This review may contain spoilers
IT WAS A MESS
DISCLAIMER: this review contains my thoughts and feelings. You don’t have to agree with me I’m just giving my opinion.Season 1 >>> Season 2
Everyone felt super performative at first. Especially Seo Eun and Seul Ki. Like you could tell they were conscious of the cameras watching them trying to appear sweet and innocent etc. Over time some got better, some got worse so let’s get into it:
Singles inferno could’ve done so much more to improve this season and entertain the contestants. There isn’t enough to do in the inferno and quite frankly paradise should only be for deepening a connection that has already been established. They act like age and career is so pivotal in getting to know someone when to me that is the least. I’m sure the contestants can find other things to talk about and be more engaged and have an interesting conversation without feeling like they have to tiptoe around everything they’re saying in fear that they might give away their age or career. Imo everyone should have an opportunity to go at least once and the show should force people out of their comfort zones and allow everyone to truly get to know everyone. For example, a person shouldn’t be able to pick the same person twice or 2 days in a row and the dates / challenges should be more inclusive. They could also throw in a wild card like if the contestant is not enjoying time with the person they chose then they have the opportunity to switch partners or something like that.
A major issue I had with the show and the men was how obsessed they were with Seul Ki. She is a positively bland person and I can’t even begin to fathom how she had all three men chasing after her. It’s obvious they only liked her because of her looks (ideal in Korean beauty standards) and because she is rich. Nothing else! It was very sad watching Dong Woo still choose her even after being rejected. And it was insane seeing her develop feelings for Jong Woo overnight just because he gave her the attention Jin Young was unable to express. I still believe Jong Woo is just a replacement for Jin Young. The way she phrased her choosing him as finally choosing the guy who chooses her first instead of going after the guy she likes??? Lmao if I was Jong Woo I would feel so hurt watching that back because I literally cringed. Anyways, I hear they’re still together now so I can only hope it worked out for the best. The back and forth with Seul Ki and her feelings which she was unsure about until the night before was so unattractive to me. Ino she is way too grown to be acting so immature and being so indecisive. I wish she and Jin Young didn’t take up the screen time but that’s exactly what happened and what the producers wanted.
Out of all the men the one I hated the most was Yoong Jae… he gave me cocky / narcissistic vibes with the way he treated So E and even Han Bin. Obviously the girl I hated the most was Seul Ki… she filled up the screen time and it wasn’t like she was interesting or had much to say. I’m sure she’s a great person deep down but I do not think dating shows are for her. The second person I found insufferable was Min Su because she stayed choosing Jin Young even though she knew Nadine liked him. Ugh it’s the way Jin young upset me with choosing Seul Ki even though he had the best connection and best vibes with Nadine. Platonic or not they were great and he would’ve been better off choosing her. But no he had to come with his bullsh*t talking about how he knows he likes a girl in 3 seconds and if he feels sparks or what not.
My favorite contestant by far was Nadine. Idc if people wanna keep saying that she was only there for her Thesis and how she spoke English to try and "flex" on the others. If you watch her YouTube channel you can see what kind of person she really is. I appreciated her genuineness because even though she was nervous and shy at first (especially because she had to speak Korean) you could tell she was a really down to earth person. And even though she didn’t end up with anyone I feel like she grew from the experience and learned to be more vulnerable and stop being afraid of approaching guys first. I love her and I will be rooting for her beyond paradise because she made the show enjoyable and made me want to stick around.
With that said, another person I think deserved so much better was Se Jeong. You could feel the colorism dripping from the screen with each episode lmao. Because she was not paper white like the rest she did not have a chance to go to paradise, make it make sense! She was gorgeous and all of the men overlooked and forgot about her just because she didn’t fit their “ideal” In the end as Jin Young said she was only “girl crush” material indicating that she wasn’t even potential girlfriend or wife material. That comment was so insulting and you’d think that the world was becoming more open and progressive but no. People still judge others by their skin color first calling it preference or “ideal” type. I don’t think Se Jeong had a real chance in the inferno and it was sad to watch her day after day be lonely. I know people are gonna say she doesn’t have a personality and is bland but that isn’t true. People should be blaming the producers and editors for not showing her scenes and overlooking her like the rest. In small moments you could see her efforts in trying to get to know the guys but they just weren’t interested in her the same way. Some of them claim to have picked her on day 1 for ideal type and changed their minds but we don’t know how true that is. I say Se Jeong just had bad luck and was around the wrong group of men.
