13 Must-Watch “GOING SEVENTEEN” Episodes For CARATs Who Need More Laughs: Ultimate Recap, Backstories, and View Counts

GOING SEVENTEEN has grown from a simple behind-the-scenes companion into one of the most inventive variety shows in K-pop. With more than 180 episodes since it became a regular series in 2019, the show has crossed genre lines with mafia games, horror escapes, high-school skits, and even a trot-parody comeback special. The numbers back up the love: 30 episodes have passed 10 million views, and two have crossed 20 million, according to fan-tracked data and Korean media reports. For CARATs who want pure laughter, these 13 episodes are the ones that consistently deliver. Each entry below breaks down the concept, the backstory, the standout moments, and the view-count milestones that make it a must-watch.

Don’t Lie #1 (2020): The Mafia Game That Started a Seven-Season Tradition

“Don’t Lie” is not just another mafia game. It combines social deduction with a treasure hunt, and it was the first GOING SEVENTEEN format to return season after season. The series began in 2020 and has since produced seven seasons and more than 13 episodes, with at least four episodes surpassing 10 million views. The first episode set the tone: JEONGHAN became the member everyone suspected even when he was innocent, while HOSHI threw the group into chaos with aggressive mafia play and faction-splitting accusations. The editing and captions turn every failed vote and every betrayed alliance into comedy. The format has evolved with new roles like the broker and the thief, and it has even been merged with the CLUE board game for extra mind games.

TTT #1 Hyperrealism Ver. (2020): The Unscripted Trip That Hit 17 Million Views

TTT stands for “MT, SVT, REALITY” — a retreat series where the members leave their schedules behind and simply hang out. The “Hyperrealism” version took that freedom to another level. The episode shows the members drinking, singing karaoke, cooking, and talking late into the night, with no strict missions and no staff interference. The result felt closer to a real friend group on a weekend trip than an idol variety show. That honesty paid off: the episode has drawn around 17.1 million views, making it one of the most-watched GOING SEVENTEEN episodes ever. The appeal is simple — viewers get to see the members without the stage personas, and the chemistry carries the entire runtime.

The Tag #1 (2020): A Horror Escape Room With Over 20 Million Views

“The Tag” is a horror-themed escape game set in an abandoned building. The members are split into teams and must find keys to escape while avoiding costumed “murderers” in the dark. The episode came from an idea by JUN, and it became one of the show’s biggest breakout hits. The Tag #1 has recorded more than 20.8 million views, with some live-count trackers showing over 23 million. The standout moment involves WONWOO spotting what appears to be a ghost in an empty room, a scene that even made the production staff uneasy. DK‘s high-pitched screams and MINGHAO‘s calm reactions created a contrast that fans still share as memes. The sequel, The Tag #2, added another layer of tension with S.COUPS joining the remaining teams.

Insomnia-Zero #1 (2020): The Sleep Challenge That Turned Into a Secret-Exposing Show

“Insomnia-Zero” began with a simple idea from HOSHI: the members lie down and try to sleep, or at least keep a stable heart rate, while the others try to disturb them. The prize was leaving work early. What made the episode work was not the sleep attempts but the conversations around them. The members exposed each other’s habits, told exaggerated stories, and turned a quiet room into a talk-variety set. The format returned for a second season, and the episode became a fan favorite because it showed the group’s wit without any physical games or elaborate sets. The comedy came entirely from the members’ ability to tease each other with stories that only a decade of friendship could produce.

Bad Clue #1 (2020): A Mystery Role-Play That Felt Like a Movie

“BAD CLUE” is a scripted mystery game where each member takes on a character and works to find a culprit. The first episode, released in September 2020 as episodes 34 and 35, earned praise for its cinematic direction and unexpected plot twists. The members acted out their roles without a rigid script, relying on ad-libs and quick reactions. The episode ranked among the top fan-voted GOING SEVENTEEN episodes of 2020, and it proved that the show could handle suspense as well as comedy. A second season, BAD CLUE II, followed in 2022 and delivered an even more layered story with a dramatic ending. The mystery format became a template for later horror-tinged episodes like EGO and TRAP.

MouseBusters (2020): Hide-and-Seek With Water Guns and Betrayal

“MouseBusters” took a simple playground game and turned it into a two-hour chase. Four members born in 1996 — JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, and WOOZI — became the “mice,” while the rest became “busters” armed with water guns. The mice had to hide, and the busters had to catch them. If even one mouse escaped, the mice won. The episode ran across episodes 31 to 33 and became a fan favorite for its physical comedy and the constant negotiations and betrayals between the two sides. WONWOO used a game ability to freeze the busters in place for ten minutes, which shifted the power balance and created one of the most replayable moments of the series.

Going Rangers #1 and #2 (2024): The Try-Not-to-Laugh Challenge With a Hero Twist

“Going Rangers” arrived in May 2024 as a two-part special. The premise is intentionally silly: the members compete to avoid becoming the “Going Ranger,” because being the ultimate savior means a late finish and extra work. The competition is essentially a high-budget try-not-to-laugh challenge, with the production crew joining in the silliness — including a staff member mimicking Pikachu. DK raced across water, SEUNGKWAN declared, “Let’s fight dirty till the end. I am blinded by victory,” and JEONGHAN used a rule that prohibited three team members from gathering for more than ten seconds to play strategist. The episode showed that GOING SEVENTEEN could make a simple challenge feel like an event, and it became one of the most-discussed episodes of the 2024 season.

