The Devil's Plan Season 2 Episode 6: Shocking Eliminations, Strategic Betrayals, and Fan Reactions That Shook the Internet

The Shocking Elimination That No One Saw Coming

Episode 6 of The Devil's Plan Season 2 starts with a bombshell as viewers witness one of the most unexpected eliminations of the season. The episode begins with Hyun-joon realizing the true stakes of the Halloween Monster game, which sets the tone for the intense strategic gameplay that follows. The Halloween Monster game requires contestants to form alliances (maximum of 3 members per team) and slay monsters through five rounds. Players start with a dagger card (lowest slay points) and can gain HP and better weapons by defeating monsters.

What makes this episode particularly shocking is the elimination of Lee Se-dol, a former Go player who famously defeated AlphaGo and was considered one of the strongest contenders to win the entire competition. His elimination came as a strategic move by Choi Hyun-joon, who partnered with Justin Min to target Se-dol, recognizing him as a formidable opponent who could be a threat in the finals. When Se-dol landed in the reserve pool alongside Hyun-gyu and Hyun-joon, Hyun-joon seized the opportunity to eliminate him, catching Se-dol completely by surprise.

The elimination of such a strong player early in the game sent shockwaves through both the contestants and viewers alike. As one reviewer put it, 'It is shocking to see Se-dol leave. He was one of the players with a high chance of making it to the finale. The man is a legend, and they knew they had to take him out before he got stronger.'

The Halloween Monster Game: Alliances and Betrayals

The Halloween Monster game revealed the complex web of alliances and strategic thinking that makes The Devil's Plan such a compelling watch. At the beginning of the game, contestants quickly formed three main alliances: Jung Hyun-gyu, Choi Hyun-joon, and Kim Ha-rin in one team; Kyuhyun, Tinno, and Yoon So-hui in another; and 7high, Kang Jiyeong, and Son Eun-yu in the third. This left Lee Se-dol and Justin Min to play individually but cooperate strategically.

What made this game particularly interesting was how Tinno attempted to create confusion by insisting on cooperating with 7high's team while simultaneously working with his own alliance. This double-dealing created tension and mistrust among the players. Meanwhile, Hyun-joon revealed his secret plan to Eun-hyo, and they agreed to target Hyun-gyu, showing how alliances within alliances were forming.

As the monsters began to die, teams started to worry about who would kill the last monster and gain the advantage. The strategic depth became apparent when players realized they could not only attack monsters but also eliminate other players directly if they were in a specific battlefield. This realization led to the targeted elimination of Se-dol.

By the end of the game, Kyu-hun, So-hui, Tinno, and Choi Hyun-joon emerged with the most puzzle pieces, securing their place in the better living area. As the player with the highest number of pieces, Choi was tasked with saving one member from prison, and after a brief discussion with Hyun-gyu and So-hui, they chose to save 7high, sending him to prison as expected.

Sniper Hold'em: The Prison Challenge

After the Halloween Monster game, the prisoners welcomed 7high and Ji-hyeong to their ranks with some good-natured teasing. The atmosphere in prison contrasted sharply with the comfortable living quarters where Hyun-joon and others settled in. Soon, the master announced the dead match: Sniper Hold'em, a poker-style card game.

This prison challenge was particularly interesting because it gave 7high, a professional poker player, a clear advantage. The game involved the host dealing two cards to each player and revealing four community cards. Players placed bets with their chips if their hand matched and could also 'snipe' cards to prevent opponents from using them.

Ji-yeong quickly took the lead by bluffing her way through the first round, securing 75 chips and her survival. In a generous move, she shared her remaining chips with others before returning to prison. Meanwhile, the winning team watched the intense game from the comfort of their living quarters while snacking.

Ha-rin surprised everyone by taking huge risks and learning the game quickly, showing her adaptability. However, Eun-hyo played a better game and secured her survival as well. By the end of the episode, the game was still ongoing, with 7high, Justin, and Ha-rin fighting for survival.

What made this segment particularly compelling was watching how 7high, despite his professional poker background, struggled to secure an early win. As one reviewer noted, 'I am surprised that 7high is still going. He is a poker player, and this game should be up his alley. Justin has also played cards before, so he is familiar with it. The only one at a huge disadvantage is Ha-rin, but she is holding her own.'

