The appeal of getting DVDs in the mail meant not having to go to the store to pick out a movie and then drop it off when I was done. There also weren’t any late fees, which meant I could keep a movie for as long as I wanted.
Netflix was supposed to make it easy and convenient to watch films at home, and it did — for a while. Lack of selection and having to get the DVD to the mailbox made this option less than ideal for me. So, I cancelled my subscription.
I tried Netflix again when it focused more on streaming movies than DVDs. It was nice to have movies at the touch of a button without having to pay extra for them, but the selection was still quite lacking at this point. I didn’t watch shows as often as I could. It made it difficult to justify paying a monthly fee when I wasn’t accessing movies on a monthly basis.
Netflix Changes the Scene
Again, I cancelled my subscription and moved on with my life. Netflix continued to evolve and change. Not only did they offer movies that other people had made, but they got into the production business. They started making their own.
This really changed things. No longer was Netflix beholden to others and only allowed to show movies that studios allowed them to display. They could create their own content, which opened up new revenue streams and broadened their offerings to audiences.
This became especially beneficial during the first year of the pandemic when people were trapped inside and looking for new shows to watch. Netflix delivered during this time.
What’s nice about Netflix creating their own shows and movies is that they don’t have to abide by the rules of Hollywood. They take chances and look for stories that mainstream doesn’t find commercial.
They don’t have to worry as much about how much money the show or movie will make because they don’t rely on ticket sales. They rely on views, so if it turns out a show or movie isn’t doing well, they’ll cancel it.
The point is that they can take chances that Hollywood refuses to take. They can offer audiences something new and different.
They offer a lot of the same things that you can find on other streaming services, but that’s to be expected. Netflix still wants to make money, and having shows that they know will do that keeps them in business and gives them revenue to be more experimental.
I’m Impressed with What I Find
I had been away from Netflix for a while, so I didn’t really know what they had to offer. When I started browsing, I was impressed with what I found. Not only could I find TV shows that I had watched in my younger days, but there were also new selections to choose from.
One of the options I’ve been super impressed with is the Korean TV shows and movies Netflix has to offer. I’ve watched quite a few, and I have to say: I’m hooked.
Sweet Home
I found this series while searching for “horror” on Netflix. I knew from the moment I read the description that I wanted to watch this show.
Sweet Home follows a group of survivors who are trapped in an apartment building after monsters rise up and start killing.
Visually, it’s a bit bizarre — but in a wonderful way! Every monster is different, and instead of being computer generated (although I’m sure they are), they almost look like Claymation. They are relentless and incredibly hard to kill, so many of the same monsters keep coming back.
As you can imagine, there is an “us vs. them” theme that runs throughout the show. Monsters vs. humans. But that gets blurred. I’m not going to tell you how because that gives the show away, but know that it was done well.
Not only are the monsters weird and wonderful, but the way they humans are portrayed is phenomenal. I cried many times throughout the series because it gave me the feels.
Overall, Sweet Home was a great mix of horror and gore and humanity. I totally recommend it. There’s only one season right now, which is a total bummer. I want to know what happens…yesterday!
Kingdom
I started watching this show after it was recommended by several different people. It’s about zombies, so I wasn’t opposed to watching it.
The great thing about Kingdome is that it’s a period piece. It takes place in Korea’s medieval Joseon era, which apparently spans from 1392-1910. The show takes place in the earlier part of that era, and the lack of technology is incredibly apparent and works to create tension.
I mean, can you imagine trying to fight zombies when the only guns you own have to be reloaded after every shot? And they aren’t slow zombies — they run. I don’t care how fast you are, get into a horde and that gun ain’t helpin’ you at all.
Thankfully, most of the characters were skilled with swords, but that still puts them much too close to the snapping jaws of the undead. And the zombies don’t get tired and usually occur in far greater numbers than the survivors. You know the odds are stacked against humanity (which, of course, is the point — it’s a zombie show!).
Throughout the show, the zombies were used for many different reasons, including destroying the Japanese threat that was attempting to overtake Korean lands, and to make the population believe the King was still alive.
There were lies and intrigue throughout, and the story was incredibly interesting. There are two seasons of this show on Netflix, and both of them kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the costumes and other visuals.
Of course, as is typical of zombie shows, the question of who the real monster is always arises, and that’s no different in Kingdom. The bad guys get their come uppins in spectacular fashion, and there are enough sympathetic characters to pull you through each episode and keep you interested to find out what happens to them.
There’s also quite a bit of zombie gore, so you always remember you’re watching a zombie show.
One thing that always made me chuckle was when the zombies ran and attacked, a lot of the time they didn’t use their arms. If you watch it, see if you notice that and let me know what you think.
I also watched the special episode of Kingdom that was made: Ashin of the North. That one is about 90 minutes long, and it proposes another reason why the zombies are overtaking the land. It was good. It seems like Ashin will find her way into season 3 of Kingdom, so it will be interesting to see how those story lines come together.
Again, this is another one I recommend. Not only is it an excellent addition to the zombie genre, but it does a great job of showing the struggle of humanity.
Hellbound
I had no intention of watching this show. It popped up on my recommended list because of the other shows I was watching, and after reading the description, I was like, “Yeah. Not into overly religious stuff, thanks.”
I put it off and put it off, then one weekend, I had nothing else to watch, so I gave it a try.
I have no regrets.
It has the typical good vs. evil tropes you expect to find. Hellbound focuses on people’s unquestioning faith of religious doctrine and how they use it to structure their lives or gain control over others. I expected to find that in the show, but the way it was handled was intriguing.
I’m a big fan of creature features, and the creatures they have within this show are brutal and unstoppable. We don’t know where they come from either, and that mystery keeps the show interesting and the audience wanting to find out exactly what is going on.
There’s only one season so far, and after doing some research, I’m not sure if there’s going to be a live-action season 2. I hope there is because there was a doozy of a cliffhanger. I’m not going to spoil it. You’ll have to watch it yourself.
Whether you are religious or not, there’s enough in Hellbound to have you questioning humanity and society’s rules. I’m naturally cynical, so this show reinforced a lot of my ideas about people. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to others.
More Options to Choose From
The three Korean shows I’ve listed here just scratch the surface of what’s currently available on Netflix, but they are killing it. I’ll more than likely check out the others that are offered.
Have any of you seen these shows? What did you think?
Any recommendations for what I should watch next?
