Run Jin episode with Tom Cruise review: Jinpossible is pure chaotic charm

When I first heard Tom Cruise was going to be on Run Jin, I was wowed. Like, really wowed. But then I saw it was real and honestly? Incredible. I love both Mission: Impossible and Run Jin and again... wow!

After Jin already gave us Jin Wick, now he’s trying to become part of the IMF? It’s too much. Tom telling Jin to do things that seem “impossible” was hilarious, especially with Jin standing there looking like a baby giraffe who just learned to walk. That Mission Impossible level of physicality? I'm with Jin, who was there pouting, sweet, all nervous. He didn’t even need to yell for help. That face said it all.

Yes, Jin was visibly nervous. You could see it on his face from the moment he stood waiting in that hallway, dressed like a secret agent but looking more like a baby giraffe on his first mission. And honestly? That’s exactly what made it perfect.

Jin’s nerves and baby giraffe energy

In this episode of Run Jin, our Worldwide Handsome takes on perhaps his most ambitious guest yet: Tom Cruise. Yes, that Tom Cruise, Hollywood icon, action legend, and apparently someone who truly respects the person and culture he came to meet.

From the moment they shook hands, it was clear this wasn’t just a gimmick. Cruise didn’t just show up, he showed up. He greeted Jin warmly, laughed at his jokes, ate the food Jin recommended, and even made an effort to pronounce the Korean names with care. That tiny detail? It meant a lot.

The interview segment was fun and slightly unhinged in the best Run Jin way. Jin, trying to play it cool, asked Cruise if he knew BTS. Cruise smiled and said yes, adding how impressive Jin’s accomplishments were. Cue Jin melting internally while (almost) holding it together externally.

Let the chaos mission begin

And then came the mission. Of course, Tom Cruise wasn’t going to appear on Run Jin without leaving Jin a challenge. A mysterious case. A hidden "bomb." A set of ridiculous tasks in Yangpyeong-gun.

Jin, who’s famously afraid of physically intense activities, looked visibly panicked at the idea of jumping, running, and most horrifying of all, unlocking things under pressure. At one point, he mistook a keychain for the actual key and tried to use it to open the door. That moment alone? Emmy-worthy. Comedy level? Jin, of course.

My living room Olympics moment

And let me just say, I was on the edge of my seat. Jin looked like he was genuinely about to cry when the first attempt failed. I’m not even joking, I yelled “JIN, PLEASE” at my screen.

When he mumbled “Am I dumb?” in the final challenge, I had to pause and ask myself the same thing, because I was as lost as he was. But that little moment of success? I clapped. Alone. In my living room. Like this was the Olympics. (And now I remember that Jin actually carried the Olympics torch in 2024. Jin, Tom is right: you are indeed amazing.)

Between silliness and sincerity

The real genius of this episode is how it walks the tightrope between absurdity and sincerity. Jin throws himself into the mission with all the clumsy charm we love him for, and yet you can tell he’s trying hard. Like, really hard. To impress Tom Cruise. And Cruise? He’s not phoning it in. He plays along, reacts to Jin’s antics with genuine amusement, and clearly understands the tone of the show.

It’s the kind of cultural crossover that could’ve gone awkward fast. Instead, it feels like two worlds colliding in the best way. One full of action-movie coolness, the other overflowing with soft chaos and purple hearts. Jin doesn’t try to be Tom Cruise. He stays himself. Goofy, sweet, and occasionally baffled by doors.

Run Jin (Mission Jinpossible): The final challenge and the ARMY bond

The final challenge was no joke. Jin had to complete a series of tasks to "defuse" a mock bomb. On his second try, he got it right. If it had depended on that first attempt, well, humanity would’ve been doomed. But it was hilarious.

And the behind-the-scene moments in which Tom speaks with Jin's family? Heartwarming to say the least. This penultimate episode of Run Jin leaves a bittersweet feeling. The series has been a delightful journey, and it's hard to imagine it ending. Notably, the collaboration came about because Tom Cruise's team reached out to Jin, expressing interest in appearing on the show. A testament to Cruise's genuine admiration as an ARMY, right?

Adding to the surreal nature of the episode, Jin watched Mission: Impossible when he was 15. Now, he's standing side by side with its lead star. And to top it off, after filming Run Jin, Tom Cruise recorded himself eating the Korean dish Jin had recommended, just to show he actually tried it (and enjoyed it). It was thoughtful, sweet, and everything Run Jin stands for.

Rating with a touch of flair: 5 out of 5 impossible keychains