going seventeen | don't lie: clue
premise:
seventeen play a game of mafia where they must simultaneously figure out the murderer, murder weapon, and murder location of a murder case, with one of the mafias being the murderer.
comments:
IF THIS COUNTS AS DON'T LIE MAFIAPOLY IS DON'T LIE TOO IDC IDC
JOKES ASIDE i honestly like the push/pull of the clue game and i thought that the eliminated trying to get screentime as waiters was pretty funny, though i think they get even less screentime here as they're pushed to the side rather than included in the conversation (but this tends to be a problem intrinsic to don't lie in general, but it's not particularly egregious). one of the greatest moments here is the reveal that hoshi was lying and actually didn't figure joshua out as the mafia, though i was screaming at my screen trying to tell mingyu to just fricking tell everyone he had proof joshua wasn't the mafia!! (i am biased). i think the reveal of seungkwan as the first person to figure out the murder scenario was really exciting especially after so many rounds of everyone trying and sharing information, though i do believe the mafias not teaming up to give false information was a missed opportunity. but i think the REAL reveal was that despite seokmin's attempts to cover it up he actually did figure out the murder scenario as well (and, of course, why would he react like that if he didn't). and the REAL REAL reveal being that minghao had actually gotten the murder scenario even before seungkwan. but the ACTUAL SUPER REAL REVEAL being 1. WONWOO EVEN BEING A MAFIA AT ALL (honestly all the mafias here were difficult to deduce for me) and 2. WONWOO HAVING GOTTEN THE MURDER SCENARIO and not being revealed because the announcement is only made if a civilian gets the combo. literally a wild ride.
this slow uncovering of information is more helpful, if not a little less exciting, than the typical scavenger hunt for don't lie in the same way mafiapoly is, though i wouldn't necessarily say it's better. the interrogations add the aspect of being able to talk to members one-on-one, though information continues to be bounced around on the downstairs floor anyway which speeds the process of figuring the correct combination along, but having to go through the guesses of every single member along multiple rounds with the addition of a one-minute interrogation just drags a little for me, and it isn't quite as exciting because of how fast the options get whittled down in this episode compared to the "it has to be a combination of these members" like in mafiapoly. the members make it fun, but this has been one of the weaker don't lies so far and certainly the weakest of the 2023 triage.
ranking:
concept: 6.5; it's a fun jab at a new idea, though the change doesn't feel like it elevates don't lie and instead just feels like a change
chemistry: 8; i do like don't lie, though the strategizing and typical banter is a little weaker because of how quickly suspects can get ruled out in this episode.
enjoyment: 7; i have watched this episode before and didn't remember a single bit of it. i know now why i don't remember a single bit of it. but it's still fun in the moment!
overall - 7.2/10