The Silent Sea (2021) User Reviews

Worth a binge

[rich-mac · 7/10 · 4 January 2022]

The Silent Sea is a pretty good effort at a SciFi thriller. Sure it has its moments of clumsiness, but it unfolds an interesting story.

Beyond the human drama aspect - where some of the inter character communication is a little strange perhaps for Western audiences - there's a good angle in the story that then develops into several layers.

I do get a bit tired of sci-fi that shows characters in endless corridors - when you pay so much per sq foot to build in space the last thing you'd do is waste so much space on corridors - but bad space station design isn't unique to this show - and plenty of aspects of the internals are also quite satisfyingly detailed.

All in all this is a good sci-fi show that's worth a look and persevering with - worth a 7.

Watchable but it ignores logic too much.

[Nemesis42 · 7/10 · 27 December 2021]

A well paced space drama with lost of challenges for the characters. There were a few items in this that were immensely illogical which makes you wonder if the writers know much about science?

For example they have the characters walking in slow motion whenever they're out in the vacuum. Well, this is plain silly and doesn't happen in reality. Just look at real moon-walking footage. Where is the resistance in a vacuum?

And taking off their helmets in a facility where they know there could be undetectable bio-hazards, where the staff previously died of unknown causes and before they have checked the air for hazards. Much like the similar ridiculous scene in Prometheus where so called 'scientists' remove their helmets in a building on a new alien planet after they just arrived.

Apart from this the main story in quite fine. Do hire a science advisor in the future though :)

The Silent Sea

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 9 January 2022]

This eight part Korea science fiction series is set in a near future where events have led to almost total desertification of the Earth. Water is a treasured commodity. With this in the backdrop Captain Han Yun-Jae has been tasked with leading a mission to retrieve samples from an abandoned lunar base. Amongst the team is scientist Dr Song Ji-An. Dr Song's sister had been one of the base's staff that was lost in a 'radiation leak' five years previously. The mission, which was due to take twenty four hours, gets off to a bad start; a crash landing leaves the crew having to walk several miles on the moon with limited oxygen. Things don't get much better when they reach the station. It soon becomes clear that not everything they were told was true, there are plenty of hidden dangers, they have difficulty finding the samples and what they find appears to be dangerous; to make matters worse it would appear that they are not alone.

I thought this was a pretty solid series. It might not have been the most original but it delivered plenty of tension throughout. It is science fiction but there are also good horror elements such as what happens when people come in contact with the strange 'Luna water'. The characters were the sort one would expect in such a series; the leader who insists on sticking to the mission even after things go wrong; one trying to learn what happened to a family member; one constantly complaining and one who can't quite be trusted to mention just a few. The cast is solid; most obviously Bae Doona, who always seems to impress, as Dr Song. The effects are pretty good even if science is often ignored... for example I never though characters were operating in one sixth of Earth gravity. There are some nice surprises and ultimately I enjoyed the series so would recommend it to fans of the genre; just be prepared to suspend your disbelief.

These comments are based on watching the series in Korean with English subtitles.

Cool concept but...

[jasminn_tan · 7/10 · 27 December 2021]

I was kind of excited when I first started watching this because it had a cool concept and the trailer looked good. And even though the visuals were stunning and the actors did an amazing job, it felt like something was missing. It's definitely a thriller but once the unknown was known, its momentum slowed down. And that ending was kind of anticlimactic, with some plot holes included.

This show needs another season.

[alexboyteh · 6/10 · 12 August 2022]

The good : The story, it's pretty good, and it creates tension in a masterful way. The special effects are great.

The bad: It's a slow burn and a bit of a cliché. Conversations seem to be somewhat forced for character creation and at times seem out of context and significance.. The story sometimes loses momentum.

This show needs another season, because it leaves many unanswered questions and the story does not have a meaningful conclusion.

So... Despite these facts I still recommend this show, to SCI-Fi fans, it is better than many recent productions.

