EXchange Season 4 (2025)

A rollercoaster of emotions

At first, I thought, What fun could it be watching exes reunite on a dating show? They already know each other so what’s the catch here. Well boy oh boy, I was so wrong.. The premise is insanely entertaining and full of drama.

What really got me hooked is how the ex couples are kept a secret from participants and the viewers at the start. Watching those connections slowly unfold and finally being revealed is hands down the most exciting part, it adds so much suspense and makes every episode addictive.

I will review the ex couples first and then the endgame couples.The ex-couples that hit me the hardest:

Minkyung & Yoo Sik: 8 FREAKING YEARS!!
How do you move on after dating someone for 8 years? They practically grew up together. Their story was the most heartbreaking one .

At first, I thought Minkyung was annoying and controlling, and Yoo Sik was just an innocent guy. But wow I judged way too early. They gave 8 years of their life to each other and he couldn’t even reassure her about their future? That’s devastating. What hurts more is that Yoo Sik said before entering the house that he wanted to get back with his ex, yet his actions and words didn’t match at all. He seems oddly okay for someone who got out of a 8 year relationship. I understand Minkyung now. Plus the way he avoids any conversation with her is annoying to watch. If he wants new relationship soo bad he should’ve just told Minkyung and not dragged the situations but he let her suffer till the end. Their last date was soo sad. I felt like my heart sank. They should never get back together..

JiHyeon & Won Kyu
JiHyeon is my absolute favorite in the house. She is soo confident and soo real.. And Won Kyu? I am not soo sure! Initially he seemed quite cold and boring then afterwards he seemed clumsy yet fun to watch. Either he is very confused or just wanted to confuse Ji Hyeon!

He seems calculative and I don’t like that mindset. He let her go because she was struggling and didn’t have a stable career?? like sir, isn’t that the mindset people have in arranged marriages? He also thinks she is not that competent! After that being revealed she is right to call it INSINCERE LOVE! Thou They both have lingering feelings. I don’t mind her getting back with won kyu but won kyun has to change his calculative mindset and appreciate her.

Baek Hyun & Hyeon Ji
I didn’t care much about them at first; they felt a bit overdramatic. I couldn’t tell if Baek Hyun genuinely liked her or was just putting on a show.
But then… those letters in the ex-room.. It was the first time I believed that Baek Hyun wasn’t faking it but he still puts on a show I can tell. Hyeon Ji seems to be over dramatic at times as well and sometimes way to aloof. They have chemistry but I didn’t root for them. they’re just not my favorite. I hope baek hyun stops confusing Yun nyeong thou .

Yun Nyeong & Jae Hyeong
They seem to be on good terms and don’t really affect each other much emotionally. there aren’t any strong lingering feelings between them. Their story feels calm compared to the other maybe a little too calm. Thou after looking at how shady baekhyun was ,i genuinely wanted Yun nyeong to go with her ex instead. lol

Ji Yeon & Woo Jin
I honestly don’t know how to feel about them. Woo Jin didn’t treat Ji Yeon well during their relationship, and that’s undeniable. But at the same time, it feels like Ji Yeon is now provoking him constantly saying in front of everyone, again and again, that she’s completely over her ex and would never get back together with him. Also she treats him like shit !! Woo Jin is clearly acknowledging his mistakes and struggling a lot.

Seung yong and Hyeon Ji
He seemed calm and mature in the beginning but since the ex reveal episode, he is giving scary vibes. Hyeoneji doesn’t have any lingering feelings for him. I am least interested in them lol.

I am not shipping any new couples bcz they all somehow lack chemistry. I liked Yun Nyeong & Baek hyun in the beginning but not anymore.Baekhyun is weird af plus he confuses Yun nyeong. He seems insincere. I was rooting for Ji Hyeon & Yoo Sik in the beginning but that ship also sank and Hyun Ji came out of the blue and took yoosik with him. Can’t belive Yoosik actually chose her over his ex of 8 years. Insane .
I would have been nice to see Minkyung and Woojin together but they both wanted to go back to their exes!

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What started great died a slow painful death.

I really wanted to love this season, and I did enjoy it a lot at the beginning. I found all the cast entertaining and interesting and what’s most important: everyone actually felt unique. But then we started to get the same annoying drama between the same few people over and over again and I was just done.

There were many production wise choices that made the show less enjoyable. First of all not everyone going to the ex room changed a lot - that’s the thing that usually puts possible reconnection into movement. Then we have the double ex idea that was just shocking as a revelation, but then changed close to nothing in the actual show itself. When they decided to introduce new people was also ill timed and did not allow them to truly explore their options. What’s more, I wish next time they will encourage more dates with a variety of people, especially at the beginning. Make them choose more blindly, for example - pick a person for a date based on the ex letter, not knowing who it is about. Pick a person to go on a date based on a photo they took, favorite movie.

I’m just kind of disappointed. There were not that many romantic and butterfly inducing moments, and a lot of crying and blaming each other, borderline manipulation etc. One of the reasons the first two seasons were so fun to watch was the fact it was less dramatic, more genuine. But this season just pushed the drama to the forefront instead of focusing on the positive connections.

Overall, would not really recommend…

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