The only couple I truly enjoyed was Se Jun and So E. So E definitely came a long way since the initial episodes… at first I did not like her and thought she was fake and willing to steal other peoples men. But that wasn’t the case… she was naive and upsetting when you’d hear her say stuff like how she’d keep trying for Yoon Jae no matter how many times he rejected her. That in itself infuriated and annoyed me so badly because we were finally seeing her true nature however it was like she couldn’t recognize that she deserved better and should stop settling for less.
I was so happy when Se Jun arrived in paradise and finally saw So E. He truly saw her and accepted her for who she was and didn’t even care about her previous connections with any of the other guys before he arrived. He really put her first and took such good care of her. His kindness and compassion towards her warmed my heart. You could really see that he just wanted her to be happy and make the most of the experience. He didn’t want her to feel obligated or pressured into choosing him, he wanted her to explore her options and make decisions of her own free will. In my humble opinion Se Jun was the best guy in paradise.
I’ve watched the reunion episode with them reacting to their clips and I have to say I’m glad the cast members have remained in contact with each other and seem friendly / like friends. That was the only outcome of the show anyways because it’s just so unrealistic for people to “fall in love” in nine (9) days. Plus in eastern culture it takes so much longer for them to trust and have a connection or even get physical. Watching this show is such a let down in comparison to other shows. If I didn’t have anything better to do I probably wouldn’t have watched. The show needs more spice but lmao this is coming from a western viewer — I like shows like too hot to handle, the bachelor / bachelor in paradise, love island etc.
I just feel like the people they show casted are all adults and should be more forthcoming with their feelings especially if they choose to sign up for a dating show that only lasts for 9 days. They’re all grown so it’s so annoying watching them keep up the innocent childish act to preserve their reputation or what not. Like cut the bs. It’s why I have to give the show a 5.5 /10. I literally feel like I wasted my life and those are hours I’ll never get back. My own fault, obviously but I’m glad I got to see persons like Nadine, Se Jun and So E. Watching them made it worth it somehow ??
Overall, I felt like the show was predictable. If you’ve watched season 1 it’s the same exact thing to expect in season 2. There’s no difference except for the cast and I presume as the seasons go along it will only become more boring because persons want to appear a certain way to the audience watching and don’t really know how to be their true authentic selves. Also parts of the show are scripted like you can’t tell me each season there will be a girl who has 3 men choosing her??? Be fucking fr
Would I recommend this to others? Probably not. Not unless you want to purposely drive yourself insane for 8 out of 10 episodes or you want to stick around for the rare gem of a couple (So E and Se Jun)
Anyway, thanks for reading!
❤️
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SINCERITY AT IT’S BEST
Single’s Inferno 2 definitely had given me more of a raw emotions and sincerity to find a partner. I have seen dating shows, I’m not gonna say I like them, I felt like participants mindset is always about finding a fling than truly finding a partner. I do know that most of these show are to promote themselves, but Single’s Inferno 2 I felt their sincerity towards the person they are going after.This may have been an unpopular opinion, but I love and I’m impressed about most of the paticipant being loyal, and decisive.
CAST/PARTICIPANT - I love each individual, and I rarely say this to reality shows. They all have their charms and strength.
Jinyoung : I truly believe that this guy thinks that he cannot decide or show his intentions but his actions says otherwise, unfortunately sometimes subtle actions are not enough to another esp when a better competitor is available.
Seulki : She’s someone who is considerate and knows herself. When she was heartbroken for not being sure if her feelings are reciprocated, she pick herself up and decided to give the person who showed sincerity to her, a chance, unfortunately she took so many bullets from being a person that is most sought after
Jongwoo : A definition of a guy that knows how to express both in words and action and know how to have bounderies. I was happy for him the most.
Seo Eun : Lovelist girl, she’s is honestly one of the best if not the best girls in this season, someone who can be direct, expressive, and decisive.
