Nineteen to Twenty Episodes 7-10 Review: Netflix’s newest Korean reality dating show, also known as 19 to 20 (열아홉 스물) and Yeolahob Seumul, is created by Kim Jae-won, Park Su-ji, and Kim Jung-hyun. The MCs of the show are Super Junior Kyuhyun aka Cho Kyu-hyun (Single’s Inferno), Kim Ji-eun (One Dollar Lawyer), AKMU’s Lee Suhyun, and Jeong Sewoon. The show initially included 8 participants, Moon Se-yeon, Lim Jung-yun, Jeong Seo-yeong, Choi Seo-hyeon, Oh Sang-won, No Hee-ji, Lee Ji-min and Choi Ye-rin, who were later joined by Jeong Ji-woo and Kim Pyeong-seok as well, making them a huge group of 10 young adults.
Exploring the switch from being a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, to finally attaining that milestone in one life’s, the latest Netflix show unravels a series of firsts experienced by the 10 participants on their journey together. Switching from School 19 to House 20 definitely has its perks, primarily freedom, but the same lifting of restrictions has also led to tensions being in the air.
Nineteen to Twenty Episodes 7-10 Review Contains Spoilers
A Brief Nineteen to Twenty Episode 7-10 Recap
Nineteen to Twenty Episode 7
Ever since the participants moved into the same house together and the no-dating ban was lifted off, they’ve been feeling a sense of ease and calm amongst each other’s company, opening up to each other more than before, and speaking their hearts out to those they admire. This same situation has also allowed for many of those who haven’t interacted with certain people to expand their social circle and reach out to new connections and bonds.
The week’s first episode itself portrays the newly turned young adults in a more grounded setting. Se-yeon and Ye-rin finally get together and share a much-needed heart-to-heart discussion with each other. Opening up the floor for each other to discover their feelings by meeting up with new people and not being held back by each other’s influence, their talk sets in stone that neither of these people have truly gotten to know each other yet, especially because it’s merely been days since they first met each other at the school set-up.
This particular interaction also puts the viewer’s mind at ease as it emerges as a “clearing the air out” session between the two, and it instantly rises to the top as a mature way to handle their feelings while also not pushing the other one into a mental conflict with themselves.
At the same time, while many of these youngsters are still struggling to make up their mind about who they truly like or not, Hee-ji and Pyeong-seok stay connected to each other constantly. Arising as the one true stable connection in the lot, they embody the vision of a firmly situated island in the midst of a strong storm and wavering waves still trying to make up their mind about whether to strike hard or not.
Their bond offers a sense of stability and security to not only themselves, but also the people around them in the midst of all the rush. Since their minds are not as preoccupied with tensions about how to make a move to impress someone new, they enjoy each other’s company and simultaneously help knock some sense and logic into their friends’ minds when needed.
Before the first Dream Date fantasy is revealed at midnight, Seo-yeong and Ji-min head out for their casual date as well. It was quite disappointing to see the latter have accepted the former’s proposal to go for dinner together and then appear to be the most disinterested party in her presence at the actual location.
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Even the MCs feel the tension in the air and rightly call out Ji-min’s indifferent attitude towards Seo-yeong. While it’s obvious that he’s not been wanting to hurt her in the process of letting her down easy, his inaction and lack of responses rise up as a far worse response in the given circumstance, but at least it finally helps Seo-yeong snap out of the spell and halt her meaningful tries to get his attention.
The first Dream Date goes out with a bang as it allows one couple to fully rent out the famous amusement park, Lotte World, and Sang-won and Seo-hyeon take this opportunity to get to know each other better.
Nineteen to Twenty Episode 8
Everyone starts heading out for their respective dates – whether casual or the “Dream” one. New combinations unveil in the meantime like that of Ye-rin and Ji-min, who first pair up because they appear to be the only singles in the house. Their meet-up initiates with friendly discussions and a casual bowling date, but as soon as they sit down for dinner in an intimate setting, their heartstrings start playing a different song. The undeniable cute chemistry is palpable to them equally as much as to the MCs and the viewers, and it has Ji-min confessing to Ye-rin the possibility of how he might have started developing strong feelings for her.
On the flip side, Jung-yun and Ji-woo find comfort in each other’s company on a laid-back yet tense date. They first design their candles, and then relish a Japanese dinner, which is when the cutesy heart-flutters take the back seat as Ji-woo pushes Jung-yun to be as direct about his feelings as she’s with hers for him. However, he keeps his guard up while struggling to convey his true thoughts, which as we know costs him later on.
