When "Squid Game" became popular all over the world, Netflix's original Korean dramas were also noticed by more viewers.
From "Kingdom" to "Sweet Home" to today's "Squid Game", the success of Netflix Korean dramas can be said to be a combination of the advantages of Korean films and Korean dramas: Korean film directors, high-cost production, creative freedom of screenwriters, bold use of new actors, although it is a TV series genre but shorter and more concise, and so on.
This article will review 4 niche Netflix original Korean dramas that are worth watching.
Human Classroom (2020)
Director: Kim Jin-min (Masterpiece: Time for Dogs and Wolves, Martial Lawyer)
Cast: Kim Dong-hee, Park Joo-hyun, Choi Min-so, Jeong Do-bin, Nam Young-so
Douban 8.3 points
My Review: Year-End Drama Famine? Korean drama "Human Classroom": 7 foreshadowings and 2 montage dreams in the ending
Based on the theme of juvenile sex trafficking crimes, from the perspective of caring for the mental health of adolescents, it tells the story of model high school student Wu Jisu who embarked on the road of crime in order to earn tuition.
"Human Classroom" is a Korean drama like an American drama, with a bold theme, a strong style, a fast and compact rhythm, coupled with the bold use of newcomer actors as male and female protagonists, without the slightest Korean filter, and the setting of the outlaw Mandarin Duck has a hint of "Go to His X World".
I began to be optimistic about Netflix's original Korean dramas from this drama, full of metaphors and stylized film sense pictures, complex narratives that break through traditional Korean drama themes, eye-catching newcomer acting skills, and the suspenseful ending, which is definitely a masterpiece that has been ignored and is worth watching.
"Psychic Teacher An Eun Young" (2020)
Director: Lee Kyung-mi (Masterpiece: Personality Quartet)
Actors: Jeong Youmei, Nam Joo Hyuk
Douban 7.4 points
My review: 7 metaphors of NETFLIX's "Psychic Teacher An Enying" that make it fatally flawed?
This drama is adapted from the novel "Health Teacher An Enying", which tells the strange events encountered by health teacher An Enying who can see strange "jelly" on campus.
"Jelly" symbolizes human desire, and inhuman monsters and ghosts are also shaped in "jelly", which is very innovative in the themes of many ghost dramas in these years.
Another highlight of this drama is the rich metaphor, the metaphor of blindness and herd mentality, the metaphor of high suicide rate on campus, the metaphor of fate of painting the ground as a prison, the metaphor of disregarding laborers for the sake of interests and the struggle of chaebols.
Using a fantasy, curiosity shell and packaging a variety of realistic metaphors is the advantage of this show, relying heavily on the high-cost "jelly" setting of special effects, and it is also because of Netflix's sufficient funds to achieve.
But unfortunately, the excessive pursuit of genre of the director's narrative rhythm is still insufficient, and the dramatic tension is slightly flat, which is the key to the low rating of this play. Only recommended for viewers who like absolutely niche, bizarre styles!
Move to Heaven: I'm a Relic Sorter (2021)
Director: Kim Sung-ho (masterpiece "Ghost Mirror")
Cast: Lee Tee-hoon, Tang Jun-sang, Hung Seung-hee, Chi Jin-hee
Douban 9.1 points
My review: Netflix "I Am a Relic Sorter" 9.1 points, "crying and laughing" humanistic care conscience drama
"When someone dies, my work begins."
From the perspective of the relics arranger, care for life and death. Focus on the issues that society should care about most: lonely death, the belonging of abandoned babies, dating violence, etc., through the relics of these poor people, restore the last journey of their lives. It is a sad and healing drama of life.
If "Classroom on Earth" is a Korean drama like a European and American drama, then "Relic Sorter" is a Korean drama like a Japanese drama, delicate, close to the daily trivial life, and retains a moderate Korean sensationalism. The actor Zhang's relaxed natural acting skills are even more plus, making people cry and laugh to watch the whole play.
"Relic Sorter" upholds humanistic care and uses artistic techniques to expose social issues, which may not change the actual law like "The Melting Pot", but such a voice and effort are always done.
Like the "Classroom on Earth" and "Spiritual Teacher An Enying" recommended above, no matter how extraordinary the shell of the story is, the core of focus and care is the difficulties that exist in reality and may encounter or are encountering. This is also a key reason why even if the story is fictional, the audience does not feel suspended, distant and false.
D.P: Deserter Pursuit Order (2021)
Director: Han Junxi (Masterpiece: Chinatown)
Actors: Ding Hae-in, Gu Jiao-hyun, Kim Sung-jun, Sun Seok-joo
Douban 9.2 points
My Review: Ding Haiyin's new Netflix drama "D.P: Desertion Pursuit Order": Gaze at the violence hidden behind "escape"
Netflix hit "D.P" 2 group "control" character analysis, her escape changed Ding Haiyin
Adapted from the manga D.P Dog Day, the series tells the story of Ahn Joon-ho, a second-class soldier in service, who is sent to the DP (Deserter Pursuit) group responsible for capturing deserters, and through the "escape" of the soldiers, digs out the reasons behind it and exposes the violence in the South Korean army.
"D.P" and "I am a relic sorter" are similar in structure, both are unit dramas, the main line and the unit plot are very smoothly combined, but more short and concise, only 6 episodes, the most valuable thing is less Korean sadness, more rational reflection, plus the bold broadening of the theme, exposing the shortcomings of the Korean army, like the korean drama like a movie, it is suitable for the "Netflix physique".
If I had to choose the best work of Netflix original Korean drama at present, it would be "D.P", the actor's acting skills, overall completion, and theme depth are almost perfect, and the high reputation also confirms this.
But it's understandable why D.P,, while popular in South Korea, isn't as popular around the world as Squid Games. "D.P" has a heavy and serious tone, and the military theme does not have the survival game theme to attract the public and resonate, which is a relatively high threshold work.
The four Netflix original Korean dramas recommended above, I think the biggest common advantage - the perspective of humanistic care focuses on real social issues.
Netflix original Korean drama is like a combination of Korean film and Korean drama, both the high production level and profound intention of Korean film, and sufficient space to tell a good story, boldly expand diversified new themes, break through the traditional Korean drama love-based narrative, do not rely on handsome men and beautiful women as a selling point to attract the audience, even unknown newcomer actors have strong enough acting skills to support the whole play.
These advantages will continue to the future Netflix original Korean dramas, with the explosion of "Squid Game", the development of Korean film and television may usher in a new era.
Next articleIntroducing the upcoming Netflix original Korean dramas, what are some worth looking forward to?
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