The Netflix entertainment show "Devil's Plan 2," faced backlash and left the two brains unable to smile, despite their victory.

The Netflix entertainment show "Devil's Plan: Death Room" concluded with its final episode on May 20, and both winner Jeong Hyun-kyu and runner-up Yoon So-hee faced unexpected backlash, resulting in a bittersweet exit.

Amid fierce strategies and tangled alliances, "Devil's Plan 2" evoked stronger psychological warfare, serial betrayals, and revelations than the previous season. In the final match, Jeong Hyun-kyu faced off against Yoon So-hee, and after a heated battle, Jeong Hyun-kyu emerged as the ultimate winner. He noted, "It seems like winning at any cost is the essence of Devil's Plan," but viewers' reactions were mixed.

Previously, Jeong Hyun-kyu had sparked controversy by sarcastically asking Choi Hyun-jun, "Can you do arithmetic?" during the eighth broadcast. That scene quickly spread across social media and communities, with some viewers reacting, "Arithmetic against a KAIST math student?" and "His sarcastic tone is very unpleasant," leading to a flood of harsh criticism on his personal social media.

Yoon So-hee also advanced to the finals, revealing her presence as a dark horse, but when she appeared to make choices favoring Jeong Hyun-kyu during the final match, she was met with comments like "Are you conceding the championship?" and "Did you come here to date?" Despite achieving the performance of runner-up, she found herself at the center of criticism, having initially gained support as a "smart participant quietly focusing on her own play."

Both brains, who reached the finals together, were caught up in interpretations outside of the game, suffering image damage. In particular, their consideration for each other was viewed more as strategy rather than teamwork, with cynical perspectives arising that "this feels more like a dating show than a survival competition." However, some viewers argued that, "The reactions are too harsh for two individuals who did their best to reach the finals," and, "Entertainment is just entertainment; the backlash has gone too far." Nonetheless, even after the final episode, Jeong Hyun-kyu and Yoon So-hee's social media were inundated with numerous malicious comments, and the controversy continues.

"Devil's Plan: Death Room" is the latest work of director Jeong Jong-yeon, who directed shows like "The Genius" and "Escape the Room." After its release, it quickly entered Netflix's TOP10, proving its high public interest, but resulted in a tumultuous aftershock due to issues of bullying among participants, intense psychological warfare, and controversial statements. Ultimately, the premise that "a game is just a game" did not hold in Season 2. The conclusion for the two brains, who left amid curses despite achieving victory and runner-up, adds to the bitterness.

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