing we like to do is try to envision what minor U.S. celebrities would be able to handle something like Crime Scene or The Genius (smart enough to keep up and also embrace the genre).
Isn't Crime Scene made by the same people who did The Genius?
@@oosakasan Society Game as well I believe
Okay I will give it a shot.
Begin of the first episode: okay not bad, cool concept
End of the first episode: okay I am hooked, the editing + the music + the cast really makes just a fun concept an amazing show
I am Korean and I subscribed this channel after finding out that it delivers many useful informations about writing. Now I’m really surprised as I didn’t expect to watch video about Korean TV show in this channel. For those who watched this video, I can guarantee that this show is absolutely amazing and highly recommended. If you guys want to know about more interesting Korean TV shows or movies, let me know. I believe I can recommend you guys some good ones. Thanks:)
Avenir ent Hi! I have watch the genius already a while ago and I absolutely loved it, I’d be super interested in any recommendations you have!
I subscribe to your recommendations! would love to know about more interesting shows
Also interested in any recommendations! (I'm on the 8th episode of the Genius and loving every minute)
I'm also down for recommendations! I currently hold the belief that K-dramas are terrible and would love being proven wrong! :)
@@Danieljosol Signal is an AMAZING k-drama that is truly unlike any other I have ever seen - truly amazing writing and acting imo. The plot is that a serial killer profiler in 2016 finds a radio that allows him to speak to a detective in the past, to whom he relays modern-day info in order to solve murders in the past timeline, and change the present (some of the cases are even based on true cold cases in South Korea, i.e. the Hwaseong murders).The first episode is a little slow, but finish the second episode and let me know what you think!!
Kudos to whoever made the subtitles of the show, that is very kind of him/her, credit where credit is due
This show is very highly regarded, thank you for writing on it.
This show sounds way more Liar game than either of the Liar Game TV adaptations and I must watch all of it immediately.
Why give them flak? Liar Game is amazing!
@Baechu Squad Ah, fair.
It is definitly inspired by Liar game and Kaiji!
right it was inspired by the liar game, but it's one thing to have control over all the scripts, stories, and outcome like a movie, but I think it's brilliant how they can actually make this into a REAL reality show.
The Liar Game drama is similar to a Hollywood movie. It is almost the same direction as Saw series and character. Cube (1997), Clue(1985) in similar background setting.
Reality TV always intrigue me as a unique format for creative non-fiction storytelling. But most of the time, I got turned off by the superficiality within the show. Like, the troublemaking sociopath always won or the characters have their relative "died" irl so they stayed for longer period because audience voted for them, what a cheap manipulative way to incite empathy. So thank you for recommending me a smart show that genuine and refreshing. I'll definitely watch it and learn from it.
You should check out Crime Scene 2, an exceptionally entertaining game show which also features Hong Jinho and other dynamic cast members with some interesting writing/framing.
That's another amazing show I would recommend. Interesting that you recommended Season 2 because I agree that that is the best season. The story telling in that show is superb as well.
I agree that season 2 was when they really hit their stride on all counts!
One of the cast in season 1-2 is a pro Starcraft player who had 2nd place in national competition. He is Hong Jinho and exceptionally smart in building strategy
He's too nice though! And too trusting! People take advantage of that trust which hurts him a lot.
I was really surprised when I discovered his story, being always 2nd in official tournaments, that must've tough
It gets even more interesting in Season 3-4 when one of his main rivals, Boxer, joins the cast...
The biggest surprise was Jang Dong Min. I rooted for that guy like he was my uncle. I honestly liked him as a comedian but was shocked how amazing he played that game. We would wait for subtitles every week and avoid spoilers like crazy, but in the end, I couldn’t because of the rumors that he had been eliminated.
@@rimun5235 dongmin won last 2 season... what do you talking about?
A random youtube recommendation clip of "hong jinho open-pass" game was on my main page. Then i became so curious and addicted and guess what, i manage to find all 4 season and finished it all by myself. I just want to give my highest respect for lord
Bumdidlyumptious for kindly subbing all episode. Thank u so much.
Ah the legendary moment that skyrocketed jinho's popularity
Legendary kong-pen pass :) it's been 6 years and people still emotional about that
I never thought I would see this show and that subber acknowledged ever. This is like the weirdest crossover ever. I love the formats of Korean variety shows.
