Alice_01

There are some articles on allkpop,koreaboo etc. talking about it but the couple hasn't made a public statement themselves I think and personally I think there is no reason to make one since they are not "real celebs" so that's their private life as citizens but "detective " fans following them since EXchange saw they had already taken their pics off from social media some time ahead and went to trips/spend time without eo even before articles and started talking online.
Hence that top korean comment: "Finished filming for the show in September, broke up in November, opened YouTube channel and filmed an actor profile in January, released a breakup article in April and started broadcasting in May. Looking at the timeline, all I can do is laughㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"
But honestly, even I didn't know much at first and only searched more after reading knetz comments out of curiosity...
Personally, I think the whole hyung gyu - Sohee "affair" is a stretch even if he did break up with his gf, I doubt Sohee would be the reason...It's just Soheee's lack of motivation to win and ult support for HG that made many twist it...

Same here, but the thing is, Hyung Gyu broke up with his EXchange girlfriend Ha Eun, around the time he participated in The Devil’s Plan 2. That timing surprised a lot of people and after watching the show many knetz started speculating things. On top of that, many viewers were disappointed with Sohee for not putting her all into the game or competing as hard as Hyung Gyu and the others. Instead, she seemed more focused on supporting Hyung Gyu rather than making strategic moves for her own benefit. Both her and Kihyun lacked motive tbh.
People were also unhappy with how the production team handled this season overall, it seems. And then there's the noticeable difference in how Hyung Gyu's personality came across, he seemed very different in the dating show compared to the survival show. Which honestly, I think makes perfect sense. After all, a dating show and a survival game are bound to bring out different sides of someone.
And for knetz cruelty as kpop fan I am not surprised tbh I just wasn't expecting to see it on such an intense level here...Cause I expected in drama/shows they wouldn't get as heated, but alas...

"Those who watched 12 mostly skimmed for the ending and to see returning cast members."That's me included lol The season overall was good and most of the games were interesting to follow, but man that finale just wasn't giving...I am honestly glad Hyung gyu won JUST for the mere reason that he showed that he wanted it! Unlike Sohee, who had the brains but lacked the motive (and I just can't tell why). Like some players were clearly NOT suited for this type of survival game and it showed (even if they had the intellect).

Well said, honestly...The reason for this season's downfall is wayyy beyond just Hyung gyu tbh. It's a combination of all you mentioned with a BIG emphasis on the production team fumbling the bag when it came to the games structures...Even the PD said in an interview he had thought it in his head completely different compared to how it came out and that he didn't excpect things in prison to head like the way they did lmao I just hope if S3 happens they will work on it and produce smth better and more balanced for the sake of both the audience and the contestants...

Yep true. This is what I don't agree with...Starting a witch hunt against them over this game show is a bit much...Like I get the dissapointment but common...

Hmm idk I think there is a difference between bad aka hate comments and those who just give a well-grounded negative review after finishing the show based on the things they felt unsatisfied with. And I think we can find both kinds of comments in MDL or anywhere else. So the anger was justified in my opinion on some cases, mostly against the production's choices for this season rather than the contestants themselves (though I do feel salty about some of them cause certain players lacked the motive cough cough)...So it wasn't just people with anger issues who reacted lol But I do agree that some have clearly gone way too far and missed the point, using this as just a way for them to release pent-up anger on the contestants, which is wrong...

I 100% agree with everything you've said, actually! I also think this season's issues heavily lie on the production and not the contestants themselves! Though personally I think the casting could have been a bit more balanced even though compared to last season we certainly had smarter players here but some (espescially from living area) seem to lack the motive or other (mostly prison area) seemed to lack the socializing skills and sadly that was tendrimental with the way the production layed out the games and script... I really wish if season 3 happens, they will make the living/prison areas a bit more balanced with the rules and rewards and there will also be individual games instead of emphasizing alliances. We will see~

Indeed!

Oh! Thanks for saying this! I actually didn't know that! So I will definitely check them later~

I really hope we can get that Season 3 too! But honestly, MDL IMDB, etc. and int fans in general don't seem like the biggest obstacle right now...Because apparently the locals hate on it even harder?? TT
That aside, I hate what MDL ratings have turned into lately...There will be either groups of people downvoting or overvoting and only a handful who give a genuine rating sigh...Everything has turned into a fandom fight and whatnot lmao I am a kpop fan and yet I was never aware drama/variety fandoms and haters also existed...Like why would they watch smth they hate, wasting precious time only so they can downvote it? Or why would you overrate something just to "prove" a point...Just watch the damn shows that make you stay engage and give a genuine overall rate...People like to complicate things so much nowadays...Like life is already hard enough, let's stop making it harder.

