Netflix Debuts Its Craziest K-Drama Yet (and It's 100% Worth Watching)

Summary

• On March 15, 2024, a new K-drama was released on Netflix.
• It is a surreal comedy that reminded some people of both old K-dramas and the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once.
• The series has yet to get substantial ratings, but despite its absurdity, it has won the hearts of many.

'The zaniest release of 2024.' That's how many media outlets described the new K-drama long before its release. In general, it's not uncommon for South Korean television to deliver some quirky stories, but it seems that in the case, the description is not exaggerated, but perfectly describes all the wackiness that happens in the story.

And so, a week ago, that wackiness finally made its way to Netflix. Let's find out what this comedy series is all about, why there is so much buzz, and why it makes you want to eat Korean chicken (or not, considering the premise).

What Is One of the Most Ridiculous K-Dramas of 2024 About?

Well, it's finally here. On March 15, 2024, the Netflix library was updated with the long-awaited South Korean-produced comedy series Chicken Nugget. As the title suggests, it's a surreal sci-fi comedy about a scientist (Ryu Seung-ryong) and his intern (Ahn Jae-hong), who try their best to return the former's daughter (Kim Yoo-jung) to her original form. After all, she accidentally turned into…yes, you guessed it, into a chicken nugget.

What Do Critics and Viewers Say about the Show?

Of course, Chicken Nugget is not trying to create a pop-culture splash that would make critics and audiences drop their jaws. The narrative structure is quite conventional, and it does not try to look like a big-budget art drama designed for the most prestigious awards. On the contrary, the series is quite modest and successfully combines comedic absurdity with quite good storytelling.

Yes, the plot is quite silly, but based on a webtoon, it provides a nice story full of heartwarming and sometimes even sad moments. Moreover, the plot keeps the audience quite engaged, intrigued by the ongoing mysteries that the scriptwriters never leave unanswered.

And yet, the level of absurdity in Chicken Nugget is hardly comparable to any K-drama in recent years, but many viewers have already noted that its surrealism is incredibly reminiscent of A24's Everything Everywhere All at Once.

'If this drama reminds me of anything, it would be the quirky comedy of EEAAO, especially the opening "interview" with Min-ah (Kim Yoo-jung) as a chicken nugget,' a Reddit user shared their opinion.

Some viewers also noted that Chicken Nugget was very much in the spirit of classic '00s South Korean television, which was not afraid to be whimsical, absurd, and ridiculous.

'This reminds me of the good old K Drama's South Korea used to make. There's just something totally unique about this. The 30 minute run-time also gives it a needed freshness that most dragging 1h-1.5h dramas filled with a punch of filler lack,' some IMDb reviewer said.

Unfortunately, this is now mostly found in Korean variety shows, while scripted series, due to their global popularity and acquisition by streaming services, have become more and more oriented towards Western production quality. In other words, they have started to try to be much deeper and more serious (except maybe for most romantic comedies) — which is not a bad trend at all, as in recent years K-dramas have indeed been a great competitor to American TV counterparts.

Nevertheless, the ridiculous charm is almost gone, when the cast and crew were not afraid to goof around and create the most unconventional and unforgettable stories. In this regard, Chicken Nugget may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's an incredibly refreshing and unique release that's sure to set the bar for comedy series for years to come.

Source: Reddit, IMDb.