Netflix variety show 'Culinary Class Wars 2' seemed to reach the top 7 without controversy, but during editing the real-name name tag of a Black Spoon Culinary Monster was revealed, sparking spoiler controversy.
Earlier, episode 10 of Netflix's Culinary Class Wars: Culinary Class Wars 2, released on the 30th, featured the top 7 decider.
After surviving the loser's revival round, the Black Spoon Culinary Monster and Brewmaster Yun returned and faced White Spoons in two-person teams, and first the White Spoon Lim Seong-geun–Black Spoon Brewmaster Yun team advanced to the top 7. The remaining 10 chefs then settled winners in one-on-one matches against the members who had been on their teams.
There was a lot of criticism that season 1 had many team missions and few opportunities to assess individual chefs' abilities, so in season 2 the producers added missions to check individual skills as much as possible, drawing attention. As a result, Hou Deok-juk, Choi Kang-rok, Jung Ho-young, and Monk Seonjae advanced to the top 7, and with one final spot remaining White Spoon Son Jong-won and the Black Spoon Culinary Monster faced off.
Especially at the end of episode 10, among the judges who tasted the dishes by Son Jong-won and the Culinary Monster, Paik Jong-won chose Son Jong-won, but Anh Sung-jae said "it wasn't even a difference of a single sheet of paper" and noted he agonized until the end. Just as Anh Sung-jae was about to say the name, the program ended, and who he chose was not revealed, leaving the final top 7 qualifier shrouded in mystery.
But immediately after episodes 8–10 were released that day, spoilers began circulating on social media and online communities suggesting Son Jong-won had been eliminated and the Culinary Monster had advanced to the top 7. It turned out that in episode 9 a real-name name tag was captured on the Culinary Monster's uniform while he was being interviewed by the production staff. The nickname "Culinary Monster" was not shown; instead the real name "Lee Ha-sung" was exposed, making the theory that he advanced to the top 7 more likely.
In season 1 released last year, the Black Spoon Napoli Mafioso appeared in the finals under the name 'Kwon Seong-jun' instead of his nickname. Since in season 2 the Culinary Monster also reached at least the top 7 or beyond, there is speculation that the nickname Culinary Monster name tag was removed and a real-name name tag was attached.
If the production team missed it during editing, it would be an absurd and shocking mistake by the team that should have paid the most attention to spoilers. If they knowingly aired it, it could be the worst choice to lower viewers' expectations ahead of the top 7 competition, when tension should be at its peak.
Internet users reacted, "Ah, my mood is completely ruined," "You didn't see this?", "Isn't this a total editing mistake?", "How could no one possibly see that?" However, some netizens responded, "Could it have been intentionally tricked?", "At that level it seems like it was exposed on purpose."
Meanwhile, Culinary Class Wars: Culinary Class Wars 2 recorded 4,700,000 views from Dec. 22 to Dec. 28, ranking No. 1 in the global top 10 TV shows (non-English) category for two consecutive weeks. Two weeks after its release it reached a cumulative 10,200,000 views and is continuing its sensation. It also ranked No. 1 in Korea as well as Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
[photo] Netflix
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