The Devil’s Plan Death Room (2025)

Useless reality ever

What can i say, i was a huge fan of the 1st season even if the alliances thing of going all vs one annoyed me a lot, but in this season they did their best.
Funny how this should be a reality where the smartest win games but it turned out like a contest who make more friends.
Starting from the cast: Sohee and Kyuhyun should do acting and commentary because how can you play a survival game if you have no will to win; they annoyed so much with all of those sentimental choices like they are playing with each other lives, not even if they were in squid game where they are playing with people lives, just play the game for god sake. Hyunjoon, Jiyeong, Chuu and the 2004 guy were absolutely useless and since they know that they did everything to play in group because they knew that alone they would have been in disadvantage.
And here it comes the biggest problem: THE PRODUCTION. How can you put in every game the possibility of ruining it by playing in groups; of course people will do alliances to survive but if you put them in the conditions to use that to play games like kids in elementary school, i ask myself where is the fun of watching this show. The peak was at the game at the 11th episode: i don't wanna say what happened because i don't wanna make spoilers but all of what happened was absolutely ridicolous, just people who refuse to play the game and decided who would have gone to the final.
Basically if you start this season because you want to see people solve problems, competing in games and give their best (wich should be the concept of the program) save your time because all that you will get is people who tries to pass the game all togheter without playing it and leave behind the people who want to play alone. Only the prison games are a bit entertaining to watch, but there you can witness how bad are some people who always played in group when they're put in a situation of playing alone

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When Charisma Gets Replaced by Scheming

Can we say… kinda? I mean, in the first season, the winner was way ahead of all the other contestants. You could see their superiority from the very first episodes. They won purely through the power of their charisma and intelligence.

The new winner… how can I put it… ended up winning because his BFF dropped out at the last minute. He used her all the way through to the end. Maybe he's more in line with the theme of the show, but honestly, I would’ve preferred a winner who made it to the finale thanks to actual skills, not tricks and manipulation. Sorry not sorry.

I hope the next season focuses more on individual play. I know drama always works, but this season had way too many alliances that ruined the chances of some really interesting potential finalists.

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Great build-up but ultimately underwhelming at the end

Devil’s Plan 2 kicked off strong, promising even more intense mind games, strategic alliances, and betrayals than the first season. For most of the run, especially in the early and middle episodes, it really delivered. But as the season approached its end, things started to fall apart. If you felt like the last three episodes (10–12) were a major letdown, you’re definitely not alone. It’s frustrating when smart strategies that were carefully built up suddenly fall apart for no real reason (except feeling bad for a competitor), or when interesting character arcs either end abruptly or when risk/reward of games don’t make much sense.

And when the finale finally arrived, the tension fizzled. The final games felt too simple and didn’t hit the right emotional notes, it makes the whole ending feel hollow. A strong finish could have cemented this season as something great, but instead, it felt illogical and underwhelming. The worst finish to a survival game is to watch contestants without the will to win. My advice would be to save your time and skip this to avoid getting disappointed in the end.

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A Game of Intelligence, Betrayal, and Mental Survival

I don’t even know where to begin because I have so much to say about everything and everyone in this show. This was a whole roller coaster and such a nice masterpiece.so let me begin.

My favorite from the very beginning was Justin and he remains my favorite even after finishing the entire season. I just love him. I knew he wouldn't make it to the end because he was simply too good of a person. And in a game like this? The good ones are usually the ones who fall first. His elimination was definitely predictable, but what I admire most is how hard he tried to survive in such a devilish world. He gave it his all, and his heart was always in the right place.

Most of the players were genuinely great and deserved to win in their own ways. But what truly made the difference were the small details, the subtle choices, the quiet betrayals, the ability to control emotions and read the room. This show proved that being smart and intelligent isn’t enough.Now, I should say I’m not going to talk about every participant here. I’m only focusing on the ones who made the biggest impact on the game and shaped the overall tone of the season, the ones who, in my eyes, made the show what it was.

