I don't know what happened in Episode 600 but Episode 601 had all my favorite Running Man elements.
The water game and the name tag elimination segments are awesome!
It's awesome to see Ji Suk Jin bringing back his race starter gimmick... even if he had to transfer it to poor Byeon Woo Seok. Woo Jae is still funny as hell with Park Gyeong Hye doing her best to get screen time. Yoo Jae Suk didn't punch the Ji Suk Jin laugh bank as much here because of Jae Suk. He even let Suk Jin train Woo Seok in case he encounters Kim Jong Kook. Jeon So Min is back to her delusional, boy-crazy self and while I have been raving on the return of the name tag elimination, you kind of want So Min to just sit on the sidelines since she just got back from an injury.
Anyway, these name tag elimination one-offs are awesome although it's a bit quick to my liking. I guess they are still testing the segment on whether or not it will work with audiences. I guess more than brute strength, I think the show can still do treasure hunt situations.
Maybe they can bring the flying chairs back?