Guardian: "'Hell' Is an Exceptional Drama That Will Be Talked About for Decades"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Netflix's Korean original series 'Hellbound' is enjoying global popularity, and the British daily The Guardian praised it as "(Hellbound is) beyond 'Squid Game'."
On the 25th (local time), The Guardian reported, "This terrifying Netflix show contains violent endings, but it is beyond 'Squid Game,'" adding, "'Hellbound' is an exceptional drama that will be talked about for decades."
It continued, "The easiest thing is to call 'Hellbound' the new 'Squid Game,'" noting, "Both are Korean dramas, deal with violent deaths, and have achieved tremendous success on Netflix."
It added, "That comparison is valid. 'Squid Game' became a mainstream cultural phenomenon and served as an indicator of the popularity of non-English content. Therefore, it inevitably overshadows subsequent works."
However, it also stated, "But I hope there won't be such an easy comparison for 'Hellbound,'" emphasizing, "This drama deserves to stand on its own and is insanely good. It is better than 'Squid Game' and any other work. If you haven't watched it yet, stop everything and watch it immediately."
The outlet explained, "The premise of this drama is excellent. A concretized eerie face appears before your eyes, announcing imminent death. Messengers from another dimension brutally assault people and then incinerate their bodies," adding, "'Hellbound' tries to show what is happening beyond that. The fact that some force deliberately chooses specific individuals to be killed instantly reshapes the society we know."
It then explained why it judged 'Hellbound' to be more valuable than 'Squid Game.' The Guardian said, "'Hellbound' probably will never permanently snatch the crown from 'Squid Game,'" noting, "'Squid Game' was a show aimed at the internet. The costumes, masks, and slogans were clearly designed for memes and rooted in nostalgia."
It continued, "'Hellbound' is much darker and more complex," analyzing, "Viewers inevitably feel the full weight of each outcome. It is much less enjoyable and harder to digest than 'Squid Game.' But this is why 'Hellbound' is valuable."
'Hellbound,' which has been hugely popular worldwide with 43.48 million hours viewed over the past week, is a six-episode drama about a supernatural phenomenon where people receive death sentences from messengers of hell who appear without warning. It is based on a domestic webtoon completed last year and tells the story of the new religious group Saejinrihoe, which flourished amid the chaos, and the characters trying to uncover the truth behind the incidents. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who also directed the film 'Train to Busan,' it stars Kim Hyun-joo, Won Jin-ah, Lee Re, Yoo Ah-in, and Park Jung-min.
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