People that do well on tv are really well known in South Korea. Kim Gura is infamous for his blunt remarks for example.
i still can't believe that this show was unbelievably underrated outside of south korea. like none of people i know in real life actually watched the show till i recommended it to them (which delighted them because most of them ended up liking it). i hope they will make more seasons of it. it was the most, if not one of the best television shows ever.
who are those crazy people you recommended the show to that didnt liked it?
probably not your friends anymore!
Korean Movies are also really good. train to Busan, I saw the devil...and much more
Korean cinema is amazing and they are ahead of the west with making movies
My all time favorite movie is Korean, though it's not one of the usual ones mentioned.
I saw Train to Busan and I kinda thought it had the exact same structure as a western zombie blockbuster in the mid 2010's. I was pretty bored throughout
Parasite is jaw dropping
The Wailing and Burning are also really awesome recent ones
I started watching the genius purely because one my favorite kpop idol (sunggyu) is a part of one of the season, but this show is just TOO good I stay until the last season
you guys are missing out seriously!
Someone shared with me this video because I told them my love for the new Netflix Show Devil's Plan. Which is to be the sequel of this show. I would love to see a follow up with that show in mind. I now look forward to watching all the seasons of The Genius.
This video changed my life by introducing The Genius to me. I haven't had such a thought-provoking feast on entertainment in a long time, the Genius gives you so much room to play the game yourself and try to think through it along with the cast.
Holy crap I didnt think I would ever see a video analyzing The Genius. It is genuinely the best show that i have seen and second and third best are probably Society Game and Escape Room and also Crime Scene is also up there. Except for Crime Scene, Society Game and Escape Room and the Genius are all produced by the same guy. All unscripted, and exhilarating. Thanks for this video and I subscribed to your channel because of this video!!! You should also check out Crime Scene and Society Game!!
Society game is insane. it's not as quick to hook you as the Genius, but I still remember the russian-korean player running below a scorching summer sun for an hour and a half.
The PD behind The Genius just made another show called Devil’s Plan! It’s out on Netflix and it’s letting me relive all the fun moments from The Genius. Though, it does have a different editing style I still like it a lot!
Crime scene is also a really good Korean show, plus hong jinho is also in it ^^
wehoe crime scene is sooooo good
Kong Kin Ho lmao
finally a youtube video about The Genius!
and you even mention the beauty of the soundtrack
all i want to say is, you all should watch this show!
my favorite moment is the infamous s1 e7 twist and almost all s3 & all s4
Proof that editing is another form of writing, just using visuals instead of actual words.
I learned a lot from your channel and I'm glad you picked this show from the ocean of Korean variety shows. This is one of my favorites and thank you for analysing it, now I can understand better how variety show editing works.
And now that you mentioned it I realized, that Korean tv does this all the time. Focusing on human stories, especially focusing on group dynamics and it's immense fun to watch.
Also the familiar soundtracks help to convey the emotion or story of the moment it's used for, helping the viewers digest the story. This storytelling tool is used by many Korean shows and I'm glad you mentioned it because the importance and power of soundtrack is often overlooked when talking about audio-visual media.
huge fan of all the seasons and its so nice to see someone bring awareness of this show to more people! all seasons are great, but especially 3&4 are my favorites. i've probably rewatched the entire show 5-6 times. It's really endless fun.
Yes! More people should know about The Genius! So glad you covered this, people should check out the series. All 4 seasons are legitimately great.
TheRealJims I can’t find English subs for any episodes past season 1. Any idea where I can find the rest of the seasons?
@@jenniferhashemian4366 This tweet will have all that you seek, happy watching (although mega.nz does have its download limit so you'll unfortunately either have to pay some cash or take breaks) twitter.com/Bumdidlyump/status/1072370230247256066 !
Because of this video, I've watched all seasons of The Genius and became completely addicted! Love it so much!
Where did you watch it? The first episodes are blocked on youtube.
Shows like The Genius, Running Man, and Busted! really show off how creative SK is when it comes to variety/reality shows. The way producers set up story lines and games so that the cast can play through and manipulate it to any outcome is just so much fun. It shows off the talents of both the cast and the creators at the same time.
This is my favorite reality show EVER - absolutely phenomenal - all 4 seasons lead up to a fitting grand finale at the end.
Thank you for making this video! It is a bit hard to explain, but this show has a great emotional resonance with me.
It makes me incredibly happy to see that there are still English speaking fans of The Genius discussing the show in 2019.
Omg never have I expected to see Genius in here HAHAH
Thanks for covering one of my favourite TV shows of all time! I'm glad more non-Korean viewers are getting the chance to know about it. Would also recommend Crime Scene if you haven't had the chance to do so yet, which by the way also features Hong Jinho who appears in The Genius as well.
Hi I found this show from this video being randomly recommended to me like last year and I have to say thank you so so much it's literally my favourite show ever now.
omg the youtube video i’ve been making in my head for the last 6 months actually exists
Literally same
This is the best show i’ve ever seen i swear .. it’s amazing
OMG! I`ve been saying that Korean reality shows are the best, and the reason why is totally the editing
And the cast-crew dynamic. Nowhere else do you see cameramen involved in scheming or blamed for failures, writers called out for being fanboys/fangirls of the guests, PDs directly commenting on events, or, and this warms my heart every time, cast sharing food with the crew.
This has been by far my favorite reality tv show I ever watched. So glad you brought it up. Time to go on another binge!!!
BUSTED! on Netflix is pretty similar, and more of a recent release! It has more of a scripted plot to it, but every puzzle and challenge the contestants go through is unscripted, and they get no help from the producers (even if they beg for it).
It’s HILARIOUS and super intriguing, and they’re releasing Season 2 very soon!! With most of the original cast returning!
I'm glad you mentioned this one! An easy way to introduce newcomers with the format, extensive in-jokes, and challenges they have to work for
I don't know If there is a subtitle for it but "Crime scene" was also a very popular reality TV show in korea and It's really good. It has 4 seoson. You should definitely check it out! There is a crime story for every episode and people act the character from the story. So one knows only about the characters story of themselves and act it. There is literally a crime scene where they can figure out who the killer is and they collect evidence to figure out what happened and who the killer is!
mono the guy who subtitled “the genius” also subtitled “crime scene” for the first 2 seasons and weren’t there are only 3 seasons of crime scene?
Hyper Sinker yes 3 seasons i got confused! glad to hear that there's a subtitle for this show
Never heard of this show before but now my brother and I are addicted all thanks to your video, so I came back here to thank you!
Another cool thing for people who are interested, is that these contestants are not just ordinary people. they're celebrities from many different sectors: you have newscasters, tv hosts, k-pop idols, professional billards and poker players, a top ranked college student, and even a pro-gamer (starcraft). you get a really interesting look as to how each contestant has their own way of approaching games and also a interesting social hierarchy based on their seniority in their field, for example, Kim Gura has been a tv host for a long time and is much more confident around these contestants.
there's some insane plot twists in the show as well as really ingenious ways of "circumventing" the rules. the genius is seriously one of the best shows i've seen made with a reality tv show basis. the last season is a battle of the top contestants from the last few seasons so it's important to watch it last. the variety of games is really interesting, and rely on many types of skills: memory, math, logic, and even "social engineering" where you have to persuade someone to protect you over someone else.
There is this one korean reality tv show called "Law of the Jungle" or something like that. Wich sounds like that shit where celebritys have to eat kangaroo parts and its all just drama (I think its called 'survivor' in america?) but it is actually a pretty good survival show. Like they aren't in super dangerous situations (because its actually real celebritys and not just people that won a casting show once) but they have to hunt for their own food, make their own fire and shelters from rain. I just watched a few episodes but I really enjoyed it.
Sounds like the British show "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!"
Thank you for this. I am glad that there are others like me who are obsessed with Korean Reality TV or Variety Shows. They are on another level, and they skillfully blend the reality and fiction, where you even question the things you see.
I'm glad that in the time since this video was made there have been numerous more survival game shows made. Having watched The Genius back in the day (and make no mistake, it is still the best show in the genre), I'm happy to see Time Hotel, Bloody Game S1 and S2 follow in its footsteps with twists of their own. And now the genre has reached the wider masses with The Devil's Plan on Netflix. I hope this genre stays strong!
I have never even imagined you would talk about Genius. My favorite show! This show must be really peculiar and largely unknown to American audience. Man, you do watch a lot of stuffs. Thanks for the video!
I Recommend you to watch two other show that also have a similiar concept. It's called "The Great Escape" and " Girl High School Mystery Club".
So in simple, both of this show is a role play reality detective show where 1 group got into some role play story but they completely clueless about the story the got in. After that they need to solve and follow to finish and winning the challenge.
I recommend it because the editing and also it's always have a new story but in different style. So i'm many people did not feel bore watching it.
This is enlightening. So it's not that reality TV is crap. We're just crap at making it.
