"Heart Signal 4" Review: Is There More to This Dating Show Than Looks?

I know that "Heart Signal 4" was not loved by many and I felt the same at times. But I’m happy I didn’t stop watching it. The slow pace showed their feelings pretty well. I think we live in a society where we unconsciously rush our lives. So we also want our emotions to change quickly. But normally it takes time; you are supposed to grow from life, heal, and improve for the future. Plus, they showed that true love isn't possessive. They were aware of their feelings. It didn’t seem like it but they were. That’s what I aspire for these days. Taking things slowly and as they come.

What is "Heart Signal 4" (Korea) about?

Cupid is back, and this time he's aiming his arrows at a new group of single people who are ready to find love. The group has never met before, but they're about to live together in Signal House.

The house rules say that it's okay to flirt, but housemates can't directly tell anyone that they like them. Instead, they have to express their feelings through anonymous text messages. This means that recipients have to try to figure out who is trying to connect with them romantically.

A panel of celebrity love experts will be watching the drama unfold in the house. The panel includes returning veterans Yoon Jong Shin, Kim Ea Na, and Lee Sang Min, as well as new additions Oh! My Girl's Mimi, WINNER's Kang Seung Yoon, and leading psychiatrist Kim Chong Gi.

Review

1. Casting and directing/editing: Not that good

I liked all the cast members as individuals and I think the first half of the show was good. But the casting crew should have done more screening and interviews to avoid this chaos. It would have been better to cast people with diverse preferences and expectations to make the show more interesting. That didn’t happen here. It just sounded like one man and one woman’s story with 6 “extras”.

It could have been improved if there was some direction - making the cast members date different people. Forcing them to choose someone they haven’t dated yet, random dates, or letting contestants choose dates for each other.

Besides, the dates between the cast members weren't very exciting. They mostly involved just chatting in a cafe or restaurant2ư. I would have liked to see more activities than plain dates.

2. My no.1 favorite wasn't there

I liked Ji Won the most. He was the most handsome to me. His confidence was so charming. If he said “I like you.” to me, I would have melted.

So it was hard to watch episodes where he was absent. I wondered why they didn’t cast people who had more time for the show. I think the producers messed up there. 

3. Jumi deserves better

Jumi was too awesome for all of them. I hope "Heart Signal 4" helps her find men who appreciate a smart and strong woman. She deserved more. It was sad to see how much she cared for Gyeore and how he didn’t even say something sincere to her.

Also, I think the missed opportunity was Jumi and Mingyu pairing, If Jumi knew that Mingyu liked her too... If only they had a chance to bond and the staff helped them… They would be THE POWER COUPLE of this season. Both are smart and good-looking. 

4. The hosts talked so much

I don’t like how much the hosts talk. They tended to overanalyze every little thing. I watched it on PC so I can fast-forward when they comment. :)

5. Who is "Heart Signal 4" best for?

This is the show for you if you don’t mind being ignorant and just want to laugh and cry at the cute and sad moments of new relationships. The producers made me feel those emotions too. 

But if you want to get the full picture, you won't find that in "Heart Signal 4." They introduce a new character halfway through and barely show her. The producers made her seem boring, dull, and unappealing, so she wouldn’t ruin their plan for the “original” housemates. It resulted in a disappointing and confusing ending because they hid many scenes from us, didn't they?

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