Youngjae : One of the best guy, I love that when his heart decided for him, he knows how to act on it, he was hated on for stringing a girl on but I do understand that it was hard to reject someone who showed so much sincerity.
SoE : If I’m being honest, I was frustrated that after many hints, after many times YJ did not pick her, after seeing him going only for one girl, I’m surprise she still going for him, I felt so sad for her, but I was so glad that someone came and change the game, she deserve to be loved.
Sejun : Easily the best guy in the show, the unbothered loyalty, and respect to SoE was so admirable. His humor and charm was insane.
Dongwoo : A guy who has two choices at first and was pick by the exact two women, unfortunately failed to capture both of them. May have been the most forgettable cast.
Nadine : Lovely personality, she was a chill person and unfortunately the show just didn’t work out for her.
Hanbin: The most respectful girl, someone who goes fir what he wants but does not make it heavy for another. A considerate nice guy, unfortunately someone had already capture the heart of the person he like.
Sejong : Probably the only person who I felt like someone who just wanted to go to Paradise more than finding a match.
Minsu : She participated late, but didn’t shine at all, she was easily overshadowed by all other girls.
COUPLES - very belivable feelings, like their feelings are so raw, and sincerity was shown.
Jinyoung&Seulki : their chemistry is off the charts, the tension can cut, and the feelings were so strong BUT communication was their downfall.
Jungwoo&Seulki : that love that you wanted to watch grow, that sincerity that blooms, it felt safe and warm.
SeoEun&Youngjae : the power couple, the couple that you can tell was strong from beginning to end, it screams forever.
SoE&Sejun : The unexpected chemistry and charm of like manhwa story, cute, and lovely.
OVERALL/ENDING - I truly enjoyed the whole show and some may not get the proper screentime, to me they have shown the drama between love triangles because it’s intense and interesting. No all character will have the same screentime, so understand why it was done the way it was. Ending was unexpected but it’s a twist that would make you feel happy either way. I like it and I thank all these participant to giving us a great show.
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Better than Season 1 (for me)
Show Concept & Design: 7/10 ⭐️ Aside from the timing of entry of new participants, comparing it to the first season, the mechanics of the show didn't change much. I personally not very fond of how staying in Paradise as a reward and form of a date, but it's just what the show is. If they are going to have season 3, they could use some modifications.Cast & Couples Chemistry: 8/10 ⭐️ The cast is impressive in their own right but SI definitely have formed some archetypes in their participants. You may see parallels from season 1. Despite that, I feel more attached to most of them emotionally. Aside from chemistry from romance, this season seems to have formed nice friendships too.
Journey & Endgame: 9/10 ⭐️ This season has made the journey worth watching. Almost every person who has been part of the love triangle seems to have a proper conversation with the person. It could be just the editing but this one never avoided the feelings of people who is interested in them and with just that in my book is a mature way of dealing things. I would say parts of the endgame is unexpected but it could be interpreted as realistic or scripted. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this show.
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Truth to be told, this season was nowhere near as fun to watch as season 1. It seemed like most people gave up halfway through and everyone was just chilling in a friendly manner. I mean, I felt the pain of the editors. The uneven screen time for all the cast, how some episodes literally showed close to nothing from what was happening in Inferno - I guess they truly struggled with finding a good footage to include in the final product.
While in season 1 I felt like almost no one was rejecting anyone because they were “playing the game” and doing what the dating show is supposed to be about, here everyone was obsessed with their initial pick, but also no one wanted to be the bad guy or rude so no rejections happened and it was just this awkward vague bubble that did not want to burst.
I honestly don’t have more to say about it. The only reason I still watched it after the halfway through point, were the fun discussions in the comment section and to know the context of some comments and replies.
Do I feel bad for any of them for not being picked by the people they liked? Or not going to paradise? No. They are all hot, young, with successful careers and even their stay in “Inferno” is a vacation many people could never afford… I think that’s why I enjoy shows like that. I can watch them with no negative emotions.
Ps. Se Jun was THE MVP. Best boy ever. Bless him. Wish him all the happiness.
