Slow and Steady

As Disney+ continues to solidify its position as a global OTT platform, it has consistently introduced original content across various genres. Having previously showcased its strengths in modern dramas and fantasy, Disney+ is now embarking on a new challenge with a K-historical drama, specifically the weighty and traditional sageuk, <Takryu> (Turbid Current). This series sets itself apart from previous Disney+ offerings, delivering a fresh impact and deep immersion to viewers through its thorough historical verification and realistic depiction. While it's unfortunate that many past Disney+ productions haven't always received the recognition they deserved for their quality, <Takryu> is a highly anticipated work with enough potential to showcase the true power of K-content. The first thing that captivates the viewer's attention in <Takryu> is undoubtedly its commitment to realism based on thorough historical research. The recent trend in historical dramas ha...

MBN's new Wednesday-Thursday drama, <First Lady>, has centered itself in the spotlight with a shockingly unconventional narrative that defies viewer expectations. For those who anticipated a weighty political drama centered on the president and the first lady, the series has instead pushed a fresh and startling subject to the forefront: the divorce of the presidential couple. It seems poised to interestingly portray how a deeply personal conflict experienced by the nation's top leaders can create significant political waves, moving beyond simple power struggles.   The drama challenges conventional wisdom with the bold tagline, "Even a president can get a divorce." In reality, there has never been a sitting president in South Korean history who was divorced or single, a sentiment shared across many nations. This is because the president's spouse, while holding no legal authority, wields immense influence over the public and is seen as a symbolic figure repres...

The very first Japanese drama I ever watched on the Netflix platform was "Alice in Borderland." Of course, I had been watching Japanese dramas for a long time through unofficial channels, and among them, the genre that particularly captured my interest was the "death game." The extreme psychological warfare for survival and the unpredictable developments condensed the unique charm of Japanese dramas, leaving a deep impression on me. "Alice in Borderland" stands at the pinnacle of this very death game genre. For a long time, the death game genre has established itself as one of the unique strengths of the Japanese content market. That's why when "Squid Game," which created a worldwide syndrome, first appeared, many fans of the Japanese death game genre, including myself, had a relatively muted reaction. While "Squid Game" is undoubtedly a brilliant work, I couldn't shake the impression that its structure and setting followed a fa...

Director Park Chan-wook's filmography has always presented audiences with intellectual challenges and aesthetic shocks. His films have been lauded by critics for their meticulously calculated mise-en-scène, complex narratives, and weighty themes, but at times, this very weightiness seemed to create a distance from mainstream 'entertainment.' However, his new film, <No Choice> (Eojjeol su ga eopda), cheerfully shatters this stereotype. The film successfully combines the sharp directorial style and socio-critical perspective characteristic of Park Chan-wook while consistently making the audience burst into laughter with the charm of a black comedy. Fans who have watched his previous works with a serious demeanor will find themselves having a new experience, laughing out loud and getting lost in the screen.   The film's success was made possible by the actors who were free to play on the solid foundation built by Director Park. He exquisitely designed a critical narr...

 Looking at the recent drama market, one can notice that works in the BL (Boys' Love) genre are being steadily produced. To the extent that platforms specializing in producing and streaming only BL content have emerged, this genre has solidified a firm position centered around a specific fandom. There's a clear reason why the BL genre, in particular, maintains its tenacious vitality and continues to meet fans with new works amidst a competitive content market where numerous genres rise and fall. The core consumer base for this genre is unequivocally women in their teens and 20s. They are active content consumers and form the backbone of fandom culture. A key characteristic of BL dramas is that they often feature a large cast of so-called 'pretty boys,' satisfying visual appeal. From a narrative structure standpoint, you could often replace one of the male protagonists with a female character without significantly disrupting the main flow of the story. This is because it...