Slow and Steady

The drama "Salon de Holmes" piques viewers' curiosity right from its title. The word "Salon" evokes an elegant and classic feeling, reminiscent of the 18th-century European venues for intellectual and artistic exchange. However, when this word is combined with "Holmes" and placed in the context of a Korean drama, it creates a clever pun that also brings to mind the most familiar of living spaces: the "apartment." The title thus suggests that the story will unfold in a unique space where elegance and everyday life, mystery and relatable narratives coexist. At the heart of the drama are four female leads: Lee Si-young, Jung Young-joo, Kim Da-som, and Nam Gi-ae. They are characters with distinct personalities and stories who come together to solve mysterious incidents occurring within the confined space of their apartment complex. However, among these four protagonists, the one who truly serves as the story's anchor and drives the narrative ...

Recently, the opportunity to watch Japanese dramas on Netflix has significantly increased. For fans of J-dramas, the current environment is ideal, as it's not just past masterpieces but also the latest series airing in Japan that are being updated, often in real-time. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice that a majority of these productions are dramas produced by TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System), one of Japan's major broadcasters. This leads to speculation about a close partnership between TBS and Netflix, much like the one between Korea's SBS and the streaming giant, which makes nearly all of its content available. It was within this trend that I stumbled upon a 2017 drama titled 'Anata no Koto wa Sorehodo.'   When I first started watching 'Anata no Koto wa Sorehodo,' it felt both unfamiliar and yet strangely familiar. The reason for this lies in its origin: the drama is based on a wildly popular manga of the same name, which became a massive hit in Jap...

Until now, original films released by Netflix have often failed to fully meet audience expectations. This has been particularly true for its live-action movies, many of which have received disappointing reviews. In contrast, the animation genre has consistently maintained its reputation with well-regarded works. Now, an animated film that no one saw coming is creating a global box-office sensation and writing a new chapter in history. That film is K-Pop: Demon Hunters. One of the most interesting aspects of this work is its origin. While its subject is K-Pop, now an undisputed global cultural genre, the production was led by Japan's Sony and Hollywood capital. Of course, a significant number of Korean staff members were involved and played a crucial role in grounding the film's identity. However, the very fact that it approached K-Pop from an external perspective became a key to its success.  This "outsider's gaze" managed to capture the charm and essence of K-Pop...

The greatest show in Netflix history, "Squid Game," has finally unveiled its final chapter, Season 3, capturing the attention of fans worldwide. Even considering that Netflix's content lineup has historically been stronger in series than in films, the debut of "Squid Game" was a landmark event. Season 1 transcended mere popularity to become a "cultural phenomenon," setting unprecedented records for a non-English language drama and elevating the status of K-content to a new level. This explosive success presented a huge burden and a challenge for the production team. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk had previously stated he had little intention of creating a sequel, but he ultimately yielded to global demand and decided to produce Seasons 2 and 3. The decision to film both seasons simultaneously for production efficiency and narrative continuity was a clever strategy. As a result, fans who had grown weary of the long wait after Season 1's shocking ending we...