A Hero Whose Bank Balance Dwindles... But the Story Runs Dry Even Faster [Slate]

Netflix's 'Cashier': A Victory of Concept, a Defeat of Storytelling

Netflix 'Cashier' Still Cut

The Netflix series 'Cashier' depicts a world where money is synonymous with power. It visualizes the most materialistic desires of capitalism through the lens of a superhero story. The protagonist, Kang Sangwoong (Lee Junho), does not gain his superpowers from anger or patriotism, but from bundles of cash in his pocket. If Iron Man dons his suit thanks to immense wealth, Kang makes do by dipping into his jeonse loan and living expenses to power his own suit.

This is a hero who looks crestfallen as his bank balance dwindles each time he saves someone. This offers viewers, who live in a harsh reality where "the rich are innocent, the poor are guilty," a peculiar mix of catharsis and pathos. The series sharply touches on the cynicism that even the realization of justice in Korean society is subordinated to economic power. Legal action, social statements, and even helping others all require a certain level of financial comfort. Scenes where Kang minimizes his spending to defeat villains reflect the self-portrait of an era where justice has become a luxury.

Lee Junho grounds the outlandish premise with his down-to-earth acting. The presence of his girlfriend Kim Minsook (Kim Hyejun), who urges him to "save the world efficiently" while punching numbers on a calculator, is another highlight. Together, they pull a potentially floating fantasy firmly into the realm of reality.

Netflix 'Cashier' Still Cut

The problem is the series' substance, which, as the episodes progress, increasingly resembles an "insufficient balance." Loose storytelling and complacent direction leave the show in the red. Especially past the halfway point, the rules of the world the series established begin to collapse. The equivalence of "cash = superpower" generates tension only when it operates under strict calculations and constraints. However, as the story unfolds, this exchange rate stretches elastically according to the writer's convenience. While viewers are engrossed in calculating "how much would be needed in that situation," the drama opts for lazy storytelling along the lines of "the protagonist wins because he is the protagonist." The moment the internal logic collapses, immersion drops sharply.

While 'Cashier' captures the harsh reality that "money can do anything," it fails to delve into the contradictions inherent in this setup. In reality, money solves problems but also creates new ones. The concentration of wealth leads to the concentration of power, and power gained through money blurs the line between justice and violence. When Kang Sangwoong subdues villains with cash, it raises the question of whether this is the realization of justice or simply another form of domination by capital. The drama avoids addressing this point. It remains stuck in the one-dimensional misery of a "poor hero struggling without money," without ever touching on the contradictions of capitalism implicit in the idea of saving the world with money.

The utter lack of appeal in the villains, who serve as the axis of evil, is also fatal. While 'Moving' gave even its antagonists multidimensional stories, adding depth to its humanism, the villains in 'Cashier' are mere functional props for the protagonist's fists. There is little justification for why they seek to plunge the world into chaos, making it unclear why Kang Sangwoong should risk his life and money to fight.

Netflix 'Cashier' Still Cut

These issues only intensify as the series approaches its conclusion. The tone of social satire is lost, and it degenerates into a typical superpowered battle series. The sharp satire of episodes 1 and 2 disappears, replaced by implausible action and melodrama. The hastily patched ending blatantly sets up a second season, but instead of anticipation, it leaves a lingering sense that the story remains unfinished.