Night Light (2018) [Film Review]

Movies focusing on family issues tend to be either extremely serious in tone or, on the contrary, very light-hearted. It is quite rare to see a motion picture centring on the father-son relationship through the perspective of nature. Night Light directed and written by Kim Moo-young is such a film, and it deals with the difficult theme in an almost oneiric way.

Release Info

Directed by: Kim Moo Young Starring: Song Jae Ryong, Ji Dae Han, Jung Ah Mi

Language: Korean Original Title: 밤빛 Runtime: 108 min

Synopsis
Hee-tae (Song Jae Ryong) is an herb collector who finds out that he is terminally ill. Suddenly, he receives a letter from his ex-wife. The content of the letter remains unknown, but it definitely has an impact on Hee-tae. We see him living in the mountains, leading a spartanic lifestyle, and collecting herbs. Soon after, his son (Ji Dae Han) arrives for a visit. The estranged father and son try to get to know each other while being surrounded by nature. Each day, they collect herbs and climb the nearby mountain.

Night Light is basically a slow-paced story about the appreciation of life and the acceptance of our fate. In a manner similar to the Japanese New Wave of the 1960s, director Kim Moo Young unhurriedly guides the viewers through a simple story with huge mountains looming in the far background. If you like long shots of walking through a forest, drinking from a frozen pond, or just climbing, then you will definitely enjoy this film.

Cinematography helmed by Kim Bo Wram is simply breathtaking. Some of the mountain shots could be used for a National Geographic documentary. Unfortunately, the music score is virtually non-existent in the movie. Apart from the haunting ending sequence, no music accompanies the scenes, which is a shame because it may have improved the viewing experience.

With regard to performances, Song Jae Ryong as the main lead is the movie's definite highlight. He convincingly portrays a troubled man struggling with an illness. The role of Hee-tae's son was played quite well by young Ji Dae Han. An honourable mention goes to the veteran actress Jung Ah Mi who managed to mark her presence in the story with a small part.

Recommendations
I recommend Night Light to anyone who is interested in great visuals, subtle character interactions, and loose narration. It is simple, yet multi-layered, look at the intimacy between a parent and a child. Let's face it, we are all, sometimes, pondering about life in the middle of the night, just as Hee-tae does at the top of a mountain.

Disclaimer: This review is an edited re-release of a text composed for AMP in 2019.

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Okay! Madam (2020) [Film Review]

Okay! Madam; or, National Lampoon’s Airborne Vacation
     We have to go on this trip!
It has been a while, but I am getting back into Korean movies again. I am not sure if this is a long term thing or a passing mood, but I decided to check out some Korean comedies. My obvious first pick became Lee Chul Ha’s Okay! Madam from 2020. I admit that the movie would have totally missed my radar had it not been for a recommendation post made by my friend @penel over at MyDramaList.

Release Info

Directed by: Lee Chul Ha Starring: Uhm Jung Hwa, Park Sung Woong, Jung Soo Bin

Language: Korean Original Title: 오케이 마담 Runtime: 100 min

Synopsis
Mi Young (Uhm Jung Hwa) and Suk Hwan (Park Sung Woong) are a middle-class family. She runs a shop at a traditional market, and he is a technology wizard who fixes computers. All of a sudden, it turns out that they win a trip to Hawaii. The couple together with their daughter (Jung Soo Bin) board an exclusive plane. Nevertheless, family happiness is quickly disrupted when a group of terrorists takes over the plane. The assailants are looking for a former spy from North Korea who is allegedly on board. Mi Young and Suk Hwan step into action to save their daughter and the rest of the hostages.

High Anxiety
When I saw @penel’s feed post for the first time, I thought to myself, “Oh cool, it's a plane movie!” It was only later when I realised that Okay! Madam is also a comedy. Indeed, it is very hard to make a successful comedy set on board of an aircraft. However, there are a few noticeable examples, such as Airplane! (1980) and Happy Flight (2008).

Okay! Madam is a very light-hearted and briskly paced fun entertainment. It even manages to conjure up a few plot twists along the way. Consequently, I am very grateful I checked out the film without paying attention to the plot synopsis or watching a spoiler-charged theatrical trailer. I suggest you do this as well in order to get full enjoyment out of the movie.

I realise that some demanding viewers may be put off by the film’s low production value. Evidently, it was made on a tight budget, which can be seen in many CGI shots of a plane in distress, whereas all the interior shots were shot in studio conditions. Still again, the greatest advantage of the movie is the script and great performances of the leads.