This sounds like it's well worth checking out. I think the fact that it's in Korean is also a plus. Then I don't have to listen to the contestants "Um", "Uh", and "Like" their way through every conversation.
Thank you so much for introducing me to the Genius. It is a real masterpiece and I'm so glad I stumbled upon your video and was introduced to this great show. I'm forever grateful to you
Great video essay! But you forgot to mention the band who responsible for those hype-enticing openings: Idiotape!
Ok so i'm a 24 year old white dude from Arizona, back in 2013 i was just casually scrolling through channels when i came across TVN playing an episode of The Genius, "Korean game shows?" I was weirded out at first because it was so vastly different from other reality t.v. shows out there and i never knew much about Korean culture back then and i was so mesmerized by how complex, exciting and fun everything was. Now i am a big fan of this show (i listen to The Genius Know It All's Podcast with Rob Cesternino so check that out after watching The Genius) and Korean Variety shows in general (sorry, i don't listen to K Pop) Running Man, 2 Days 1 Night, NJTTW, Youn's Kitchen (pretty much everything that Na PD makes) and i became a big fan of it all due to this show and i can't thank you so much for making this video so when people get recommended by these types of videos and click on it, maybe they'll get the same experience i have right now. Thank you : )
I started with Running Man in 2011 or so and I know exactly how you feel. Korean tv shows are the best shit ever.
Have you seen Baek Jong Won's Alley Restaurant yet? It's currently at episode 76 on SBS, really good stuff. It's like a much better version of Gordon Ramsey's shows were a famous korean chef visits multiple (often problematic) restaurants in an alley that's not doing well in order to help them fix their problems and revive the area. I'm not interested in food shows at all but my brother forced to me watch it and it's since been my favorite (currently airing) show.
@@Alex-go6le Baek Jong-won is probably the most iconic South Korean chef, he's been in a lot of shows i've seen. He was recently on Kang's Kitchen too so i'll probably check it out later : )
"Crime Scene" on JTBC is another SK variety show that I highly recommend. It's basically the game "Clue" in variety show form. Each season has a celebrity cast that has to act out their appointed roles while we (the audience) and the cast have to figure out who did the crime. It's super fun, not only because of the plot twists (thanks to editing) but how it incorporates humor throughout the episodes. Instead of using drama as their winning formula in variety shows (as American reality shows do), Korea uses humor instead - and it works well for them. Honestly I prefer their style more.
And they were so good at acting in character while still solving the mystery/obscuring their potentially perfect crime
Crime Scene is a similar show in the aspect of using intelligence in order to win the day and win the grand prize. What's different about crime scene is that it's 6 celebrities stepping in roles of real crimes and only the criminal knows the real culprit. So rather then competing among each other its 5 v 1 where no one knows the true culprit until the very end.
Your video got me to binge-watch The Genius in two headache-inducing days. And now I NEED MY SEASON 2 FIX!
I've never seen someone on UA-cam talk about this show before! I've only seen season 1 but I loved it. So clever!
I recommend Season 3. S1 and S3 are the best seasons for me, both showcases the game play. S2 feels a little too dumbed down imo.
ever since i've found korean variety shows, i never watched american variety shows anymore. i've always wondered why i just couldn't get into american tv shows like i used to, then i saw this video and you explained everything i love about korean variety shows so clearly, and you even gave me a new one to watch. thanks man!
There's a Japanese Manga/TV Drama called "Liar Game" that's basically the scripted version of this show and also great.
I was thinking just that! It is so similar to Liar Game
I actually know both, but I think Kaiji came before liar game, and I remember reading an older manga that's in a similar vein but was short and not that well known. Still, I think The Genius is different enough from the liar game though it's been years since I read the manga.
Yeah, the Liar Game!!!! With that little girl from Pacific Rim
But it's just a drama though.
The mangaka has another series about baseball (yes baseball) that is also full of intricate and fascinating mind games. It's called One Outs. I personally found it to be even more amazing than Liar Game.
I've been obsessed with korean tv shows for like 8 years now. People keep talking about k-pop or k-drama, but even more so it were korean variety shows that made me fall in love with Korea and its culture.
Edit: Also, thank you for giving bumdidlyumptious the praise he deserves. We (fans of the show) treated him as a god, but for good reasons: He was able to provide us with english subtitles of the highest quality within a week of the episode's release. I think the average might've even been 2-3 days, not sure.
