My notes.
1. Inwoo tries to sleep before 1 am. He’s going to sleep later than that while taping 2D1N.
He has insomnia but on his day taping 2D1N, he conked out because of fatigue.
He always carries a small crossbody bag on him. Why is that?
2. According to Dindin, the taping is over when “we all say ‘good job’ and get into our own cars. That’s when it’s over.” He means that there’s still time for the situation to change since they’re at the beck and call of the Director. Taping ends when they’re safely in their car.
Note: in the second half of the show, Dindin was called out for being quiet by Seyoon.
Seyoon: Dindin, say something. I thought you didn’t come today.
Remember what I told you about Seyoon calling out cast members if they’re quiet during taping? He did this to Kim Seonho, too.
3. Also like Pavlov’s dogs, they’re conditioned to crave ramyeon only if they’re taping 2D1N.
SeYoon: Do you know what’s fascinating? The moment you get in your car, you don’t want ramyeon.
JongMin: That’s right.
Dindin: It’s really strange.
JongMin: And if you eat ramyeon because you craved it?
JongMin and Dindin: (in unison) It doesn’t taste the same.
JongMin: It’s weird.
Seyoon: It’s odd.
4. Ravi thinks the production people are scary.
a. Dindin said that he respected the guy who put the cameras in the tunnel. (Because even in a tight space, he did his job well.) Ravi answered back that the guy was really scary.
b. On their next meeting, Dindin was commenting about the ridiculous things they did for their Winter Training.
Dindin: Who would run while carrying a tent? Seriously. That was insane.
Ravi: But you know what’s even scarier? It’ll look beautiful when it airs.
Lol. Ravi knows the power of the camera to manipulate our perception of reality.
5. Dindin is stepping up as the “hyung” of the Young Boys (YB) team. I think he likes the idea of being the oldest for a change since he’s the youngest in his family.
a. He entered the cave by himself and ordered Ravi to stay out because he’d bring out their things for them. The Producer/Director (PD) commented that “This short leader is doing all the heavy lifting.”
b. He’s proud of his Din-Ra-In Line.
I think there’s a wordplay here. “Din” is from his name. “Ra” is from Ravi’s name, and “In” is from Inwoo’s name. However, Ra + In = 라인 and it can sound line “Line” so this DinRaIn sounds like “Dindin’s Line.” Now, when a person says that he’s in Person A’s line, he’s declaring that he’s a follower of that person. To be in Person A’s line is acknowledging that Person A is one’s leader or benefactor.
That’s why Ravi was fussing about being a member of Dindin’s Line.
Dindin: Team YB got a new nickname….It’s Team Din Ra In. It’s Dindin, Ravi and Inwoo. It’s Din Line.
Ravi: No. No. It’s not Din Line. We decided to go with Woo-Ra-Din.
Dindin: No. No.
By jumbling up the syllables, the last two syllables don’t sound like “Line” anymore. But Dindin insisted on the team’s name being DinRaIn (or Din-Line)
Ravi: No. It’s Woo-Ra-Din.
Dindin: (pleading) Let’s go with Din Line for just this week.
Ravi: I told you that it was until last week.
Dindin: Can we go with it until lunch?
Seyoon: I like Woo-Ra-Din.
Dindin: Let’s do it until lunch. If it’s okay, let’s keep the name.
Ravi: Ah! We’ll see how well you do until lunch.
Dindin: (accepting) Okay. It’s Din Line until lunch.
Ravi: But if you’re not good enough, it’ll be Woo Ra Cheol.
Dindin’s real name is Lim Cheol. Lol.
That’s why I laughed when even the Director didn’t want to call it Din Line.
Director: Everyone. Team JungJongYoon-ssi and Woo-Ra—
Dindin: It’s DinLine!
Everyone: (lauging) She was going to say, “Woo Ra Din”!
Dindin: (barking like a chihuahua) It’s Din Line. DinLine! Everyone is watching. It’s Din Line!
Director: (starts over again) Okayyy. So Team JungJongYoon-ssi and Woo—Ra— No…
Everybody: (laughing)
Jongmin: (talking to Dindin) You have to go with Woo Ra Din.
Seyoon: (talking to the PD) Apologize to him.