So Hee – The Emotional Genius
As a finalist and one of the smartest in the game, So Hee showed a lot of potential. She was my second favorite. I love her as a person, but I have to be honest: she didn’t deserve the win. She let her emotions overpower her logic at critical moments. In this game, showing weakness is fatal, and unfortunately, she allowed herself to be vulnerable. In The Devil’s Plan, weakness is for losers, no matter how brilliant you are.

Hyun Joon – The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
The one who surprised me the most was definitely Hyun Joon. At first, he acted like a soft, sweet, emotional guy — innocent, harmless. But in reality? He was crafting a huge plan behind that kind face. That man is truly cunning, and this game was built for people like him. I honestly admire him for how far he came. He had one goal: reach the end. And he did it. That said, I can’t say he was the most complete player. He wasn’t quite smart enough to beat Hyun Gyu, and his game relied a lot on deception and manipulation which, to me, felt dirty. Everyone in this game made shady moves, sure, but some kept a certain code. He didn’t. Still, I give him credit for fooling almost everyone.

7high – From Chaos to Clarity
7high had the most character development by far. In the beginning, I couldn’t understand him at all, he seemed loud, unpredictable, even a bit chaotic. But then I realized: that was part of his strategy. He wasn’t trying to please anyone. He didn’t play dirty games, he just stayed true to himself. He was always upfront whether he liked someone or not, he made it clear. He gave his best to those he trusted and never pretended. I think he’s much better as a solo player, and he understood the mechanics of the game very well. That’s why I predicted he’d make it far and he did. I respect him for staying real in a game full of masks.

Tinno – The Nice Guy With the Wrong Alliance
Tinno deserved way more. He was a smart strategist, clever, open-minded, and honestly one of the most well-rounded players in the game. But his biggest mistake? Trusting the ones with the most pieces. Yes, it’s good to build relationships, but in a game like this? Trusting the wrong people is suicide. I loved the irony of how he got eliminated by 7high, the same person he had betrayed. It was karma in the purest form. He underestimated the dangers of loyalty in a place built on betrayal.

The Fire Within – No One Gave Up
One thing I really appreciated was seeing how much every single player wanted to win. You could feel it. They gave their all mentally, emotionally, and strategically. Even those who got eliminated early were fighting. What truly stood out to me in this show was the intensity, not just of the games, but of the people. There’s something powerful about that. Just being able to survive in a world like this filled with betrayal, lies, and mind games, is already a huge win. No one gave up. And I think that’s what made the show so addictive, raw, and real.

Hyun Gyu – The Devil Who Mastered the Devil’s Plan
And finally, we have Hyun Gyu — the winner, and honestly, the most complete player in the entire season. He was the true embodiment of The Devil’s Plan.He kept his emotions in check.
He stayed calm and composed, showcased intelligence, strategy, skill, and mental toughness, got through the hardest situations by learning from his mistakes, qnd took risks when others hesitated.That was the difference. He was never afraid to stand alone. Even when he had alliance, he never fully trusted anyone, and that was his greatest strength. He always had a solo plan running in the background. And that’s why he won.
The road to success is thorny, but the most mentally prepared and the smartest will be able to overcome it, that’s exactly what Hyun Gyu proved. He didn’t just play the game. He understood it. He owned it. And he deserved the win more than anyone else.

Final Thoughts:
The Devil’s Plan was a rollercoaster. A psychological battlefield. A social experiment in disguise. It wasn’t just about puzzles or betrayals, it was about what people are willing to do when pushed to their limits. It made me think. It made me feel. It kept me awake at night, analyzing every move, every twist. This show wasn’t just entertainment, it was a full-blown experience. And I’ll say this: I didn’t even cover everyone. There were so many players with layers and stories, but the ones I wrote about were the ones who truly made the season for me. They’re the ones I’ll remember the most. I already miss the chaos. I already want more. And yes, I promise I’ll be back with more thoughts when the next season comes. I am waiting for the next unbelievable journey of The devil's plan 😉

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I am too emotionally involved

In the beginning I was actually rooting for Hyungyu and Sohui since they are highly intelligent and had winner potential. But as the shower progressed, I found myself rooting more and more for the underdogs (Eunyu specifically and even 7high) and was getting so frustrated with the upstairs alliance and their hypocrisy.