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This review may contain spoilers
better than s1
thoughts about the ending:firstly women who stayed alone:
- Park Sejeong: i'm sad she didn't got any attention and didn't go to paradise, i kinda hoped she will go there with Jinyoung at the last trip, even as friends. it can be true it's because of her beauty which doesn't exactly fit korean standards. she tried to talk with boys but her approach might have been not enough. tho she suprised me, cause at the beginning i thought she is more mean (??), but she was really nice and supportive
- Lee Minsu: same issue as in s1, she came to late, when people already knew each other (Jinyoung came relatively early in comparision to here). as she said she had to choose one person, but unfortunately she focused on Jinyoung who already had his fanclub. i have mixed feelings about her behavior - in one way people say it was wrong for ex. when she went to Nadine and Jinyoung or when she still chose him to go to paradise, even when he very clearly said he wants to go with another person; i understand people can think she was behaving rude, but i don't think it was that bad, she just have tried to pursue the person she was into, furthermore she didn't have time to choose another person (while also she didn't really knew the dynamics so well)
- Lee Nadine: to start, i didn't really liked her nor was a part of her fanclub (on the contrary i felt some ofher fans were really rude, especially on twitter or instagram). tho still i think she behaved well in her situaton, trying to pursue Jinyoung, she did good job even if nobody supported her openly in the show (cause other members were mostly focused on Jinyoung-Seulki dynamics). i think main reasons why Jinyoung didn't choose her: she wasn't his type based on the looks, he felt too comfortable around her (and as he told Minsu he don't like it with his partner), she was too young and unsettled and also she considered relationship as something she need to put a lot of work into (while Jinyoung wanted more space, according to what he said)
okay, now time to the rest:
- Soe&Sejun: i think they will probably stay as friends. it would've been weird for Soe to go alone and leave Sejun so she might felt some pressure over this. they seem very comfortable around each other tho and Sejun is very into her, tho i still think that he appears to Soe more like a best friend (it very reminds me of Yeawon&Junsik from s1, they have also stayed as friends)
- Seoeun&Yoongjae + Hanbin: they have amazing relationship. maried couple. no doubts. i hope and think they will stay together, they are both similar, chill; about Hanbin, i'm his biggest fan, he just behaved so well, acknowledging his feelings while also not putting pressure over Seoeun, i hope he will find someone!
now for the biggest melodrama stars of this season...:
(about Dongwoo, i don't think there's a lot to say. we know how she feel about him)
firstly i want to say i was a big Seulki&Jinyoung shipper. tho in last episodes it have changed, and i liked Seulki's choice a lot. it was very mature of her. she knew that she felt something for Jinyoung, but also she might have realise that their relationship could not last. i think they had more of physical intimacy between each other and while the 8/9 days was full of chemistry, later it could've changed. she didn't feel secure around him, he seemed hard to read. and while all the times she was feeling bad, Jongwoo was there to comfort her.
personally i think that initially after her trip to paradise with Jongwoo, she thought more about choosing Jinyoung at the end. what changed her mind was her talk with Jinyoung. she was giving hints for him that she wants him more, that she likes his personality. while Jinyoung told her he's still not sure. and furthermore (which i think was the most important thing) he said he doesn't he can support his girlfriend so much and that he wants his partner to be settled. that was what put her off, it could've seemed to her like their relationship might be difficult in the future.
a lot of people talks about being honest/dishonest in this context. for me it's true that Jinyoung is a honest person and he was open about his feelings and thought. but also we need to remember that he didn't really thought abot how his words can affect the other person. while being honest it's also important to being considerate about how it sounds. as the hosts said, their talk seemed to be more like a rejection than invitation.
to leave his topic, i'm very fond of Jongwoo. he was amazing, pursuing his feelings, while being considerative and caring. he tried not to put pressure over Seulki while also being open for her and supportive. that was what won her heart. because even if she didn't feel direct chemistry with him, she felt comfortable, secured and this is what is the best base for the further relationship. i think they might be a real couple in the future.
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Cast is better than S1 but nothing changed
I watched the first season. It was good, but I had wanted something more if they were going to do another season.This season just felt like a complete replica of Season 1. The team didn't even try to change anything, besides having a slightly more diverse cast. They tried to make certain cast members shine more, robbing other casts of their scenes. I would love to see Hanbin or Sejeong and their mundane chats over having to bare another scene with Seulki awkwardly talking to someone.
