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Parasyte: The Grey

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Parasyte: The Grey
Promotional poster
Hangul
기생수: 더 그레이
Hanja
寄生獸: 더 그레이
Revised RomanizationGisaengsu: deo geure-i
McCune–ReischauerKisaengsu tŏ kŭrei
Genre
Based onParasyte
by Hitoshi Iwaaki
Written by
Directed byYeon Sang-ho
Starring
Music byKim Dong-wook[2]
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Producers
  • Byun Soong-min[2]
  • Yang Yoo-min[2]
  • Cho Eun-hye[2]
CinematographyByun Bong-sun[2]
AnimatorYoo Hyun-hee[2]
EditorHan Mi-yeon[2]
Running time43–61 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)

Parasyte: The Grey (Korean: 기생수: 더 그레이) is a 2024 South Korean sci-fi horror body snatcher television series directed and co-written by Yeon Sang-ho. The series is a live-action spin-off of the manga series Parasyte by the Japanese artist Hitoshi Iwaaki and depicts a confrontation with unidentified parasitic creatures that live on humans and have the urge to kill humans. It stars Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, and Lee Jung-hyun. It was released on Netflix on April 5, 2024, and received generally positive reviews.

Plot

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A group of mysterious parasitic creatures fall from outer space and begin using humans as hosts, killing them, and transforming them into unique creatures that can shapeshift their heads into anything.[3]

Police squad "The Grey" is formed, led by Choi Jun-kyung. They protect society from parasite attacks and keep the attacks completely off the news and social media. Jun-kyung's husband was one of the first parasites; she now keeps him as a hunting dog, captive under a mask so he can inform the team when any parasite is nearby as Parasites can sense their own kind.

Jeong Su-in is a cashier at a supermarket living a mundane life. This changes when she is stabbed by a drunk customer after work. She wakes up in the hospital with the assailant dead. Police officer Kim Chul-min, who had rescued Su-in as a child when she reported her abusive father, checks in on her. Su-in has indeed become a Parasite after the attack, as one had tried taking over her brain when she fell unconscious. She is cornered by two parasites to confirm if she is one of them. This is witnessed by Seol Kang-woo, a small time thug, whose older sister is one of the parasites; his younger sister is missing. The Parasite in Su-in, who Kang-woo names Heidi after Jekyll and Hyde, asks him to inform Su-in of her presence. Heidi could not take complete control of Su-in's body, too busy trying to heal her injured body after the stabbing; hence, she now lives in Su-in's subconscious and can only take over one side of her head and awake to protect her.

Jeong Su-in is taken by the parasites to a secluded church where a pastor parasite leads a group of parasites. Kang-woo finds his younger sister's body there. Devastated, he flees with Su-in with the Parasites in pursuit. While inspecting the site, Chul-min finds the key chain he gave to Su-in. He meets her to question her about it but is attacked by Jun-kyung who followed him. Su-in passes out and Chul-min's partner Kang Won-seok kills the hunting dog which is witnessed by Kang-woo.

Su-in is taken captive by team Grey despite her results being negative. Chul-min and Kang-woo team up to free her during her transfer. During transfer a group of Parasites attacks them and Kang-woo takes the chance and succeeds in freeing her. Chul-min is killed by the Pastor's parasite who later takes his physical form and joins Won-seok to kill all the Parasites at a location with help of team Grey.

Su-in informs Jun-kyung about the parasites in the team but she does not believe her initially, however after some investigation she starts suspecting that there are moles in her team. A parasite who uses Kang-woo's older sister body wants to work together with Su-in to kill the Pastor's parasite and they agree to ambush Pastor's plan to take over Mayor's body during festival celebration.

At the festival, Pastor's parasite leaves Chul-min's body and takes over Won-seok. Later it leaves his head to get into Jun-kyung as the mayor has escaped with the help of Kang-woo. But Su-in saves her, whereas Jun-kyung kills Won-seok.

