The second season of Netflix’s variety show “The Devil’s Plan Death Room” concluded on May 20 with the release of its final episode, crowning a single winner among 12 players. Though packed with unexpected twists, unpredictable alliance shifts and a shocking secret reveal, many viewers were left emotionally disconnected after the finale.
Throughout the season, intense psychological warfare unfolded with each game: from the fifth main match “Balance Mancala”, to the prison match “Wall Go” and finale-prep games like “Suspicion Betting” and “Formula Pyramid”. The final winner remarked, “’The Devil’s Plan’ is about winning by any means necessary. I gave it my all at every moment.”
Directed by brain survival mastermind Jung Jong-yeon, this season was praised early on for its sophisticated game design and strong 14-player lineup. The appearance of former professional Go player Lee Sedol exceeded expectations with his strategic prowess.
However, reactions became increasingly divided as the show progressed. Despite maintaining a high rank on Netflix Korea’s variety chart, some viewers expressed fatigue, saying the emphasis shifted from gameplay to social politics. Criticisms like “the bullying narrative undermined the game’s essence” and “romantic subplots ruined the storyline” were frequent.
International feedback mirrored domestic sentiment. Although the show ranked 9th globally in Netflix’s non-English TV category and performed well in Korea and Asia, it failed to match the explosive global reception of Season 1. One international fan even quoted Dante to subtly criticize the show, “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”
Following the final episode, online communities were abuzz with comments such as “Why was there a hidden rule in the living quarters?”, “There were cracks in fairness” and “It felt like the game was rigged for someone.” Rather than feeling excitement over the finale, viewers expressed discontent, claiming that “the production interfered too much with the narrative”.
In an interview, PD Jung Jong-yeon stated, “There were no special adjustments for international viewers. I wanted to highlight Korean-style rules and character depth.” However, whether the storytelling and elimination format truly maintained viewer immersion remains up for debate.
Meanwhile, “The Devil’s Plan Death Room” will host a fan event in Seongsu-dong, Seoul on May 23. Attendees will include cast members Justin H. Min, Kang Ji-young, Kim Ha-rin, Park Sang-yeon, etc and PD Jung Jong-yeon.
