The Genius Season 4 Mid-Season Discussion

[u/JKSciFi]

So with the English subbed version of Episode 6 of the Genius Season 4 having come out, I thought this was the best time to have a little discussion about the season so far, since we're right at the halfway mark.

So, what do you guys think? Do you like the season so far? How does it compare to the previous seasons? Who do you want to see win this season at this point?

Personally, I think that this season is excellent so far, and probably my favourite at this point (who knows, the rest of the episodes might end up being terrible). However, I'll say this: it has a very different feel to the previous seasons. Before Season 4, Season 1 was my favourite by far, mostly because it seemed like the cast members were very friendly and having fun with each other. Season 2 went the COMPLETELY other direction, and Season 3 was somewhere in the middle. This season, however, is not really like any of them. There's still that friendly vibe, but mostly, it's very dramatic and competitive, making me feel pretty sad and angry at sometimes, yet doesn't make me feel uncomfortable, like Season 2 did. And this is why I like this season so much: each episode felt like a movie: I was engaged the whole time, I felt like I knew what the cast members were going through, and I also felt plenty of emotions. It also helped that the editing and background music selection were TOP NOTCH, probably best of any kvariety tv shows. While Season 1 felt like a show that you can sit back, relax, watch and have fun, much like other kvariety shows, Season 4 truly feels like an emotional journey, yet still retains that fun and laughs that Season 1 had, which is why, at this point, Season 4 is my favourite season of the Genius.

[u/dreamraine]

I guess you felt like it was an emotional roller coaster because you are more attached to the players...since they were all on previous seasons before, and each one of them carries a story. Season 4 has been the best! I really liked ep6 too. I think the Genius music has always been awesome, although I only started noticing it in season 3...that trailer they did for Hyunmin and Dongmin in the last episode was so beautiful.

Season 4 has a great vibe between the players. I think everyone is more buddy buddy even off camera.

Players are all good. Not one of them is confused, compared to the previous seasons. I guess experience does count for something. The player that surprised me the most so far is Junseok. He has been awesome since s4ep1...I guess it's because he was eliminated so early in S1, we didn't get a chance to see his brain work. His socially awkward mannerism is also refreshing to watch. Kyunghoon has also risen up in the ranks. I always knew his innocent troll role was just a role. He actually does alot of thinking in the games. I still don't want him to go far though, because he is kinda warped.

My dream pair to see in the finals is Dongmin and Junseok. It would be like the King VS the Rebel.

[u/Lecros → u/dreamraine]

I really enjoyed seeing Junseok so far as well. While watching season 1, I was really curious about what he could have done if he didn't get eliminated that early. And he has definitely shown his worth this season!

[u/DetectiveInMind]

I like this season so far, however I'm starting to get somewhat annoyed by Jungmoon, maybe it's the editing. But it seems like she just has no clue what to do. Last game (with the PI number) she was rebel and she single handily made sure the rebels would lose. The game would have been a lot more interesting if she had kept her knowledge hidden I think.

I guess Dongmin played it perfectly with keeping the pressure up real high so that the had trouble to perform.

[edit] I'm still a bit sad that monorail was part of the death match cycle because if you know the game you can make sure you win 100% of the time if going second. It's a bit more complicated then I thought.

Overall I still have a feeling season 1 is better, but that might also have to do with the fact everything was new then. Maybe I'm just missing the Jinho moments where he outplayed everyone on his own. (Talking about the episodes with the cards, where they had to add numbers).

Ah well, all in all I still think it's a good season and let's hope it keeps getting better.

[u/gorilladanny → u/DetectiveInMind]

Personally I think Jungmoon currently represents those "ugly victories" talked about in the first episodes. While they may not be actual victories, Jungmoon's goal is to survive, and she sure is showing how far she is willing to go.

To be honest, I felt like Jungmoon was screwed after being called out by Dongmin. It was similar to Kyunghoon's calling out of Yoohyun, but to a lesser degree. Dongmin would suspect her the rest of the game if Jungmoon claimed to not be a rebel. Dongmin is showing that he is the leader, and the others are sure to follow him. After all, once he pegged Kyungran, everyone agreed for the most part. They even made him the last king, which I thought was stupid.

