The legendary escape variety show ‘Escape: The Story’ has returned after four years. With changes in the director and some members, the first episode left both praise and disappointment.
In the first and second episodes titled ‘Excavation’, released on the 23rd via TVING, the ‘escapers’ Kang Ho-dong, Kim Dong-hyun, Yoo Byung-jae, Go Kyung-pyo, Baekhyun, and Yeo Jin-goo are depicted traveling back to the 1900s Joseon via a time machine to excavate the tomb of King Hyo-su of Silla to save humanity.
New Member Joining is a Passing Grade… Brainy Baekhyun and Entertaining Go Kyung-pyo
‘Escape: The Story’ has revamped its lineup by introducing Go Kyung-pyo, Baekhyun, and Yeo Jin-goo, excluding Kim Jong-min, Shin Dong, and P.O from the previous four seasons.
Among the new members, Baekhyun stood out with his remarkable performance. He quickly recognized the answer to the first mission, ‘Overlapping Invitations’, found the button leading to the tomb, and suggested a solution to open the door by matching the skeleton's body parts, showcasing his potential as a brainy member.
In particular, Baekhyun displayed sharp instincts by predicting that the empty spaces in the ‘Footprint Puzzle’ should be filled with human footprints and suggested that they should go in ‘reverse’ order.
Go Kyung-pyo heightened the entertainment factor with his intense immersion in the missions. His engaging comments, such as “You shouldn’t make eye contact with the shaman when it’s good,” and his constant interjections added to the fun.
Yeo Jin-goo also contributed to the escape with his quiet strength and quick actions after a ‘storm of bulk-up’. He showcased his sense as the youngest member by sitting on the throne, saying, “I’ve played the king role a lot.”
Although the chemistry among the members did not stand out in the first episode, compared to the controversies surrounding the new members' joining, the audience's response was close to a passing grade. Above all, the new members received high marks for not hesitating and stepping forward.
As more episodes are added, the chemistry is expected to deepen.
Why the Time Machine Again… Storytelling Leaves Room for Improvement
‘Escape: The Story’ has emphasized storytelling with the subtitle ‘The Story’ attached to the existing program.
However, there were disappointing reviews regarding the reappearance of the time machine and Dr. Kim Tae-im in the storyline, which had already been featured in previous seasons.
The core story of the ‘Excavation’ episode, set in the Silla era, did not create a strong sense of immersion.
Additionally, there were opinions that the difficulty of the escape problems was low compared to the large sets and devices, and that the editing and subtitles did not enhance the tension or entertainment value but rather hindered it.
However, since finding the ‘Golden Scepter’ is the overarching story for this season, curiosity about the remaining episodes still exists.
Still Grateful for the Return of ‘Escape’
Since its first season in 2018, ‘Escape’ has consistently cultivated a dedicated fan base with its overwhelming scale of sets and immersive storytelling, which was unprecedented in existing variety shows.
‘Escape: The Story’, released about four years after the last season ‘Escape 4’, has undergone significant changes with a new production team and some members, and is now available on OTT platforms.
The first episode left both praise and disappointment, but for fans of suspense adventure variety shows, it is undoubtedly a welcome return that provides both ‘sight’ and ‘talking points’.
With the show ranking first in ‘real-time popular searches’ on TVING upon release, there is keen interest in whether the remaining episodes can erase the disappointments and garner more praise.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