KOREAN TV SHOWS ARE GREAT
literally never stopped recommending them to my cousin but he's always like
nah i don't want to watch your k-pop shows they are boring
BUT EDITING AND THE PLOT AND HUMOR ARE REALLY NICE
i recently (like yesterday lmao) started learning korean just to stop waiting for subs lol
ahhh i love korean variety shows so much and this video really does a great job at explaining why. I feel like busted on netflix is within the same genre and does a lot of the same things that this show does really well, but is made for a broader audience, so if you wanna get into this type of tv i feel like busted is a good place to start!
The show is absolutely amazing, I extremely recommend it, even if you never watched korean tv shows before (like me). Just watch the first episode it's completely worth it.
Everything it's very detailed: the games, visual effects, sound effects, bgm, camera shots, editing.
Also the producer has other shows: Society Game and Crime scene that have the same essence that are pretty interesting too
The producer/writers of The Genius also has a recent show called Great Escape (대탈출), which just concluded its 2nd season, also on tvN network. It’s less brain-wrenching and more story-driven than TG.
he mentions it in the video
H I know, I didn’t get to that point when making this comment
is that the zombie one? i think i like the genius' tone better. cant imagine how they can make the overplayed zombie quarantine trope not boring after one ep haha
Have you ever seen the Dutch show Wie is de Mol? (Who is the Mole)
I'm not aware of any versions of it outside the Netherlands, but it's similar to Genius in that it's a reality game show, but it's a very psychological game and you really get to know the 'characters' (people) in it. I can especially recommend earlier seasons of the show when the contestants were 'common folk'. They have since switched to 'celebrity' contestants and it's way less fun because they're all too used to being on camera and the viewer is too used to what they're normally like on camera. Plus, the celebrities aren't invested in the game in the same way that the 'normal people' are, since the prize money is relatively less impressive to them.
I don't know if there are English subtitled versions out there, but from what I understand from your review of Genius, fans of that show will also enjoy 'Who is the Mole'!
I’m from the U.S. We had the show here (it was just called “The Mole”), but it’s been off the air for about a decade. I loved it! Anderson Cooper was the first host, and in my opinion his seasons were the best ones.
I always have a hard time highlighting and explaining why I love Korean variety shows so much. While not all variety shows are like The Genuis, the editing styles and how they draw in a viewer is very similar and so i think 'll just send this link to them if they ask again lol
tbh it's so fun watching korean game/variety/ect shows bc in a lot of shows it almost feels like then editors themselves are characters along with the cast. although s korean shows love pop culture references which gets a little confusing if you arent familiar
like using the soundtrack from a popular soap opera or randomly playing kpop sonngs as a joke
Thanks for making this. It's rare to find someone who's reviewed The Genius and I really enjoyed watching this! The Genius is an absolutely epic show and worth all the attention.
I just saw the 1st episode. And hell of a ride! That twist. That planned betrayal fking hell that was very entertaining. Thanks man.
God Jeong-PD. Honestly an absolute legend. I love The Genius so much, such clean and clever editing! A kickass soundtrack (don't forget that they use the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack too!), a cast that's smart and entertaining!! Boardgames!!! What did we do to deserve The Genius, and Bumdi wh generously subbed all 4 seasons.
Would love to see your take on The Great Escape, too! Another great show by the same creator, but for different reasons!
This almost reminds me of Kaiji. I wasn't expecting to start watching a Korean game show when I woke up this morning, but I guess that's what I'm gonna be doing for the foreseeable future.
The first game is straight from kaiji !
Literally love bumdidlylycious or whatever for subbing this show! They single handedly gave birth to the whole international fan base of this show. This show, along with the Great Escape and another show also produced by this PD is literally why I love tvN shows! If you’re a fan keep your eyes peeled because you may soon see a UK version (I hear it’s in the works) 😄😄
Too bad they’re gone now amd the links are gone too, so sad!
@@kagetsu13there's a subber team inspired by godbumdi called baechu squads, they have great subs for great brain survival shows and they also have all seasons of the genius. Recently i watched bloody game s2 because of hong jinho, and it's sooo good. It also has a great duo, i feel like watching another vers of jang dongmin and oh hyunmin duo.
K, this looks promising. Going to watch a few episodes of this. Be right back.
See it?
@@brianbrush5107 yee
@@VictorBalaguera how was it?
I’ll answer for him. Amazing.
