As the second evaluations wrapped up and the trainees settled into the back half of their first month, the long-awaited first episode of LEAVEN finally dropped on Webflix.
And holy hell, the numbers were insane.
Just from the promos, teasers, ads, and word-of-mouth hype, the show hit a record-breaking high for reality/competition programs on the platform. It shot straight to #3 overall, plastered right on Webflix's homepage like it owned the place.
People were buzzing. The promise of no drama, no messy editing, and a full focus on talent had everyone talking. Some were excited, some were skeptical, some were foaming at the mouth—it didn't matter. The crowd was there.
Plus, rumors that well-known indie artists and popular internet personalities had joined the program? Yeah. The hype train had no brakes.
So when the first episode dropped?
Watch parties were popping off worldwide.
Didn't matter if you were curled up alone or packed into a living room with the whole fam—everyone was glued to the screen.
And within ten minutes—TEN MINUTES—the internet combusted.
Live Tweets:
@CrisostomoIbara: what the hell is this budget???
@RicoCharges: a whole ass fucking island?!
@Sukunasbottombitch: am I watching a survival show or Loving Island?? and IN FIJI???
People were gagged. Screaming. Throwing their phones. The production value was BLASPHEMOUSLY high.
Then the trainees started appearing, and the global meltdown hit stage two.
@Michaelangelo: RAHHHHH LET'S FUCKING GET IT ELI!! San Francisco represent!! 🌉🇺🇸
@Oppa-ya: 꺄아아아아! 강이안 오빠, 제발 데뷔해줘! 🇰🇷😍😍😍
@MikkoTan: Nikola, Deutschland represent, ey! 🇩🇪
@SophiaStan: Uy, Pilipins! Pilipins! Monarch De Guzman let's go!! 🇵🇭
@Jaiho: ਆਕਾਸ਼ ਤਾਂ ਪੂਰਾ ਜ਼ੋਰਾਂ 'ਚ ਹੈ! ਭਾਰਤ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਾਨ! India OP!! 🇮🇳
National pride erupted like global fireworks—every country claiming their trainee like a long-lost Olympic champion.
Then Webflix revealed the mega yacht, and the internet disintegrated again.
@Corn⭐: idc WHAT I gotta do… if someone needs their 🍆 sucked, point me to the line. Let me on that ship.
@FFonBio: what do I gotta sacrifice to ride one of those???
And when THE Cat stepped onscreen, the fandom discourse mutated instantly.
@MoonBaby: I only tuned in because August told me to, but damn… didn't think I'd be invested this early.
→ @GoldenHamster: fr. Same reason I'm here. But wait—did they just ban "popularity contest" voting??
→→ @GagaStanner: the other survival shows catching strays damn 🤭
→→→ @Rumi: honestly I dig it. All talent. None of the annoying fans rigging the votes.
→→→→ @Yoyo:GASP Rumi—
→→→→→ @Rumi: what? you were THINKING it.
→→→→→→ @Yoyo: I know but YOU SAID IT 🤣
****
Everyone had something to say.
Hell, even people's mothers had something to say.
TL;DR:
Six months of training.
All talent.
No popularity contest.
And—most shocking of all—NO eliminations.
That last line sent the internet into full rabies mode.
Some praised the show for being revolutionary—saying it finally centered the trainees instead of exploiting them. A survival show that doesn't throw kids away the moment they trip? Unheard of. Beautiful. A spiritual awakening.
Others worried the less-skilled trainees might drag the others down.
These were quickly drowned out, because honestly, Tweeter loves drama but not that kind.
When the island was revealed, the internet burst into flames again.
But at this point, viewers were slowly becoming desensitized to the absurd budget. "Oh, another multimillion-dollar set? Sure. Why not. Of course."
What REALLY sent everyone spiraling was the introduction of Foca, Luca, and Tuesday.
@Totoro: I was expecting old men or at least middle-aged execs… why are the CEO and owners THIS young?? Like hello??? How old are these dudes???
@overcaffeinated: I know the two guys! Juilliard alumni. Saw them in a showcase once—super talented, annoyingly good-looking too.
And just like that, the internet collectively started thirsting over the executive team.
Because of course they did.
Then came the first evaluations, and the viewers were genuinely impressed. Actual talent? In a reality show??? Revolutionary.
Then… Kang Ian's confession dropped.
And the internet instantly organized a witch hunt.
@Hyouka_Icecream: oh you gonna see me on tomorrow's 9 o'clock news. I'm burning someone's house DOWN. 🤬🔥 They dared hurt my baby Ian??? Point me to the address!!
→ @GelatoAddict: I'll bring the matches ☺️
→→ @BabyOnFire: arson party?? say less—I got the gasoline
@Oppa-ya: I read about the incident back then but didn't know Kang Ian was a victim too 😭😭 Oppa my heart…
@LegalEagleKween: The entertainment industry is rotten to its core. Stuff like this happens ALL the time. When will justice exist for those who couldn't escape? 😭😭😭
The episode was one giant emotional rollercoaster—highs, lows, screams, gasps—and by the end, it was a full-blown phenomenon. It dominated trending charts across every social media platform and stayed there for quite a while.
Most viewers were thrilled. Some watched for the talent. Some for the chaos. And plenty logged in simply to troll and pick fights, because a large percentage of the internet is proudly unemployed and chronically online.
To those who haven't seen sunlight or touched grass in 84 years… babe, seriously.
Go outside.