The cast this season was a lot more interesting and diverse than Season 1's, which was fun to see. They had more chemistry with one another. The production team pulled the same grimy move of having new member arrive later on in the eps again, but at least Sejun was able to make the most of it and ended up soaring up people's favorites list with his charm. I was so bored until Sejun came into the picture. I'm so happy we had a little justice for So-e arc when he started liking her. Their scenes were the most genuine without any cringey lines or awkwardness!
And again with the weird games. I have never watched such uncomfortable games in my life, and these games were even more cringe than last season's. Every chance for viewers to see their bodies and strength, the production team is all over that. There was also the most random scene with Sejeong and Dongwoo tanning on the beach. That was so uncalled for and unnecessary.
There was a lot of beating around the bush conversations this season, which dragged for so many episodes. As much as most people were green flags, it doesn't work for a reality show. Everyone was too laidback this season to bring on any spice. I enjoyed the surprise ending twist though. Seulki matched Jongwoo way more, and she was only holding onto Jinyoung through attraction. Jinyoung never once gave a clear answer, compared to Jongwoo. They had nothing in common. Just like last season, sincerity prevails. It's interesting to see from a viewer's perspective that someone who loves you over someone you love has won again.
Netflix is probably going to milk more seasons after this. And being the dating show junkie I am, I will reluctantly watch. I just really wish they would change things up for next season.
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Its was an alright show but not good enough to be wowing
I didnt like that the games and the overall organization of the show was the complete same as the first season. We need something refreshing - new games, new challenges. I found the commentary part of the show the most annoying. The hosts didnt add anything new to the show, they just literally explained what we just saw happen. They were really unnecessary and even boring. There were times i actually skipped their comments.The actual cast for the show was interesting. I didnt like that all of their hobbies were just sports, because it didnt feel interesting enough.
Unlike the first season, the contestants here chose one person from the beginning at stuck with them. Soe, Min Su and Dong Woo were rejected at least twice but they still choose the same person. While in the first season, when people didnt go to Paradise, they were actually flirting with one another and made the show interesting.
A few episodes before the ending I already knew what the final couples would be. I didnt find that interesting.
Overall, the show was cute but definitely not interesting and shocking enough for a reality show.
Also the fact that they edited Han Bin out of a beach scene because he was supposed to be at Paradise made me question if the show is real at all and not just scripted. The fact that Jin Young stopped by Min Su and Nadine that way before the final decision made it very clear to me that the directors wanted to make the show have a plot twist, but it sadly didnt work.
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Watch it for Kim Jin Young aka Dex ?
This whole season was carried by one name and that is the wildcard entry Kim Jin Young aka Dex ? His personality was very real and not made up like many others. There was a lot of biasness in the show that is visible as some contestants storyline was focused and people were put into boxes heavily editing to support the narrative to favor the girl to be the main character of the show coz she has connections.But Dex broke it all he entered like a Star...He came he saw and boy did he rule ??✨
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We need more than one season a year ??
First of all, let me express my gratitude to the director of the show. You are extremely talented and deserve an award for being attentive to details. The show is well directed, the commentary team is the best selection for the show, please don't replace anyone for the future seasons. I have no comments about the content except you can always increase the number of participants, episodes and add more games to the show, more opportunities for the participants to get to know each other and also less cuts. Showing more content of the daily life of the participants in inferno could be a plus to the show and would entertain the viewers more. Also you can directe a follow up show about after inferno to check with the participants.. like.. who remain together and who didn't and how it goes afterwards, I am still curious about the couples from season 1.Looking forward the next season sooner.
NB: The final episode was so overwhelming, I cried a looooooooooooooooooooooooooot.