When the games began to favor those with more pieces, I knew their was no chance. Compared to S1, I think the games were still very fun and interesting. But everyone in S1 was at least likable and a good sport. I definitely had ups and downs of who I liked and didn’t have any particular favorite until we neared the end and I just wanted anyone BUT Hyungyu to win. It’s fine to scheme and strategize but the dirty plays and getting to just easily coast in the living room and never fight for yourself *cough Sohui cough* (like the prisoners have to continuously prove) just felt unfair and rigged even. I know that’s being emotional but so what, I’m like Hyunjoon.

Once again I think Hyungyu earned his win, but I can’t say he deserved it. It was just so predictable and disappointing and boring. I guess that’s real life for you. Love to Tinno, 7high, Eunyu, Justin, Jiyeong, etc.

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Wasted potential

The show started off very strong but slowed down a lot in the 2nd half especially from episode 9 onwards.

The cast had huge potential, which unfortunately wasn't fully exploited. You could already see in the first episodes how different and clever all the contestants were this year and they all seemed likeable. This year's concept of sending contestants to the death room every day was both the most interesting and the worst thing that could have happened to this show.

Why?

Well on the bright side, we saw the most interesting, exciting and fair matches of the season in the Death Room. It was a fair fight and we saw fair, good winners and losers. It was a real pleasure to watch these games, even if one of them was very lengthy.

The negative thing about the whole thing was that 2 camps formed immediately after the first night and the production simply did nothing to break up these camps and the tensions that arose. In my opinion, this had a negative impact on the show. Games in which all the participants played together as a group without losing any participants were completely missing. As a result, the further the show progressed, the more intolerable the character traits of some of the participants became and the rifts could no longer be overcome.

The main games seemed more like a sideshow in which the camps fought each other and the initially playful manipulations became more personal in my eyes over time in order to eliminate the competitors of the manipulating string-puller. The very first game was really good, it was exciting, funny and you could root for it. The main game in episode 6 almost felt like bullying. That was the first time I found the actions of some of the contestants really unpleasant. When the string-pullers were allowed to taste their own medicine later on, there was suddenly a lot of whining. At this point, the whole double standard came to light and the show took off.

The living area was just incredibly boring this year. The players in the living area didn't really do anything there except for one situation. Nothing else interesting happened.

In utter frustration, I stuck it out until episode 11, when I dropped the show that I loved so much last year and here in the first half/ two-thirds, because it was clear to me that there would be no winner as worthy as Seok Jin from season 1 and the winner was clear.

The production must seriously reflect on the season, because its concept has caused the imbalance. Players who were once in prison had no chance of escaping. There was only one possibility for one single player.
I now strongly hope that we get to see a better season 3, which hopefully manages to utilize the full potential of its participants in a positive way.

My suggestions:
- no exits in the first few days, but rather games in which the group plays against the system and increases its jackpot
- more games like the death matches, also as main games.
- i.e. a better mix of alliance and individual games, so that every player earns their progress and not just gets dragged along and the players who perform incredibly well are eliminated.
- Make the living area more interesting. Let people have fun. Give them the chance to increase the jackpot together without an exit or to earn an extra piece every day.
- Maybe create the possibility that not only one person can win.
- Create the opportunity for players to play their way back into the game.
- To balance the living area and prison, the production should have increased the reward for the death matches so that the players from the prison in the main game would also have the chance to change areas. With the chance to win more pieces, the living area people would certainly have wanted to go to prison.

