Only 1 Netflix Fantasy K-Drama Earned 100% on Rotten Tomatoes in 2023
This series will make you feel like a kid again.
Summary
- K-dramas are becoming an increasingly prominent phenomenon in global pop culture, but not all of them are warmly received by critics and viewers.
- In 2023, for example, only one Korean series, The Sound of Magic, received a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Despite its childlike atmosphere, this cute musical fantasy is a profound story about human attempts to enjoy life.
How often do you watch K-dramas in your spare time? Sure, South Korean TV series are definitely not for everyone because of their tropes, specific approach to directorial and visual style, and distinctive acting. However, they have been winning the hearts of audiences around the world for years because they no longer rely solely on typical tropes and clichés, but also offer very unique storylines and settings. So why not give some of them a chance, especially since one of the biggest streaming services, Netflix, is putting a lot of emphasis on them?
Of course, many people assume that K-dramas are exclusively romantic comedies, and many of them do fall into that category. However, it's not uncommon for Korean shows to offer highly original fantasy stories, and one of the best examples is The Sound of Magic. Released last year on Netflix, the series immediately received rave reviews. All thanks to its uplifting spirit of magic and childhood, which has earned The Sound of Magic a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Only Fantasy K-Drama With a Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score in 2023
The Sound of Magic is based on the Naver webtoon Annarasumanara (the original title of the series in Korean) by Ha Il-kwon. The adaptation was directed by Kim Seong-yoon and written by Kim Min-jeong, a frequent collaborator of the filmmaker on dramas such as School 2015 and Love in the Moonlight. Seong-yoon also directed another popular live-action adaptation on Netflix, Itaewon Class. The Sound of Magic stars Ji Chang-wook (Backstreet Rookie), Choi Sung-eun (Beyond Evil) and Hwang In-youp (True Beauty, Why Her).
The Sound of Magic is a musical fantasy that follows poor high school student Yoon Ah-yi as she struggles to study and provide for herself and her little sister. As a result, she dreams of growing up as soon as possible to earn good money, and this new 'dream' is nothing like what she really wished for as a child: to become a magician.
In the course of events, Yoon Ah-yi finds herself in an abandoned amusement park, where she meets a mysterious magician. His idle dreams of returning to childhood seem to contradict the main character's goals, but they are actually what she has always wanted in her heart.
Why The Sound of Magic Is the Worth Watching Right Now
Modern South Korean society has had an unresolved but incredibly serious problem for many decades: intense social pressure. The capitalist mindset imposed by government policies, parents, teachers and supervisors, peers and co-workers forces people to study and work relentlessly to the point of unconsciousness, to strive for constant achievement and benefits, to be better than others yet not to stand out.
Naturally, under such conditions, teenagers and adults alike, in pursuit of the demands of society and the economy, find themselves alienated, losing their identity, their lightheartedness, and their ability to simply appreciate life.
On the contrary, The Sound of Magic inspiringly invites the audience to stop for a moment and reflect on who we really wanted to be as children, what we imagined our future selves to be, and how we can learn to live for ourselves and not for insane standards, even if the latter seem to inevitably loom over our heads.
All this is presented in an incredibly touching and enchanting way, offering to immerse oneself with Ri Eul in the almost fairytale-like, undoubtedly magical and bright festival atmosphere of the amusement park, a place where time has certainly stood still. We all need a dash of uplifting motivation before the Christmas holidays, so The Sound of Magic could be a great option to watch this December.