'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area' Review: Netflix slick geopolitical show hits all the right notes
In 2019, Netflix stunned the world when it acquired the rights for a small Spanish drama 'Money Heist'. However, as soon as it made its way to the streaming platform, the show exploded and became a cultural phenomenon. The show got renewed for three more seasons and even won several accolades. The show became such a huge success that South Korea announced it will be remaking the project in its own language.
Titled 'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area', the show has a similar plot to the original Spanish series and sees a group of people coming together to steal a huge load of money from the bank. However, the settings have changed and the language has changed as well. So, what do you need to make a K-drama successful? Open it with a song from the worldwide sensation, BTS. The band's popular song "DNA" plays in the background when we get introduced to Tokyo. For the first few minutes, we get to see how Tokyo got immersed in the world of crime and met the Professor, who offered him a second chance to succeed in her life. In the latest version, North and South Korea are set to be unified and the team is getting ready to rob the Korean Mint at the Joint Economic Area'.
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In every sense possible, it was not easy for the show to replicate what the original Spanish series did. It went on from being just a show to a phenomenon that took the world by storm. However, the Korean version stands shoulder-to-shoulder to its predecessor. The show has an amazing, funky flavor that reaches a whole new level because of its regional touches and supremely talented star cast. But the biggest change in the series comes from the differences between North and South Korea. The problematic situations between the heist team, the hostages, and even the authorities arise from where the characters are from. It doesn't follow the concept of the original series where it was just between the heist team and the state. It's more than that and when these moments arrive, viewers realize how complicated the relations are between North and South Koreans.
Apart from effective storytelling, another thing that makes the show amazing is its extraordinary cast. Jeon Jong-seo as Tokyo is phenomenal and is the guiding light of the series. She is fierce yet so loyal and so compelling. Meanwhile, Yoo Ji-tae is the perfect choice for the Professor and effortlessly plays the character.
However, it's Park Hae-soo's riveting portrayal of Berlin that takes your breath away. He is menacing in every sense. Park uses his charismatic personality to play a character that's so cold and calculating. On the other hand, Kim Ji-hoon (Denver), Jang Yoon-ju (Nairobi), Kim Ji-Hoon (Helsinki), Lee Kyu-Ho (Oslo), and Lee Won-jong (Moscow) have played their parts with utter precision.
Other actors such as Kim Yun-jin (Seon), Kim Sung-oh (Captain Cha), Park Myung-hoon (Cho), and Lee Joo-bin (Yoon) are utterly brilliant.
'Money Heist: Korea' is more than just your usual heist story, it's also about the tensions between both countries. It is a slick geopolitical show with a lot of style, substance, and phenomenal acting performances.
All in all, this is a love letter to the original Spanish series.
'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area' will be premiering exclusively on Netflix on Friday, June 24.