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The show gets my stars for the first half/ two-thirds and especially for Justin, who was an insanely great player, super fair, super interesting character, team player, strategist, single player, honest, direct and kind, and a few more. I had to deduct points because of the last episodes.

Justin, I hope to see you in more shows!

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The winner takes all

And boy how.

Let me prelude everything by saying - this season, objectively - was not bad.
They switched up the concept a bit and it worked wonders, changing the game to have at least one elimination at the end of a game day was a really good move.
The players - they got the brief. They came, they played, some of them slayed. They played within alliances, they played individualistic strategies, they even played their own alliances to get ahead and this is where it started getting on my nerves.

Nothing wrong with doing that, at the end of the day, you need to do that in this game and I'm completely sure not one person who actually played the game would feel chided or put off by it.. but I did.

Oof, I did not like this season as much as the first one. The winner in season 1 absolutely deserved to win, and the winner here probably did as well, but it's hard for me to see it.
The concept of the show is to literally manipulate your way to the top and the winner did exactly that, and oh so perfectly, but call it me being a goody - goody or whatever, I just really didn't like it.

The first few episodes were exciting, things were just getting started, I had anxiety watching every single episode, you know, fun.
But the more I watched it became incredibly obvious what was going to happen.. come on.. there was no way anyone but the person who won could have won. And just like that it got boring.
Netflix sort of baited me into watching until the end by pushing me on the UNEXPECTED twists and eliminations, but there was nothing unexpected about that. If you're watching and you think you know who's going to win, stick with your gut, you're probably right.

To be completely honest, I did not like any of the people who got to the semi finals by the time they got to the semi finals, and I could not have cared less who advanced and won, but I watched it and.. it was fine I guess. I wasn't really having fun by the end, what with all the betrayal and manipulation.

Maybe it's me, maybe I'm a little too emotional to be watching people behave this ruthless and crafty, and maybe someone else can see the rational side of this. But I'm going to stick with my emotional side and say.. I didn't really enjoy this.

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so disappointing

I started this season very excited with the idea that it would be as good as the first one, but I couldn't be more wrong. Not only was some of the casting disappointing, but the dynamics and games ruined everything. The end game became extremely predictable and there was never a real chance of a turnaround in the game, it was those who always had the privilege of the fragments that went to the final. Besides, the games weren't that good or funny to watch. It's a shame! I don't know if I'll be watching a third season, in this one I didn't feel like watching the final episodes.

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The hate JHG received/is receiving is disproportionate

I was quite taken aback by the hate the show received as well as JHG and So Hee.

About the show: I don’t think S1 was better than S2 nor do I think S2 is better than S1.
Many expressed their disappointment towards S2 while flooding S1 with compliments. But remember, S1 received a lot of bad reviews because of the final outcomes as well as the final challenge which was quite abrupt and too quick compare to the rest. And I remember very well Ha Seok Jin and Lee See Won getting hate comments because of their « selfish » game. and now everyone says S1 was such a banger while S2 is sh**?!
Truth is, there are always going to be people criticizing Devil’s plan but still, most are going to stick to the end of the show and never mention that it was indeed entertaining. Otherwise they wouldn’t have stuck until the end.
I can agree with the fact that it was slower (more boring) than S1 but that is because the challenges were indeed trickier and somehow « better thought » but at the same time, too complex for a reality tv program and for the public.
That is also because of that kind of games I think S2 is better than S1 on this point because it allows interesting turns of event and « more dramas ». It’s still a reality tv program tho.
Also the contestants were somehow on a better similar « intelligence » level than those in S1. So it had less « disparities » and gave the chance to have in-prison contestants a power to shine through strategies. In S1, we had a lot of disparities leaving poor chances to those at the bottom to « fight back » and proof is that most of you don’t remember who they were…
But because S1 was less boring and had that « new stuff » quality, thus the discovery feeling.. it makes me feel S1 was better than S2.