God of Light Music (2023): The Trot Parody That Became an Official Release

“God of Light Music” is a two-part comeback special from October 2023 that parodies SEVENTEEN’s own song “God of Music.” The episodes follow WOOZI as a producer and DINO‘s recurring character Pi Cheolin, a nosy uncle setting up a new agency called BOMG. The members record a trot version of the song, and the comedy comes from their attempts to keep straight faces while delivering the over-the-top lyrics. MINGYU struggled with WOOZI’s carefully written lines, and VERNON ate a burger in the recording room as a “ghost.” The parody was so well received that Pledis Entertainment officially released “God of Light Music” on streaming platforms on December 26, 2023. The episode is a rare case of a variety-show joke becoming a real song.

EGO (2021): The Horror Escape That Felt Like a Short Film

“EGO” is a two-part horror escape game released in October 2021 as episodes 27 and 28. The members wake up in pairs inside an abandoned research center filled with remnants of failed human cloning experiments. A masked man lurks in the dark, and the members must solve puzzles to escape. The production quality — from the set design to the costumes — made it feel closer to a short film than a YouTube variety episode. The story revealed a group of eleven mad scientists and a cloning experiment gone wrong, and the ending delivered a twist that left viewers rethinking the entire game. EGO is often cited alongside The Tag as proof that GOING SEVENTEEN can handle horror without losing its sense of fun.

TRAP (2024): The Zombie Escape With a Massive Plot Twist

“TRAP” brought horror back in September 2024 with a zombie premise. The members are trapped in an abandoned hospital and must avoid zombies while trying to escape. TRAP #1 ended with a sudden cut to zombie sounds and DINO shouting “Let’s run,” building tension for the second part. TRAP #2 delivered what Korean media called a “large-scale plot twist,” with the members finally leaving the hospital only to face another turn. The episode showed the show’s ability to sustain a multi-part narrative and keep viewers guessing. The zombie theme also gave the members room for physical comedy, as they mimicked zombie movements and sounds while trying to reach the exit.

Best Friends (2021): The High-School Skit That Gave Fans a Red Light, Green Light Remix

“Best Friends” is a two-part special released in November 2021 as episodes 31 and 32. The members play high-school students at Sebong High School, with DINO taking on both student and teacher roles. The episodes were released during the Korean college exam season, and the skit format allowed the members to improvise introductions, compete for class president, and play traditional Korean games. The standout segment was their version of “Red Light, Green Light,” which gained extra attention after the global popularity of Squid Game in 2021. Best Friends #2 has drawn more than 17.1 million views, making it one of the most-watched episodes of the 2021 season. The episode works because it lets the members act like the friends they have been for years, with inside jokes and exaggerated characters.

Tribal Game (2021): The Chuseok Special With Team Camel and Team Tiger

“Tribal Game” was released as a Chuseok special in September 2021 and hosted by SEUNGKWAN. The members split into Team Camel and Team Tiger and competed in games like telephone and whisper challenges. The special leaned into the holiday theme and gave the members a chance to play simple, physical games without a complicated storyline. The comedy came from the team dynamics and SEUNGKWAN‘s hosting, which kept the energy high across both parts. The episode is a good entry point for viewers who want a straightforward, low-stakes laugh and a look at how the group handles classic variety formats.

SEVENTEEN TV (2025): The 10th-Anniversary Trip Back to Trainee Days

“SEVENTEEN TV” arrived in May 2025 as a special episode tied to the group’s 10th anniversary and the release of their fifth album, HAPPY BURSTDAY. The two-part series brings the members back to a trainee-style dorm, where they live together and play exaggerated versions of their younger selves. The episode is a throwback to the group’s pre-debut reality series of the same name, and it is packed with inside jokes — including a towel-fight bit that later appeared in SEUNGKWAN and DK‘s subunit concert. SEVENTEEN TV became a trending topic in multiple countries after its release, and it gave longtime fans a nostalgic bridge between the group’s debut days and their present-day status.

Where to Watch and How the Series Keeps Growing

GOING SEVENTEEN airs every Wednesday at 9 PM KST on SEVENTEEN’s official YouTube channel. For global viewers, that is Tuesday 8 AM ET / 5 AM PT, 1 PM GMT, 6:30 PM IST, and 11 PM AEST. The show has become a year-round source of content, with new episodes continuing into 2026 and the “Don’t Lie” series returning after a three-year break in September 2026. The view-count milestones keep stacking: 30 episodes have passed 10 million views, and the show’s accumulated views have long surpassed 260 million. For CARATs who need more laughs, these 13 episodes are the best place to start — and the best place to return whenever the group’s music alone is not enough.

Also Read: Yim Si Wan and Seol In Ah Face a “Bromance” Scandal in Love in Disguise: Full Recap, Backstories, and Release Info

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