Cast and characters

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See also: List of Parasyte characters

Main

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A young woman with a traumatic past who becomes a parasite victim; when it fails to take over her brain due to her stab wounds, she enters a bizarre coexistence with it, unlike other parasites.
A small-time gangster who initially tracks down parasites in order to find his younger sister but teams up with Su-in after learning of her condition.
The team leader of "Grey Team", a task force that wants to eradicate parasites.

Supporting

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A senior detective at Namil Police Station.
Cheol-min's junior detective.
  • Yoon Hyun-gil as Seol Kyung-hee[1]
Kang-woo's elder sister who is infected by a parasite.
  • Lee Hyun-kyun as Kwon Hyuk-joo[6]
A pastor, and the leader of the parasites.
  • Moon Ju-yeon as Seol Jin-hee[7]
Kang-woo's younger sister who went missing.

Special appearance

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The protagonist of the original Parasyte manga and anime series.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Episode 1"Yeon Sang-hoYeon Sang-ho & Ryu Yong-jaeApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
2"Episode 2"Yeon Sang-hoYeon Sang-ho & Ryu Yong-jaeApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
3"Episode 3"Yeon Sang-hoYeon Sang-ho & Ryu Yong-jaeApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
4"Episode 4"Yeon Sang-hoYeon Sang-ho & Ryu Yong-jaeApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
5"Episode 5"Yeon Sang-hoYeon Sang-ho & Ryu Yong-jaeApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
6"Episode 6"Yeon Sang-hoYeon Sang-ho & Ryu Yong-jaeApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)

Production

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Development

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The series was developed under the working title The Grey (더 그레이; Deo geure-i), a collaboration between Netflix and director Yeon Sang-ho.[9] Yeon and Ryu Yong-jae team up to direct and write the series. Climax Studio and Wow Point managed the production.[10]

Casting

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Koo Kyo-hwan and Jeon So-nee were cast to play the lead roles for the series.[9][11]

Koo and Jeon together with Lee Jung-hyun were officially confirmed as the main characters for the series on August 24, 2022.[12]

Release

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Parasyte: The Grey was released worldwide on Netflix with six episodes on April 5, 2024.[13]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10.[14] Craig Mathieson of The Age wrote that "it works best as a horror tale, with the possessed humans transforming into monstrous form and back again as authorities try to stamp out the infiltration".[15] In Ready Steady Cut, Jonathan Wilson gave a 3/5 stars and stated that "in a media climate saturated with zombies and monsters of all types, and with parasites both literal and otherwise, there was a better story to be told and a better show to be made with these same bones" and "the action and visuals do a lot of heavy lifting for Parasyte: The Grey, but the premise and themes are underexplored".[16] Kate Sánchez rated it 9.5/10 and wrote in But Why Tho?, "as a horror series, Parasyte: The Grey is superb" and "as sci-fi, it's exciting", but "more importantly, as an adaptation, this is a showstopper".[17] Joel Keller wrote in Decider, "Parasyte: The Grey has enough action to hold viewers' interest, but the story of Su-in's mutant existence is also what's going to keep us watching".[18]

In Digital Mafia Talkies, Pramit Chatterjee gave a 5/5 stars and proclaimed that "Parasyte: The Grey is a great extension of Hitoshi Iwaaki's manga, while also being a relevant piece of art that comments about the times that we are living in".[19] Pajiba's Dustin Rowles described it as "a gloriously schlocky, B-movie-esque escape from reality" and "Director Yeon Sang-ho (of Train to Busan fame) serves up six episodes of gory creature designs and fight scenes that will have you simultaneously wincing and cheering".[20] Steven Nguyen Scaife of IGN said that "it offers weighty action and some smart departures to complement a fearsome live-action portrayal of its famous monsters, but the characterization never reaches the same heights as the original".[21] Carla Monfort of Espinof wrote that it is "an entertaining and interesting science fiction thriller".[22]

