They Don't Kiss Until Episode 16

Netflix just released season two of The Uncanny Counter. If you don’t remember, the show centers on a set of demon hunters disguised as noodle shop workers. They hunt demons to find eternal life.

Premiering in 2020, the show was exciting and fun, with great cinematography and special effects; honestly, I thought it was over after the first season. I was completely satisfied with the plot and the ending. I don’t remember a major cliff hanger, but perhaps I wasn’t paying attention.

But there is a season two. Studio Dragon is ending it’s contract with Netflix this year and maybe the reason behind season two has to do with producing something that the public will like while satisfying the contract. Either way, this is a great money move for both Studio Dragon and Netflix. For those of us, like myself, who can’t remember what happened in the first season, we will go back and watch it and we will stick around for season two.

I am concerned with the trend of K-dramas not only on Netflix, that is the trend of multiple seasons.

One of the great draws to Korean dramas is that it is a tightly written stories, played out throughout a set of 16-20 episodes. It is almost like reading a book; you start the story at a point in the characters’ lives, ride with them through a pivotal moment, see the resolution, and then end the book. In fact, many American shows suffer from going on a bit too long. With season upon season coming every year with no growth or resolution for the characters or some lame crossover resulting in an explosion (I’m looking at you Grey’s Anatomy). As much as we don’t like it shows, like a good book must come to an end.

While I am glad to see actors employed. How tv is done in Korea allows actors to play a range of roles to challenge their skills without them getting too deeply typecast (at least on the surface). Moreover, I have not seen a K-drama master a second season. Love ft. Marriage and Divorce jumped the shark the for the 3 season. Penthouse softly derailed in the second and just dove off the cliff in the third. But American audiences are use to returning yearly for shows and there are K-dramas that seem to be appealing to this habit. Squid Games is getting a season 2 and I don’t think it should, but I’ll discuss that later.

In short, the “milk something for every dime it’s worth” way of doing tv in America is a model I hope Korean television will try to steer clear of. The reason why Americans love Korean dramas is that they are different from American television. The stories are fun, compelling, and most importantly succinct. I don’t have to take a decade long journey and forget who, what, and why.

Anyway, I will be watching the first two episodes of The Uncanny Counter: Counter Punch. The first two episodes were released on July 29 and July 30 and will air all 12 episodes every Saturday and Sunday until September.

Let me know what you think. Do you like the pattern of K-dramas having seasons?