Netflix has spun it again with its latest Korean drama to spark interest. Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area has hit the ground running. With the first three weeks of airing coming forth to knock on the door of the Global Top 10, bringing only six out of 12 episodes to the screen, viewers can watch the excitement unfold in this dramatic rendition of the Money Heist universe.
As far as South Korean cinema goes, the show appears to take a unique stance that brings North and South Korea together in the exploitation of corruption hidden by capitalistic expectations. Prior to the release, Netflix didn't implement any major marketing to up-sell the show. This leads to the question of why it has seen such a shocking climb in numbers.
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Is the general hype and early success largely due to fans of the original series La Casa de Papel? Perhaps it's the increase in viewership on Korean dramas following popular hits such as Squid Games. Or, is it the fun comic-esque styled graphics and stylish charm that the team of thieves showcases on screen?
Within the very first episode, each character is introduced strategically, bringing original characters such as the Professor, Tokyo, Berlin, Nairobi, Helsinki, Moscow, Rio, and more to life. On screen, the series seems to follow much of the original plot of La Casa de Papel. However, there are noticeable differences in the theatrics of this remake that make it cleaner cut and less gritty on screen. So viewers aren't witnessing a completely new story unfold, but a similar tale.
Playing to common Korean themes of high action, empathetic situations, and the deconstruction of monetary power imbalances, the story adjusts to a more perceptible exploration of each character's reasoning behind joining this 'heist'. The Korean story focuses on more than robbing a bank and the repercussions that could follow. It highlights and validates the consistent worry and financial strain of the working middle to lower class, playing on the stories of mistreatment in a privileged and capitalistic economy.
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Money Heist: Korea sticks to traditional measures often seen in K-Dramas, ensuring a connection between two leading roles prior to leading up to the 'killing point' in the series. In this case, the Korean remake follows closely with the original series, playing a game of Connect the Dots between the Professor and the inspector that's been assigned to handle negotiations during the heist.
During recent interviews, Director Kim Hong-sun shared with Indian Express that he wanted to bring a sense of unification into the storyline. Each character is given an in-depth personality with the unified frustration regarding financial inequality as North and South Korea work to introduce a common currency.
In this thrilling showcase of capitalism's darkness and its tendency to chew up and spit out the weaker and poorer in communities worldwide, Money Heist: Korea is rich with cultural representation. From the very beginning, it shows the team of thieves in Hahoe masks, which are traditional Korean masks, symbolizing power in place of the Dali masks that stand for freedom in La Casa de Papel.
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Leaning on cyber-punk aesthetics, Money Heist: Korea blends stereotypical Korean cinema with the original story beautifully. It keeps many of the same roles, reprising them with similar traits from the original characters and giving them a little more definition on screen. Not to give away too many spoilers about what viewers can expect, but action, intelligence, and playful comedy can be anticipated within the span of the first six episodes of this series.
Pulling in a new audience and blending them with fans of the original show, the early success behind Money Heist: Korea is impressive. Considering limited marketing and below-average rating on reviews, the series has done shockingly well in its first few weeks. It breathes new life into the tactic "keep your friends close and enemies closer", which could play a partial role in its success.
There's no significant ploy in the pre-release advertisement that suggests why the show has done so well, but a combination of small things has certainly assisted in the Korean remake's success. Between the original fan base, heightened viewership on Korean Dramas, and a fairly interesting storyline, it very well may last a couple more weeks in the Global Top 10.
Money Heist: Korea is now streaming on Netflix.