Black Knight, the latest Netflix series based on the webtoon by Lee Yun-kyun, may at first glance have nothing in common with Squid Game. Black Knight is set in a post-apocalyptic world while Squid Game takes place in the present. Black Knight depicts his gloomy world in orange, Squid Game contrasts the violence he stretches with cheerful colors.
But beneath it all, the two have clear similarities. Both talk about how bad capitalism is. And Netflix definitely wants this series to be as much of a hit as Squid Game. From the beginning of this series, we are immediately told that 40 years ago a comet fell to Earth and finally made the air toxic. Only one percent of people survived.
The people in Korea themselves live in misery. The survivors live in a flat. The people who live here are the people who have the QR-code in their hand, the chosen people. Meanwhile, the refugees have to live on the streets, aka the torturous desert. In this world there is a job that many people dream of: a courier.
Their job is to deliver oxygen and food to the people in the flats. Their trucks filled with oxygen and food are of course the target of refugees who want to live a decent life. This is what makes a courier, or in this series called a Knight, not only have to be good at driving but also have to be good at taking care of himself.
They must be able to navigate hostile roads (not to mention if there is a sand tornado) and the muggers who want to loot their luggage. And 5-8 (Kim Woo Bin) is the best courier available today. For viewers who are skeptical of Korean productions, Black Knight might be a spectacle that will change that perception.
Hollywood isn't the only country of content creators with amazing production designs anymore. Black Knight features not only stunning visuals but also a capable production design. Throughout the six episodes, I couldn't imagine how they managed to make this dark world.
Dry roads, vast deserts, cramped apartment complexes are all well made. Plot-wise, Black Knight isn't quite as gripping as Squid Game (or even other Netflix productions like DP or The Glory) but it still packs a punch of intrigue across six stories. It is so dense that sometimes I feel that there are too many things discussed in this series.
From conspiracy theories about relocating residents, kidnapping plots, to vaccines. Of course, with the seasoning of annoying rich people who want to achieve success by trampling on poor people. What surprises the Black Knight is precisely the relationship between 5-8 and Sa Wol (Kang You Seok) who is the heart of this series.
Sa-wol is a refugee who wants to be a courier like 5-8 and the two end up engaging in a mentor and student relationship. With completely different personalities, the interactions between the two are a highlight of the series. And it's no coincidence that fun scenes usually involve Sa Wol like chase scenes.
With not many episodes, Black Knight is a sci:fi action series that you should try if you like this genre. If you're a fan of Kim Woo Bin, this one is definitely not to be missed. That one oppa makes the Black Knight twice as cool just by him appearing on the screen. Black Knight can be watched on Netflix.
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