Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Typically, Netflix makes a point to let you know when its Originals are available. Whether they spread the word through their email newsletter, homepage streaming recommendations, or by giving away free pies all over L.A., your favorite streaming service wants you to know exactly when you can binge its original content. However, that wasn’t the case with Netflix’s Japanese work drama all about underwear, Atelier. Netflix has hidden this international gem in its seemingly limitless arsenal of content, and you owe it to yourself to watch it this weekend.
Netflix’s global content is all sorts of awesome, and Atelier stands as proof of that statement. As we told you before, Atelier, originally titled Underwear, is essentially the Japanese version of The Devil Wears Prada but with underwear. The workplace drama follows Mayuko Tokito, a young woman who grew up in the Japanese countryside. The first few episodes of the series chronicle Mayuko’s passion for textiles, which she studied in college, and her growing love of lingerie. Basically, she’s a country girl trying to make it in the cutthroat, fast-paced, and fashionable world of high-end lingerie. Will her passion and talent be enough? Mayuko’s time at Emotion, the high-end custom lingerie shop where she works, constantly asks that question while pressing our protagonist’s boundaries. However, despite the show’s original Japanese title, the series is about more than underwear or even its more inclusive cousin, fashion. It’s a high-stakes story about a scrappy up-and-comer out of her element. As our nation’s current obsession with Hamilton has proven, that’s a narrative we can’t get enough of.
The series premiered in Japan on September 2, 2015, under the show name Underwear. For a while, it was only available on Netflix Japan, but it became available in the U.S. in December of 2015. It’s unclear why Netflix changed the name of the series from Underwear to Atelier for international audiences. However, the show’s international title does a better job of conveying the show’s tone. Whereas “Underwear” obviously has all the sexy connotations, “Atelier” refers to a designer’s studio, speaking to the professional meets artistic tone of the series. For a while now, the series has lived in obscurity on Netflix, like a gorgeous, custom made bra forced to spend eternity tucked away in its specialty box. This weekend, it’s time to open that box and try Atelier on for yourself. It may not be the perfect fit for your streaming tastes, but it certainly is a fun one to try on.
Beneath Mayuko’s professional struggle, her company and boss are waging a larger battle that many companies can relate to: the forced evolution to the modern-day workplace. Emotion’s founder and president, Mayumi Nanjo, who is a clear doppelganger for iconic Vogue Editor, Anna Wintour, has to navigate her old way of running the company with all the business necessities that the 21st century requires. The shift to the modern-day workplace is not as dynamic as Silicon Valley. Struggles revolve more around whether or not to have a website rather than developing the latest competitive algorithm. However, these somewhat fantastical tech elements and the insane amount of revenue that comes from selling underwear can easily be forgiven because Atelier is just good. Mayuko is a protagonist you want to root for and you want to succeed.
If you hate Japanese television, you’re going to hate Atelier. The series has several elements that are distinctly tied to Japanese television, like its incredibly cutesy and clumsy protagonist as well as its cheesy music. However, if you’re willing to embrace the delightful quirks of international TV, Atelier is a good start to jump into Japanese programming. Spend some time checking it out this weekend, and when you’re done, switch over to Netflix Japan’s reality series, Terrace House. Welcome to the fabulous world of global content.
