REVIEW: ‘Single’s Inferno’ Season 3 Revels in Mess

Single’s Inferno Season 3 is a very particular type of what can only be described as elevated trash. Based on the first three episodes, the emotionally charged Season 2 remains its strongest, but Season 3 sees it digging deeper into its reality TV roots. It hasn’t quite reached the level of series such as Love is Blind or Love Island, but it’s doubling down on that crucial DNA despite not deviating from the basic premise the show rests on. The calculated nature of the series is apparent — cast conventionally pretty people who make for potential pretty couples that will help sell the luxury resorts/hotels/cars the contestants are seen relaxing in. But it works.

The premise is theoretically simple, though Single’s Inferno Season 3 adds some twists and turns. Contestants arrive at an island where men and women try to couple up to escape the “inferno,” “hellish” deserted island to escape for a night to paradise, i.e., the aforementioned luxury hotels. The contestants can win dates through physical challenges on the islands, but often, couples are determined through downtime and conversations with one another. The most critical prize of winning the dates is being able to share details otherwise withheld while on the island, as they’re only allowed to share personal information such as their ages and professions after having won these dates.

One of the most significant changes of Season 3 is stripping away that relaxed familiarity from the members by introducing a second island. One island begins with six contestants, the other five, and they’re shuffled based on who makes it to paradise. No matter who has coupled up, they’re just as likely to be split and sent to the opposing island for the next round. It’s a fresh decision that forces more significance on winning the dates.

The series has also changed the settings. In the past two seasons, calling the deserted island they’ve resided on hell has been a considerable reach. Sure, they’re without the extraordinary, excessive comforts of those who get to go to paradise, but the islands themselves have never seemed anything less than lovely. The biggest hurdle they face is having to grab their own water and make their own dinner, supplied already with materials and ingredients needed to make meals that sometimes look as satisfying as the meals at the hotels.

This season, they’ve taken away some of the more basic comforts of the island and added more props to add to the distressed look. So far, meals have consisted of carrots and canned chicken — with some struggling to slice or eat the carrots properly. This also inspires greater motivation for the contestants to want to win, knowing their comfort levels will be much lower while staying on the island.

The other significant change is the addition of a fifth panelist, Youtuber Dex, who appeared as a contestant on Season 2. While on the show, he came across as too aggressive in his competitiveness; he’s much more charming as a panelist, able to offer insight as someone who competed. Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, Hanhae, and Super Junior member Kyuhyun make up the rest of the panelists who react to the going ons of the show.

They’re a refreshing group as they don’t seek to punch down on the contestants or go for easy jokes and instead seem to sincerely get into the groove of the series to the point where, in Season 2 at least, some of them were even moved to tears. However, they quickly laughed at themselves over the incredulity of it. Dex hasn’t had the same level of spotlight as the other four, so his reactions seem much more off-the-cuff and open-faced, especially when he doesn’t like certain members.

The contestants themselves are where Singles Inferno Season 3 loses its edge compared to the previous season. While there have been some standouts, such as 26-year-old Choi Hye-seon, a bioinformatics student, and 26-year-old An Min-young, a pilates instructor, many of the others either haven’t left a mark or have come across poorly in their introduction. Professional basketball player Lee Gwan-hee, who has also appeared on shows such as Running Man, becomes less abrasive over time after putting on a bit of an act in his introduction.

Contestant Kim Gyu-ri softens around the edges after being left behind on her first night after being an expected favorite. But there’s not enough chemistry between any of the potential couples or even between the cast themselves yet to truly be invested. There’s undoubtedly drama, though, with many of the main cast coming in with more of an acidic bite this year, with even the sweeter contestants ranking themselves against the others.

Despite this, Single’s Inferno Season 3 remains an addictive, must-watch series. An excuse to live vicariously through these contestants as they enjoy all of the excesses of luxury, the series works against some of the more day-to-day tranquil simplicity of a reality series such as Japan’s Terrace House or fellow Korean reality series Hyori’s Homestay. It’s big and brazen and possesses zero subtlety. Sometimes, that’s the only thing we need in reality television as we watch people far removed from our positions in life engage in ridiculous, posturing competitions to win a date.

Single’s Inferno Season 3 is out now on Netflix.