Season 1 vs. Season 2 from my point of view
I've seen a lot of people comparing them, so I want to try to contribute to the sub in some way...
Dates:
Regardless of the reality show, I always see the first season as an experiment that serves as a baseline for future improvements... For example, the group date at the ice skating rink right at the beginning was a fiasco; nobody knew each other, and there was no interaction between men and women because everyone was just focused on learning how to skate. On the other hand, in the second season, the first date featured paintball and dancing, and pairs were formed for the activities, which contributed to better interaction among the participants.
The three-person dates (I don’t remember seeing this in the first season) were also a great idea; at least most of them turned out positive.
As for the speed dates, I think they favor extroverts since they only last 10 minutes. For introverts, it relies too heavily on the other person's interest—otherwise, it must just be moments of endless silence. However, I don't see much room for improvement there, and I still think they are worth keeping.
The Singles Cast:
Just like in the first season, I think the female cast contributes much more in terms of attitude and conversation. In fact, the women always seem to be single more because of their career plans or because they aren't very social, and they handle that well. As for the men, career plans and social traits might play a part too, but I notice they are quite insecure and don't know how to handle the pressure of being single and finding someone.
Cupids/Mentors and Season Progress:
I like the mentors; each one has their own personality. Seo In-guk and Kang Han-na have a more similar style, while Lee Eun-ji and Car, the Garden bring a funnier side. I think the difference is that Eun-ji focuses more on advising her participants, whereas Car focuses more on keeping things light. That being said, I wouldn't change anyone so far. However, I do miss having someone like Dex or Hong Jin-kyung.
Regarding how the season unfolded, I think it was positive. I don't think it was worse than the first season (which I liked too), but I don't think it was vastly superior either. I think the show/project evolved well. Maybe some people criticize it because the spotlight ended up on Hyuk-joon, and many developed a dislike for him. I don't agree with his actions, but I don't think he made the show bad or anything like that.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who took the time to read this post! I want to share that my favorite participants are Hyun-seo, Soo-hyun, Jin-woo, and Seung-hyun. But overall, I like the whole cast.