I'm not going to pretend to be the biggest anime fan but I use to watch back in the days, when it comes to this TV series I'm just another passenger on this trail. Parasite The Grey offers a new take on the old parasitic invasion story line that will keep you hooked, at least I can tell you is that good. Watching through the six episodes all on the same day I found myself sucked into this South Korean adaptation that is quite able to stand on its own while paying homage to the original manga. Same as I'm not familiar with the original story I'm way less with the actors so have me patience, I had to look up most of their information online, first we met with Jeong Su in played by Jeon So-nee, who does a fantastic job at the character, her life is almost ended or put to a halt by the presence of a parasite called Heidi that she becomes host to, resulting in two consciousnesses sharing one body.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21874396/
- Platform: NETFLIX
Rottentomatoes Rating
Similar to the recent movie "Quiet Place Day One", these mysterious alien parasites dropping from the sky in shell like pods, and some opening scenes that really set the tone for what is next to come in terms of an invasion to Earth. I love that this adaptation gets away from being another body snatcher story and slides into deeper themes of coexistence and survival. The effects are great too, particularly during the transformation sequences when parasites reveal their real forms, which are some real solid effect moments, at the limit of science fiction horror.
This series is the product of director Yeon Sang-ho, who is best known for Train to Busan a movie that I recently review and his trademark style of delivering scenes full of action, but also characters who are full of passion and feelings, its almost the case during K Drama, different from Western productions there is more feelings put into them despite the genre. One of the ways the show really stick and puts all the puzzle pieces together is showing off Su-in and Heidi’s relationship, as the only time they really get to talk is when one of them is asleep, and they do so through written messages, a very simple but at the same time unique way to have them interact with each other, practical relationship but you still get the sense that this is not what she wanted for sure but through time their growing understanding of each other feels more earned, trying to make the best out of who they are now.
Choi Jun-kyung play the role of Lee Juhengyun, becomes one of the leading story lines on he series, she is part of a specialized unit whose only mission is to hunt parasites, this time around humans still have a chance but those already with a host are not willing to give up, for the rest of the parasite its full on take over the Earth and are ruthless violent creatures but with Su-in and hers is a bit different with a more symbiotic relationship, are well full on Venom cyrcle?. The show does a good job of describing and showing off the various factions that are active, whether it's parasites trying to worm their way into human society through religious institutions or humans trying to hang onto a world going to hell in a hand basket.
If we see the story through Su-in and the parasites she is one with now, the series touch on themes like identity, survival, and what it really means to be human, after all you can only appreciate things when you are about to loose them most of the time, sadly that's how we most humans are. While some of the detective work and decision making by Team Grey might be consider very meh predictable work, this task force hunting down parasites has a big impact in the story, with some morally ambiguous approach, its the case of Choi Jun-kyung, the team leader who kept her infected husband captive and used him as her personal parasite detector or hunter, this piece right here tells how how they cross the line of been in favor or not of humans same goes for parasite, other people might consider this war and everything goes.
Unfortunately Netflix recently mention that this show would be consider a limited series, sadly closing up with a lot more to explain and the door open to keep going, towards the end of "season one", Su in and Team Grey are able to beat Pastor Hyuk joo's parasite which took control of Won seok's body after an intense showdown. Su‐in becomes someone who can also use her unique condition and powers to protect humanity rather than do any damage, her relationship with Heidi, the parasite that shares her body, becomes more unique and they share a respect for one another, where she chooses to protect not just Su-in but all of mankind, because she's impressed with the dedication of a host to doing good.
The surviving theme gets stronger as there are certain characters like Kangwoo, a man who use to life in the opposite side of the law and order, a former gang member decides to turn things around and go with Team Grey to go help track down parasites in other areas. As the series is inconclusive there are characters that are not fully develop, its the case of Shinichi Izumi played by Masaki Suda, who towards the end comes to Team Grey office with information about where to find other parasites, Shinichi Izumi similar to Su-in is not fully merge or controlled by his parasite named Migi, it failed to take over his brain and this gave the chance to Shinichi Izumi to have some other powers. Sadly this becomes just a cameo that link the show to the broader Parasite World, but it also opens up many interesting stories for the future that will never be develop at least not on the Netflix series. The last shot is of Shinichi's right hand, where his parasite Migi lived, but it's important to note that Migi was in hibernation at the end of the original story. Initially Jun-kyung, leader of Team Grey, saw all parasites as the undesired that had to be terminated, but Su-in's actions during the series won her trust, and even freedom or pardon?, this idea comes to her mind that as long as every situation is different, perhaps the parasite and host can each learn to live with the other.
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