If, obviously, Korean cinema is experiencing a boom that finally makes it visible, and especially recognized around the world, it is undeniable that a science fiction series in the wake can only arouse our curiosity. Would it be as good as… ? But, if the first step is as hesitant as the one given on the moon, we quickly let ourselves be embarked in this frozen and scary universe. The silent sea is based on the short film "The Sea of Tranquility" ("Koyoui Bada") directed by Choi Hang-Yong in 2014. He is also the director of the Korean drama distributed by Netflix.
The story
In a sinister future, the earth is ravaged by the depletion of essential resources. Water scarcity is hitting the entire planet and the earth is sinking into famine and disease. An elite team is recruited to retrieve a mysterious sample from an abandoned research base on the moon. They will have to deal with the consequences of an accident that occurred five years ago.
Technical fact sheet
Drama: The Silent Sea (English title) / The Sea of Tranquility (literal title) Revised novelization: Goyoui Bada Hangul: 바다 Director: Choi Hang Yong Writer: Park Eun-Kyo Producer: Jung Woo-Sung Network: Netflix Episodes: 8 Release date: December 24, 2021 Language: Korean Country: South Korea
distribution
Bae Doo-na as Song Ji-An Gong Yoo as Han Yoon-Jae Lee Joon as Ryu Tae-Seok Kim Sun-Young as Hong Ga-Young Lee Moo-Saeng as Gong so-Hyuk Lee Sung-wook Choi Hee-Jin Heo Sung-tae
Impressions
The earth sinks into chaos and there is no more water. It is therefore necessary to look for it elsewhere. So far, nothing new. The atmosphere, very calm from the beginning, already places us in what will be the atmosphere of the whole drama. Very quickly, the action evolves in this dense and incredibly silent calm that is lunar space. The dark blue, black and gray colors will never leave us. We can feel the cold, the precariousness of the situation and that's when we remember the title. The Sea of Tranquility is a lunar sea that became famous since, it is on the basis of Tranquility that landed the Eagle, the lunar module of the American Apollo 11 mission, on July 20, 1969. Located on the face of the Moon facing the Earth, it is actually a vast plain of basalt (volcanic rock). 
The moon and the space base, reproduced with 5 decorations in a space of about 9000m², gave a very realistic result. We could say that visual effects (VFX) and computer graphics work (CG) aim to show us the evolution of Korean science fiction films after Space Sweepers, also made in 2021. So, now that the context is well edified, we can move on and focus on the story. If we are past a certain age, we will remember that period when science fiction movies were all about evil aliens who wanted to take possession of the unfortunate astronauts. "Alien, the eighth passenger" will have marked an era. The subject has often been imitated with catastrophic clumsiness. (Going up against Ridley Scott is not given to everyone.) It is true that once we have exploited the ugly critter that parasitizes human beings and likes to make its appearance demolishing thorax, there is not much left to exploit. We can change places, critters and characters (the latter being mostly eaten, dragged then puffed, chopped then puffed, strangled then puffed, just to justify the sequels…), but the base remains the same and ends up boring.
Virus, this vicious who does not let go of the case
Right now, unfortunately, we are in an era that could be called science fiction. We are living in a Stephen King scenario. So of course, it's no wonder viruses have replaced aliens. The subject had already been broached, but in a more isolated way. The action was concentrated in a village, in a country and it was often the cowboys, sorry, the Americans who came to save the planet. The Silent Sea presents us with several subjects with such finesse and aesthetics, that we can only watch, amazed, the sequence of events. Even the credits are beautiful. Drowning when there is no water must be done. Above all, you have to think about it. Above all, it is necessary to imagine it, to conceive it perfectly so that the idea remains firm and does not fall into the meanders of nullity. All these amazing elements will make us forgive or rather, overlook some similarities to other films (there is always someone who knows things that others do not know. Or who must make the mission succeed even if everyone dies. Or who will always know what to do…).
Actors
Yoo Gong
Any Korean film lover will watch a movie or drama as soon as they become aware of Gong Yoo's presence in the cast. We will not even ask the question. The rest, the script, the genre, the director (alas) come next. Because Gong Yoo is the actor par excellence and he proves it to us whenever he has the chance. Asked at a press conference why he appeared in The Silent Sea, he replied: "I accepted the role because I thought I could contribute a little bit to the expansion of the genre while I was worried about the diversity of Korean works." (Source). Once again, he gets involved in his role, he becomes the character. His charisma is felt even inside his suit (8 kg, anyway). This may not remain the role of his life because, he could fish slightly of a fairly linear performance. The way of acting imposed on each actor, is obviously part of the gravity sought. At all times, we are in this heavy and dense atmosphere.
Bae Doo-na
Bae Doo-na, Air Doll, Cloud Atlas, Sense8, Kingdom… was the first to appear in the credits. With these two monsters of the Korean scene (plus the marketing stunt: two actors from the Squid Game series), it was really impossible to miss this series. Maybe not the role of his life either but, as well as Gong Yoo, and the rest of the actors, moreover, this uniform and flat way of playing adapts absolutely to this sea as calm as it is dangerous. No Mel Gibson completely unleashed in his hour of science fiction glory, no Sigourney Weaver making friends with a space monster (whatever…), but the intensity is the same, perhaps deeper. The rest of the cast is as exceptional as the team of characters sent to the moon. With big successes to their credit, they prove once again their ability to adapt to this new context and not very explored genre that is science fiction in South Korea. We salute the performance of Kim Si-A, a 14-year-old actress seen in The Closet and Ashfall, among others. 
Production
Woo-Sung Jung produces The silent sea (this is his second production after the film 'Don't Forget Me', 2016). Fascinated by the project, he did not skimp on expenses. He confirms his passion for creation and he will manage, by his taste for detail, to make us live in this unknown and cold territory that can evoke the moon. To honor his efforts and moreover, all those who participated in this project, it is very important not to fall into the comparison of American films in which we have bathed so far. This Korean-style science fiction drama presents itself to the world without complexes, with an assurance that will leave us perplexed.
End
South Korea still has efforts to make so that the end of their films or dramas is sometimes less open, more understandable. These endings that could make us believe that we have just seen the introduction and that the main subject will arrive in another season. Or not. It is always very interesting to witness a slightly vague or radical conclusion that leaves room for our imagination, unfortunately often quite limited. As in Japanese cinema, what counts is the story, the action in the present. Like a random photo. The most important thing is not the before or after, but what happens now. This kind of style is inherent in Asian cinema and sometimes, just sometimes, a slightly clearer, more finished ending would be welcome. 
