Hyunmin's Recap
Genius Coverage Master List
Showing posts sorted by date for query the genius 4. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query the genius 4. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Saturday, September 12, 2020
The Genius 4: Five-Year Anniversary Rewatch
Hyunmin's Recap
Genius Coverage Master List
Friday, February 17, 2017
'The Genius' Coverage Master List
WHERE TO WATCH
WHY TO WATCH
THE GENIUS 1: RULES OF THE GAME
THE GENIUS 2: RULE BREAKER
THE GENIUS 3: BLACK GARNET
THE GENIUS 4: GRAND FINAL
Auction Draft with Kos
(ID Exchange: Two Year Anniversary with Mike Bloom)
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Minus Auction II with Lauren Las
Cooperative Holdem with Ian Terry
Finals + Season in Review with Kos
OTHER
Society, Games, and Society Game with Myles Nye
Digging Deep Into Survivor (and The Genius) with Josh Wigler
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
The Genius: Season Three in Review (Part 4)
After (gradually) working our way from Fruit Stand through Chain Auction here, here, and here, we're back to close the book for good on our seasonal Genius coverage as we break down the final two rounds of Genius 3 and offer parting thoughts on the cast and season as a whole. Listen to our our takes and doubt them aggressively on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.
(music: Zomboy)
Sunday, October 18, 2015
The Genius 4: Finale + Season Review with Kos
It's time to say goodbye to the greatest show in the genre, and it's hard to do it justice. We (mainly Colin) are indebted to Kos who always would chip in with hot takes and who joins us once again to settle some scores. How do the winner and the season stack up in the all-time RTV pantheon? Should we hope for the show to be revived, and would we even want that? And why is the Bangor public works department facing (wholly undeserved) criticism? All this and more on our final The Genius podcast, available below, here, or on iTunes here.
(music: John Hiatt)
DOWNLOAD
Finale + Season Review
How Much
Cooperative Holdem with Ian Terry
Horror Race II
Minus Auction II with Lauren Las
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Finale + Season Review
How Much
Cooperative Holdem with Ian Terry
Horror Race II
Minus Auction II with Lauren Las
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Friday, September 11, 2015
The Genius 4: How Much Recap/Analysis
With only days to go until the conclusion of The Genius: Grand Final, we return to break down the penultimate episode and look ahead at next week's epic finale. How does this week's elimination impact the debate about the greatest players of all time, and how might things change based on next week's results? Who's got the edge in snowglobe accumulation? And is there any way this won't go down as the greatest season in the history of reality TV? Find out on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.
DOWNLOAD
How Much
Cooperative Holdem with Ian Terry
Horror Race II
Minus Auction II with Lauren Las
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
The Genius 4: Cooperative Holdem Recap/Analysis with Ian Terry
Bumdi may have upstaged us by dropping the new episode a day early, but there's still time to overanalyze this show in minute detail and fellow Genius otaku Ian Terry stands in for Colin this week to do just that. As always, you can listen below or on iTunes here.
DOWNLOAD
Cooperative Holdem with Ian Terry
Horror Race II
Minus Auction II with Lauren Las
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Monday, August 31, 2015
The Genius 4: Horror Race II Recap/Analysis
Since last week's podcast we've kept you in our hearts and today we're back to continue our Genius: Grand Final coverage as we break down Horror Race II. With goodwill from former players carrying the day yet again, is a revenge match within the spirit of the game? After making his mark early in his career as a team leader, is being #2 the best thing that Jinho could have asked for? And despite spending the entire season as one of the front runners, is Hyunmin suddenly in the worst spot to win? All that and more on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.
DOWNLOAD
Horror Race II
Minus Auction II with Lauren Las
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Monday, August 24, 2015
The Genius 4: Minus Auction II Recap/Analysis with Lauren Las
As symbol of justice Kim Kyungran exits stage left, Kyungfan sunbae Lauren Las fills in for Colin to deliver a eulogy. Was she really The Genius' greatest female player, and what does that say about the show? As Dongmin somehow gets off scot-free for another week, is he amazing, aggravating, or both? And with the endgame in sight and a star-studded Final 5, could K-hound really be on course to win the game (if he survives the wrath of Ahyoung)? All this and more on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.
DOWNLOAD
Minus Auction II with Lauren Las
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Saturday, August 15, 2015
The Genius 4: Seed Poker Recap/Analysis with AJ Mass
With Dom out scavenging England for Dealer Nuna's feelings, ESPN's AJ Mass sits in to break down the latest episode of The Genius. How was this week's main match remotely comparable to any known form of poker? What caused the rift between Dongmin and Friends, and how friendly might they be next week? Plus, how likely is a season three finals rematch, and who has the upper hand if that comes to pass? All that and more when you listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.