But you see there are good/bad arguments in both sides, making it difficult for me to say that one was better than the other.
I can understand personal feelings ; But the hate towards S2 was unjustified.

Same goes for JHG and low key So Hee. We can agree JHG has a cold attitude but he never appeared to me as narcissist or toxic or disrespectful. He actually takes critics better than some others in the show and is willing to apologize and give some thoughts when told he did something wrong (about his comment toward Hyun Jun) and he always stayed loyal to people he appreciated (he talked about So Hee in 2nd episode, cried for Kyu Hyun in a
10th, cheered for Ha rin, Tino.. stated he couldn’t get along that well with 7high) I guess people take someone toxic as soon as someone is blunt/direct. If he is said toxic, then so was 7high after challenge 1 and his aggressive tone and behavior towards basically people he didn’t know at that point. If people agreed with his attitude then what is criticized about JHG is thus unfair. And about the talk with Hyun Joon, he apologized. Besides, Hyun Joon was very nonchalant and very cruel in words toward him behind the camera, which JHG never did… so again you can dislike a cold/blunt attitude but saying he’s toxic and throw hate is unjustified.
My point is, nobody was toxic or violent or vilain in the show to the point you can throw so much hate at someone’s face.
On last episode JHG seemed aware of his behaviors but he seemed aware before starting the game… He said he was here to play. And the show isn’t about fair play and it was clear he didn’t want to keep around people he didn’t connect with.

I mentioned low key Soo Hee because she didn’t receive « that much » hate but telling her she has no personality, she is a simp etc, I really wonder what makes people feel good about throwing shade like that. People wonder if she was in awe or love of JHG or if she was too pure, either way, is that a problem ?! Kindness is missing on earth and about love, I’d like to see you in the same room with the person you are in love and competing against him. Also most viewers are women and so most commentators are women, that makes me feel even more terrified at what women are ready to throw at one another. Superiority complex or jalousy it must be I guess..

I personally like everyone in the game. I had preferences like Cho Kyu Hyun, 7high, Tino… for different reasons but I never came to the point of hating someone (it takes a lot of energy tho…) and moreover even if I disliked one of them I would never have thought about going on their Ig, sending hate or take over all comments sections (forums, MDL, etc.) and throw hate…

To conclude S2 was very entertaining, and the contestants were all interesting to watch over the episodes.

Not sure if my review will be seen but if so, I’m sure you’d like to come at me. But again it would just prove my point… There is a gap between lashing out at someone and just saying he’s not my cup of tea. And you can of course prefer S1 over S2. I just wrote down the reasons I think none is better than the other.

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Death Game and Death Stare

In my own opinion, season 1 is great and easy to understand the rules. Season 2 is so difficult that you have to watch the rules of the games twice if not thrice and you still dont understand until they play the game. The casts are great yet theyre so manipulative, cold and intense, they are smart and genius in their own rights yet some of them have such low EQ. What I love about the previous season is although they are sometimes manipulative and cunning, they are not cold or unbothered because at best they have emotional scenes and it was reasonable and with so many twist it feels good that it blows my mind.I feel so sad to some of the cast in season 2 because they felt left out and unfair just because of unreasonable drama. I do love their games though its hard and sometimes made me dizzy, the season 2 is more like theres a complete alliance since the beginning, the Prisoners and The Living Room Casts, so unlike season 1, I find it hard to grasp their dynamics. Not all though, but sadly and disappointing at some point. I hope Season 3 will be like S1 again, I meant the games and twist. Although I understand Season 2 is all about Death Match, its no wonder theyre so cold and cunning but thankfully, it was all just a game and theyre all friends and alright outside the Devils Plan. Overall, its great to watch just prepare to harden yourself because this season is not for the weak minded.

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As an ELF and a variety show noob...

