The latest season of Single’s Inferno has, once again, glued us to our screens as we patiently wait to see if our favorite couples end up together (or if their newfound love is ruined by surprise players). The Korean dating show is one of the most popular reality TV franchises right now, with the show currently sitting at the No. 2 spot on Netflix’s global non-English series chart.
As of writing, we’re still five episodes away from the season finale, which means that we have enough time to think about whether or not Choi Mina Sue will finally decide who she wants to go to Paradise with, or if newcomers Jo I Geon and Lee Ha Eun will have any sway on the existing relationships in Inferno. But in between episode drops are week-long waiting times, and it’s only natural that we all have a Single’s Inferno-shaped itch to scratch.
As you wait for more Single’s Inferno content, we’ve rounded up several dating shows that tap into that same mix of romance, drama, and reality TV. Here, in no particular order, are a few shows you can dive into while you wait for the next few episodes of Single’s Inferno.
‘The Boyfriend’
Where to watch: Netflix
The Boyfriend presents a unique, caffeine-centric twist to the dating show format: a group of guys are whisked away to run a coffee truck together in the hopes of finding love (or, well, in some cases, a very good friend).
In the second and latest season of The Boyfriend, 10 single men have been brought to the snowy mountainsides of Hokkaido, where love may or may not spring in the cozy halls of their winter lodge, The Green Room. Standout contenders include William and Izaya, arguably the clearest “couple” at the lodge. Jobu’s trying his hardest to find love, only for his romantic advances to get sidelined. Then there’s Huwei and Bomi, who have already dated prior to meeting again in The Green Room (like William and Izaya), but are now rekindling the possibilities of romance. But regardless of whether or not they leave Hokkaido with a love interest, the boys of The Boyfriend have given us some of the most wholesome and heartfelt moments in contemporary reality TV, making us root for each of them as the season wraps up its final three episodes.
‘Transit Love’
Where to watch: Viu
Each season of Transit Love, otherwise known as EXchange, sees a group of singles, along with their respective ex-partners who’ve agreed to be part of the show, live under the same roof for several weeks before deciding to either start new romances or get back with their old flames. The catch is that contestants are not allowed to acknowledge their exes upon arrival, which means that things can quickly become awkward once the in-house flirting begins.
‘Love Village’
Where to watch: Netflix
If you’re in search of another dating show where a bunch of singles are isolated somewhere far away, then Love Village might be the show for you. Currently at two seasons, with a third dropping later this year, Love Village follows a group of singles aged between 35 and 60 as they try living together in a rustic Okinawan house a la Terrace House to find their “final love.” Unlike other dating shows, the more experienced contenders on Love Village tend to place topics such as age, divorce, grief, and major life decisions at the forefront of their conversations.
‘Love Catcher’
Part-dating show and part-game of Mafia, Love Catcher has its contenders decide what type of player they want to be on the show. They can either be a “love catcher,” who wants to establish a real romantic relationship with the other contestants, or a “money catcher,” who stands to win 50 million Korean won (roughly P2 million) if they can convince a “love catcher” to form a couple with them. Contestants must use their best judgment to determine whether someone’s in the house for love or for money, making Love Catcher one of the messier Korean dating shows.
‘Heart Signal’
Heart Signal follows the typical dating show format of sequestering its contestants in a house for an extended period, but it comes with a twist. Every night while at the house, contestants may send and receive anonymous text messages to make their feelings known to their love interests. Both you and the show’s contestants are left trying to figure out who likes whom, resulting in a fun, if a little confusing, watch.