Ravi: He’s sulking.
Dindin: (meekly) It’s okay, Bang Sil Yi PD. You’re Bang Sil Yi. It happens.
I know the PD and Dindin are NOT dating. But the way Dindin conceded defeat sounded very much like a whipped man that even the writer burst out laughing.
Dindin and the PD interact well together.
Meanwhile, Jongmin said their team’s name will be “Jung Jong Yoon-ssi” team.
Jung: after JungHoon
Jong: after JongMin
Yoon: after SeYoon
-ssi: this is a honorific suffix “sshi” or “ssi”
But Ravi thought JungMin was calling his group the “C” Team.
Ravi: Then is there a Jung Jong Yoon B Team? A Team?
I’m happy with the subbing at Viki for this show. But sometimes, the nuance is lost to non-Korean speakers like us.
6. Good editing by the PD and good storytelling by the show’s writer.
When the Old Boys were left by the YB to carry their tent on their own, the PD played up their disappointment to make the YB’s return a little bit more heart-warming.
The PD highlighted their low spirits in the commentary, “The training takes a toll on them more emotionally than physically. They push away their disappointment and walk for a while.”
In the background, the violin played a sad tune.
Soon after, the team YB returned to aid them. Happy music came on. The PD showed a flashback of the Team YB’s plan to hurry to their destination so they could return to them.
Dindin: Come to think of it, we have to come back to help them.
Ravi: If we want to help them, we have to finish our march first and help them out then.
Thus, the two teams shared the load as they crossed the river.
The PD’s commentary had this feel-good lesson to impart: “Thanks to their heartwarming support for each other, they will remember this day for a very long time. The teamwork of the wilderness warriors.”
Perhaps I’ve missed this sort of summary of the events in the previous seasons of 2D1N. Or perhaps it wasn’t so explicitly done. But in this very instance, I can see the hand of the scriptwriter curating the content of the show to deliver the message.
Along with the director, the writer selects the odd conversation, the facial expressions, and the group dynamics to show in the episode. By zooming in on these details and excluding other elements, they manage the flow of the episode and create a narrative.
This is why, to me, variety shows are simultaneously scripted and unscripted. On one hand, the screenwriter and PD have a general plan for the episode, i.e., the schedule of the activities, the sequence of games, the objective of the missions, and so on. They follow a script.
But on the other hand, it’s up to the cast members/actors to enliven these activities, games and missions. Their reactions have to go off-script to make the show entertaining. When they do unpredictable things, like Inwoo did in this Winter Training, it adds the “variety” to the name of the show.
I think there’s a balancing act required here. While it’s good that the members are teaching Inwoo the ways of their program, it’s more interesting when he blunders through the show.
Take for example, when the director said that they accomplished their mission within the appointed time, he questioned the director.
Inwoo: Wow. You didn’t manipulate our record to make this mission look more dramatic, right?
I believe the writer laughed.
Dindin told him, “Do you think they would do that after spending a day here?”
Dindin was correct. If the PD was that kind to shave off a few seconds from the 20 minutes maximum time, then she would have been kind to them, too, last night when they had to sleep in the underground cave.
However, I’m glad that Inwoo said his thought out loud because I too was wondering about the same thing. Did the PD fix this or not? His honest question kept it real.
7. Reaction of Jungyoon and the older guys to their newest member
JungHoon: He came out from a cartoon. He’s so cute. He’s a new character from a cartoon.
The herbal medicine scene was funny, too. Inwoo gave Ravi and Dindin a small bottle of herbal medicine. Dindin immediately joked that JungHoon liked that kind of stuff.
But he didn’t have enough for them all so he gave the Old Boys red ginseng. He handed the packets to Seyoon.
Note, THIS is all unscripted.
Seyoon and JongMin started bickering because Seyoon decided to keep all three packets to himself.
Jongmin: Give me one. Why did you take all three? Gosh. You’re ridiculous.
Seyoon: Why would I give it to you? He gave it to me.
Jongmin: He gave you three, so it’s one for each.
Seyoon: They’re all mine.
JongHoon: My goodness!
Seyoon: (in a kiddie voice) Can’t the youngest eat them all? Do you really have to eat it and live long?
Jongmin: Give me one!
