Our time with the beloved Wooga Squad comes to an end with plenty of laughs and shenanigans to round out this short but sweet friendship getaway. I didn’t think it could be possible to love these guys even more than I did before In the Soop, but what can I say – they’re talented in more ways than one, and I’m powerless against their individual and collective charms.
EPISODE 4 WEECAP
The group moves from the dinner table back to their room, where they keep the party going. As in real life, they pick up on threads of conversations they’ve had before, about work, their friendship, and how fun this friendcation has been (Woo-shik: “Are we filming season 2?”). It’s so sweet when V and Seo-joon swap stories about filming Hwarang together – V says Seo-joon was so helpful when he was struggling as a first-time actor, while Seo-joon says he found V’s determination and hard work to be endearing.
Despite their attempts to stretch out the night as long as possible, it’s finally time for bed. Seo-joon, Woo-shik, Peakboy and V reluctantly say goodbye to Hyung-shik as they fall asleep, and a little while later, Hyung-shik quietly heads out.
The next morning, V is in charge of breakfast while the rest of the group starts to pack up and get the house back in order. Despite his best attempts, he somehow messes up the ratio of water to seasoning for the hand torn noodle soup he’s making, resulting in an incredibly salty dish. The group’s reactions are hilarious but kind – we’re seeing V’s “maknae” status come out in full force this last episode, and it’s so cute.
After everyone finishes packing up, they load themselves into the car for the trip home, signaling the end of this lovely respite for our Wooga Squad. But before the final credits roll, we get some bonus footage of the group reuniting to record the theme song of the series, “Polaroid.”
I’m so glad they found time to get together after their vacation to continue the In the Soop tradition of creating a unique soundtrack for the season – it’s only fitting to end our time with them as a full group, clowning each other and enjoying their time together.
There’s not much else I can add about this experience that the guys don’t say themselves in their closing interviews, where they each reflect on what the trip has meant to them. I think Woo-shik summed it up perfectly when he shared the saying, “You’ve succeeded if you have a few good friends.” How lucky is he, that he has four?
One of my favorite tropes in dramas is that of the “found family,” so you can imagine just how much I adored watching the Wooga Squad, who literally embodies the concept in real life. (“Wooga” is short for “Are we family?” in Korean.) Even through the lens of a reality TV show, it’s hard to deny the closeness, joy, vulnerability, and honesty that each of them brings to this friendship, through big moments and small.
I know the group wondered what fans would think about their dynamic after watching the show, worrying that they could seem boring. But I’m here to assure them that it was anything but. I’m grateful for the way they’ve let us into their lives through this experience, and for the reminders they’ve given us about the importance of friendship, gratitude, and what it means to invest in relationships that matter.