black knight

Black Knight S01

2023 280 min ⭐ 5.9/10

Director: Cho Ui‑seok (who also wrote the series)

Cast: Kim Woo‑bin (as 5‑8), Song Seung‑heon (Ryu Seok), Kang Yoo‑seok (Yoon Sa‑wol), Esom (Jeong Seol‑ah)

Black Knight Season 1 (2023) is a visually bold Korean sci-fi action series set in a post-apocalyptic 2071, where Earth is ravaged by air pollution following a comet strike. Ordinary survival requires oxygen deliveries, provided by a cadre of elite couriers known as Black Knights. The story follows 5‑8 (Kim Woo‑bin), a legendary deliveryman who clandestinely aids refugees denied access to resources. When he encounters Sa‑wol (Kang Yoo‑seok), a hopeful refugee aspiring to join his ranks, and Seol‑ah (Esom), a military intelligence officer with ties to Sa‑wol, the trio begins to challenge the oppressive corporation controlling oxygen distribution, led by Ryu Seok (Song Seung‑heon), heir to the Cheonmyeong Group What to WatchWikipedia.

Directed and written by Cho Ui‑seok, the six-episode arc unfolds with high-stakes action, atmospheric tension, and a stark class critique woven into dystopian spectacle. Episodes 3 and 4 center on a dramatic courier selection tournament, blending kinetic world-building with symbolic intensity Netflix+9Reddit+9The Hindu+9.

Visually, the series embraces gritty sci-fi aesthetics: dust-choked landscapes, fog-laden urban ruins, and VFX-enhanced interludes evoke isolation and societal collapse. The cinematography and production design enhance mood, even if plot mechanics occasionally strain credibility. UPIThe Hindu.

Reception was mixed: critics rated it around 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 75% audience score—praising visuals and performances but criticizing pacing, clichés, and narrative depth Rotten Tomatoes. User feedback on Reddit highlights that while the ensemble performances and Kim Woo-bin’s presence hold appeal, many found the world-building inconsistent and character arcs underdeveloped, stating the show “had potential but was poorly executed” and often felt “boring” or “slow” Reddit+1.

Nonetheless, viewers often commend its bingeable structure and action set pieces. Some noted that it “gets better” after the early episodes and still offers intrigue through moral ambiguity and dystopian struggle Reddit+1.

Black Knight Season 1 (2023) is a visually bold Korean sci-fi action series set in a post-apocalyptic 2071, where Earth is ravaged by air pollution following a comet strike. Ordinary survival requires oxygen deliveries, provided by a cadre of elite couriers known as Black Knights. The story follows 5‑8 (Kim Woo‑bin), a legendary deliveryman who clandestinely aids refugees denied access to resources. When he encounters Sa‑wol (Kang Yoo‑seok), a hopeful refugee aspiring to join his ranks, and Seol‑ah (Esom), a military intelligence officer with ties to Sa‑wol, the trio begins to challenge the oppressive corporation controlling oxygen distribution, led by Ryu Seok (Song Seung‑heon), heir to the Cheonmyeong Group What to WatchWikipedia.

Directed and written by Cho Ui‑seok, the six-episode arc unfolds with high-stakes action, atmospheric tension, and a stark class critique woven into dystopian spectacle. Episodes 3 and 4 center on a dramatic courier selection tournament, blending kinetic world-building with symbolic intensity Netflix+9Reddit+9The Hindu+9.

Visually, the series embraces gritty sci-fi aesthetics: dust-choked landscapes, fog-laden urban ruins, and VFX-enhanced interludes evoke isolation and societal collapse. The cinematography and production design enhance mood, even if plot mechanics occasionally strain credibility. UPIThe Hindu.

Reception was mixed: critics rated it around 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 75% audience score—praising visuals and performances but criticizing pacing, clichés, and narrative depth Rotten Tomatoes. User feedback on Reddit highlights that while the ensemble performances and Kim Woo-bin’s presence hold appeal, many found the world-building inconsistent and character arcs underdeveloped, stating the show “had potential but was poorly executed” and often felt “boring” or “slow” Reddit+1.

Nonetheless, viewers often commend its bingeable structure and action set pieces. Some noted that it “gets better” after the early episodes and still offers intrigue through moral ambiguity and dystopian struggle Reddit+1.

Cast

Kim Woo‑bin (as 5‑8)

Song Seung‑heon (Ryu Seok)

Kang Yoo‑seok (Yoon Sa‑wol)

Esom (Jeong Seol‑ah)