Danny, a cast member of Netflix’s new dating show My Korean Boyfriend, has described the moment he first saw his online partner Mariana in person as “overwhelming.” This emotional first meeting, filled with nervousness and a romantic gesture, is a central moment in the show’s second episode, which began streaming on January 1, 2026.
The series follows five Brazilian women who travel to Seoul, South Korea, to meet their Korean partners face-to-face for the first time, testing relationships built online against real-world interactions and cultural differences. Mariana Tollendal, known as Mari, and Danny’s story is one of the show’s key narratives, capturing the gamble of turning a digital connection into reality.
The Nervous Wait and a Floral Apology
The lead-up to the meeting was fraught with anxiety for Mariana. After months of daily online chats, she arrived in Seoul expecting Danny to meet her at the airport. When he didn’t show up and was not answering her calls, she was left confused and upset, questioning if the person she had been talking to was even real. She waited for him at a landmark location in Seoul that he had suggested.
Danny eventually explained that a family emergency had prevented him from coming to the airport. To make up for his absence, he arrived at their meeting spot with a single flower in hand. Mariana later admitted in a confessional that although she was unhappy about the airport mix-up, the gesture worked, saying, “He left me waiting at the airport and thinks a flower will fix it? What’s worse is, it actually does”.
Danny’s Immediate Reaction to Seeing Mariana
When Danny first saw Mariana, his reaction was intensely emotional. In the episode, after she asked if she looked like her photos and videos, he told her she was pretty and then shared his immediate feeling.
“Actually, yeah. Like, when you turned around, I was like…Mm…It was overwhelming,” Danny said.
This moment of raw, unfiltered emotion highlights the high stakes of their first encounter after building a bond solely through a screen. For her part, Mariana was equally smitten upon seeing him. In her private confessional after the meeting, she gushed, “He’s perfect, I can’t stop smiling”. She later told her fellow cast members that the encounter felt like a scene from a K-drama, complete with the dramatic element of him calling her name from behind.
Building a Connection Beyond the Screen
Following their initial meeting, Danny and Mariana spent more time together to see if their online chemistry translated in person. They went on dates, including a shopping trip where they bought matching hoodies—a small but meaningful step in their growing relationship. Their interactions also highlighted cultural learning moments, such as when Mariana explained that in Brazil, people often greet each other with a kiss on the cheek, a custom that initially surprised Danny.
Mariana shared in a confessional that the attraction was strong, stating, “The way he looks at me, damn, I just can’t. Do I feel like kissing him? Yeah. But let’s take it slow, because things are different here in Korea”. The show follows their journey along with four other couples, exploring whether these cross-cultural relationships can survive daily life and differing expectations.
About the Show and Its Cast
My Korean Boyfriend is a docu-reality series produced by Floresta, a Brazilian production company. The first part of the season, containing four episodes, was released on Netflix on January 1, 2026. The second part, with episodes five through eight, is scheduled for release on January 8, 2026. Each installment includes a special reaction episode where guests watch and discuss the main episodes.
The show features five Brazilian women:
- Camila Kim: Returning to her birthplace of Seoul to reconnect with her Korean heritage.
- Katy Dias: Seeking clarity on her undefined relationship with Jack, whom she met by chance a year earlier.
- Luanny Vital: Working through a turbulent relationship with Si Won, complicated by her life as a single mother.
- Mariana Tollendal: Meeting Danny in person for the first time after four months of online dating.
- Morena Monaco: In a long-term relationship with Suwoong and discussing serious future plans like marriage and family.
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Where Are Danny and Mariana Now?
Since filming, indications suggest Danny and Mariana have remained connected. They follow each other on Instagram, and in January 2026, when Mariana posted photos from the show, Danny commented “Bonita,” which means “pretty” in Portuguese and Spanish. While they have not shared recent public photos together, Mariana referred to 2025 as “the best year ever” in a comment on Danny’s New Year’s post, hinting that their connection may have continued privately after the cameras stopped rolling.
Outside the show, Mariana is a singer-songwriter and entrepreneur from Brazil. She released a song titled “Brazil to Seoul” in November 2025. Danny is a digital content creator based in South Korea, focusing on fitness, self-care, and lifestyle topics.
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