Drama Digest
The Silent Sea is an 8 episode Netflix adaptation of the 2014 short film “The Sea of Tranquility” by Choi Hang-yong. The story occurs in 2075, a near dystopian future where extreme desertification has led to the extinction of various species and scarcity of water. In such a situation, the Space and Aeronautics Administration (SAA) handpicks a team for a mission on the Moon in exchange for increasing their water quota. Han Yoon-Jae leads the crew, who are supposed to collect a mysterious sample from the Balhae research station on Moon. Crew members of this station died due to a radiation leak five years ago. Song Ji-an is an astrobiologist and sister of Doctor Song Won-Kyung, head of research at Balhae. She gets invited to join the team to help them retrieve the hazardous sample harmlessly.
The Feel-Good Part
The screenplay and cinematography of the show are magnificent. The background music gives goosebumps. All the cast have done an excellent job in portraying the characters. Bar Doona steals the show with her stellar performance, and Gong Yoo carries his character with grace and does justice to it. The rate at which the show moves forward is initially slow, and it slowly picks up in the later episodes. Each scene beautifully captures the dystopian future. Expect a few spine-chilling scenes in every episode. The show subtly gives a message about the not-so-promising future of our planet.
The Disappointing Factor
The Sci-Fic series shows very little use of scientific practices. Many technologies exhibited in the show are also questionable. The writing itself is very generic, and the character developments are unaggressive. The show fails to give a strong villain. They do not stress any villains in an impactful way. There was so much potential for such a development.
In-Depth Analysis
The show starts with the exceedingly disappointing future humans have brought upon Earth. In 2075, depletion of water resources, desertification, and the extinction of various species are crucial issues. Technology has grown tremendously, and space trips are a reality. The Space and Aeronautics Administration (SAA) set up an elite team for a mission on the Moon. The crew will get more water quota on the success of the task. Han Yoon-Jae is an elite soldier under SAA and is selected to lead the team. He agrees to the mission when guaranteed help for his daughter’s medical condition. Doctor Song Ji-an accepts the invitation to learn more about her sister’s death on the research station. Others are in for the increase in the water quota. None of them is told clear information about the mission except to retrieve a hazardous sample safely back to Earth. They set forth to complete the mysterious task. From the very beginning, things go out of hand. In the research station, the crew finds shocking truth behind its shutdown. They learn the hard way to put their lives before the mission when their fellow members turn out to be double agents.
Star Power
In the leading roles, we see Bae Doona as Doctor Song Ji-an, Gong Yoo as Han Yoon-jae, and Lee Joon as Lieutenant Ryu Tae-seok. In the supporting roles, we see Kim Sun-young as Dr Hong Ga-Young, Kim Si-a as Luna 073, Lee Moo-Saeng as Chief Gong Soo-hyuk, Lee Sung-Wook as Kim Sun, Choi Yong-Woo as Lee Gi-Su, Jung Soon-Won as Gong Soo-chan, Yoo Hee-Je as E2, Cha Rae-Hyoung as E1, Yu Seong-Ju as Mr Hwang, and Yoon Hae-Ri as Run Ji-Young as the members of the mission. We see Kang Mal-guem as Song Won-Kyung, Heo Sung-tae as Kim Jae-Choi, and Gil Hae-Yeon as Director Choi. They hold key positions in the SAA. We also see Ahn Dong-goo as an employee of SAA.
Overall Opinion
The show has a gripping plot and a spectacular cast lineup. The Silent Sea is also one of the earliest Korean Sci-Fic space series, and there is no good reason to avoid this series.
