Netflix is diving deep into the cutthroat world of K-pop with its newest Korean series, Variety, featuring an exciting lineup led by Son Ye-jin and Jo Yu-ri. This highly anticipated show is helmed by director and writer Kim Yong-hoon, known for his work on the hit series Mask Girl and the film Beasts Clawing at Straws.
When we reviewed Kim Yong-hoon’s Mask Girl, we said, “Outrageous, melodramatic, and with erratic pacing, Mask Girl is an unwieldy series that will find its footing among viewers looking for a drama of the unhinged variety. [The series] is the kind of melodrama and mess that makes for a fantastic night in, even if its darker subjects aren’t given as much respect or perspective as they deserve.”
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What can we expect to see in Netflix’s Variety?
Variety promises to unearth the intense desires and ambitions that simmer beneath the glamorous surface of the K-pop industry. Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You) takes on the role of Se-eun, a formidable entertainment executive in South Korea. Se-eun is portrayed as ambitious, captivating, and exceptionally talented in her field. She’s prepared to make difficult choices and put everything on the line to revive the idol group she personally established, navigating a whirlwind of emotions in unforeseen circumstances.
Joining her is Jo Yu-ri, fresh off her impactful performance in Squid Game Seasons 2 and Season 3. Yu-ri plays Seung-hui, a fan whose obsession knows no bounds, willing to go to extreme lengths to meet her favorite idol. Her character is a complex tapestry woven with conflicting threads of love, hate, and fierce devotion.
This isn’t the first time the streamer has tackled K-Pop in one of its Original works. In Doona!, audiences followed the life of a K-pop idol after the glitz and glamour have faded, revealing loss, love, and regret. And in this year’s extremely popular animated film, K-Pop Demon Hunters, we got an all-ages story of acceptance.
Variety has begun production and will release exclusively on Netflix.