It was!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE GENIUS it is by far one of, if not my favourite, Korean reality TV shows of all time. My top two favourite episodes are Episode 2 of The Genius Season 3: Black Garnet aka the Jury Game, as well as Episode 6 of The Genius season 4: Grand Finale aka the Garnet Thief. The twists in both episodes really amazed me and that's what I love about The Genius.
bruh i've watched so much sk tv, but i've never heard of "the genius". it sounds just like my cup of tea tho :) (also, my kpop ass noticed that some of the cast are idols heheheh so that's an incentive too)
This adds to my confusion with SK tv show like Running Man etc. Their guests are big-name K-Pop stars or SK actors/actresses and I don’t know who they are! They tell all sorts of inside jokes that one would only get if one knows the history of that singer/actor/entertainer. So, they’ll say something generally innocuous, I’ll understand basically what is said (I speak Korean), and everyone will laugh and some kind of laugh emoji thing pops up, but I’m sitting here thinking, “That was very funny at all. Why’d everyone laugh?” Well, sometimes I’ll get a chance to talk it over with a Korean or someone who knows who that guest is. They’ll explain that because of something in that person’s history that comment was funny. But, most of the time I’ll just be lost, despite knowing most of what is said.
@@sronicker most of the cast are generally not really famous in entertainment, but famous in their own field. but as mentioned, some of the inside jokes are explained (thankfully) by Bumdi in his subs
sunggyu was another level on the genius. started off weak, but turns out it was all a show. subsequent idols have failed to reach his standard, and even non-idols have tried to imitate his gameplay on subsequent seasons. i love the genius and sunggyu so much oh man
@JustWrite if you liked The Genius then you'll love Crime Scene another Korean TV reality game show it's literally Cluedo but with a full set as props. 1 player is the detective with the rest of the players as suspects however one of the suspects is the murderer. Goal is basically to find out who did it by going through the set for clues.
Heads up for Crime Scene, the OG of any crime based Korean tv show!!! My favorite variety show ever!!!
OMG never expected to see the genius here!! So good! Jang Dongmin is the one to watch
Jang is such a king. His teamwork with that young guy (sorry forgot his name) was also just brilliant.
I LOVE KOREAN VARIETY SHOWS AND I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ONE. thanks for the rec, thanks for the vid, thank you.
I'm a French guy living in Seoul and I would never have imagined discovering a Korean TV show on this channel ! I think asian TV shows often find some original ways to manipulate TV show codes. I recommend Terrace House, that's also really interesting how they use this format
This video was awesome. Genius was definitely one of the must UNDERRATED kshows of all time
Like seriously korean tv editors should give a world tour of masterclasses. They are brilliant
I love the Genius so much! So happy it's being covered! The Genius is well worth watching; the puzzles, the social dynamics and the way the story of the show is told is so unlike anything in western television right now!
I haven't even watched the episode yet, I'm just so excited that someone's talking about this show! For anyone who's reading this that hasn't seen the show, please do yourself a favour and watch the first 3 episodes of the first season. If you're not absolutely hooked by then, then the show is not for you, but if you're anything like me, you will be all in from that point onwards.
When you compare this to the Netherlands version, you can really tell the difference
You might want to watch Running Man earlier episodes, like ep 20-200. It's just gold. They made creative missions out of the most simple thing. And the members had their own character.
And they interacted a lot with the general public in their filming locations, even involving them in small ways from time to time. There was an even an episode written by a fan.
I followed both super impressed and excited to see you talk about Genius
Thanks for this. I had never heard of this show, and I'm loving it now.
I'm fascinated by the dynamic in which, in a game with individual scoring, individual winners and losers of each round, and the certainty that only one player will make it to the end, the first season players are nonetheless forming strong and loyal "teams". I think the producers would have to include team dynamics in the rules to make that happen in the US.
Every time Ocean’s 11 music played, I just smiled from ear to ear. Such an underrated soundtrack.
I just wanted to come back to this vid to thank you for introducing me to this amazing show and the huge fun world of Korean Reality TV. I genuinely believe this UA-cam Vid has changed my life and inspired so many ideas. Keep doing great work Just Write
There's many other shows which are actually great! Crime Scene for one is one of my favourites, where a crime scene is set up each episode, and the cast of the show are given a character which they must act as and try to figure out which one of them is the murderer by investigating the crime scene!
Ahhh you don't even know how happy I am that one of my favourite youtubers is talking about one of my favourite shows!!
If you really liked The genius and The great escape try out The society game. It is by the same PD and it's really interesting as well. But of course, nothing beats The genius Imo 🙌👌