This week’s episode of Better Late Than Never “Seoul Brothers” continues the show’s theme of leaving things out. Last week it was the sumo wrestling, this week it was the dragons. Once again tantalizing clips are shown but not the actual event.
Missing dragon’s aside, this episode was funny and the highlight was definitely the Girls’ Generation interaction with the “old geezers” who filmed a music video with the group. Unfortunately, the video clip shown at the end, was to their 2009 video “Gee.”
(An excellent toe tapper that has over 167 million views that are well deserved. This is a song that, even without the video of achingly gorgeous young women dancing and singing, is addictive to the extreme.)
The episode does not mention that these Kpop bands and groups are all manufactured. Scores of school kids, male and female, aspire to be the next big thing in the world of Kpop.
As Jeff points out to the group, Seoul is famous for its emphasis in youth and Kpop. It is also one of the most technologically advanced place in the world. The guys eat live octopus, except for Terry who refuses to try the wriggling creature. He does, however, crack Shatner up with a nose blowing gag. George is not impressed and leaves the restaurant.
If the Kpop video in a Seoul studio is the highlight, and Winkler steals that moment with happy feet that will not stop, the visit to Korea’s DMZ is a close second. The men nervously approach the “border” and freak out when Jeff drops his mobile phone in North Korea and all the guards get very excited.
Winkler is the first to break ranks and streak for the car. Later Dye reveals that the whole crossing area is a left over film set and that the guards are all actors. Anyone who has watched the brilliant 2000 South Korean film J.S.A.: Joint Security Area will recognize the crossing immediately.
The looks on the men’s faces were priceless.
Prior to the vist, Jeff sets his older companions up to sleep on the floor of a spa, the cost for one night is $6, and the men manage to annoy the hell out everyone else. A combination of pillow fights and loud behavior makes them the least popular ones in the large room. Terry Bradshaw, however, is delighted to see Shatner actually laugh and clown around.
Bradshaw says that it is the first time that William Shatner has been “fun” since the trip started. After the men wake, Jeff takes his charges to a Seoul nightclub. It is a place where the oldest local participant would be 35 years old.
All the older, and married men, attempt to get Jeff hooked up with one of the many beautiful young women in the building. George starts the initiative and despite their best efforts Dye manages to strike out. He gets slapped no less than three times by a young lady who does not look amused.
Bill sings, somewhat mercifully he did not perform Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. Later, Shatner and Winkler talk about “swiping right” and Henry has no idea what Bill is on about.
The episode ends with the chaps having an outdoor picnic where they have their food delivered by drone.
While Better Late Than Never may be all scripted, all “reality” TV is and this show falls under that caveat, it is still entertaining. Each of the iconic men on board for this travelogue come across naturally and none seem too concerned with their images. (One of the benefits of old age.)
We leave you with the highlight of the episode, the guys in all their costumed glory performing with Girls’ Generation:
CAST:
Mikes Film Talk 
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