Someone already posted the link to their interview on a YT channel below and the top Korean comments were quite shocking to read and not one positive...Like I am shook! I was not expecting K-Side to be so loud like even louder and united on the matter than international side...And some of the things they mention and speak about never even reached me as int viewer...But I mean they go beyond the game show...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4NHOiSy7Ck

Some of the most liked (1-3k likes) top Korean comments go as follows:
"I don't think season 3 will be made because of these people ㅋㅋㅋㅠㅠㅠㅠ The cast members here also don't get any love calls, they just get a lot of unfavorable images ㅠㅠㅠ The production staff and the cast just have more losses than gains..."

"Watching Devil 2, I can understand why Hae-eun and him broke up ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"

"It's a comedy where she doesn't show any emotion when Lee Sedol and Justin Min are eliminated, but breaks down and cries at Hyun-gyu's one word. ㅋㅋㅋ"

"70% of viewers voted to turn it off after watching episode 11"

"Finished filming for the show in September, broke up in November, opened YouTube channel and filmed an actor profile in January, released a breakup article in April and started broadcasting in May. Looking at the timeline, all I can do is laughㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"

"Wow, this is really the first time PD Jeong Jong-yeon has dropped out of a program in the middle;; I think Yoon So-hee is more negative than Hyun-gyuㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"

" PD-nim must have been frustrated tooㅋㅋㅋㅋ It's really a shame that they couldn't unite and got beat up every time in the main match even though they created the prison ward just like Hye-ri saidㅠㅠ Of course, the rules make it harder to unite than the life ward. "

Damn...Things ain't looking good locally?? Like idk I was at most expecting a similar reaction with the international side (basically kinda 60-40), but no the hate on that side seems more intense and united with many layers that reach even the contestants personal lives??
Also, is it true that the og PD dropped out mid-season?? I definitely didn't know that...Or Hyng gyu's dating history lol Either way that Season 3 seems like a far dream now...But if the production manages to make one, I really hope they work more on the games and strategies...The cast in terms of players was better in this season I think they had stronger players when it comes to the brains but majority of them lacked social skills or teamwork and the games/rules set, held some prominent players back leaving many viewers unsatisfied and with a "what if..." feeling both internationally and locally, it seems...
I mean personally, I still want a Season 3 and honestly as much as I found the last couple eps a bit of a let down I still enjoyed the overall season and don't think Hyung gyu's victory was unfair since he just used everything at his disposal without breaking the rules...I was frustrated with some of Sohee's/Kihyun's decisions but oh well each their own...And I think them doing a background check and stuff is going a bit overboard...What are your thoughts, guys?

Omg they are really coming for him and Sohee lmao The thing is after translating some comments it's really getting twisted...Cause based on the popular relies
1. Hyung gyu broke up with his gf Ha Eun with whom he dated for real for months after a dating show, surprisingly around the time he was announced as a guest starring in 'The Devil's Plan 2' was announced. 2. The production seems to have edited out a scene of the final night in the living area with Sohee hugging him from behind??? (knetz fbi mode isn't only limited to idols it seems) 3. Many seem to bash Sohee for not giving it her all and fighting for the victory as much as Hyung gyu and others did...

Some off the most liked (1-3k likes) Korean comments below:
"I don't think season 3 will be made because of these people ㅋㅋㅋㅠㅠㅠㅠ The cast members here also don't get any love calls, they just get a lot of unfavorable images ㅠㅠㅠ The production staff and the cast just have more losses than gains..."

"It's a comedy where she doesn't show any emotion when Lee Sedol and Justin Min are eliminated, but breaks down and cries at Hyun-gyu's one word. ㅋㅋㅋ"

"70% of viewers voted to turn it off after watching episode 11"

"Wow, this is really the first time PD Jeong Jong-yeon has dropped out of a program in the middle;; I think Yoon So-hee is more negative than Hyun-gyuㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"

Damn...Things ain't looking good at all locally?? Like idk I was at most expecting a similar reaction with the international side (basically kinda 60-40), but no the hate on that side for the top two seems more intense and twisted with more layers than one?? I am truly surprised!
Also, is it true that the og PD dropped out mid-season?? Either way that Season 3 seems like a far dream now...But if the production manages to make one I really hope they work more on the games and strategies...The cast in terms of players was better in this season but the games and rules set really held some prominent players back leaving many viewers unsatisfied and with a "what if..." feeling both internationally and locally, it seems...

