Netflix’s “Wonderfuls” Tops Korea’s Series List, Ranks #6 Among Global Non-English Shows in Its First Week of Release!

In the late days of 1999, this Netflix series, 〈Wonderfuls〉​, is a superpower comedy adventure in which neighborhood nobodies who accidentally gain abilities fight back to protect the world from villains that endanger peace. Since it was released on Friday, May 15, it recorded 2.7 million views within just three days (a value calculated by dividing the total running time of the work into view time), taking the #6 spot on the Global TOP 10 list of non-English shows. It also made its presence felt worldwide as it entered the TOP 10 list across a total of 25 countries, including South Korea as well as Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, and Mexico .

〈Wonderfuls〉​ has earned high praise from both domestic and international media and viewers for its abundant fun that blends laughs and heartfelt emotion, as well as the wide-ranging chemistry created by its distinctive, character-driven ensemble. Domestic media said, “The stories in the first half, which have been steadily building up, start to come together as the show moves into the middle portion. After the so-called ‘setup’ is recovered, the series gains an even stronger sense of momentum. As a result, the bond of Team Wonderfuls and the power of the story explode with an immersive pull that carries right into the second half.” (OSEN, reporter Yeon Hwi-seon), “It’s a bit short on some things, but in the end you get completely swept up by the lovely charm of the ‘Wonderfuls’ that saves the world. The mise-en-scène that sensibly captures late-’90s/turn-of-the-century sensibilities, as well as the directing skill that brings realism into the fantasy and makes the characters stand out, is excellent—so you end up binge-watching without any boredom to the very end.” (JoyNews24, reporter Jin-young Park), and “The warm human affection contained within the relentless struggle of clumsy would-be superpowered people, the outstanding directing by Director Yoo In-sik that packages it so engagingly, and the actors’ dazzling performances that fill the screen without a moment to spare—so much so that watching all eight episodes back-to-back becomes an overwhelming experience.” (TV Daily, reporter Ha Nae-han) among other accolades.

Meanwhile, overseas media wrote, “The characters are appealing—full of solid humor and flustered because they don’t know how to use their own abilities.” (Decider), “An entertainment piece that freely jumps across genres, delivering fun moment by moment.” (South China Morning Post), “The Y2K-era setting adds rich texture—from fashion to the doomsday mood that blankets the town.” (India Today), and “This eight-episode series centers on Park Eun-bin’s lovable, quirky character. It pushes its uniquely upbeat energy all the way through and delivers unmistakable fun.” (But Why Tho?)—with nothing but continuous praise.

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The behind-the-scenes stills released together capture not only the actors’ intense passion for performance, but also the cheerful atmosphere of the production—creating a buzz all on their own. First, Park Eun-bin—smiling brightly with eyes sparkling while snow falls—brings warmth to the moment. She recalls the times when ‘Eun-chae-ni,’ who couldn’t leave Haesung-si due to a heart condition she’d been dealing with since childhood, finally gains the power of teleportation and meets freedom. Next, from the stills of ‘Chae-ni’ walking along the snowy street together with ‘Unjeong’ (Cha Eun-woo) to the scenes where Choi Dae-hun and Lim Sung-jae can be seen laughing while monitoring the monitors, you can catch a glimpse of the lively and varied chemistry among the four from Haesung-si.

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Also, in the still where he holds Kim Hae-sook tightly in a warm embrace, the tender feelings between a grandmother and her granddaughter come through clearly. In addition, Choi Dae-hun’s image with a bowl lid stuck to his hand brings his “sticky” special ability—one that sparked big laughs in the series—back to mind, making you smile again. Lim Sung-jae, captured in a still while fully immersed in acting, shows his passion for elevating the completeness of his character. In stills featuring Son Hyun-joo as Doctor Hae-won-do and Jung Yi-seo as Seok Joo-ran, you can vividly feel the overwhelming presence they brought to the story. Meanwhile, Bae Na-ra’s 모습—caught monitoring and smiling brightly—offers a contrast to the terrifying destructive power shown by ‘Kim Pal-ho,’ revealing yet another side of the actor herself and drawing attention.