Hello everyone! Do you know the variety show “Earth Arcade” by PD Na Young-seok? It's a variety show that started in 2022 with season 1, gained popularity, and continued through season 2. Earth Arcade (Ji-rak-sil) has received a lot of love for showing a fresh look by breaking away from the conventional variety show format. For me, it was a program that gave me healing every week by making me laugh. So today, I'm going to introduce you to Earth Arcade, and tell you about the news of season 3!

What is Earth Arcade?

It is a variety show that aired on tvN in June 2022 after Sixth Sense 3, and it's PD Na Young-seok's new real-life travel variety show. The concept is a bit unique. When Torong-i, who worked at a space rice cake shop on the back of the moon, disappears, Okhwangsangje, the owner of the rice cake shop, puts a bounty on Torong-i. Youngji, Mimi, Eunji, and Yujin, the four Earth warriors, team up to catch Torong-i, who is on vacation in Thailand. Sounds new and absurd, doesn't it?

Season 1

“Four warriors who team up to catch the moon rabbit that escaped to Earth, a new hybrid multiverse action adventure variety show, traversing space and time”

In season 1, the four Earth warriors go to Thailand to catch Torong-i, who escaped to Thailand. If they catch Torong-i, they can make a wish worth 2 million won. The four, who were noisy from the start, overcome various games in Thailand. Random Play Dance, Retro Music Game, Green Frog Rock Paper Scissors, Character Quiz, Weather Mission, etc., even though it's a format that we've seen many times before, it was nice to see them pull it off without being predictable. And the four who caught Torong-i went on a package tour as a reward from Okhwangsangje. They show us having a food tour, shopping, and playing games in Goseong, Gangwon-do. And they return to Korea and receive prizes worth 2 million won, ending season 1 with a heartwarming scene.

Season 1 Highlights

Season 2

“The four experienced Earth warriors have come together once again to catch Torong-i, who has escaped to Earth again! The Earth Warriors' unpredictable adventures unfold in 'Finland,' the winter kingdom, and 'Bali,' the island of the gods”

Season 2 aired on tvN in May 2023 after Seo Jin’s. It received a lot of anticipation as the first season was very popular. The mission to catch Torong-i, who escaped to Earth once again, was more difficult than last season. Especially this time, they went to Finland, a cold country, showing a very different scenery from the hot country last season. I personally think that the second season was more successful. Among them, Mimi's incorrect answer combo and her performance were the best. In season 2, they also played Random Play Dance, Hunminjeongeum Yut Nori, Zombie Game, Character Quiz, and they successfully captured Torong-i. The four Earth warriors go to Bali as a reward from Okhwangsangje. Although it's a reward vacation, they show a busy and noisy side.

This is the scene I found most fun in season 3!

Key Points

Chemistry among the members: One of the key points of Earth Arcade is the chemistry between the cast members. All four showed tension and stamina that overwhelmed the production crew. Lee Eun-ji, as a comedian, was very good at broadcasting, so she was in charge of smooth progression and reactions. Lee Young-ji, as the MZ president, showed her young and fiery spirit. The members I thought were a surprise were Mimi and Ahn Yu-jin. First, Mimi is an idol and I wasn’t sure what to expect from her on variety shows. She was the quietest, but she had a charm that would make you burst out laughing every now and then, which was especially prominent in season 2. And Ahn Yu-jin, the youngest member, showed off her incredible sense of humor and her intelligence, which was evident in her game skills. The combination of these four was perfect and harmonious, and it seems that's why they were loved by so many people.

PD Na Young-seok: In the past, PD Na Young-seok's variety shows have often shown members struggling and being punished due to the difficult game difficulty. In Earth Arcade, there are many scenes where the members are so good at the game that the production crew is taken aback. And usually, in variety shows, PDs have to work hard to get footage. In Earth Arcade, the members never get tired and constantly ask for games, to the point where the production crew begs them to take a break. These four members’ talent and stamina have earned praise for being more lively and exciting than any variety show before.

Next Season News

After completing two successful seasons, many people were curious about season 3. Currently, PD Na Young-seok is very busy, so it's difficult to produce Earth Arcade right now. However, he is planning to produce content that will allow fans to warm up lightly. The filming will be based on a travel concept and will take place for three days and four nights in April. The travel destination will likely be decided by the members' agreement. The members are even getting driver's licenses for this trip. It feels like the year has changed since we heard news about Earth Arcade. I’ll leave a video where you can find out about the next season, while looking forward to more fun scenes!

Today, we looked at Earth Arcade among variety shows. I think Earth Arcade was very meaningful in that it broke the mold of traditional variety shows and featured four women. If you’re wondering what variety show to watch this weekend, how about Earth Arcade? Thank you for reading today:)