Run Jin – Squid Jin Game 1 review: Jin of BTS takes on Squid Game, and chaos wins

Disclaimer: If you’re here expecting a serious, analytical, and objective take on Run Jin—first of all, why? Second of all, have you met Jin of BTS? Objectivity left the chat the moment he turned a smartwatch ad into a stand-up routine.

This review is purely fueled by chaos, admiration, and the undeniable fact that Squid Jin Game 1 is comedy gold. Proceed with the expectation that we will be screaming about Jin’s antics, and you will leave convinced that this episode is a must-watch.

In media res. You know what that means. No slow build-up, no easing into the action—we’re already in the middle of the madness. Squid Game? But make it Jin of BTS. And not just any side of Jin—Run Jin Jin. The kind of Jin who turns Tug of War into a strategic disaster, makes a Samsung smartwatch ad look like an Oscar-worthy comedy skit, and somehow transforms Squid Game into the most unhinged thing you’ll see this year.

This is Run Jin episode 24, aka Squid Jin Game part 1, and it’s pure, unfiltered chaos. Let’s dive in.

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Product placement, but make it Jin of BTS

Every episode of Run Jin has a sponsor, and this time, it’s a Samsung smartwatch. Now, normally, product placements in variety shows are a smooth, rehearsed affair—seamlessly woven into the content like they belong there. But when does Jin of BTS do product placement? It’s an event. It’s the kind of thing that could be studied in marketing classes under “What Not To Do, But Also—It Works.”

Imagine a baby giraffe trying to sell you the latest smartwatch. He’s holding it up on his wrist, he’s trying to look serious, but it’s Jin, so you know it’s going to be unintentionally hilarious. It’s forced, it’s over-the-top, and it’s so awkward that it loops back around to being iconic. If Samsung had any doubts about choosing Run Jin for a sponsorship, those doubts were crushed under the sheer comedic brilliance of watching Jin fumble his way through an ad read.

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The Tug of War Catastrophe (RIP Son Dong-pyo)

If you know Jin of BTS, you know he’s competitive. If you really know Jin, you know he’s also absolutely, undeniably terrible at any game that involves physical strength. The man’s got long limbs and zero strategy (and he's recently come from the military, why, Jin, why so bad at tug of war?), and yet, somehow, he believes in himself like an anime protagonist about to unlock his ultimate power.

Spoiler: he did not unlock anything but falls, fails—and laughs.

This Tug of War was already a setup for failure. Jin’s team? A mismatched group of chaos agents. The opposing team? Actual athletes. Like weightlifters. People are built for this. And then, there was Son Dong-pyo.

Poor, innocent, 53kg-Son Dong-pyo. The lightest one there. The easiest to sacrifice. And Jin? Oh, Jin of BTS made full use of that fact. Instead of actually pulling with effort, Jin used Son Dong-pyo as a human buffer, essentially feeding the poor boy to the other team like a sacrificial lamb. It was every man for himself, except for Dong-pyo, who was just trying to survive.

The result? Absolute carnage. Screaming. Laughter. A moment so legendary that it deserves to be played on a loop in Run Jin’s highlight reel forever.

Musical chairs, but make it illegal

Musical chairs is a game of quick reflexes, awareness, and just a little bit of luck. But when you put Jin of BTS in the mix, it becomes something else.

Why? Because while normal people look for a chair to sit on, Jin steals one. That’s right—while everyone else was scrambling to find a free seat, Jin was busy yanking chairs out before people could get to them. A true mastermind. A menace to society. The world’s most shameless (and worldwide handsome) chair thief.

It was so blatant, so ridiculously Jin, that no one even knew how to react. Was it cheating? Absolutely. Did it work? Unfortunately, yes. Did we love every second of it? Without a doubt.

Squid Game, but make it completely unhinged

And then, there was the Squid Game round. Now, in theory, this was supposed to be a dramatic, high-stakes moment. A recreation of one of the most intense games from the actual Squid Game show. But this is Run Jin.

This means, instead of tension, we got pure nonsense.

Rules? Who needs them? Strategy? Please. Jin’s idea of a plan was vibes only. The game quickly devolved into chaos—people running in circles, Jin somehow both leading and ruining his team, and zero logic anywhere in sight. It was less of a strategic battle and more of an extended comedy special.

And the highlight? The moment when our beloved Son Dong-pyo—who had already suffered enough—was given a squid mask. That’s right. After surviving Tug of War, after enduring Jin’s antics, after making it through the madness… the boy had to wear a full-on squid mask.

The best part, though? He looked adorable. The tiniest, cutest little squid you’ve ever seen. Justice for Dong-pyo, honestly.

A cliffhanger? Of course.

With six games in total, there was no way Jin of BTS was going to let us off the hook easily. Right when things were reaching peak ridiculousness, he pulled the ultimate move:

“To be continued.”

And the preview? It’s giving Squid Game fever dream. Next week, we’re getting Red Light, Green Light, and probably Djakki (a doll? A demon? An entity from another realm? Who knows! Jin, naturally, will find a way to make it even more absurd.

And let’s not forget: Jin’s Netflix debut is coming. If the world doesn’t already understand why ARMY adores him beyond the music, this episode is a perfect introduction.

Final verdict: Chaos, perfection, 5 out of 5 stars

If you’re looking for something to watch, whether you love variety shows (Korean) or not, this is it. A Squid Game parody led by Jin of BTS? Comedy gold. This episode is a masterpiece of ridiculousness, a must-watch, and absolute proof that Run Jin is the gift that keeps on giving.

My final rating with a touch of flair: This is actually an A+ with 5 flying kisses from —the World Wide Handsome— himself.

5 out of 5 Jin's (in)famous flying kisses from Jin, right to your soul—and one oh-so-cute baby squid.