Love you all ♡
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This review may contain spoilers
The contestants were entertaining
I’ve watched all the Single’s infernos and this is definitely the best one. I liked the cast I think they sort of brought something to the show so it was interesting to watch. My favourite contestant was Seulki. I don’t know but there was just something charming about her. After seeing most comments from people online, I wonder if we watched the same show. It was sad to see that Seulki was getting a lot of hate especially from Nadine supporters. Now, I liked Nadine, she was one of my favourite contestants so it was sad to see the guys didn’t choose her but that doesn’t mean Seulki should be getting hate for being chosen. Most people complaining about Seulki said she seemed fake and was a pick me which makes no sense. She never once first approached the guys or confronted any girl. The guys were the ones who chose her and asked to speak with her. Also, I saw that a lot of international fans were complaining about the guys go for the same person and only pick the Korean beauty standard. Now, it’s unfortunate that the guys do that but I don’t know what you guys were expecting coming to watch “Korean” show and complaining that people liked “Korean” standards. it’s not the girls fault that fit into the standards and are picked by the men. Also, Seoun people said that she seemed fake as well but she was genuinely a bubbly person as the other contestants said. Her and Seulki just got hate for being the most popular.Jin-Young and Seulki: This is probably the one that most people would be talking about. if you watched the show it was very obvious that Jinyoung liked Seulki, he said it himself that he prefers when he’s uncomfortable cause it means he likes the person which is how it was with Seulki. Also, with their conversations he seemed fluttered and shy while with Seulki but when he talked to others he was more of a friendly vibe. The main thing tho was that he was always called by girls to talk but he never asked anyone for time to talk except Seulki which in my opinion shows he only likes her. From the show it’s clear that talking to someone during your free time is very important. I think his downside was that he kept on being vague with his replies and he didn’t people to assume that him and Seulki are in a relationship, he tried to remain open but didn’t give Seulki any assurance so I’m happy that she didn’t pick him honestly. Overall it was a good show if I could erase my memory and watch it again, I will?
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Way better than S1 but still not the best
Singles Inferno has an interesting theme as it takes place on an island, but to me the show has some negative points (actually the same as the S1). First, I don’t think the show is much dynamic or creative and the production team also does not make an effort to bring dynamism, as they basically brought the same games from the 1st season. Normally these dating shows have traces of superficiality but in Singles Inferno they are even bigger. The participants' conversations don't seem to go anywhere sometimes and their dates are most boring or monotonous. And as I said before, because it takes place on an island, they end up not having many places to go and that makes the program also monotonous because they are always in similar or in the same places.What could make the program more interesting are the participants. And yes, I liked them more here than season 2. However, I still think that the dynamic between them is awkward sometimes and one thing that bothers me a lot in korean dating shows is how they do not try to interact romantically with others. The show also doesn't create ways to help to form other couples, they simply leave all the decisions to the participants and this ends up making the show monotonous. But I do think the friendship they form and some scenes of some couples are nice and make us really shipp them together. It’s a good show to watch to pass the time you know and it’s easy to shipp someone here.
Talking more about the participants, in this season my favorite contestants were Jongwoo, Hanbin, Nadine and So-e but I liked them all in general. It’s sad that Hanbin and Nadine ended up being alone tho :( and Sejeong didn’t even had a chance. but I liked the final couples. Sejun with Soe was really cute, altought I don’t see a romantic chemistry. Seulki and Jongwoo might work well together because they match. And Yoongjae and Seoeun looked like a couple already.
In my vision Jinyoung chose Seulki in the end only because she’s more close to his ideal type. He said he felt a connection with her and I was like WHAT because they were totally different and even their conversations seemed off. I do think they had chemistry together but I don’t see like a connection or like they matched with each other. To me he had more like a connection with Nadine but she clearly wasn’t his type and I think the fact she lives abroad and study medicine also made him feel a little awkward around her.
I also felt that Seulki was more attracted to Jinyoung and he’s more like her ideal type. In the end she even said “I usually always chose the guys I like”, meaning that she probably would have chosen Jinyoung BUT Jongwoo’s sincerity came across to her and she prefered to choose someone who seemed more genuine to her and someone who she was more comfortable with. Also the last conversation she had with Jinyoung clearly made her feel a little awkward. I’m glad she chose Jongwoo in the end.
In the campfire, I also didn’t like Jinyoung’s question about which date Seulki liked more, with him or Jongwoo. I thought it was a completely unnecessary question that could make him or Jongwoo, and also Seulki, really uncomfortable. Actually the whole questionary time with Seulki was really uncomfortable but I felt that Jinyoung’s question was the worst of all.
Anyway, in general, I believe that if you like dating shows, this one it’s going to captivate you but to me there’s others dating shows in Korea that are more interesting than this one. I liked the participants here tho more than S1, they felt more close to me.