Decent sci-fi show & a new experience in S. Korean filmmaking

[minoom-69729 · 8/10 · 25 December 2021]

I am not a fan of sci-fi or space drama/thrillers but as a fan of S. Korean movies and TV series, I gave it a watch. Overall, it's slow-burning with a somber mood, different from other sci-fis of this kind giving out a realistic feel of their challenges, no aliens or creatures about but something more mysterious and deadly, with intriguing twist and turns and you have to watch all the episodes patiently to really experience the show. There is also a very important message - climate change and the effects on future generations like water shortages which can easily happen if not already. Some of the acting surprisingly was not up to par for me but maybe because this whole project was a complete new experience for all involved. I think, the show would have been better with fewer episodes but for a new director and first attempts at this kind of genre, I was really impressed and enjoyed the show.

However, I like to point out somethings based on the comments/reviews I have seen a lot lately (Squid Game, Hellbound, My Name, etc.):

1) There is so much comparing every recent S. Korean show that comes out to Squid Game. Even the reputable sites that review films/TV shows are doing it. It's ludicrous and at this point aggravating as if all recent S. Korean shows must somehow be like Squid Game to be worthy or that's all they have to offer!

2) I have seen some reviews that seem suspicious and generic whether rated high or low. Sadly, I have even seen few racist ones!! Not sure even any of these ratings were based on actually watching the shows??

3) There is always some comparing the shows from other countries to Hollywood ones as if that is the "ultimate standard". International shows have become very popular in recent years so they must be doing something right. Viewers these days, at least some, are looking for something really original, unpredictable and emotionally engaging and with natural acting and great character build up/storytelling (fast or slow-burning) which is offered more in international films and TV series than the Hollywood productions. You can find reviews/comments to that effect as well.

Anyways, I definitely recommend watching this show because it has a new approach to this type of genre. South Korean filmmaking can be very innovative and this too does not lack in some originality,

Good Enough

[PennyReviews · 7/10 · 10 January 2022]

Korean Drama "The Silent Sea" is a decent attempt to create a post-apocalyptic drama with loads of suspense and thriller factors.

And for sure, the drama keeps things edgy and suspenseful till the very last minute. The viewer is thrown straight away into the action, with the earth struggling to find water to support the needs of the population, and a scientist is forced to leave the planet. And there is a nudging feeling that something is off right up when the team lands on the moon and goes into the base. That feeling is maintained all throughout the story. In addition, the mystery that is formed and solved is well constructed, well presented, and perfectly paced. It gives small cheese bites throughout the episodes, and it concludes everything nicely in the final one.

However, the drama leaves a lot of things out. The condition of the earth and the dystopian current situation is not well explained and just given as a fact rather than something that needs more exploration. The characters are also the losers of the mystery-thriller focused story. There are some flashbacks that indicate some short of past and personalities, but other than those, the characters are left as blank ones that were acting on based on their initial introductions. The CGI, moreover, were bad and almost ruined the atmosphere of the drama at times.

On the other hand, the performances were top notch, as expected by top tier actors and actresses.

So, overall, 7.5 out of 10.

Unusual and interesting plot

[mrmgarnham · 8/10 · 13 May 2022]

Korean Sci-Fi horror series. Great plot with twists and turns all over. Good acting and SFX. Written well until the last episode of the series which was disappointingly slow and unexplained. Looking forward to a 2nd series.

Kept me edge of the seat whole time

[Misss25 · 7/10 · 20 March 2022]

I don't care about bad reviews. All I know, I loved it. I watched it within a day. People are claiming it doesn't make sense but a fictional drama doesn't need to make sense, I guess :3 I thought, I would watch the next episodes in next day as I started watching it 7pm but I watched it till it ends. I regret why I watch it! Now I have to wait til the next season comes ://

Contrived garbage

[Jack_C_ · 4/10 · 29 December 2021]

It no wonder the Balhae station in this series was lost. The entire South Korean space program is plagued by second rate engineering and incompetent astronauts with IQs below 100.

A shuttle that fails on a single bolt and fails to ignite the engine for no reason, check.

Forcing an injured person to walk despite his weighing in at less than 1/5 earth gravity and can easily be carried, check.

No questions are asked of the most important person in the story until it's too late, check.

Netflix needs to put some basic quality control over script and direction. This is just Lost in Space with Koreans. Same bad writing and uninteresting one dimensional characters.

