The Silent Sea - Netflix’s Most Watched Non-English Series of the Week!
I didn’t quite expect that I would be wrapped up from the very 1st second of Netflix Korea’s latest installment, The Silent Sea. As a person who has seen quite a few K dramas over the past year, I’ve learnt to appreciate the slow pace of most dramas however that was certainly not the case for The Silent Sea. Had I known, I probably wouldn’t have started at 9pm thinking I’d catch the rest later. I’m still catching up on all the sleep I’ve missed!
Netflix’s latest new suspense drama, directed by Choi Hang-yong brings to our screen a frightening yet possible reality, life on earth with little to now water. All the seas and oceans have essentially dried up and marine life exists only in text books. To gain access to water, people are expected to wait in long lines to receive an allocated supply. The only way to get more is to earn a higher “water status” causing several protests across Korea and the world. Enter Dr Song Ji-An former (Bae Doona ) a former astro-biologist who has been requested by Director Choi from South Korea’s “National Committee for Human Survival Measures” to be a part of a 24 hour mission to the moon.
Details regarding the mission are quite unclear, except that the team is expected to retrieve a sample from Bulhae Station, a station that experienced a radiation leak 5 years ago leading to the deaths of dozens of researchers, including Dr Song’s sister Dr Song Won-kyung. Left with many unanswered question, Dr Song agrees to join the team of 10 that includes Captain Han Yoon-Jae (Gong Yoo) Ryoo Tae-seok (Lee Joon) and Dr Hong Ga-young (Kim Sun-young) among others.
The mission to the moon is off to a rocky start when the rocket they use to reach the moon crashes, forcing the team to get to the station on foot, but not without casualty. Mr Hwang, the only member of the team who has previously been to Bulhae Station, runs out of oxygen on their way to the station, leaving the team with even less knowing of what to expect at their destination.
Once they reach the station everything seems normal and the team begins their mission to find the sample in one of three storage facilities whilst waiting for back up from Earth. However, the initial mission begins to change as the team discovers dead bodies from the tragedy who show no signs of dying from radiation, but rather from drowning. How though, when the station nor the moon for that fact has shown any signs of water? This makes the team even more curious on what happened to the 117 crew members five years ago and what is the Director Choi not telling them.
Without giving anything else away I have to say that just when you think you have the story figured out, the plot continues to thicken and just like the rest of the team, you too will want to know what’s been hidden on the moon!
Image retrieved from www.whatsonnetflix.com
What to look out for:
Superb acting from each of the cast members as they carry out heavy scenes littered throughout the series. The cast includes some of Korea’s heavy weights such as Bae Doona , Gong Yoo and Kim Sun Young from “Kingdom”, “Squid Game” and “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” respectively. Including new-comer Kim Si-a and industry titan Gil Hae-yon. Visually the drama is equally captivating from incredible from the dry and lifeless depiction of earth, to the dark and perilous moon, to the pristine high tech Bulhae station, no expense was spared in ensuring that you remain engrossed in the world of Captain Han and his team .
If you liked these K dramas you’ll like The Silent Sea:
Space Sweepers (Netflix), Vincenzo (Netflix), My Name (Netflix), and Train to Busan
Review by Khanya Modipa
