This year, the highly anticipated Netflix production 'The Last Lee' launched at number 8 globally, with a production budget of approximately 60 billion won.
According to the OTT content ranking site FlixPatrol, 'The Last Lee' ranked 8th (228 points) in Netflix's TV show institutional sector worldwide top 10 as of the 8th.
'The Last Lee,' which premiered on the 7th, ranked first in four countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Indonesia, and entered the global top 8. While it's still in the very early stage of its release, it is too early to draw conclusions about its performance. However, given that it was highly anticipated and drew significant attention from its production and casting stages, there is some sense of disappointment.
'The Last Lee' tells the adventurous life of the 'rebellious teen' Ae-sun (played by IU), born in Jeju in the 1960s, and the 'clumsy iron man' Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum) across the four seasons. The writer Lim Sang-chun, known for stories that resonate with audiences in works such as 'When the Camellia Blooms' and 'Fight for My Way,' has joined forces with director Kim Won-seok, known for delivering empathy, comfort, and encouragement through works such as 'The Man from Nowhere,' 'Signal,' and 'Misaeng.' It is reported that approximately 60 billion won was invested in the production. The ensemble of star actors, including IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, and Park Hae-joon, is expected to resonate deeply across generations.
IU portrays Ae-sun from her teenage years into her twenties, while Moon So-ri takes over the role as an adult. Interestingly, Moon So-ri's character has a daughter that is again portrayed by IU, showcasing a dual role. Gwan-sik's childhood character is played by Park Bo-gum, and the middle-aged role is portrayed by Park Hae-joon.
In response to the question, 'Will this work, which emphasizes a uniquely Korean sensibility, be accepted by overseas viewers?' director Kim Won-seok noted, "Initially, I hoped our domestic audience would watch it. Thankfully, it was picked up by Netflix, but then I wondered how foreign viewers would react. We worked to ensure that the Korean characteristics and lines that need understanding could be well expressed through subtitles. I believe topics such as the Korean War, refugees, and the IMF crisis should not be too difficult for foreigners to understand."
Especially when comparing to the typical Netflix series that release all episodes simultaneously, 'The Last Lee' will release a total of 16 episodes in four batches of four episodes every Friday over four weeks. The concept of the four seasons aligns with Act 1 being spring, Act 2 being summer, Act 3 being autumn, and Act 4 being winter. This innovative release strategy is being attempted for the first time by Netflix.
This release strategy was determined according to the intentions of the production team and the content of the work, though some viewers have expressed dissatisfaction. Concerns include, 'Doesn't this dampen the advantages of being able to binge-watch all episodes on Netflix?' 'I was just getting into it, but it got interrupted, which disrupted my immersion,' and 'It seems a bit challenging to draw in viewers in the early stages.'
[Photo] Netflix
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