Made in Korea

Landing on a New Channel: First Impressions

Finding ‘Made in Korea’ feels like opening a time capsule. The first episode gets you straight into the historic and dramatic 1970s in South Korea. From the production design and the handful of shots you get of the fashion and the urban landscape you can tell that everything is set in the correct era. The series will hold your attention without crazy action sequences, but rather with an interesting story of the collision of two men, one with an insatiable drive and the other a strong sense of justice.

The casting of Hyun Bin, and Jung Woo-sung is a major plus as they have the acting chops to add something to the show and one can tell through their characters that this isn’t an average crime drama. It looks deeper into the world that shows power isn’t static and that in that world loyalty doesn’t exist and can’t be trusted. This world will grasp your attention and hold it. Without tons of crazy effects and specials, this show will have a lot of exploration of the characters and tons of story development. This will give those that are looking for slow burns a great show.

Holding the Signal: Visuals, Vibe, and the Binge Test

Once you use 'Made in Korea,' the grip is there, and it stays there. Pikashow's HD streaming service enhances all the details of the different types of visual storytelling. Director Woo Min-ho has the skill of creating intense and atmospheric thrillers and seems to work with the drama of the 1970s. You'll probably have a palette that's a bit subdued, but still pops and adds to the world that's the impression of the situation that's about to happen. The cinematography probably does a lot of close ups, but has a lot of wide shots to show the situation and choice and puts the burden on all of Korea.

From the structure of the story, it is built up slow with a lot of tension, so this isn't background watching. There is a ton of big ideas like anger, greed, loyalty, etc., and building great characters with dilemmas that stick around for a long time after the episode ends. The whole show is built with purpose, and the sound design and the music that includes the street sounds of 1970s Korea and other things creates a lot of built up dramatic tension to create a huge payoff. The genre and the setting automatically build a lot of big dramatic moments that are intense, so a lot of the design and the way that this is all built creates a lot of built up dramatic structures and situations.

‘Made in Korea’ has a built-in binge because of the clash of worlds and the high stakes that ensue. Viewer intrigue and the need to discover how the two main characters’ fates will define the nation manifest in the unraveling of the puzzles and the resolution of the twisting plot. The series is the kind that’s worth the wait because of its engrossing storyline. When you start one episode, you’ll have a hard time ending the series in one sitting.

Keep or Flip? The Final Call

Now that I've finished watching 'Made in Korea', I have to ask, does it hold up during a live TV broadcast, or a nail-biting cricket match? Well, for those people who like a well made, industry best acting, crime drama series, I'd say hell yes you should keep watching. 'Made in Korea' is not an instant popcorn movie. This is not just a quick entertainment series. It is the series that sheds light on everyone’s justice quest and human psychology through a captivating and complex plot, and it is a series you catch and watch every episode.

If you are not into intense series, than maybe this is not your cup of tea, but everyone else this series delivers. ‘Made in Korea’ is the best choice for your time with a talented cast and strong director backed by a solid historical context. It involves live broadcasts which we know will fade in popularity, but ‘Made in Korea’ will hold your attention and immerse you in a deep and complex story that you will wish to watch until the series ends.