Speaking about performances, Uhm Jung Hwa is having such a field day in this movie! I mainly know the actress from her dramatic endeavours, but in Okay! Madam she clearly demonstrates her comic abilities. Park Sung Woong is also funny as the geeky husband. Lee Sang Yoon makes a standard appearance as your ordinary Mr Tough Guy, but he does well with his role. The rest of the supporting appearances are fine, but do not particularly stand out.

Recommendations
Even though the film is a Korean production, it makes me wonder if the title is actually a witty reference to Corey Yuen's action-packed Yes, Madam! (1985) which jettisoned Michelle Yeon into stardom. All in all, I greatly enjoyed Okay! Madam. The movie is available on numerous streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime. Overall score: 8/10

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300th Review: A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

A Tale of Two Sisters; or, Rose Flower, Red Lotus
     As much as you hate It, I'm the only one in this world you can call mother, got it?
One of my recent visits at a thrift store resulted in obtaining a DVD release of Kim Jee Woon’s A Tale of Two Sisters. Actually, I remember reading about this particular horror film during seminar classes at my university, where a lecturer did a comparison between this film and its Hollywood remake: The Uninvited. So, needless to say, let’s discuss the movie in detail.

Release Info

Directed by: Kim Jee Woon Starring: Im Soo Jung, Moon Geun Young, Yum Jung Ah

Language: Korean Original Title: 장화, 홍련  Runtime:115 min

Synopsis
A teenage girl called Su Mi (Im Soo Jung) was being treated for psychosis in a mental institution. After being discharged, she returns home with her father (Kim Kap Soo), and younger sister Su Yeon (Moon Geun Young). The two sisters have a strong bond and always support each other. However, they refuse to acknowledge Eun Joo (Yum Jung Ah) as their step-mother, which causes friction among family members. Soon after, Su Mi and Su Yeon start seeing supernatural phenomena around the house, even witnessing the ghost of their late mother (Park Mi Hyun).

Past Trauma
I think it is safe to say that Kim Jee Woon is a jack of all trades when it comes to delivering a variety of different genres, from a wacky comedy to an exciting thriller. Evidently, A Tale of Two Sisters is no exception. Having been inspired by a folktale story Janghwa Hongryeon jeon, Kim Jee Woon crafts a dark, slow-paced horror with psychological undertones taken verbatim from the pictures of Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

At its core, A Tale of Two Sisters is the story about the breakdown of a nuclear family. Of course, there are many unexpected plot twists along the way, sprinkled with supernatural elements and jumpscares. Yet, the dramatic reveal in the film’s finale essentially brings the whole thing down to a conflict between a girl and a step-mother, which was set in motion by an ignorant father.

I am not a big fan of a disjointed style of narrative, but in the case of A Tale of Two Sisters, it actually works. There are many sequences throughout the film which make you think whether what you are seeing is real or unreal. In particular, I refer to a chilling scene in which the character of Eun Joo looks for the mother’s ghost under a sink.

With regard to performances, Im Soo Jung and Moon Geun Young did a great job as sisters caught up in a Shakespearean-like tragedy. Nevertheless, they can’t hold a candle to Yum Jung Ah as the devilish step-mom. She really ascended to the heights of Disney villainy in this movie. Kim Kap Soo does well as the emotionless and out-of-touch father.

Recommendations
All things considered, if you want to keep yourselves engaged and put together pieces of a fragmented mystery for two hours, then I recommend A Tale of Two Sisters. To me, it was definitely a more compelling film than The Uninvited remake. The DVD edition I have was issued by IDG company in 2007. Unfortunately, it has no bonus features, but there is a DTS audio track, which improves the viewing experience. Internationally, the film was also issued by Tartan Films in 2005 and by Arrow Video in 2021.
Overall score: 8/10

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Extreme Job (2019) [Film Review]

Extreme Job; or, Fry Hard
     What’s the point of working so hard if we can’t even eat properly?
This time, I decided to watch an action comedy flick Extreme Job, directed by Lee Byeong Hun. As of 2019, the movie holds the record of the second most viewed production in the history of South Korean cinema. It was inspired by a Chinese production Lobster Cop from 2018.

Release Info

Directed by: Lee Byung Hun Starring: Ryu Seung Ryong, Lee Ha Nee, Jin Seon Kyu

Language: Korean Original Title: 극한직업 Runtime: 110 min

Synopsis
Captain Ko (Ryu Seung Ryong) is the leader of a narcotics team composed of skilled, yet hot-headed police officers. After committing a major blunder during the arrest, the team is given the last chance to save their faces by conducting an undercover surveillance of an international drug gang. For their stakeout base, they choose a chicken restaurant that is on the verge of bankruptcy. Convinced that there won’t be lots of customers, the policemen buy the restaurant. Unexpectedly, their recipe for a rib marinade becomes a hit and hungry customers begin to storm the restaurant...

Cook up the Police
Well, Extreme Job is a pleasant, happy-go-lucky comedy of mistakes that thrives on character chemistry and situational gags. The best way to describe the film is to call it a mix between John Badham’s Stakeout (1987) and Michael Hui’s Chicken and Duck Talk (1988). I am pleasantly surprised that South Korean filmmakers are warming up to such classic styles of comedy.

In my opinion, the only disadvantage of the film is the confusing second act which directs the heroes by mere coincidence onto the bad guys and their schemes. Apart from that, it is hilarious to watch Captain Ko and his men struggling to do their job while keeping the crowds of customers happy.

As expected from a Korean production, the action aspect does not disappoint as welll because we get some great fight sequences, especially in the film’s great finale. (I got that A Better Tomorrow reference!)

With regard to performances, Ryu Seung Ryong does a great job as the team’s leader. I think that he could easily play Golgo 13 in the live-action adaptation (he looks totally like this comic book character). My praise also goes to Lee Hanee as Detective Jang. She kicked ass the female member of the team. In addition, it was great to see Shin Ha Kyun as the villain yet again (*The Villainess flashbacks*).

Recommendations
I highly recommend Extreme Job if you want to lighten up your mood. It is a decent comedy with action elements. As of 2022, apart from a Region A Blu-ray, the movie is also available on Amazon Prime. I thought that it is on Netflix as well, but I could not track it down there.

Overall score: 8/10

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Samjin Company English Class (2020) [Film Review]

Samjin Company English Class; or, Girl Power!
     Do you know why office workers can’t be detectives? We have neither time nor authority.
I think I would not have discovered this film if it had not been for a recommendation from my wonderful friend from MDL, Yuanwei. Samjin Company English Class is a 2020 comedy drama directed by Lee Jong Pil and Lee Jung Beom. It is yet another motion picture (see Office Royale: Hell’s Garden and Shomuni franchise) focusing on the challenging plight of hardworking office ladies.

Release Info

Directed by: Lee Jong Pil, Lee Jung Beom Starring: Go Ah Sung, Esom, Park Hye Soo

Language: Korean Original Title: 삼진그룹 영어토익반 Runtime: 110 min

Synopsis
South Korea, 1995. This is a time of major economic growth for the country. Companies are expanding to international markets and Windows has become a leading operating system across the globe. We follow three office ladies: Lee Ja Young (Go Ah Sung), Jeong Yoo Na (Esom), and Sim Bo Ram (Park Hye Soo) who are forced to do petty tasks at Samjin Corporation. Nevertheless, the three friends are ambitious and resourceful. They want to climb up the career ladder. As a result, they sign up to TOEIC-level English class. One day, Lee Ja Young accidentally discovers that there is a spill of a toxic substance known as Phenol from the Samjin factory. The office ladies begin their private investigation in the course of which they uncover a corporate conspiracy.

English is easy
I have to say that Samjin Company English Class feels very much like a spiritual companion piece to Shomuni (1998). The narrative structure is the same: OLs with vibrant personalities are basically the underdogs, and they oppose their white-collar superiors; the time setting fits perfectly: the 1990s; and even their company uniforms look very similar. Needless to say, these are the basic ingredients which make this movie entertaining, and even better than the reboot season of Shomuni from 2013.

I very much appreciated that the main heroines are not hateful or toxic towards each other, but from beginning to the end, they had each other’s back and were really engaged in doing their own investigation/corporate espionage. What is more, each character utilised her personal skill to get the job done. At first, I thought that the English class with this introverted, yet a bit impatient teacher (totally me, by the way) was just a comic-relief gimmick, but it actually served a purpose in the context of the film! In consequence, I very much value the message coming from this movie. That is: If you want to achieve something, you need to better yourself and never give up.

The ending was, in general, satisfying but a bit convoluted. In order to understand what is going on, you need to have a good idea of how big corporations actually work. Initially, I thought that there would be a hostile takeover, but actually, the baddies lowered the value of a company and tried to merge it with another one. I hope I understood this correctly. I sucked at a Business English course at my university. In addition, I don’t think that what I just wrote is a spoiler because there are many plot twists in the finale.

Speaking about performances, I love all the main actresses so much! Esom in particular won me over with her elegant and confident demeanour. Go Ah Sung is adorable as the office lady who wants to make a difference. Sim Bo Ram is extremely funny as a reserved maths genius who constantly looks for a fish called Rambo(!). Kim Jong Soo has a great supporting part as Sim Bo Ram’s mentor and friend. It is also nice to see Bae Hae Seon in a small role as a copywriter. As for David McInnis (who did very well as the CEO), casting foreign actors as baddies in Korean productions gradually becomes a clichéd trope. Please someone do something about this.

Recommendations
Samjin Company English Class is worth your attention mainly due to great performances, wonderful retrowave music score, top-notch production design, and cinematography filled with warm colours. The end credits constitute a separate, little artwork as well! So yes, you can’t go wrong with these office ladies. I am hoping that there is a chance for a sequel.

Overall score: 8/10

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Love and Leashes (2022) [Film Review]

Love and Leashes; or, In the Realm of Domination
     I told you I don't think you're a pervert. Or maybe you are. Aren't we all somewhat perverted?
Well, that escalated quickly. As I have previously stated in my review of The Naked Director (2019-2021), I am not really into kinky stuff, so I initially avoided the hype for Love and Leashes, a 2022 South Korean rom-com based on a webtoon called Moral Sense. However, after reading positive reviews on MyDramaList, I decided to give the film a chance. Here are my thoughts on it.

Release Info

Directed by: Park Hyun Jin Starring: Seo Hyun, Lee Jun Young, Lee El, Kim Bo Ra

Language: Korean Original Title: 모럴센스 Runtime: 117 min

Synopsis
Jung Ji Woo (Seo Hyun) is an efficient and straight-to-the-point worker at a company which promotes toys. Jung Ji Hoo (Lee Jun Young) also works at the same company and he has recently been transferred to Ji Woo’s department. Considering the fact that the two have similar names, it comes as no surprise that Jung Ji Woo accidentally opens a package addressed for Ji Hoo. Consequently, the woman discovers her colleague's personal secret. Namely, he is into BDSM…

Office Secrets
On the basis of the title alone, it is easy to imagine that the film is another studio-made flick filled with NSFW content similar in style to, for instance, Love Clinic (2015). In my opinion, Love and Leashes is worth checking out simply because it does not purely focus on the erotic aspect. The BDSM topic is not introduced to provide relief for porn viewers, but it serves as a metaphor of love relations at a workplace. Is it even possible to fall for a colleague? Is it curiosity or attraction? What about the excitement which comes with the infuatuation?

The erotic scenes are present because they reflect the mental state of the main characters. I noticed that lighting in the movie plays an important part. Daily interactions between Ji Woo and Ji Hoo are accompanied by a variety of vibrant colours (see the hilarious package faux-pas or storage room interaction). However, when they engage in a BDSM role play (either in a hotel room or at an office), they are immediately framed within warm colours.

Obviously, the two leads are ridiculous eye candies. Lee Jun Young is so darn adorable, even when he does not pretend to be a puppy, whereas Seo Hyun is enchanting as an office worker who tries to fill in the mistress’ heels. Unfortunately, the supporting parts are a bit bland and forgettable.

Truth be told, the sexual content in Love and Leashes is very mild. The movie’s focus is romance, and I appreciate it for that, but the final act felt too clichéd. It seemed almost as if the writers ran out of ideas, so they remixed the ending of Working Girl (1988) with Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford, just to wrap up the story.

Recommendations
All in all, I recommend Love and Leashes if you are a fan of the leading actors or if you just want some light entertainment. Nevertheless, the movie has zero rewatch value, at least for me. It is a nicely done one-time comedy.
Overall score: 7/10

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All of Us Are Dead (2022) [Drama Review]

All of Us Are Dead; or, Too Cruel for School
     Listen carefully. You know how to play tag, right? We're all hiding here to get away from someone. But now... you're it.
All of Us Are Dead is the latest South Korean zombie series which premiered on Netflix at the end of January, 2022. Based on a webtoon series created by Joo Dong Geun, the 12-episode drama delivers a high level of zombie insanity within the school setting. Yet, the viewing experience is not without flaws.

Release Info

Directed by: Lee Jae Gyoo, Kim Nam Su Starring: Park Ji Hoo, Yoon Chan Young, Jo Yi Hyun, Lomon

Language: Korean Original Title: 지금 우리 학교는 No. of eps.: 12

Synopsis
A former worker of a pharmaceutical company, Lee Byeong Chan (Kim Byung Chul) currently works as a life science teacher at Hyosan High School. In order to protect his son, the scientist has developed a deadly virus which basically takes control over its host and amplifies primal instincts. In other words, those infected are driven by the sole will to survive. Unfortunately, one of the students gets bitten by Lee Byeong Chan’s lab rat. This turns the Hyosan High School into ground zero for a zombie virus outbreak. Students in distress will have to fight their way through in order to stay alive.

The School Job
I have to say that I am fairly open to the zombie genre in general and I do not mind suspending my disbelief when clichéd situations kick in (*#Alive and Peninsula flashbacks*). However, All of us Are Dead, albeit extremely fast-paced and entertaining, did not click with me in a lot of places.

My major issue with this drama is its inconsequentiality. Zombie flicks are always driven by a set of specific rules and All of Us Are Dead is no exception from that. The problem arises when these rules are bent or done away with just to push the story further. For instance, the virus is transmitted by the act of an infected person biting a healthy person. It is said in the show that zombie transformation lasts approximately 10 minutes, but sometimes it is just 30 seconds and voilà! Some characters get to say a whole monologue in their last moments or they are able to sacrifice themselves in a glorious battle, others; unfortunately, catch one breath and become red-eyed monsters.

One more example (without giving away major spoilers): By logic, it is safe to assume that a character infected with a mutated strain of the virus would transmit that particular strain, but this does not always work out either. I understand that the screenwriters wanted to avoid getting cornered by these zombie rules, but some of these critical moments in the drama were so baffling that I was unable to suspend my disbelief. In addition, not giving the main heroes at least some nutrition plus water and expecting them to jump, kick, and fist fight all the time is unforgivable.

Still, there are many things I appreciate in All of Us Are Dead. The episodic form allowed to develop the mystery of the virus: what were its origins and how it mutated. This in turn had a great impact on the philosophical side of the story: nihilism vs. struggle to survive, school abuse vs. parental love, children distrusting adults, and the needs of the many vs. the needs of the few. All of it is present on the screen and it is awesome to see how these themes play out in the drama. What is more, All of Us Are Dead gives a thoughtful commentary on modern-day issues connected with the pandemic.

In terms of action, this show just does not let go. It takes many cues from Train to Busan (2016), and even references the movie, yet the drama does not go to extremes. That is to say, we will not see here zombies amassing on top of each other and creating huge living walls out of themselves. These zombies are more straightforward: they react to sound and relentlessly try to grab a bite.

With regard to heroes, there are so many of them that it is really hard to identify with and cheer for particular individuals. They just do not get fleshed out properly. Still, the main focus is on On Jo (Park Ji Hoo) and Cheong San (Yoon Chan Young). Personally, I think the love subplot works okay in the drama, but the characters which absolutely rock in this regard are Su Hyeok (Lomon) and Nam Ra (Jo Yi Hyun). Nam Ra in particular is awesome because of her story arc which is very similar to the trope of a misunderstood monster, like Frankenstein. Additionally, my fave characters are the supporting ones, like Ha Ri (Ha Seung Ri), Jun Sung (Yang Han Yeol), Mi Jin (Lee Eun Saem), and Min Jae (Jin Ho Eun) #ArcheryTeam4Life! I have also enjoyed a subplot centering on Eun Ji (Oh Hye Soo), but sadly it went completely nowhere.

As for the performances, the majority of young actors and actresses did awesome. I am sure that this drama will kick start acting careers for most of them. Park Ji Hoo obviously shines as she gets most of the screen time, but I also loved Jo Yi Hyun, Lim Jae Hyeok, Lee Eun Saem. They gave the most vibrant performances. With regard to veteran actors, Kim Byung Chul dominates the screen as the mad scientist, Jeon Bae Soo is heartbreaking as a father trying to save his daughter, whereas Bae Hae Seon delivers a reserved but memorable performance of a National Assembly Member. Forgive me if I have not mentioned your favourite artist, but the cast of this drama is so damn extensive!