Since this joke had no punchline, their petty squabble could have been edited. Frankly, I find Seyoon’s jokes corny most of the time. He’s supposed to be the comedian, but he isn’t witty nor funny like Kim Junho. But what saved this segment from being cut was Inwoo’s follow-up. He offered to give JungHoon a bottle of herbal medicine, too. Remember? Dindin had said that JungHoon liked herbal medicine. I’m guessing that Inwoo was giving his share to his hyung.
Inwoo: But…but…
Seyoon: Yes?
Inwoo: I want to give this to you, JungHoon hyung
JungHoon: What’s that?
Inwoo: It’s herbal medicine.
JungHoon: (laughingly) No. You can have it.
Dindin: (glancing up from eating his food) Jung Hoon is rich.
This part was definitely not scripted. Dindin just tossed out that comment and Inwoo ran with it.
JungHoon: It’s okay.
Inwoo: (suddenly stopping) Then, JungHoon hyung…
JungHoon: (wondering what Inwoo was going to say next)
Inwoo: Please buy me some.
JungHoon didn’t see that coming. Jongmin was laughing, too; he addressed the PD and writer.
Jongmin: Gosh. He changes right away. He’s amazing. A new character is here. He’s so different from us.
SeYoon: I can’t wait to see the three of you work together.
JungHoon: I guess this is the beginning of a new drama. The small, the crazy, and the weird. I think the new Team YB will be so funny.
I agree. It’ll be funny now that Kim Seonho has been replaced by someone who isn’t protective of his pretty-boy image.
Jongmin: I haven’t had this much expectation about 2 Days and 1 Night before.
Considering that Jongmin is the 15-year veteran of the show, this is high praise indeed.
Thank you for these observations, @packmule3. I completely missed the bit about the Din Din line. Yes, Ravi is astute about how the show will look for the viewers. I suspect that In Woo is fairly good at that as well with his experience as an actor. Despite that, In Woo strikes me as someone who has book smarts, but isn’t instantly smart about more practical matters.
I admired how Din Din took charge over the clearing of his team’s campsite. Former Boy Scout? I guess he was in the military most recently – that would explain it. I can’t remember when Ravi is due to join up. I think I will miss his personality here.
If In Woo carries a small bag with him always, maybe it’s some sort of medicine for emergency use; an epi-pen or something? I don’t want to speculate but I wonder if we will find out. Other sharp eyes will notice it, too.
The ramyeon scene was funny. I’ve eaten all sorts of strange things when camping because food simply tastes better around a campfire.
In Woo asking if Jung Hoon would buy traditional medicine also reminded me that the Maknae can ask older members to buy things for them.
Thanks for the weecap @packmule3. And thanks also for filling us in on the roles everyone plays. I didn’t know SeYoon was the comedian. Now that I know, you’re right in that he’s not as spontaneous and witty as JunHo. I think JunHo is quick and cunning as well which really adds punch to his quips. And the S3 crew really love their food. You can really feel it when they miss out on meals? For some reason, I don’t feel it as much with this crowd yet. Or are they always so cool about it? I remember S3 members who win always ham it up and make it worse for those missing out. 😂. I think that’s what makes it fun. I need more time to warm up to this mob. InWoo is interesting in a good natured way (as expected). Not sure why he carries a crossbody bag. Maybe it is as @Fern says and he has an allergy. My daughter used to have to carry her Epipen everywhere with her because of her allergy.
Yes, Fern. Same here. I thought the crossbody bag had an emergency kit like an epi-pen or insulin. You know who else carried a crossbody bag? Song Joongki (Vincenzo) when he was in the variety show Running Man.
I don’t know if Inwoo is book smart. We shall see when he and Jongmin have their battle of the brains. That should be a riot. I hope the game creators will come up with fun questions. But Inwoo is learning to game the system. I thought it was funny he volunteered to name five plants, but the game was all about SKETCHING the plants. 😂😂
Yes. I’ll miss Ravi. This happened to Jongmin, too. In Season 1, he left for two years for his military service.
Dindin looked like a beaver when he brought their sleeping bags up from the cave.
Nrllee,
Season 3 had a great set-up. Cha TaeHyun was the emcee and Junho was a consummate comedian. Junho didn’t mind his sly and trashy persona on the show (like the farting jokes 😑). He and JongMin tagged-team on the slapstick.
