The mystery of the 'Catfish' was unveiled as Chef Yoon Nam-no on MBC's 'Manitto Club', adding an unexpected twist to the show.
The fifth episode of MBC's variety show 'Manitto Club', aired on the 1st, featured a thrilling gift relay chase involving Jung Hae-in, Go Yoon-jung, Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, and Kim Do-hoon. The chaos intensified with the entry of the hidden Manitto, Chef Yoon Nam-no, captivating viewers with unpredictable twists.
Jung Hae-in, known for his 'two-fisted' reputation, attempted to create a handmade 'Duchonku' for his Manitto, Go Yoon-jung. Despite his efforts, an undercover operation targeting Jung Hae-in began, heightening the tension. Hong Jin-kyung, who prepared a gift for Jung Hae-in, made a surprise knock and quickly fled. Jung Hae-in pursued her relentlessly, but Hong Jin-kyung managed to escape. After discovering Hong Jin-kyung's gift of whiskey and a scroll with a quote from Jeong Yak-yong, Jung Hae-in expressed his joy, saying, "Giving a gift that someone would like is a delightful thing."
Park Myung-soo crafted a homemade burger for his Manitto, Kim Do-hoon, a burger enthusiast. At the restaurant of former baseball player and burger expert Kim Byung-hyun, Park Myung-soo made the patties himself, showcasing his 'Manitto spirit' by refusing help. He prepared a customized burger with a fried egg, a handwritten letter, and a hot pack, then disguised himself in a helmet and black outfit to deliver the gift stealthily. Kim Do-hoon praised the effort, saying, "A thousand out of a hundred," and devoured two burgers in no time.
Go Yoon-jung, while deducing the identity of her gift-giver, Jung Hae-in, expressed her admiration, saying, "He seems like a genius," and "He might be an action actor." She also didn't forget her Manitto, Park Myung-soo, sending a surprise story gift during his live radio broadcast under the name 'Mahee-do'. Park Myung-soo remained suspicious of the Manitto's presence throughout the broadcast but was once again caught off guard by Go Yoon-jung's clever strategy, bringing laughter.
The biggest twist of the episode was the appearance of the hidden Manitto 'Catfish'. As a special privilege for being the first to successfully deliver a gift, Jung Hae-in was joined by the Catfish, revealed to be Chef Yoon Nam-no, known as the 'Cooking Oddball'. Expressing his fandom for Jung Hae-in, he planned an early 'April birthday meal', showcasing his culinary skills as a fine dining chef. He elevated the handmade gift game by preparing a 12-dish, three-tier lunchbox, traditional French dessert mille-feuille, and 150 financiers to share with the staff.
Disguised as a delivery person and employing decoy tactics, Chef Yoon Nam-no's undercover operation was captivating. He infiltrated Jung Hae-in's photoshoot location, delivering his homemade financiers and swiftly escaping after crafting mille-feuille on-site. The dual personality letters for diversion added intrigue. Jung Hae-in, unaware of the Catfish's presence, enjoyed the heartfelt desserts, wondering, "Do I have two Manittos?"
Dex, a senior from Manitto's first season, assisted Jung Hae-in by delivering peach parfait and coffee to Go Yoon-jung. After confirming Go Yoon-jung as Jung Hae-in's Manitto, Dex expressed his fandom, saying, "I wanted to meet her in person," and personally delivered the gifts. Dex also shared a heartwarming story of secretly gifting Jennie after the first season ended.
The simultaneous gift exchanges and unpredictable chases among the Manitto members were the episode's highlights. As Chef Yoon Nam-no, Hong Jin-kyung, and Kim Do-hoon appeared at Jung Hae-in's location, the tension escalated. Disguised in a wig, Hong Jin-kyung planned to leave her carefully prepared cucumber rice, seaweed, and green onion kimchi, but Jung Hae-in began tailing her, leading to an epic chase. Hong Jin-kyung, overwhelmed by Jung Hae-in's persistence, humorously lamented, "Is this really happening?" Meanwhile, Kim Do-hoon also delivered a gift for Hong Jin-kyung, turning the chase on its head.
The gift relay didn't end there. Chef Yoon Nam-no, using a 'clone technique' by mimicking the production staff, delivered a heartfelt three-tier lunchbox, and Jung Hae-in enjoyed the 'Jung Hae-in style mukbang', expressing his delight. Believing all the gifts were from one person, he remarked, "I wish I had such a Manitto every day," while hinting at the Manitto's identity with a meaningful smile, "My sister is quite handy, isn't she?"
The episode concluded with a preview of the first meeting of the second season members and a 'Secret Manitto' activity for firefighters, heightening anticipation. MBC's 'Manitto Club' airs every Sunday at 6:05 PM.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr