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POV. An unlike combination: Korean drama and Netflix

 

Do not jump to any conclusions right away! This is something that I observed in few of the korean dramas which were premiered on Netflix. Obviously Netflix is a great platform to screen content exclusively, giving the home theater feeling. However my point over here is how the dynamics of korean drama shifted after the introduction of Netflix. 

For starters let's see the good side. Due to Netflix, the korean content is delivered widely and viewed with ease (dramas are released with sync to the on-air scheduled in Korea). One doesn't need to wait long for the content to be subtitled and yes without ads! 

Many of my friends who wanted to watch the k-content always were short for sites or apps. I wouldn't ask them to have 2-3 sites and apps in order to watch it right? So yes, Netflix made it uniform. However it just doesn't telecast them but I guess it has some rights and production part in it too. 

Some coming to the part of discussion - Korean dramas earlier didn't involve 'season 2 syndrome', everything ending within 16 or 21 or any other numbered episodes without a second season. The endings were clear without any cliffhangers or open endings. However I noticed this with 2 of the korean dramas that I've seen which were connected with Netflix - Sisyphus: The Myth and Vagabond.

Sisyphus: The Myth


The final episode aired yesterday (8 April 2021) and the ending was, well, concluded things yet didn't. With a cliffhanger at the end and indication of season 2, the final episode and final 20 minutes really made me wonder, "What just happened?".  The ending did well to circle things back to start but didn't provide closure or clues to many theories and incidents. Many viewers wished for season 2, many predicted that a season 2 may be a possible. Season 2 might build on the ending of the first and the whole thing would start - seriously not sure if it would be even possible - but it just felt that the series built up to a very extend and later just unpacked and stayed there. Although the 8 weeks were really a rollercoaster ride of every emotion.

Vagabond


Vagabond happened to the drama listed to begin your k-drama journey. Watching this was a crazy journey. Action packed with a powerful storyline and Lee Seung-Gi 😍. The disappointment however only crossed during the last episode and in those last minutes when - yes, an open ending. To be honest the series circled back to episode one and same scene and just ended there! To understand what actually happened between the timeframe next season would be needed. 

The King: Eternal Monarchy



Not all dramas streamed on netflix have 'open ending' - The King: Eternal Monarchy. Staring Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-Eun, it was a major successful drama with a good viewership. There are many others however the one I remember vividly is The King: Eternal Monarchy.

To summarize

I realized that Netflix is not just streaming Korean content, unlike Viki but rather producing too thus concludes with a season two possibility. The 'season 2 syndrome' obviously keeps up the consumer based retention but somehow changed how korean dramas used to be. Yes change is inevitable and constant and somehow I have not got accustomed to this :|

Fingers crossed for Vagabond S2! 😆






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