Recommendations
In spite of obvious, script-driven shortcomings, All of Us Are Dead is a generally pleasing thrill ride. I give it a strong 7/10 because of the action, amazing performances, and the final episode which wraps things up in a heart-warming way. Many viewers complain that the series ends with a cliff-hanger, but I dare to say that, to me, it is a complete ending but with a possibility of continuation woven into it. In view of the fact that the series had a strong opening on Netflix, I am positive that the announcement of a second season is only a matter of time. Thank you for reading. Stay safe and avoid these manic lab rats!Overall score: 7/10

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The Silent Sea (2021) [Drama Review]

The Silent Sea; or, 2021: A Lunar Odyssey
     Not a damn thing works smoothly in this station.
I have been looking forward to The Silent Sea drama since the first information about the shooting schedule dropped in December, 2020. Still, I had to endure an additional month of waiting after the Netflix premiere at the end of 2021 because of personal stuff and work. Well, as they say, better late than never. This is my review of The Silent Sea.

Release Info

Directed by: Choi Hang Yong Starring: Gong Yoo, Bae Doona, Lee Joon, Kim Sun Young

Language: Korean Original Title: 고요의 바다 No. of eps.: 8

Synopsis
Near future, the world is plagued by shortages of water and food caused by environmental changes. Doctor Song Ji An (Bae Doona) can’t get over the death of her sister who tragically died in a mysterious accident on Balhae Base research station on the moon. The Republic of Korea’s Space and Aeronautics Division asks her to join a team of specialists led by Captain Han Yoon Jae (Gong Yoo). They are sent on a mission to retrieve top-secret samples from the now-abandoned Balhae Base. Upon arriving there, the team realises something is amiss. That is to say, something, or someone, is lurking within the premises of the base.

Fly Me to the Moon
The Silent Sea was based on a 2014 short film The Sea of Tranquillity (I couldn’t track it down) by Choi Hang Yong, who also directed all 8 episodes of the drama. Interestingly, the executive producer of the show was Jung Woo Sung, the star of Steel Rain (2017) and The King (2017). The screenwriting duties were given to Park Eun Kyo who penned in the past Neverending Story (2012) as well as Mother (2009).

This drama is science-fiction at its purest. Fans of the genre will undoubtedly notice that The Silent Sea borrows tropes and concepts left and right from such legendary juggernauts of modern cinema as the Alien franchise (1979-1997), The Abyss (1989), Leviathan (1989), and Ad Astra (2019). There is room for thoughtful critique of modern problems plaguing the social order, but this aspect does not eclipse the willingness of filmmakers to provide the audience with a dose of thrills and chills.

In my opinion, The Silent Sea feels very much like the Lost (2004-2010) TV series, but instead of the island setting we get the moon. The first episode of the drama, albeit visually outstanding, is a bit overwhelming because its main focus is setting up the action and introducing (lots of) characters. Onwards the second episode, it gets easier to dive into the mysteries concerning the Balhae Base as well as the motivations of the main protagonists: Captain Han Yoon Jae and Doctor Song Ji An.

I have read online a lot of criticism about the plotline of the drama, especially the climax and dramatic reveal of (no spoilers) what actually was going on, but I personally found the whole thing enjoyable. I especially appreciated the themes of political corruption, company wars, and unethical research. The only thing that put me off; however, were CGI effects concerning one of the characters. From the visual standpoint, the effects looked good, but there was still some degree of uncanny valley which made these sequences look awkward.

Still, I love the marvellous production design. The Balhae Base looks incredible and the moon’s surface is fantastic, whereas the space suits are awesome. With regard to performances, it is always a pleasure to see Gong Yoo in the heroic role. This time, there is an added bonus because Gong’s character has an epic tattoo on his neck. Bae Doona is always wonderful as the female lead, but I was hoping for more character development in this case. Throughout most of the drama, we see Doctor Song either as bitter or depressed.

As for the supporting cast, I absolutely love Kim Sun Young as Doctor Hong. I have said this already on MDL and I will say it again: To me, she IS the Space Ajumma! In addition, I greatly enjoyed the appearances of Lee Moo Saeng as Chief Gong, head of the security team, and of Lee Joon as Lieutenant Ryoo Tae Seok, the head engineer. In general, the cast members have great chemistry, which also transpires in these sweet promo materials from Netflix, here and here.

Recommendations
After Space Sweepers (2021) and now The Silent Sea, South Korea has proven once again that they can do top-notch entertainment, even in the form of a miniseries. I sincerely hope that there will be a second season; however, we have to bear in mind that the drama came out in-between two other major Netflix players: Squid Game (2021) and All of Us Are Dead (2022). It’s reassuring to see that Netflix cares about the K-Drama audience, but I hope the quality will not be overshadowed by the quantity. The Silent Sea deserves an additional season because there is still the potential to develop the story further, but I would not like to see this drama last as long as Lost, The Walking Dead, or Stranger Things. Sometimes shorter is better.Overall score: 8/10

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