Adding human emotions to space thriller

[sanchita-m16 · 9/10 · 25 September 2022]

In similar line to other Korean drama this show is not only about a scientific extravaganza or a mere logical space thriller, but it captures the human emotions of loss and hope. A astrobiologist in search of her sister and a captain who found his daughter in a clone. A sheer urge to save dear earth. I am much surprised by the negative reviews as this show takes on a different route to a sci-fi dramma than generic. No wonder there are better fictions than this as a space thriller, but this show has not ventured into much of technical glitches, but straight towards playing with human emotions of the troup landing in the space station and going through survival phase. Twists and turns are good enough to get viewers hooked up to the last episode. A good watch for people looking for different content.

I have seen worse...

[johnnychicago-75285 · 6/10 · 25 December 2021]

It's a story that doesn't really tell anything new. The show is nevertheless quite entertaining and in places really exciting. However, the story is not quite convincing, especially since there are some rough plot-holes and logic errors, and the ending is not really satisfying either. Some effects and also the set can't always convince. But since it was not a boring story, I can give 6 stars.

Surprised at the Low Ratings - It's Good!

[fake_moviestar · 8/10 · 3 January 2022]

While The Silent Sea isn't a groundbreaking space thriller, I think it was very well done and a very entertaining watch. The moon renderings were gorgeous and realistic looking, and the story is interesting and pulls you in quickly. The cast is star-studded, with Gong Yoo at the helm in one of his most gorgeous looks yet, and most of the time he's just wearing a space suit! Acting is great across the board, the mystery of the lunar water is very cool, and the show set up for a great second season (please let us get a second season!) Personally found this to be very entertaining and a great binge watch!

Not really good, not really bad

[Almost_Soldout · 6/10 · 24 December 2021]

This year we didn't see much of new sci-fi shows. As a fan of kinda shows, I was really hungry for that. It hooked me but only because there is nothing else to watch. The show is watchable but plot itself is kinda mediocre as everything else here.

P. S. 10/10 reviews are fake as for most of the other NETFLIX shows.

Generic

[Movi3DO · 6/10 · 28 December 2021]

Probably the most thirsty show on Netflix.

A new South Korean space-travel thriller on Netflix. The cast got many familiar faces, so I was pretty excited for this show.

Sadly I think this was a generic sci-fi with a lot of predictable plot points. The more I watched, the more I was sure of what the show was heading towards. I wasn't surprised much when certain twists got revealed. Even worse, some subplots felt unnecessary and also some visual scenes didn't create that much impact.

The characters were also generic. They all got backgrounds that I have seen countless times before. Even so I don't think they have enough for me to invest in their outcomes.

Overall, the show got a unique concept, but the execution was subpar. 5.5-6/10.

Awesome!

[alexacaleigh · 10/10 · 25 August 2022]

I watched the series because of Gong Yoo and it did not dissappoint! Looking forward to season 2. I am curious what will happen on the next season it looks promising!

It's a good watch. Nothing more.

[T-xoo · 7/10 · 25 December 2021]

This a good series . It will keep you entertained and that's it. It's actually better than the last movies of this genre by Hollywood and since Interstellar.

The pace: Thanks there are only 8 episodes. Dragging it to 12 or 16 will be too much boring. Though this could have been shorter like 5 episodes max.

Plot: the story isn't bad. It's interesting and original. If you are able to ignore the fact that people supposed to be smart have a limited IQ, you can spend a good time watching this.

Character development: the main characters' stories are visited at the beginning of all the episodes. This is a good idea. Only a few times, there will be flash back.

Overall, Silent Sea has some good ideas. It speaks of the current themes that affect our planet and what could happen in the future. But the rest (survival horror) is just things that are revisited again and again which makes the series too predictable.

Written by a cliche machine

[imdb-19548 · 3/10 · 2 January 2022]

I finished this because I hoped there must be something to justify the good reviews but there isn't.

Firstly it is called science fiction but it isn't, it is fantasy wearing sciency clothing, there is no sense or intelligence in the story let alone science. That alone isn't enough to kill a show, I am happy to watch fantasy and suspend disbelief for a good story but unfortunately that was a mistake here.