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They upped the game from season one everything is just a bit more
9/10 is my rating. This is a 2002 South Korean reality dating show with 10, 57-68 minute episodes.First I will provide a synopsis then review
Commentators/Hosts
Lee Da Hee- Model, singer, and actress
Cho Kyu-Hun - Actor and singer (idol). He is a member of Super Junior.
Hong Jin-Kyung - Model, comedian, singer and actress. She owns her own food company.
Jung Han-Hae - Rapper and singer.
Participants
Females
Lee Nadine (age 22) Neuroscience pre-med major at Harvard University
Shin Seoul-Ki (age 24) Piano major at Seoul University
Park Se-jeong (age 26) Model for brands such as BMW and Sony
Lee So-e (age 22) Acting major at Hanyang University
Choi Seo-Eun (age 28) Artist. Crowned as Miss Korea 2021.
Lim Min-su (age 26) model and CEO of online clothing boutique
Men
Choi Jong-woo (age 24) Barista of a family-owned cafe in Gangwon-do
Jo Yoong-Jae (age 31) Investment broker at Shinhan Investment Corp. Graduated with a Finance Management major from Hanyang University
Kim Han-bin (age 32) Chef/ restaurant owner. Won all kinds of prestigious culinary awards.
Shun Ding-woo (age 32) Plastic surgeon. Graduated from Yonsei University's College of Medicine
Kim Jin-young (age 28) YouTuber. Former ROKN UDT soldier
Kim Se-Jun (age 26) Tailor at Ascottage, founded by Season 1 participant Oh Jin-taek
They upped the attractiveness level for season 2. Super fit, muscular men and several of the women were models and/or had been in various pageants. From the 1st season to this season one thing I noticed overall is that many go for the person they are physically attracted to over someone they are slightly less attracted to but would be long term compatible with. They are all young and think about such things as people that age would.
*Spoilers
Lee Nadine is one of my favorite female participants. The fact that she speaks both Korean and English so well is impressive. Her drive and passion for medicine is extremely admirable. She is very forthright and honest which I enjoy. I think she is a great match with Kim Jin-young because they have so much in common. Neither seem to be overly demonstrative with affection. Both are very focused and driven in their pursuits. He enjoys thrill sports and she does too. She was in the army for a brief time and he was a soldier. I sense, in him, some recovery from the soldier life, perhaps some PTSD and I think she could best understand and help him with that. She is studying in the USA but he is interested in spending time in the USA. That being said he is highly attracted to Shin Seoul-Ki as are several of the other male participants. In their interactions I could tell they were both highly physically attracted to each other but could not hold a very long or substantive discussion with each other. He was able to talk to Nadine a lot as they had a lot of common interests and personality traits. I think she knew in the end he was not going to stay with her although his long pause with her made me wonder if he was considering it. I don't know if that was scripted and that was the reason she reacted the way she did or if she really had just moved on. If she moved on, I am proud of her because obviously she was not his first choice. If the show had run longer he might have become more interested in her because I think they were very compatible.
Shin Seol-ki seems very nice on the surface but it isn't a nice trait, to me, when you "string" people along. I thought she turned her attention to Choi Jong-woo as if she was seriously considering him when I really think she was focusing on him just to make Kim Jin-young jealous. Jong-woo was so kind and considerate of her noticing when she didn't feel well, bringing her medicine and just generally watching out and taking care of her. When they interacted they had a lot to talk about and she seemed attracted to him but not at the same level as Jin-young. I don't think he was interested in Seol-ki for competitive reasons or because the other male participants were interested in her, his interest seemed beyond her physical appearance and that he was also drawn to her for personal reasons. But, as young woman often do she would trample Jong-woo's feelings the minute Jin-young expressed interest. Physical attraction is fleeting, but a real connection with someone you also find attractive is rare. Although Seol-ki chose Jong-woo in the end I did not feel super good about them as a couple because I thought she put him through a lot emotionally out of her desire to be the center of attention.