DOWNLOAD
Seed Poker with AJ Mass
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
The Genius 4: Garnet Thief Recap/Analysis
Order has been restored as we're back this week to break down yet another incredible, betrayal-laden episode of The Genius. K-Hound has certainly made his presence felt this season, but is he actually becoming a good player? Might Jinho's Crime Scene experience be making him worse at the games? And now that Dongmin Incorporated appears to have righted the ship (or have they?), where do the outsiders go from here? All that and more on this week's episode available below, here, or on iTunes here.
DOWNLOAD
Garnet Thief
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
The Genius 4: Loyalists and Rebels Recap/Analysis
Today we're back yet again to wax entitled about the latest episode of The Genius that failed to live up to the historic bar they've set for themselves but would be a top 5% reality episode in America. In today's show we wonder what's worse: drawing a Rebel or the new DailyMotion player? Is this the first time that knowing a hundred digits of pi has organically come in handy for any person in the history of time, and just how handy was it? Plus, which former finalists have the best chance of making it to the end again, and who's best poised to stop them? All that and more when you listen below, here, or at your leisure when you download the mp3 directly.
DOWNLOAD
Loyalists and Rebels
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Sunday, July 26, 2015
The Genius 4: Fish Shop Recap/Analysis with Mike Bloom
Today we're back with Survivor Historian slash RHAP staple Mike Bloom at the fish shop to break down who's popping tags, who's stunting, and who got the come-up of a lifetime. In a week where so many solved the Main Match, was the game flaaaawed? Who's in the best spot now to end up on top in a world that suddenly seems so upside down? What might an American version of The Genius look like? And honestly, how is this show not scripted? All that and more when listen here or download this week's episode on Google Drive because our regular server is apparently about as useful as a one-dollar squid.
DOWNLOAD
Fish Shop with Mike Bloom
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
The Genius 4: Today's Menu Recap/Analysis
Image via @Lcubed413
Today's menu is pain and devastation as we break down Episode 3 of The Genius: Grand Final. What are the larger ramifications of this week's shocking result, and just how shocking was it? How thoroughly destructive can K-Hound be in a world where no one will talk to him? And with the sudden change in landscape, how likely are we to see S3 redux and who might take the lead in preventing it? All that and more on this week's show, which you can listen to here or download directly via Google Drive below along with all of our other S4 podcasts since our normal hosting site is totally Kyunghoon-ing us right now.
DOWNLOAD
Horror Race with Jay Fischer
Auction Draft with Kos
Saturday, July 11, 2015
The Genius 4: Horror Race Recap/Analysis with Jay Fischer
In this week's episode, reality podcasting sunbae and confirmed #Kyungfan Jay Fischer has some juice with us as we break down the Horror Race. Why did Team Jinho enjoy the best outcome despite losing the game? How did the GOAT Starcraft player get outmanoeuvred by the joke of the cast? And should Yeonseung have seen this coming? All this and more on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
The Genius 4: ID Exchange Recap/Analysis
The wait is over and the instant classic season premiere of The Genius: Grand Final is in the books. Today we're back to give our takes on ID Exchange, break down what kind of a start each of the players got off to, examine the merits of the bold moves of the week, and project what the bigger picture ramifications of those moves may be (if any, because usually there are absolutely none for him. It's honestly ridiculous). As always you can listen on the player below, find the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here.
Watch Gura, Jinho, Doohee, and Sangmin on that other show here.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Why everyone should watch The Genius
In a massive stroke of good fortune earlier this year I stumbled across The Genius, which for my money is the best reality competition show on the air. It demands a lot from its viewers, especially those lacking knowledge of Korean language and culture, but it's uniquely stimulating and entertaining.
The cast features 13 players deemed to have an exceptional skill or talent - entertainers, musicians, politicians, lawyers, gamers, and students at Korea's top universities. Each week they compete in games designed to test their intelligence, social awareness, and adaptability. The loser of the week's main match chooses an opponent for an elimination match and the two square off to see who comes back next week. Negotiations are enabled by 'garnets', which act as an in-game currency and often change hands very quickly as players scramble to buy safety or loyalty.