Singapore's national newspaper The Straits Times gave the series three out of five stars. While finding the scenes of parasitic hosts changing their heads "hilarious and cheesy", the article's writer Joanne Soh praised Jeon for her acting and called her character Su-in a "compelling protagonist" for her coherent portrayal of the character's tragic background and will to survive, as well as the switch between Su-in and her symbiotic companion Heidi. Soh also praised the chemistry between Jeon and Koo, who were both "dynamic as the pair of reluctant heroes", and Koo himself also was effective to serve as a bridge between Su-in and Heidi. The director's use of horror was also praised.[23] Matt Cabral of Common Sense Media wrote that "the action-horror series trades the usual brain-eaters and little green men for incredibly creepy, tentacled parasites that infect and fully control human hosts".[24] Pierce Conrad rated it a 3/5 and wrote for South China Morning Post that "this reimagining is also more interested in exploring the thematic potential of the manga's concept, rather than its fun factor" however "Yeon's message, while clearly about how humans organise themselves in society, is tricky to parse".[25]

NME's Tanu I. Raj gave the series a three stars out of five and highlight "a more grounded approach to human nature" and "succeed in its own right".[26] Lucy Ford of British GQ wrote that it "nestles in nicely to this landscape with its emphasis on genuine spooks and body horror squelches".[27] For the Filipino online news website Rappler, Lé Baltar described that series' "creates drama by wielding the anxieties of its protagonist to interrogate what is human and what is not, to talk about trauma and the many ways we try to mend it".[28]

Viewership

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Parasyte: The Grey topped Netflix's Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) category three days after its release and was well received in 68 countries from April 1–7, with 31.5 million hours watched by 6.3 million viewers in its first week.[29] The series maintained its top spot in the following week and viewership increased to 49 million hours watched by 9.8 million viewers,[30] and it also remained on the chart for the next two consecutive weeks.[31]