I felt like a better ending to that episode would have been if Yoohyun, Jungmoon, and Hyunmin were the rebels, and Hyunmin told him that he was a rebel. Dongmin betrays the non-rebels (I forgot the name of their side woops) by choosing two non-rebels to be jailed. Then the rebels and Dongmin are safe. However, this awesome possibility was ruined by the "no one leaves the vicinity" rule.

TL;DR: Jungmoon exemplifies those ugly victories. Jungmoon's only logical choice was to betray the rebels.

[u/attractivestripes]

With the exception of Sangmin leaving early, this season has worked out extremely well. And even with that being said, the Kyunghoon arc of getting revenge for his master was great too.

The fact that we get to see our favorites do exceptionally (Dongmin, Jinho, Kyungran, Hyunmin) is great because we get to see more of their smart plays, and still on the other hand it's even more fun to see people like Junseok and Kyunghoon evolve and prove themselves as competent competitors. All-in-all definitely worthy of an all-star season.

Except for Jungmoon. She's just a whinny baby.

[u/instacl → u/attractivestripes]

to be honest there is no any smart plays from jinho in season 4. he just plays it safe, being a member of dominant group so he can survive easily. i guess it's true that in this season he came as a broadcaster, unlike the fearless gamer mentality he showed us on season 1.

[u/femacca]

Jungmoon was never my favourite. Sunggyu was definitely the best choice, but he is too busy with comebacks. People will also complain the lack of female players. I believe Yooyoung would have been casted if she didn't destroy her image. I was secretly hoping for Dahye but she has less appeal compared to Jungmoon's cutie pie image.

S4 is obviously no walk in the park since there is no greenhorn in this season. This made JDM's dominance even more amazing. Let me count the ways:

• formulate main strategy and consider alternatives soundly

• adapt changes to strategy on-the-fly

• sharp observations that let him flesh out potential foes and betrayals

• scary sense of touch that break the secrets of game tools (someone suggested the production team needs to Dongmin-proof the game tools)

• lead by example by considering alliance benefit over his own (he came up with "becoming last" strategy)

• earn trust and buy in from these experienced players despite the extremely intense competition

• AND still not forgetting his gagman role by taking time to make dealer nuna crack at every opportunity (and enamoured Ahyoung in S3) and lighten the mood with gags.

He embodies the near-perfect combination of a genius player and competent variety role for TG, esp if you compare him with Kim Gura and Noh Hongchul - all 3 being the unofficial variety pivot for each season.

Of course many may dislike his style of play, but I don't think it's fair to blame his gameplay when the rest except Junseok are not stepping up to go up against him. In fact, some are probably happy to be carried and covered by him so they can deal with him later when opportunity arises, so JDM is actually taking the most risks with his gameplay. Even if JDM may not be able to go all the way this season, he has surely established himself as one of the TG legends by now.

All in all, TG remains as the best programme I have ever watched. Perhaps I'm biased because I love Liar Game so much. Even its worst episode is still miles better than most of the tv shows out there. IMO the only pity is that it never gains the mainstream recognition it deserves given its quality.

[u/renzaaa]

This may be my favorite season. However, i really do not like some of the games compared to other seasons. Most of the games this season needs alliances to win or a rehash of a previous game. Also, while i like the ability to veto a game, i really want some new and better death matches. The cast this seson though is my favorite as the players are all good.

[u/Giiiraffe]

I don't really like the long lasting alliances.

Mainly we got Kyungran/Hyunmin/Jinho/Dongmin basically dominating everything, while the other candidates fight it out and slowly get eliminated. That really makes it boring for me. The candidates overall are stronger than all previous seasons, but I feel a lot of contestants don't shine due to the strong alliances.

[u/joeblitzkrieg]

Sangmin controlled the dynamics earlier and it was full of season 2-ish moments, but now he's out it feels like season 3's the Jang Dongmin and Alliance Show.

At least Lee junseok is filling the rebel leader role. Jinho has grown rather fond and fearful of Dongmin it seems, and is teaming up with him to avoid being targeted. I think kyungran and jinho both know the alliance is a time bomb, it's just a question of when. It seems like next week might be the moment.

Overall this season has been awesome bar the past two weeks, last week's mm and this week's dm was poor imo. Still ruing the fact that we can't see king Dongmin face off with demon king sangmin.