WatchNow: Barefoot Friends

Annyeong..

I’m sorry for not updating for several days. I promised myself to update everyday since I’m holidaying right now, but then I broke my own promise *hides inside blanket*.

So, first thing I want to review is the cause (?) of my disappearance. I told you guys that I am really into Korean variety shows, right? Actually the only variety show that I do watch and follow right now is Running Man, and while searching for the latest episodes of Running Man, I stumbled upon the latest variety show of Kang Hodong, Barefoot Friends.




Kang Hodong is dubbed as one of Korean’s National MC (the other one is Yoo Jaesuk of Running Man) and he left the entertainment industry after a certain case (Google it if you’re interested). Now, he came back to the industry, ready to rock the entertainment industry once more. In my opinion, I prefer Yoo Jaesuk’s style compared to Kang Hodong, since Kang Hodong tends to be so loud and he prefers body gags more than funny jokes. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean that Kang Hodong is worse and that Yoo Jaesuk is more superior to him. I’m just saying that I prefer Yoo Jaesuk’s style compared to Kang Hodong’s.

Barefoot Friends is a new variety show of SBS, and the comeback variety show of Kang Hodong to the entertainment industry. The main casts of Barefoot Friends are Kang Hodong, Yoon Jongshin, Kim Bumsoo, Yoo Seyun, Kim Hyunjoong, Yoon Siyoon, Eunhyuk and Uee. From these casts, Kim Bumsoo, Kim Hyunjoong, Yoon Siyoon and Uee are variety newbies (means that they never been a permanent guests in a variety shows). The first few episodes show the casts in foreign countries (Vietnam and Indonesia) where they have to work among the locals for food and accommodation. Starting from episode 6, they changed the format to overcome fear among the members and the first topic chosen is diving (to overcome fear of water and fear of height).

Barefoot Friends members: (from upper left) Yoon Jongshin, Yoon Siyoon, Kang Hodong. Kim Bumsoo, Yoo Seyun, Uee, Eunhyuk, Kim Hyunjoong


!!! FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS IS THE OPINION OF MINE. YOU MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH MY OPINION, BUT KEEP IT CIVIL.. IT MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS AND SEVERAL BAD REMARKS.. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

First of all, I read a lot of comments saying that this show is boring, lacking its own colors as well as points, weak casts etc etc.. I hate judging shows without actually watching it, so I did watch this show from the first episode until now (the current latest episode is 15).
I think lacking own colors and points is actually a really harsh word to describe Barefoot Friends. My opinion is they are still searching for the right theme for the show. I remembered Running Man’s first episode is to search for several codes in order to escape the locked shopping mall. After several episodes, they changed it to several competitions to collect Running Balls and using lottery machines to pick the losers (to suffer dire consequences such as riding a subway without shower after the whole filming all night). I think Running Man changed about 10 different formats before coming to the current style. My point is, just give this show some time. (I remembered Yoo Jaesuk said that Running Man suffers a lot during the first year and they finally received a lot of love starting around Episode 50).

I don’t find any flaws regarding the casts. I’m really glad that this show at least combined entertainers from comedians, idols, and actors. It creates a balance team of face and entertaining. The only thing I dislike (hate is a overly strong word) is I guess the production team is trying to create a love line between Uee and Kim Hyunjoong, and since they both are variety newbies, they don’t really know how to react to it. In 7 out of 10 bus rides, Uee will be sitting next to Hyunjoong. She will be also stand beside Hyunjoong in the opening.





It feels like the production team is FORCING a love line since most variety shows will receive attention after a love line created (Monday Couple in Running Man, Jongkook and Eunhye in X-Man, Fighting Couple in Family Outing etc etc). For some reason, I remembered Yoona and Taecyeon in Family Outing 2, since they are like, forced to do the love line.

I am a bit sad watching Kang Hodong in Barefoot Friends. My first variety show with him is Star King. In Star King, although that he was overly loud (he tends to raise his voice to emphasis something), I can feel his passion, his confidence in his MC skills. I feel the same when he was in 2 Days 1 Night. His booming voice when screaming the shows name can make you feel that this is a great show. However, I guess he lost his confidence after his hiatus. He is still loud, but whenever someone teased him about his case (or his hiatus), he fell silent and making a hurt face. I really hope that he regain his confidence back and making a real comeback. Kang Hodong oppa, FIGHTING!!

Although I really like the diving episode, I hope that the next episode will be on other topics. I think that 5 episodes (from Ep.10 to Ep.15) are far too long for one sole topic. People will get bored from it (except for me, since I like documentaries. I can watch Discovery Channel for all day long).


My conclusion, this could be a great show. I hate people comparing Barefoot Friends with Running Man, 2 Days 1 Night, Laws of the Jungle, Dad Where You’re Going etc etc.. For me, as long as the show title is not blablabla season 2, you can’t really compare them. Every show is different. Instead of judging the show by reading other people comments, why not watch the show by yourself? Who knows you might like it, despite the bad comments. Just give them some time and love and this show will get better and better (I keep my fingers crossed).

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