Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Netflix‘s top-notch international acquisitions just keep on coming, and their latest, Black, is no exception. The South Korean fantasy thriller first debuted overseas last fall, and now it’s finally available for American viewers to binge and be wowed by. Written by Choi Ran and directed by Kim Hong-sun, the series follows Hang Moo-gang/Black (Song Seung-heon), a detective possessed by the Grim Reaper who falls for Kang Ha-ram (Go Ara), a mortal woman who can foresee death – when she isn’t wearing her sunglasses. Together, the two break the rules of heaven by trying to save people’s lives, and they evidently find themselves sucked into a dangerous collision of worlds both earthly and beyond. What’s special about the show, however, is that it masterfully toes the line between genres with each episode, all while remaining visually lush.
Black is not the kind of show you can half-commit to (especially if you don’t speak Korean and you are reading subtitles); there are a lot of characters and events to keep track of, which is why it lends itself so well to a binge-watch. You’d likely forget half of the most crucial plot points if you took an extended break between episodes, and that’s not a dig – it’s just a testament to the vast complexity of the series.
It’s the kind of show that’s immensely fun to consume as you go along, and best entered with as little information as possible. Each scene is more compelling than the last, and there’s significance to be found even in the smallest moments, which is exactly why your undivided attention is so necessary. The cast brings their A-game, adding little pieces to the puzzle with every revelation and making you wonder why it took you so damn long to just cave and get addicted to K-drama already. If you’re skeptical about the fantasy elements, don’t let that scare you off; it’s integrated so intelligently that it drives each development home even further.
If you aren’t feeling hooked from the first episode, don’t worry – you aren’t alone. The mixing of tones may seem a little jarring, but taking a chance on Black evidently provides a massive reward. There’s slapstick comedy, melodrama, and actually shocking twists, and just when you think you know where things are going (or where they’ve been), Black throws you for another loop. It’s a long journey, if you’re committed enough, we think you’ll find the trek worth it.
