On August 5, fans of the ENA thriller drama were left stunned when streaming platform TVING mistakenly uploaded episode 8, the final installment of the series, instead of episode 6, which was scheduled for release that day. The error led to unintentional spoilers for thousands of viewers and quickly ignited outrage across fan communities.
- “How could the official account spoil it?”
- “The staff clearly made a mistake.”
- “This is so annoying.”
These were just a few of the reactions flooding The Defects’ Naver Talk page after the mishap. One viewer shared their disbelief: “I realized something was off when autoplay didn’t work, so I manually selected episode 6. The story didn’t make sense and suddenly… the drama ended. I was stunned.”
The premature finale remained accessible for about 20 minutes before TVING took it down and replaced it with a notice saying, “Unable to retrieve broadcast information.” The correct episode was later uploaded.
This broadcasting blunder is the latest controversy in a series already marred by behind-the-scenes issues. Actor Kim Jin-young (Dex) faced heavy criticism for his acting, while Lee Na-eun, making her acting comeback after a school bullying scandal, was also under public scrutiny. Adding to the drama, Song Young-kyu , who portrayed the morally corrupt Pastor Yoon Se-hoon, was caught drunk driving during the show’s run and tragically passed away on August 4, just one day before this incident.
Based on a webtoon, The Defects follows the gritty survival and revenge story of children abandoned by their adoptive parents and forced into a brutal, near-death existence. The show has gained attention for its dark plot and intense characters but now finds itself battling real-life challenges that rival its fictional chaos.
With just two episodes left before the intended finale, this leak has left fans frustrated and concerned for the already troubled production team.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스