I’m not a variety show person and my only exposure to Korean variety is Super Junior shows (as a long-time ELF) and The Return of Superman (first batch only).

I do not have interests in variety shows, let alone mind games, and I prefer a work of fiction (dramas). I only picked this show up because of the massive backlash some of the players have been receiving.

Of course, as an ELF and a Kyupiter, I felt the obligation to figure out why, most especially since Kyuhyun was worried about how fans would perceive him after the show concludes.

And I honestly don’t know what he was worried about.

The Devil’s Plan Death Room is a survival show that encouraged betrayals and forming alliances against each other. It was not categorically stated, but it was clear that the show wanted to stir up something among the players, so that their primal instincts were to secure their survival per game and that’s what happened.

I tried watching without bias, and after a few games, I figured how Kyuhyun was clearly not the best and top player from this batch. In the games, he did not come out on top, nor did he shine among the other players. And I say this in a good way.

Kyuhyun, while not entirely irreproachable, said that the reason why he lost was because he was too self-righteous. And he is correct. While his wit couldn’t surpass other player’s schemes, his (true) character shone. He was loyal to his alliances, but he sincerely looked after everyone, including those who belonged to the other team(s), groups, and cliques.

Every morning, without fail, he would prepare protein shakes for the prison team. He would apologize to other players after a game, and he adapted two ducklings (that’s what I like to call them, as Sohee and Hyungyu would follow him around) and found a solid alliance with them, including Tinno—I can confidently say that this friendship would extend outside the show.

I breathed a sigh of relief, as Kyuhyun’s worry was completely unnecessary because watching the show actually made me love him more. As a fan, it made my chest swell with pride because I know I’m stanning the right person.

Kyuhyun aside, I was surprised how I have absolutely enjoyed the show.

I cannot be way too rational about the games, as I am a right-brain dominant (haha). I could only focus on the writing and sound design, and they were excellent.

The storytelling is not linear, which was a surprise for me as this is a reality show, and the critical details would be revealed at the most perfect time. This is a good technique to build tension and excitement.

There is definitely nothing new to the concept, but all players were determined to win, and the show was so good in increasing tension and conflict that it will get you too emotionally involved. This would make a really good binge, and it will leave you absolutely satisfied with how things ended.

With that, the thing that makes me feel like a fish out of the water is the number of criticism and hate, especially towards Hyungyu (the winner), Sohee, and Kyuhyun—they are all unwarranted and misguided, as if the haters watched a completely different show.

Nonetheless, this show has also opened up a new interest for me to explore—variety shows.

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Well deserve

Many are saying the winner is not a potential winner & everything but as a viewer I didn't find it like that. This show is call devil's plan, not angel's plan so the participants have to trick other's or have to be cold to other's so that they will not get played by others. I did seen all the eps by now & I like how some participants backstabb others & how some some are playing for their own & I think all of them played only for their own benefit.


& Also yeah living areas team had alliance I get it but who didn't had an alliance? Everyone had an alliance, it's just that they made mistake & their frnds get eliminated & others went to death match. If they didn't had made mistake & had won the main match then we could have seen a big alliance rather than living areas team. It's their mistake & that's why they had gone through it & I don't think it's a fault of living areas team as they proved their intelligent, smartness in the main game & survive. So hating on living areas team is useless as it would have been same to the other side if they had won the main matches. I think all top 5 contestants deserve to be the top 5 & the final 2 contestants also deserve to be in the final.



For the winner, people doesn't like his cold behavior but for me I like how he was so clear about everything from start to the end, who is his people & who is he playing for. He won as he was smart, intelligent & as had a clear goal from the start to the end that he has to win.


At the end it's just a game & now they are all in good terms so I hope haters stop hating on any contestants & also stop cursing them as they are also a human being. I maynot like some contestants but it's just a game so my dislike to some contestants also end in the game. I hope people in the future watch this show & judge on their own, not by review. Until next season🫶

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