Despite the lack of some types of diversity the cast features an interesting mix of personalities, jazzed up by familiar faces from the music, TV, and film industries. The reliance on celebrities may raise eyebrows for Western reality fans, but it works well here. None of them are so closely tied that the game could damage professional or personal bonds, but there's enough familiarity to create a jovial atmosphere and their castmates don't place them on a pedestal. With experience on similar shows, the celebrities are in their element and can play and perform to a higher standard while retaining a sense of perspective about the game. They are also successful enough that the show's relatively small prize pot - winner takes all, usually $60-80,000 - doesn't make them risk-averse during the games.
The regular contestants also conduct themselves well. Even those who are clearly heavily invested in winning don't unload their frustrations onto others. You never see the post-game recriminations we all recognize from exit interviews, or the personal attacks that are all too common in reality competition shows; it often feels like they are there to make friends. Despite this, there's no shortage of drama or suspense; and because of this, it's easier to fully enjoy it without feeling uncomfortable. The Genius demands very little from its players: you don't need to leave your job, family, and friends for months to live with strangers in unusual conditions, you just have to show up for filming once a week. Other shows create drama by depriving people of everyday comforts and throwing them in high-pressure situations; The Genius has faith that good casting and game selection in a welcoming environment is a recipe for great TV. Where other shows bring out the worst in people, The Genius brings out the best.
The games test a wide range of skills, from the political - an early episode hosts an election, with all the trickery you would expect - to the practical - a seemingly straightforward game might have a secret 'hack' that forces players to channel their inner magician. Most games hit the sweet spot of being conceptually simple but complex enough to merit detailed analysis. The show breaks down the rules and the players' strategies while giving you credit to figure things out yourself and omitting enough to keep you guessing. A large part of the fun is playing along at home, working through all the angles and predicting what twist might come next. Many matches are adaptations of common board games or party games, and others would be easy to recreate with friends (or more formally, as fellow Genius podcaster Scott Green proved with his successful Kickstarter campaign).
There are no permanent friends or enemies in The Genius, as today's game might have you working with the people you tried to take down a week ago. Alliances are amazingly fluid, and anyone who doesn't force themselves into the action gets lost in the shuffle; by the endgame, even the 'floaters' have made tough choices and fought for survival. There's less room for a player to dominate: you can lead your group to a win and still be dragged into a deathmatch, and you know your competition will be taking shots at you every week. When a player goes on a run or keeps their alliance intact over multiple rounds, it's a legitimate achievement. Even a player who isn't popular with the group can find themselves thrust into a key role or have a chance to prove themselves in deathmatches.
The show has a refreshing sense of whimsy, constantly poking fun at itself and its contestants. The music choices are occasionally bizarre but always funny, and the captions and images add a nice touch. A highlight of every episode is the banter between the players before the game starts, in contrast with some Western shows where only the host has a voice 'outside' the game. The action takes place on a self-contained set, complete with hilarious supposed-to-be-American decor choices; and the master of ceremonies is no Jeff Probst or Phil Keoghan but rather a scary computer avatar who sounds like he's delivering a ransom note through a voice scrambler. Especially for Western fans who are new to variety shows, the quirks of Korean culture make it that much more enchanting.
The Genius is a heavier commitment than most shows - episodes are long, and the subtitles and level of detail demand your undivided attention - but it's absolutely worth it. If you're a reality competition fan, or even a traditional game show fan turned off by that label, The Genius is for you. Everyone we have introduced to the show has fallen in love with it, and we urge you to watch and join the conversation. Fighting!
You can watch here:
(many thanks to tireless subber Bumdidlyumptious for their hard work)
And you can find our weekly coverage of S4 and recaps of older seasons here:
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
The Genius 4: Season Preview
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The Genius: Grand Final is upon us! Give yourself a short break from listening to Melodie on repeat and compulsively refreshing Bumdi's Twitter page to hear our last-minute thoughts on the cast and twists of what promises to be a truly incredible season. Problems with our file hosting service have challenged our sub-Luddite understanding of technology, so we've uploaded the episode to Google Drive in case there are still issues with iTunes; alternatively, you can listen here.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
The Genius 4: Auction Draft with Kos
With less than a month to go until The Genius: Grand Final begins, the historically loaded cast has been announced and now nothing in life is remotely meaningful by comparison. Today we kick off our coverage of the season with yet another $20 must-win auction draft, once again featuring life's perpetual hoobae, Kos. As always you can listen on the player below, find the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here. The complete draft results can also be found here.
SPOILER ALERT: Obviously don't listen to this podcast unless you've seen the first three seasons of The Genius in their entirety.
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