Lee So-e was sweet, but her near obsession with Jo Yoong-jae was over the top. He made it very clear he was only interested her as a friend even before he became romantically interested in Choi Seo-eun. It was particularly frustrating when she debated asking Yoong-jae to Paradise on a sort of forced date after she said she was okay with them just being friends. I was so relieved when she did not follow through with that. I understand the whole being a fool for love mentality but that rarely works. When you have pride in yourself others respect you more. She would have stood a better chance with Yoong-jae moving on and making him feel competitive with other men. I was glad when Kim Se-jun liked So-e and took her to Paradise. He was so sweet to her about his interest and feelings but I felt like she shined him on a bit because she was sill hung up on Yoong-jae. I wanted to sit her down and have her watch the movie "He is Just Not That into You" because that was so much the case in this situation. Even if you manage to turn someone's interest toward you after being firmly friend zoned you wind up being the one that loves the most and that is a lonely position to be in.
I loved Kim Han-bin. His positive attitude was infectious. He was so sweet in all of his interactions with the female participants I was completely baffled they were not more interested in him. He did an amazing job in the wrestling ring for a man who was physically less muscular and a little smaller than the others. And he was having so much fun in that match. I was sorry when they ganged up and got him out.
The physical challenges are a lot of fun to watch. It is surprising who does well and who does not because you cannot always predict up front who will win. I thought for sure Jin-young would win, hands down, the wrestling match. As a former special forces I was sure the other men stood little chance unless they ganged up on him. I was pleasantly surprised how well all the men did holding off, sometimes even multiple other men, trying to get them out of the ring. And Jong-woo's absolute determination to be the winner was an amazing thing to watch. Those matches are so exciting.
Lim Min-su was another one that needed to watch "He's just Not That into You." She took a liking to Jin-young and invited him to Paradise even after she had been rebuffed. He was pretty clear, without being completely cruel, that he was not interested in her like that. With a man like Jin-young becoming clingy is only going to drive him even farther away. He prefers the hunt and the woman that attracts a lot of attention and is harder to get. She is such a beautiful girl and seemed nice enough, she should have moved on and considered maybe Shun Ding-woo or Kim Han-bin. But she got laser focused on Jin-young and did not allow herself to get to know the others at all.
Park Se-joung was a complete surprise. I thought she would be a favorite of the male participants because she reminded me of several female idols. She also seemed very nice and there were several times when the male participants had one on one conversations with her just as they wandered about Inferno. The female participants got along with her well. I think, with her, it was just timing. Had she won some of the competitions and the men gotten to know her better, she likely would have had more interest directed at her.
The commentator/hosts are one of my favorite parts of the show. Cho Kyu-hun is so sensitive and beyond cute when he expresses empathy for the participants. He has such a great read on motivations and very wise insights on what people are doing and what they should do. Lee Da-hee is very intuitive and her reactions to what is happening are very compelling. I love her fashion sense too, just seeing what she is wearing next is part of the fun. Hong Jin-kyung is funny as one would expect from a comedian. She brings such a fresh perspective to the group and I love it when she points things out. Jung Han-hae is quiet a lot of times, but he is introspective, so when he comments about things he usually has another perspective. As a group it feels like watching those show with a group of super fun people, like you are sharing a 4th wall with them. Some of the reviewers expressed negative views about the hosts but I think it makes the show. I don't think it would be nearly as enjoyable without the hosts.
After watching 2 seasons the things I think would improve an already great show. I think it is a mistake to let anyone go to Paradise with the same person twice. As a viewer those dates are boring. They already know each other, we already know about them, and with only 9 days it makes it even less likely they get to know other people. I think the show could run longer than nine days because some are just starting to think about someone else and the show ends. Nine days is not enough time to become interested in someone, get rejected, and move on to someone else. I also enjoy, as much as the time on Paradise, the time spent on Inferno and a longer run would allow more time for the singles to get to know each other on Inferno. I hope they do reunion shows because viewers, based on online traffic, are really interested in what the participants do after the show.
#SinglesInferno2
#LeeDaHee
#ChoKyuHun
#HongJinKyung
#JungHanHae
#LeeNadine
#ShinSeoulKi
#ParkSejeong
#LeeSoE
#ChoiSeoEun
#LimMinSu
#ChoiJongWoo
#JoYoongJae
#KimHanbin
#ShunDingwoo
#KimJinyoung
#KimSeJun
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