Disney+ K-drama Grid: slick sci-fi procedural starring Seo Kang-joon and Kim Ah-joong is seemingly all mystery and no depth
- At its best Grid is reminiscent of glossy American sci-fi-fantasy-action shows such as Heroes, and boasts a strong cast and slick production values
- But so far, the series has stubbornly refused to sketch out its characters fully and clearly explain the world in which they exist
It wasn’t too long ago that a sci-fi story on South Korean screens was a rare enough event that it was automatically cause for curiosity.
But with growing budgets, global audiences and technical sophistication, sci-fi elements have become increasingly visible on screen, and the genre has proved a terrific tool for exploring new storytelling avenues and engaging in social allegory.
With high production values, a name cast and some major behind-the-scenes pedigree, with Lee Soo-yeon of Life and Stranger fame serving as writer, the show rides in on a wave of cool mystery and intrigue.
Yet while the storytelling is undeniably smooth, the story has been frustratingly opaque and, despite very short episodes (around 45 minutes) by Korean standards, precious little has transpired over the course of the first two episodes.