The plot is so paper thin it barely qualifies as a plot, it makes no sense and is just cliche after cliche, no originality or thought at all, like a really poor action movie stretched out for hour after hour.

The ending forces in extra cliches for no sane reason making the last episode almost unwatchable.

The acting is ok, that is the only positive I can think of, but everything else is awful.

People's exact expectations wouldn't be met

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 6/10 · 29 December 2021]

Following their consecutive triumphs in a myriad of genres & styles in the recent past; Koreans have now finally decided to take the initiative into this fairly newer ground i.e. Sci-fi/Space. On a concept level, this was a terrific attempt, a fascinating idea indeed. If only the execution was able to correspond accordingly, this could have resulted in something else entirely!

The budget was sufficient as were the available resources. There were absolutely no problems whatsoever regarding how it looked and felt. The Cinematography, the Sound, the all-around production is nothing but a testimony to my aforesaid statement. Performances too satisfied the prerequisites! Albeit, the characterization leaves a much bigger room for improvement.

The same goes for the Screenplay as well. Which was, by and large, an uninteresting and uneventful affair. All thanks to its dismal pace; which should have had better consistency and nourishment. As you can probably tell by now, the primary issue isn't with the idea or the particular way it is conceptualized; it is more about the implementation, which failed to take advantage of its much broader potential in the end.

While, on one hand, I do praise the creators for their covetous and pragmatic intents; on the other hand, I don't see this getting much of a success. Let's just say, I fear, in the majority of cases, people's exact expectations wouldn't be met!

Thoroughly enjoyed!

[info-33728-30040 · 9/10 · 28 July 2022]

Wow, why so many negative reviews?

Creative, original, great cast. I read several of the negative reviews, and I don't agree with any of them. Some didn't like the series because there were too many corridors. Hilarious.

I didn't like most of the supporting characters in the beginning, but the natural flow of character development worked really well.

It's a bit of a slow burn; however, the pace fit. A second season would be great.

Excellent work all around! Bravo!

The new horizon of Korean dramas.

[unlimituser · 7/10 · 24 December 2021]

It was a great work as a new director.

It was boring in the beginning, but the immersion was higher as time went by, and the fear and tension of the set made me more focused.

There are also regrets. I'm a little dissatisfied with the overall acting directing and lines. The probability of the last episode is also a little low.

However, the cg was good and the material was fresh.

If it came out as a two-hour movie, it would have been a very well-made work.

Great series I hope they make more of these

[dogma-53668 · 9/10 · 27 December 2021]

Despite lackluster reviews, this is a good series. Well worth the watch. Even in the dubbed version it still creates suspense and intrigue. If you are a true Sci-Fi Adventure fan don't miss this. Great special effects and great story.

A little dry

[owen-watts · 7/10 · 28 February 2022]

This tense South Korean sci-fi thriller rattles along rather nicely, it can be a little melodramatic at times, the digital effects are occasionally ropey but despite the coldness there's a winningly retro space telly vibe here that I found myself drawn to. It's also nice to see some non-western sci fi foolishness for once. Not a hard recommend but certainly worth a gander for fans of the genre.

I actually liked this one! 🚀

[oscarjneklund · 8/10 · 7 July 2022]

I liked this space and moon concept and this was very well done, the science fiction image are on top here. Exciting and enjoyable Tv-show with great actors, Korea does it again! 🇰🇷

Decent SyFy Korean Show

[lakings97 · 7/10 · 29 November 2023]

The Silent Sea is the first South Korean SyFy limited series on Netflix. The story is based some time in the future when most of the water and food have been exasperated, looking for new resources humans look towards the dark areas of the moon. A group of space travelers make a dashing effort to claim the last samples from an abandoned moon station to see if it is pure enough and sustainable to replicate back on Earth. The storyline was slow and it is very similar to For All Mankind but I prefer the later. I give this series props for the stunning visuals but having water to be the antagonist was hard to swallow no pone intended. The cast included Bae Doona from Sense8, along with Gong Yoo and Lee Joon. Overall it was a good series to watch once but I can't see another season to continue the story.