Once a can’t-miss obsession, TVING’s dating reality series "EXchange 4" is drawing heat for sluggish pacing and bite-size runtimes, leaving longtime fans frustrated.
The format reunites exes under one roof to revisit past relationships and test new connections in real time. While "EXchange 4" roared out of the gate last month, viewers say momentum has stalled after three straight weeks with only a single episode drop. Complaints have also piled up around the much-hyped “Ex-Room” reveal, with some calling the emotional throughline and storytelling thread “loose.”
Even popular reaction creators who built big followings on "EXchang" content are tapping the brakes amid what fans are calling a “dopamine drought.”
On Nov. 20, the channel Charles Entertainment announced it would not post a reaction to Episode 11. “We pushed through a shoot while feeling under the weather, but there was no empathy or immersion―just irritation. We decided not to upload,” the team said, adding that next week’s video may be delayed due to overseas travel.
Fellow YouTube channel Heavytalker likewise told subscribers there would be “no Episode 11 review today,” bluntly adding, “It’s beyond… boring… sigh… We’re taking this week off.” The creator signed off with a hopeful, “Please let the dopamine flow next week.”
Charles Entertainment has routinely topped 1 million views with "EXchange 4" videos, while Heavytalker’s recaps have pulled 500,000-600,000 views per episode. Together, the channels helped turbocharge a robust second-screen culture around the series and fueled its rise.
But midway through the season, some fans say the franchise’s signature quick-sparking emotions and whiplash relationship shifts are missing.
"EXchange 4" drops Wednesdays on TVING.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)