What I love most about myself Take 1The new Reality series on Korean musicThis is how the Netflix release wrapped a very meaningful and deeply felt Netflix release around a simple premise that was released on October 14.
This is the premise: According to an English translation, it is stated in the opening minutes of the 7-episode series. “We asked musicians from different genres what if you only had one chance to present a perfect performance before you died? There’s just one condition. Do it in one take.”
Take 1Netflix
Despite its simplicity, it is not difficult to see the benefits. Take 1 goes on to carry viewers along on a bit of an emotional journey — as the various artists conceive, rehearse for, and then stage their performances. Moreover, unlike the language of reality TV series we’re more accustomed to here, which might have seen musicians pitted against one another; performances voted on; a winner chosen; a panel of judges lambasting this or that mistake … there’s no prize to be won here. There are no winners and nobody goes home crying.
Thank you Netflix and Take 1! This episode was so moving and tasteful. Mamamoo’s does what they love best. Cried, laughed, bit my nails in nervousness, it was just perfect ❤️ I know I’ll go back to this many times.
— ellie 🍋 MAMAMOO ILLELLA (somewhat ia) (@Elbabanen) October 14, 2022
The performances Take 1They are the purpose and the ultimate reward of the show. Netflix provides the financial backing, the musicians across various genres come up with a laundry list of requirements that they want, and they’re given the stage of their dreams upon which to offer up the performance of a lifetime. And that’s pretty much it.
Words don’t really do it justice, but there’s something sublime and so refreshing about the whole point of this reality show being that the musicians are given a chance to deliver a one-of-a-kind performance … simply for the sake of delivering a one-of-a-kind performance.
READ MORE: Here are the top Netflix series for K-drama lovers
The performers include an opera singer and the subling pop duo AKMU. A singer who goes by RAIN as well the girl group MAMAMOO is also included.
One of the singers decides that he will return to a song he used to hate singing, and reflects on his life. RAIN decides to stage his performance in front of South Korea’s Blue House. After a few years of building their solo careers, the MAMAMOO singers return to this series to perform a mashup all of their hits.
Another must-watch Korean Netflix series
If you’re generally a fan of the massive pile of Korean-language content that the streamer has to offer, you’ll more than likely enjoy Take 1 too. Honestly, I’m already hoping Netflix re-ups the show for a second season — heck, it would certainly be a great venue for BTS to stage an epic comeback once the band members’ mandatory military service is complete.
However, what other Netflix shows are worth watching in the same genre? Take 1, here are two other recent additions to the streamer’s library that are definitely worthy of a spot on your watch list:
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
This 16-episode Netflix series about an autistic attorney is one of the most popular non-English Netflix series.
Here’s what Netflix says about the show in its official summary — and, particularly, about the central character, Woo Young-woo. “As someone with autism spectrum disorder, she faces various prejudices but wins over her colleagues at a top law firm by spotting details and legal loopholes that nobody else can see.” As the show’s screenwriter Moon Ji-won puts it: “Once she takes on a case, it takes a turn that viewers could not have seen before anywhere else.’”
The show premiered on Netflix at the beginning of June. It quickly rose to prominence and became a top-performing series for the streaming giant. Extraordinary Attorney Woo, in fact, was either #1 or #2 for four consecutive weeks on Netflix’s global Top 10 non-English shows chart. Currently, it’s also the #6 top-performing non-English Netflix series Everyday, based on the streamer’s latest chart data.
Glitch
A more recent Netflix Korean series to check out once you’re finished with Take 1It is Glitch — which, on paper, admittedly has a bit of a strange plot but I’ve nevertheless been oddly fascinated by it.
Plus, the show’s cast includes Jeon Yeo-been, who gave a memorable performance in Netflix’s Vincenzo, so that’s a point in its favor and deserving of it being watched all by itself.
Here’s the rather terse official summary that Netflix offers. “Jihyo, who can see aliens, and Bora, who has been pursuing them, search for Jihyo’s boyfriend, who disappeared without a trace, and encounter an ‘unidentified’ mystery.” It’s sort of like a K-drama version of The X-FilesYou’ll find tons of other elements in the mix, just like the best K-dramas. Religious zealotry, a search for aliens, a buddy comedy, deadly standoffs, and chase scenes — there’s a lot here to sink your teeth into and enjoy.
Additional Netflix news: Netflix Top 10: The top 10 most-watched shows around the globe right now