Finally reached Ep 12 and honestly, Sohee and Hyunggyu complemented each other incredibly well throughout the entire season...They covered each other’s weaknesses so seamlessly that I have to give it to them. That said, for Sohee it might not have been the wisest move to maintain that dynamic all the way to the end. I think her feelings ended up playing a bigger role than she initially intended. She seemed to play it safe to ensure a spot in the finals, but in doing so, she never really fought for herself. She was constantly supporting others, even when she had the potential to stand out.
Players like Kihyun and Tinno ended up being perfect backup/support for players like Sohee and Hyunggyu honestly, which is probably why they all stuck together, they served a purpose in the bigger strategy of others.
Personally, I think Harin was just as resilient and strategic as Hyunggyu. If she hadn’t ended up in prison and missed her chance for a comeback, the competition might have been even tougher. Same with Eun Yu she was a force to be reckoned with. It’s also a shame Sedol left so early. I was kinda interested to see what he was capable of. His solo approach and tendency to keep to himself led to his downfall, which really highlights how essential social awareness and strategic alliances were here. Reading other players’ intentions and managing relationships turned out to be just as important as having sharp gameplay skills.
So, all in all, I don’t think H’s win was unfair or hate on him. He played within the rules, used everything at his disposal cleverly and made strategic choices keeping the right allies close, shifting situations in his favor and occasionally telling white lies for his own benefit. It was a smart and well-rounded game, not just about raw skill but also about adaptability and social intelligence. So for that I will give it to him.
That said, the predictability of it all is what made the final episodes feel a bit dull and disappointing. By the time I got to the last episode, most of the excitement was already gone. Honestly, I think that’s more on the production team and the way they structured the games/wrote the script rather than the players themselves.

Agreed...The thrill was gone in the last few eps and like you said, it became more of a "who has the most pieces and not who has the most skills" game show which was a shame. Hyung gyu and Sohee barely suffered throughout the show and that was one of the reasons why I applauded 7high for playing that last round the way he did! Cause I really wanted to see the ones who were always protected under the pressure of prison!

Honestly, Sohee's behavior was the most questionable for me to read...Was she even there for the prize? Cause so far up to ep11 I watched, she is really just not showing any claws at all and always remains in defence mode, ripping some benefits left and right and also giving into her emotions by being mother teresa at other times...So if in the next ep it's Sohee vs Hyung gyu I prefer him getting it just for the fact that he showed to want it more!

Exactly and I resonated so much with 7high when he said "This is so degrading. There is literally nothing we can do in our defence. They want to humiliate us". Especially being a card player himself, that must have struck him badly, but even I was frustrated by it and it kinda made me lose interest cause there wasn't the thrill that there should be anymore. The game's winners were already predetermined.

Honestly, the saddest part of ep11 for me is the Queen of prison Eun Yu's fall...She played like a true champion and was the last og prison player to make it so far! I think both Sohee and Hyung gyu wanted her gone asap because they both knew she would make it hard for them in the final...I am truly proud of her!

Oh wait he was in Exchange?? Now I get why he looked kinda familiar to me lmao Though I barely remember the S2 as a whole...Well, he is certainly very aware of his advantages! He can use his looks, calm demeanor and good read of people. He is also someone with low EQ and good manipulation skills. He is just the "perfect" player for such a game lol And If I were a participant like the prison gang, I would try to eliminate him before the final every chance I got! Kihyun shot his own foot by going soft for him...Hyung gyu managed to fool him and find his soft spot to press...So Kihyun couldn't leave him "defenseless" lol

Hmm...To an extend, yes I could see that happen...Maybe not fully scripted but I do doubt it! Because the games were so hard and the whole alliances just it all went too smoothly for some...So there is reason to doubt them!

Honestly, ep11 made it even more clear how Hyung gyu has figured out most of the others mentally! Who is bold and risky? Who won't go for it and try to play safe? That's why he was playing boldly, baiting big amounts of his pieces, knowing that was enough to shake up players like Hyunjoon! So 7high was right unless they break out of character, they can't guard against Hyung gyu! Btw, Sohee is basically at this point just a piece of his herself,f blindly following him and doing as being told lol I think they both relied on using eo depending on the game to cover their own weaknesses but Sohee does not realize that in the final she WILL have to go against him eventually and Hyung gyu won't hold back for sure~