The Strategic Rift Between Jung Hyun-gyu and Choi Hyun-joon

One of the most intriguing aspects of Episode 6 was the deepening rift between Jung Hyun-gyu and Choi Hyun-joon. What started as a strong alliance began to crack as Choi became increasingly cautious of Jung, recognizing him as a strong opponent in the finals.

This strategic tension would eventually escalate in later episodes, with Jung asking Choi in a sarcastic tone, 'Do you even know basic arithmetic?' when Choi deviated from their game strategy. This comment would later spark controversy among viewers who found it unnecessarily condescending, especially considering Choi's academic background.

The breakdown of their partnership became a central storyline as the season progressed. By Episode 9, Choi would be torn between his alliance with Jung and new offers from other contestants. The 3 prisoners secretly plotted to take out Jung Hyun-gyu and informed Choi of their plan, putting him in a difficult position between loyalty and strategy.

This evolving relationship between Jung and Choi highlights the psychological aspects of The Devil's Plan, where alliances are constantly formed and broken based on strategic necessity. As one reviewer commented, 'The psychological warfare and emotional lines beyond games attracted viewers,' making the show 'an emotional survival beyond mere entertainment.'

Viewer Reactions and Controversies

Episode 6 of The Devil's Plan Season 2 generated significant buzz online, with viewers divided in their reactions. The elimination of Lee Se-dol, a fan favorite, sparked heated discussions across social media platforms. Many viewers expressed shock and disappointment at seeing such a strong player leave the competition so early.

The strategic gameplay, particularly the targeting of Se-dol, drew both praise and criticism. Some viewers appreciated the cutthroat nature of the game, seeing it as a necessary move by Hyun-joon to advance his own position. Others felt it was an unfair targeting of one of the strongest players.

The episode also set the stage for controversies that would emerge in later episodes. Jung Hyun-gyu's condescending comment to Choi Hyun-joon would later lead to backlash, with viewers criticizing his tone and manner of speaking. This controversy became so significant that Jung eventually changed his social media profile to read 'I'm sorry' in response to the criticism.

Similarly, Kyuhyun would face backlash in later episodes for his strategic choices, particularly his decision to 'sacrifice' himself to save Jung Hyun-kyu, which many viewers felt 'blurred the nature of the game.' The controversy became so intense that Kyuhyun had to address it through a fan communication platform, saying, 'I wouldn't have been able to put everything on the show,' and promising to explain the details later.

Despite these controversies, or perhaps because of them, The Devil's Plan Season 2 has been a massive success. According to Netflix's TOP 10 website, the show ranked ninth in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) category with 1.7 million viewers within a week of its release and topped Korea's TOP 10 Series list.

The Impact on Netflix's Ratings and Global Reception

The Devil's Plan Season 2 has been a remarkable success for Netflix, capturing audiences not just in South Korea but globally. According to Netflix's TOP 10 website, the show ranked ninth in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) category with 1.7 million viewers within a week of its release. It topped Korea's TOP 10 Series list and appeared on the top 10 lists of six countries around the world, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Morocco.

The show's popularity has been driven by its intense strategic gameplay, unexpected eliminations, and the genuine connections forming between contestants. The emotional moments, such as Ji-Yeong crying because she couldn't help Justin, have resonated with viewers worldwide.

The topic of conversation around the show has exploded online. Good Data Corporation Fundex ranked it first in the TV-OTT integrated non-drama hot topic category for the second week of May, following Coupang Play's 'SNL Korea Season 7.' It was found to have recorded more than twice the topical score compared to season 1.

The cast members have also become hot topics themselves, with Lee Se-dol receiving particularly favorable reviews. Despite his early elimination in Episode 6, he ranked 6th for non-drama performers, showing the lasting impact he made on viewers.

The success of The Devil's Plan Season 2 demonstrates the global appeal of Korean reality competition shows, particularly those that focus on strategy, intelligence, and emotional connections between contestants. As one reviewer noted, 'The passionate performances of the cast, such as actively finding hidden stages,' have increased expectations for future episodes and potentially future seasons of the show.