The same episode also focusses on the growing confusions of the supposed love triangle between Jung-yun, Ji-woo and Se-yeon. A lot of times, the reality show dips its feet into the K-drama theatrics. Episode 8 presents us with a similar antic when Se-yeon goes off to play Table-Tennis to take his mind off things like the first male lead of a K-drama series. Even though the whole thing emerges a tad bit dramatic, his overall talks between Ye-rin and Ji-woo also reveal his inner turmoil, which is but a normal response at that age to feel conflicted about one’s feelings.
Nineteen to Twenty Episode 9
Another much-awaited date between Se-yeon and Ji-woo stirs up inner storms as the latter acknowledges her feeling for Jung-yun, but at the same time feels at ease in Se-yeon’s presence, who basically acts and expresses himself the way she’d hoped Jung-yun would. Finding all those missing qualities in Se-yeon’s charm, she can’t help but get swayed by his warm words, while Jung-yun continues to struggle to open his heart.
Ye-rin, too, gets to act out on her plan of going on a date with Pyeong-seok to make up her mind. But even when she’s with him, her serious demeanour is noticed by him as she keeps on asking about Se-yeon indirectly. It’s not an issue for Pyeong-seok either, especially since he’s already made up his mind about Hee-ji, just like she has about him, and they continue to be the cute centre of gravity in the series.
Nineteen to Twenty Episode 10
The final episode of this week is the most tumultuous of them all. Just when it makes you feel as if things are slowing down and falling into place, they again hit the wall and catch you off guard. Seo-yeong and Sang-won become a surprising pair for the new Dream Date section, through which they earn the whole theatre to themselves. Again, this setting allows them to speak freely with each other while watching a movie, but as soon as they sit down for dinner, Seo-young’s straightforward message about giving Sang-won a chance leave him feeling uncomfortable, owing to his connection with Seo-hyeon.
A new and mind boggling suggestion for the next Dream Date creates commotion and chaos when the participants are granted the opportunity to enjoy a trip to either Busan or Gyeongju. While Pyeong-seok and Hee-ji seemed to have been ecstatic initially to win this chance for themselves, after checking upon the situation around them, they decide to give the others a chance and stay back.
Several discussions pick at old wounds and talks kept between certain people are led out in the open, leading new-found bonds to again face challenges. Tears are shed due to miscommunication, and the extreme reactions finally incite those keeping quiet to speak up, but it may have been a bit too late after all.
Nineteen to Twenty Episodes 7-10 Review
The shift to House 20 has helped the show’s concept to fully transition into a dating show. Living underneath the same roof has equally put the pressure on each of these participants to engage in those kind of lovey-dovey affairs. Although they all considerably give it a thought that they’re still getting to know each other, it almost seems as if peer pressure may also be driving them to be in a relationship with someone or the other. Each of their screen times also reflect the same discussion, as those entangled in more complicated ties are found at the centre of the show’s drama, while others barely get the chance to win the audience as individuals.
Seo-yeong particularly has been one of those members of the house, who’s barely had the spotlight shine on her. She’s mostly been portrayed as a “sad duckling” who’s been turned down by Ji-min time and again. We never get to see her outside of this situation-ship, so the show makes its purpose crystal clear by turning the camera to those who can incite gossip and a pronounced emotional response out of the audience with heteronormativity taking the lead as usual.
As always, this reality TV title also perpetuates a stereotypical image of who all get to be at the focus of ” attractive love stories”, and only a certain type of people fit the bill. Inclusivity and diversity aren’t somethings these kind of shows are invested in.
Which is why, there are times when things get monotonous because ultimately the show is only pushing for a particular theme of discussion among these youngsters which somehow always end up on them asking each other about their “ideal types” and what each of their rankings of the opposite sex are.
Going back to deal with the show as it is, the MCs’ inputs on the attitude essayed by the contestants are always welcome, especially since they help validate the thoughts arisen in the audience’s mind as well. This helps the viewer feel a bit lesser lonely hill watching the series and have a constant company beside them that is on the same page as them.
Despite the obvious shortcomings of the basic dating show format itself, I definitely appreciate how despite these contestants just having turned 20, they’re opening up to each other with a mature outlook and not burying their thoughts as they go. Both groups of girls and boys are often shown having deep talks with each other (regardless of the topic) and relying on each other.
Hee-ji has especially taken the lead as one of the prime mediators amongst those who’ve been struggling to bridge the communication gap with others. It’s a commendable task undertaken by her, which also lends her the most unique standalone position in the house because her character is possibly the only one that isn’t merely defined by her bond with Pyeong-seok, but also her platonic friendships with the rest of the people, who are otherwise buried neck-deep under their own mess.
Nineteen to Twenty Episodes 7-10 are now streaming on Netflix.
Also read: All Our Reviews of Nineteen to Twenty