MBC variety show 'Manito Club' filled viewers with laughter and dopamine from its first broadcast with the slapstick Undercover gift operation, capturing audiences' hearts. As the full-fledged gift relay began, a second chase between Jini and Dex, reminiscent of a spy thriller, was teased, raising curiosity. Also, the Manito Club members' first meeting was arranged for the next broadcast, increasing anticipation.
On the first episode of MBC's 'Manito Club' (directed by Kim Tae-ho) aired on the 1st, the arrival of new Manito Club members Jini, Dex, Choo Sung Hoon, Ro Hong-chul and Lee Suji set the stage for five Undercover members to deliver gifts to their manitos while hiding their identities.
According to ratings firm Nielsen Korea, the peak minute of the day was the tense chase between Jini and manito Dex, and the moment Dex rang the bell and fled after attempting to deliver a gift to Choo Sung Hoon. That scene proved viewers' immersion, peaking at 2.8% per minute. (Nielsen Korea, metropolitan area)
The world of 'Manito Club' opened with intrigue from the start. Under the concept of a group of people who know how to turn one into two, a setting was revealed that Manito Club members such as Santa, Jini and Ureonggaksi are active around the world. Among them, new members invited to the Korea branch, Jini, Dex, Choo Sung Hoon, Ro Hong-chul and Lee Suji, held their first meeting via video chat, increasing immersion. The five members who logged in in animal modes such as panda, ox, rabbit, fox and raccoon briefly probed each other's identities, but a huge accident occurred when Choo Sung Hoon's voice was exposed to everyone, creating tension.
The live draw to determine manito partners was also riveting. Using a random gacha system, the animal assigned to each participant's next number would become their manito partner. Watching this, Jini cheered, "Dopamine is crazy," and with somewhat sloppy(?) proceedings from the start, PD Kim Tae-ho revealed himself as a headquarters agent, producing laughter. The numbers were assigned in the order raccoon (Lee Suji), panda (Jini), ox (Dex), rabbit (Choo Sung Hoon) and fox (Ro Hong-chul), thereby outlining the five manito relationships.
Although manitos were decided, uncovering their identities was not easy. With hints provided in order—photos of body parts, best comments and puzzles—Lee Suji caught Jini's identity from a single eyebrow mole, drawing attention. Jini was briefly confused by the best comment calling her "a fairy-faced person with a woodcutter's body," but she identified manito Dex through the puzzle. Dex and Ro Hong-chul also realized during the puzzle stage that Choo Sung Hoon and Lee Suji were their manito partners, respectively. Meanwhile, Choo Sung Hoon, who struggled from the start of deduction, recognized Ro Hong-chul's identity after an astonishing 2 hours and 23 minutes. Notably, even after completing the puzzle last, he provoked laughter by asking, "Who is it?"
As manito activities began in earnest, members busied themselves, showing sincerity in preparing gifts. Jini, who usually generously gives gifts to those around her, demonstrated a planning-oriented J side and promised a bombardment of gifts. She bought vitamins and the MZ generation hot item 'name-finding snacks' to prepare a surprise gift to find Dex's real name 'Jinyoung'. Considering Choo Sung Hoon's lifestyle as a former fighter, Dex chose a protein drink, and Lee Suji, expressing her ardent fandom toward Jini, selected a beloved Rudolph doll as a gift. Ro Hong-chul, who understands Lee Suji's sensitive nature through her various personas, added a knitted item bought during travel and a handwritten letter along with a picture book to show sincerity.
Strategies for delivering gifts varied widely. When news spread that the member who delivered the first gift would receive a benefit, a sudden chase began, stimulating everyone's dopamine. Jini spotted Dex, who was dining nearby, and moved quickly, but it was not easy. In a hair-raising moment when she almost ran into Dex, Jini raised tension by delivering vitamins to the gym Dex attends. Dex, showing the action of a UDT alumnus, employed the so-called 'bell ring and run' strategy. He placed a protein drink in front of the hotel room where Choo Sung Hoon was staying and quickly left. Dex also nearly ran into Choo Sung Hoon, creating a suspenseful scene that increased immersion.
Lee Suji used her specialty in disguise to deliver gifts. Disguised as Santa, she boldly went to Jini's agency to deliver the Rudolph doll and met Jini, who cheerfully said, "I received that gift," while wondering about Santa's identity. Meanwhile, Ro Hong-chul showed a meticulous strategy, traveling long distances to learn the manito's favorite coffee preferences from Lee Suji's acquaintances. Choo Sung Hoon, who mistook Ro Hong-chul for a professional travel YouTuber, asked GwakTube for help but gained little and decided to move to his regular bike shop.
The first member to deliver the first gift was Dex. Dex, who succeeded in delivering the gift just 2 minutes before Lee Suji, couldn't hide his happy smile as he watched the real-time reaction video of manito Choo Sung Hoon receiving the gift. By contrast, Ro Hong-chul and Choo Sung Hoon were unable to deliver gifts. In particular, Choo Sung Hoon, having failed to consider the rule of not revealing his identity, added to the laughter by planning a bike ride with his manito. As questions arose about whether the members' manito gifts would be successfully completed, at the end of the broadcast an emergency headquarters call for Manito Club and the members' first meeting were announced, further raising expectations.
Hearty praise from viewers has poured in since the first broadcast. Viewers responded that the warm feeling conveyed while considering the manito's preferences, combined with the chase, provided gripping fun. From gift-bombing queen Jini full of romance, to Dex armed with competitive spirit and sweetness at full gauge, the eccentric straight-shooting male Choo Sung Hoon, Ro Hong-chul who was active everywhere for his manito, and Lee Suji, an Undercover talent who showed an overwhelming presence, the five members' twist moments also captivated viewers and drew praise.
[Photo] broadcast capture
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