K-TV Show: How Much Would You Sacrifice to Win $600K?

The Devil’s Plan | 데블스 플랜 (2023)

Netflix | The Devil’s Plan

We’ve seen Korean reality tv shows competing on their physical strength, but what about a competition of intelligence? That’s exactly what The Devil’s Plan brings and surprisingly, it can get more intense than other reality competition shows out there. The way that this TV show is set up, gets contestants riled up in anger, face betrayal, excitement and disappointment all in the span of 24 hours. 

Netflix | The Devil’s Plan

You might even know some of the 12 contestants participating, namely Seventeen’s Boo Seungkwan, known for his quick-wits or actor Ha Seok-jin, who also starred in problem-solving TV show, Problematic Men. Other famous contestants include E-Sports player Guillaume, Youtuber Kwak Joobin and actress Lee Si-Won. Though most of them are public figures, there are two exceptions. The Devil’s Plan also selected contestants from the public by holding an exam to test if they were qualified. Both contestants scored immensely high - Kim Dong-Jae, a college student and professional poker player, and Seo Yoo-min, an orthopaedic surgeon based in America. 

Netflix | The Devil’s Plan

One clear trait these 12 contestants have in common is their high intelligence. But this doesn’t necessarily mean academically through their top-ranking university or occupation. Some contestants have proved themselves through their strategic thinking like Cho Yeon-Woo, professional Go player or comedian, Park Kyeong-Rim. I think that’s what makes this show so interesting as each contestant comes up with such different strategies in an attempt to survive.

Netflix | The Devil’s Plan

Each day, there are two games played - the first game is an individual match and second is a team match. A big kudos to the producers and game-makers, because each game is so intricately detailed. But that’s what makes the show more entertaining to watch! There's no doubt that these twelve contestants can out-smart the game quickly, so the game rules need to be as complex as the contestant’s ability to come up with strategies. For example, the first game that they played, “The Virus Game”, was like the Mafia and Among Us game combined. It sure made a compelling first game as we got to know more about the contestants, how they strategize and use their mind. The individual matches have more complex rules that need more strategy whereas the second games’ rules are more simple. Nonetheless, they focus on different aspects that are considered “intelligent” like memory or puzzle-solving. 

Netflix | The Devil’s Plan

As each episode goes on alliances are formed as friendships and trust are destroyed at the same time. Their morals are tested too as we see how far each contestant is willing to go to stay in the “devil’s plan”. Some choose to be a team player in an attempt to advance together and others choose to toss one contestant aside so they take the win for themselves. All in all, it’s a show that psychologically-challenges them and makes them question their own morals. How much are the contestants willing to sacrifice to win? 

Netflix | The Devil’s Plan

The show says in the first episode, The Devil’s Plan is a battle of intelligence where brain power needs to be maximised. When there is a huge pool of cash to be won, ₩500,000,000 ($620,000 NZD) to be exact, I can totally understand the desperation of these contestants 😅The competitive nature of this show mixed with contestant’s intelligence creates high-intensity emotions unlike any other reality game show I’ve watched. Each episode leaves me in awe at not only the contestant’s intelligence but it’s an emotional rollercoaster too. If you want to be on this ride, get ready to be on the edge of your seat during the entirety! For a sneak peek, click here for the trailer of The Devil’s Plan or watch the episodes here on Netflix.