Cosmopolitan Korea on Netflix

The fascination with the Korean culture was gradual. It started with friendships in college then later with Korean beauty products seen in supermarkets. The recent explosion of interest began in the fall of 2020 when I heard "Dynamite" by the group BTS on the radio while driving. They sounded very similar to the Backstreet Boys, Boyzone, N'Sync of the 90s. The song was so energetic and upbeat.

Music and Dance is a language that crosses all barriers. Curiosity led me to look them up online and I made the connection of the dance show of "Black Swan " with Jimmy Fallon.

So in December 2020, when I needed something warm for entertainment, the word Start-Up caught my attention. Mind you it is likely inspired by the American show that goes by the same name. There is also a Korean version of "Suits" that I noticed but have not watched it yet.

Below is a short list for the uninitiated :

It's the Korean humor of the dialogue I liked thanks to the subtitles in Netflix.

Stars are just my ranking out of 5 how invested you can be in watching it. It does drag on a bit since it is a series.

1) Start- Up ( 3 Stars)

Males and Females will both like it.

Combines Business with a love triangle

Give the 1st few episodes a bit of time

2) Crash Landing on You ( 3 Stars)

• Females will like it more.

• Love story across the border of South Korea and North Korea.

• The female protagonist lands in North Korea via a random accident of nature in the military camp.

• Those with an Army background from their grandparents generation may find it more interesting.

• The male protagonist has a group of colleagues who keep her presence a secret.

• There is less killing and gore than the typical American show with an Army theme.

3) Memories of the Alhambra ( 5 Stars)

• Males and Females will both like it. Primarily for younger males.

• Especially with those in an interest in Computers and Video Games.

• The video game is set in the Alhambra of Spain, where it becomes real

• Most impressive. Some parts do drag on a bit.

4) Vincenzo (4 Stars)

• Males and Females will both like it.

• Lawyer/Business/Italian Mafia themes

• Lead actor grows on you. It is the entire ensemble and the smart alec strategic moves in courtoom cases that holds one's curiosity.

A few others that stick out in my mind

Squid Game : I saw this some days after my birthday in mid October and saw it over the weekend. If soemthing that is able to hook my attention for seeing the end, something must have been done right especially since I normally don't like the horror category.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha ( I really like the lead actor and females will like it more since it is a romantic comedy).

In the action/thriller category : Sisyphus, Vagabound

Food/ Travel Adventure category: Let's Eat 1 & 2 (Lets Eat 2 is better), Hungry & the Hairy.

Title is weird but suits the 2 characters on motorbikes. The dialogue is more engaging and one guy is so different and himself. This category depends upon the person as it is much toned down than the American travel and food shows. It makes it more attainable and down to earth as a result. The conversation is polite, funny and genuine.This depends on the specific actor /actress. Only a few actors are really able to emote and the one in Hometown Cha Cha is able to do that.

I saw "Parasite" the movie in somewhere in between and loved it.

What I like about the South Korean series of shows on Netflix

• Humor of the dialogue is very uniquely Korean.

• Best fusion of the Eastern and Western values. Amalgamation of individuality and the collective community.

• There is no unnecessary or excess of skin shown, if you get my drift. There is no subliminal manipulation of the pleasures of life in order for it to sell to a larger audience.

• The males treat the females well, at least on the reel life. It is seen in Turkish shows as well.

• There is a value of community and family.

I just hope that they continue to maintian their uniqueness and not emulate the American shows 100 %. I like the fact they touch on modern topics. I find period dramas too dragging. Somtimes we just a need a change from the usual fare to open our minds to other people's perspectives.

All this happened very organically since I am cosmopolitan in my outlook having lived in a few varied places within India and Dubai. Dubai is cosmopolitan but not so much as Canada.

In Canada , we mingle and talk to people from all parts of the world. I imagine it must be the same in the USA.

The moment we start updating our mind as often as the computer or phone software and open up our mind to other perspectives, cultures etc we are able to see more similarities than differences amongst different religions, countries, worldviews etc. At the end of the day we are all human and want the same things in life - food, shelter, family, freedom, joy, respect etc.

I think Netflix has the pro of opening up our mind to different cultures without taking too much effort. That might indirectly spark an interest to both see and absorb the culture via travel.

A week later after inspiration struck to write this piece, BTS came out with "Butter". My sixth sense lead me in the correct direction. Then BTS and Butter inspired me start dancing again so my summer and fall of 2021 was spent more in dancing, walking and meditating rather than writing.