Seyoon can’t replace Junho’s madcaps. The baby talk for example fell flat. But if Junho had done the same thing, I would have laughed my head off. Sigh. Can you imagine if Junho and Inwoo were on together in 2D1N?
The weird thing is Junho wasn’t at all that funny when he guested on Running Man last year. He didn’t have a buddy like JongMin to bounce off his jokes or tricks.
Or a mole. Clearing out the tunnel/cave🤔😄.
I thought of the book learning because he thought he was clever in the pre-season interviews and how he knew enough about conductivity to understand why the narrow bit of the gum wrapper was important. He might historically be better at exams than at practicals, I was trying to say.
But it one was hired for such a show, wouldn’t you study up on previous episodes to see how things were done, or is that just me projecting my imagined obsessive behaviour?
@packmule3 S3 crew felt like family. I knew all their quirks and they knew each other so well. JunHo would also turn up in ridiculous outfits which just added to the fun. They were just totally comfortable with each other. I guess I just need to wait for IW to find his place here with the S4 crew. Currently none of the games really hit home for me. With COVID spiking in South Korea now it may have affected how and where they can film.
Inwoo probably studied the previous episodes after he was accepted for the job. He would want to hit the ground running.
I also know that he was a viewer of 2D1N. In one interview, he was asked a hypothetical question if he’d like to join a variety show, and he answered 2D1N. He said the guys seemed to have fun together.
You’re right! A mole! 🤦♀️ Why did I think of a Beaver?? 😂😂 Maybe because of the beaver’s buck teeth? Dindin has this habit of sticking of his upper teeth when he laughs. I noticed Inwoo occasionally does the same thing, too.
🙂 This was a magazine interview, not a YouTube video.
@packmule3, I’m surprised that In Woo didn’t pick up more on the survival skills. If he watched 2d1n consistently, he would have seen the battery trick and would have known to break branches by stepping on them. –Unless he thought he had to follow the rules as they presented themselves at the current time.
I think it will turn out well once he settles in. The others said he brought something new and I think that they are correct. He seems almost too kind to survive – he will have to toughen up a bit.
@nrllee,
I think the games have become progressively kinder with each change of Program Director (PD).
Start with the first PD for Season 3.
PD Yoo, or Crayfish PD. He was the one who made the guys travel in that blue flatbed truck in the dead of winter. Jongmin (or was it Defcon?) had to be given sugar pills because he didn’t eat all day. He made “canari” (or fish sauce) and wasabi staples of the game. That’s why they “revolted.” 😂 Personally, I think he’s the best one. He has unique perspectives and themes for the show.
The show was educational and entertaining. He made the team go to the Demarcation Zone, to Harbin in China (this won an award), to the top universities in Seoul. He had a “non-possession” trip to teach members how they clung to non-essentials. For me, he had a keen mind. He’s well-read, he likes history, and his productions show his well-grounded worldview.
But —
his games were tough.
I think he was there only for Donggu’s first couple of episodes, but I can’t be sure now.
The next PD, also named PD Yoo, was much kinder. He was less strict about meals. And the guys could argue with him and make him give in to their demands.
The 3rd PD was the handsome guy. He was only in it for a couple of trips because the controversy happened. I don’t think this PD would have handled it well anyway because he was rather green.
Then, now it’s PD Bang. She’s not an intellectual like PD Yoo Hyojin. She lacks depth.
But her games are kinder. She makes sure the cast members don’t starve.
I agree about Crayfish PD. I really liked his shows. It’s always well thought out. And I love that I usually learn something after watching. It’s not just pure entertainment. He has a knack of capturing the human element which sometimes leaves me in tears.
The other PDs weren’t too bad because I was already attached to the team so I just kept watching just for the entertainment value. I also liked that they highlighted a lot of South Korea and I felt like an armchair traveler. One thing I did notice with S3 was the team would turn up in various outfits they thought would fit the “theme”? And that was always good for laughs because everyone interpreted the themes differently? I haven’t seen this in these few eps. I guess when Ravi leaves for the military, they will have to invite guests. It will be interesting to see how everyone reacts to these additions.