Accolades

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards 2024 Best Visual Effects Parasyte: The Grey Won [32]
Best Newcomer Actress Jeon So-nee Nominated [33]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ostby, Ingrid (April 12, 2024). "Parasyte: The Grey: Everything You Need to Know About the Series". Tudum by Netflix. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Parasyte: The Grey. Episode 1. April 5, 2024. Netflix.
  3. ^ Frater, Patrick (August 23, 2024). "Yeon Sang-ho to Direct 'Parasyte: The Grey' Series for Netflix". Variety. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Tartaglione, Nancy (August 23, 2022). "Netflix Sets 'Parasyte: The Grey', Korean Adaptation Of Horror Manga From 'Hellbound' & 'Train To Busan's Yeon Sang-ho". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Jung, Jin-young (March 18, 2024). VFX 기술 그저 경이롭네... '기생수' 시선 강탈 보도 스틸 공개 [The VFX technology is just amazing... 'Parasite' eye-catching press stills released] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Shaw, Angel (April 5, 2024). "Parasyte: The Grey Cast & Character Guide". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  7. ^ Kim, Chae-yeon (April 16, 2024). '구교환 동생' 문주연, '기생수 : 더 그레이' 짧지만 강한 활약 ['Koo Kyo-hwan younger sister' Moon Ju-yeon, short but strong performance in 'Parasyte: The Grey'] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024 – via Naver.
  8. ^ 菅田将暉「寄生獣」出演が正式発表、"右手"差し出す新写真&韓ドラ初出演の思い語る [Masaki Suda's appearance in "Parasyte: The Grey" is officially announced, new photo of him holding out his "right hand" & thoughts on his first appearance in a Korean drama]. Natalie (in Japanese). April 12, 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Kang, Hyo-jin (June 28, 2022). [단독]구교환, 연상호 감독 또 만난다...차차기작 '더 그레이' 주연 [[Exclusive] Koo Kyo-hwan meets director Yeon Sang-ho again...Lead role in the next film 'The Grey'] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via Naver.
  10. ^ Rahman, Abid (August 23, 2022). "Netflix Greenlights 'Parasyte: The Grey' Series From 'Hellbound' Creator Yeon Sang-ho". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  11. ^ Cho, Yeon-gyeong (July 5, 2022). [단독] 전소니 '더 그레이' 주연 낙점...구교환 만난다 [[Exclusive] Jeon So-nee selected for lead role in 'The Grey'...Meets Koo Kyo-hwan] (in Korean). JTBC News. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via Naver.
  12. ^ Kim, Ji-hye (August 24, 2022). 연상호 감독 '기생수: 더 그레이' 연출...전소니X구교환X이정현 캐스팅 [Director Yeon Sang-ho directs 'Parasyte: The Grey'...Jeon So-nee X Koo Kyo-hwan X Lee Jung-hyun casting] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via Naver.
  13. ^ Lee, Yoon-seo (February 28, 2024). "'Parasyte: The Grey' to hit Netflix in April". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "Parasyte: The Grey". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Mathieson, Craig (April 3, 2024). "A standout in Derry Girls and Bridgerton, now Nicola Coughlan aces this frank British comedy". The Age. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Wilson, Jonathan (April 5, 2024). "Parasyte: The Grey Is A Missed Opportunity For Netflix". Ready Steady Cut. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Kate, Sánchez (April 5, 2024). "REVIEW: 'Parasyte: The Grey' Is How Adaptations Should Be Done". But Why Tho?. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Keller, Joel (April 5, 2024). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Parasyte: The Grey' On Netflix, About A Woman Sharing Her Brain With An Alien Parasite". Decider. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Chatterjee, Pramit (April 6, 2024). "'Parasyte: The Grey' Review: Yeon Sang-Ho Exquisitely Evolves Hitoshi Iwaaki's Manga In Netflix Series". Digital Mafia Talkies. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  20. ^ Rowles, Dustin (April 10, 2024). "The Chaotic, Creature-Filled 'Parasyte: The Grey' Is the Ideal Antidote to Prestige TV Fatigue". Pajiba. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Scaife, Steven Nguyen (April 13, 2024). "Parasyte: The Grey Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Monfort, Carla (April 13, 2024). "Solo tiene 6 episodios y está en Netflix. 'Parasyte. Los grises' es un trepidante thriller de ciencia ficción inspirado en el mítico manga" [It only has 6 episodes and is on Netflix. 'Parasyte. The Grey' is a fast-paced science fiction thriller inspired by the mythical manga]. Espinof (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Soh, Joanne (April 17, 2024). "Binge-worthy: Actress Jeon So-nee's performance anchors sci-fi horror Parasyte: The Grey". The Straits Times. Singapore. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  24. ^ Cabral, Matt (May 1, 2024). "Parasyte: The Grey TV Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  25. ^ Conran, Pierce (April 5, 2024). "Netflix K-drama review – Parasyte: The Grey, Train to Busan director's adaptation of classic Japanese manga, a mixed bag". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Raj, Tanu (April 9, 2024). "'Parasyte: The Grey' review: 'Train To Busan' director spins a decidedly human tale". NME. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  27. ^ Ford, Lucy (April 10, 2024). "Everyone needs to watch Parasyte: The Grey, Netflix's latest gory South Korean horror show". British GQ. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  28. ^ Baltar, Lé (April 29, 2024). "'Parasyte: The Grey' review: A cutting, bite-sized watch". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  29. ^ Yoon, Hyo-jung (April 10, 2024). '기생수' 공개 첫주에 넷플릭스 글로벌 1위...'눈물의 여왕' 2위 ['Parasyte' ranks first globally on Netflix in its first week of release...'Queen of Tears' 2nd place] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via Naver.
  30. ^ Jang, Min-soo (April 17, 2024). 한국판 '기생수', 글로벌로 통했다...'더 그레이' 2주 연속 정상 [Korean version of 'Parasyte' went global...'The Grey' tops the list for 2 weeks in a row] (in Korean). MHN Sports. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024 – via Naver.
  31. ^ "Top 10 Non-English TV Show on Netflix Right Now". Netflix. Archived from the original on 2024-05-05. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  32. ^ Rawat, Abhilasha (October 6, 2024). "2024 ACA & G.OTT Awards: Byeon Woo-Seok, Chae Jong-Hyeop And More K-drama Stars Win Big. Check Full Winners List". Times Now. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  33. ^ "ACA & Global OTT Awards: Nominations 2024". Asia Contents Awards. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
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