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India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
S Line review: A bold and riveting K-drama premise that trips over its own threads
In 'S Line', South Korea delivers yet another genre-bending series that starts off with a bold, provocative concept but ultimately crumbles under its own show opens with a fascinating premise: A mysterious red line connecting people to their sexual partners becomes visible to a select few. In the show, we first get introduced to it from the prism of a high school student, Sin Hyeon Heup (Arin), who has seen these lines since birth. However, what seemed like a superpower held by one individual, is no longer JUST hers. A pair of glasses threatens to democratise the ability, unleashing chaos as secrets unravel and social order teeters. It's the kind of high-concept setup that begs for layered world-building and smart moral a brief moment, 'S Line' offers exactly that. The introduction is intriguing. Director Jooyoung Ahn leans into eerie, saturated hues that match the story's surreal tone. Han Ji Uk, the detective played by Lee Soo Hyuk, seems primed to lead the viewer through a taut mystery. Arin's portrayal of the shut-in high schooler is watchable, if a bit too restrained. There's even a flicker of dark social commentary, a rape case that's almost dismissed due to a misunderstanding of the red lines, and a chilling family revelation that jolts the plot into serious territory. But then, it all comes undone with the mysterious high school teacher played by Lee Da-hee unravelling her secrets in the last of diving deeper into the implications of the S-line phenomenon or pursuing its own hinted serial killer thread, the show veers off into fragmented portrayals. Characters come and go. The narrative devolves into an anthology of loosely connected shock stories, few of which feel meaningful. By episode five, the pacing buckles, and the finale leans so hard into its fantastical elements, converting this dark social commentary into a cult-like setting, that it feels both rushed and tonally inconsistent. The cult-like, dystopian ending, in particular, feels like a bizarre genre leap that wasn't needed. There's also a lack of a strong emotional anchor. Neither the socially-inept teen nor the sexually active detective feels like a protagonist we want to follow for multiple seasons. And while the show toys with big ideas like privacy, sexual politics, trauma, it often reduces them to shallow plot devices instead of examining them with music of the show elevates the watching experience. No wonder it won the Best Music Awards at 8th Cannes International Series Festival in 2025.'S Line' was brimming with potential. With more narrative focus, a clear genre direction, and grounded character work, it could have joined the ranks of Korea's most daring dramas. Instead, it ends up as a well-shot, occasionally disturbing cautionary tale, not about society, but about what happens when high-concept storytelling isn't matched by high-calibre writing.'S Line' is a compelling idea tied down by poor execution. It has a total of 6 episodes.- Ends2.5 out of 5 stars to S Line. Must Watch
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
I rewatched Train to Busan a decade later, and it broke me in new ways
It's been almost 10 years since the action-horror film, Train to Busan, directed by Yeon Sang Ho, changed how the world saw Korean entertainment industry. Back then, zombies were still a foreign concept for most. But with this film that hit like a freight train, Gong Yoo, Choi Woo Shik, and the rest were building legacies. The film used the undead as the catalyst to tear off the layers of fake civility and showed people for who they really are. It took me a decade and an adult lens to see it wasn't about the zombies at all. It was a bold, fearless take on class, privilege, broken families, and capitalism, the real monsters we live with. This was probably the core theme of Train to Busan. Seok Woo, the protagonist, is a workaholic caught deep in a world of extreme individualism. All that matters to him is climbing the ladder, securing his financial success, and making sure his daughter is safe, even if that means ignoring everyone else. His character is a product of South Korea's cutthroat work culture that puts profit way above human connection. The way he's emotionally shut off from his daughter in the beginning shows exactly how people today are too tied up in their own grind to even spare a moment for family, and by the time they wake up, it's already too late. The outbreak feels like both a consequence (hinted through his company's link to the virus) and a metaphor for a system that's been eating itself from the inside out. Also read: S Line review: K-Drama that's freaking viewers out with its dark take on shame and surveillance Train to Busan subtly, and at times, not so subtly, throws brutal punches at social hierarchies. Yong Suk, played by Choi Woo Shik, stands in for everything rotten in the system: the power, the entitlement, the blind belief that status alone will save him, no matter what. What he doesn't get is that the end doesn't care who you are. He's ready to sacrifice anyone he sees as beneath him. The way he turns the 'safe' passengers against others, gets them to throw people out, shows exactly how fear breeds prejudice, and how fast class lines get drawn when survival's on the line. The early news coverage downplays the outbreak even as chaos breaks loose, and the overwhelmed, eventually zombified military shows how the public blindly puts its faith in the government and media, only to be misled at every turn. The lack of real leadership outside the train shows a complete breakdown of trust in authority. The government keeps assuring people, but it means nothing. In the end, everyone's left to fend for themselves. Ten years later, after watching it all play out in real life, whether it was during a pandemic, social unrest, or political polarisation, we get it. Also read: Trigger Ending Explained: Does Kim Nam Gil's Netflix thriller have a happy ending and who survives the rampage of gunplay? After all, Train to Busan's core was always about the love and sacrifice our parents make. I was a teenager when I first watched it, and back then, I didn't really get that part. But rewatching it now, I couldn't hold back the tears. The bond between Seok Woo and Su An is the emotional anchor. Train to Busan shows how deep a parent's love runs, and how far they'll go, even if it means sacrificing themselves so their child can live. Now that I've grown older and had real conversations with my parents, I get it. I understand why Seok Woo did what he did in the end, why he let go, knowing he'd never see his daughter again, just to make sure she survives. I was sobbing. It felt like, for the first time, I could see things through my parents' perspective. And when Su An sang that song, the same one she once couldn't finish because her dad was never around, now she sings it because there's no one left. No one else is going to help her. She sings it to survive. To not get shot by the soldiers.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Will there be S Line Season 2? Lee Soo Hyuk's K-drama leaves fans disappointed with its 'comical' ending: 'Why make it dystopian?'
The hit Korean drama S Line has officially wrapped up its six-episode run, leaving behind a plethora of reactions, theories, and questions. Starring Lee Soo Hyuk, Lee Da Hee, and Arin, the series drew attention for its provocative concept and dark fantasy tone. With elements of satire, mystery, and psychological horror, S Line dove deep into how people hide, fear, or succumb to their desires. What is S Line really about? The story revolves around Sin Hyeon Hop (Arin), a young girl born with the ability to see 'S-lines,' glowing red threads that connect individuals who have been sexually involved. After a traumatic past and the murder of her father, she lives in isolation until others gain the same ability through mysterious glasses. As more people begin to see the lines, hidden secrets surface, leading to chaos across her high school, with her teacher Lee Gyu Jin (Lee Da Hee) hiding a mysterious past. As greed consumes the wearers, she teams up with Detective Han Ji Uk (Lee Soo Hyuk) to halt this crisis and find the person behind it. S Line ending decode: A cycle that never truly ends The finale of S Line takes a turn many didn't see coming. In the final episode, Sin Hyeon Hop confronts Lee Gyu Jin, the woman who masterminded the distribution of the glasses and manipulated people's desires. Gyu Jin represents the embodiment of 'bad desires'—not just temptation, but the kind that pulls people into irreversible choices. Dressed like an angel in the real world, she lured individuals into surrendering their self-control under the guise of truth and transparency. The climax unfolds on a rooftop where Sin Hyeon Hop fatally stabs Gyu Jin. But Gyu Jin's death isn't a clean ending—it becomes a trigger. Her blood rises into the air, transforms into red light, and bursts into glowing S-lines visible to the entire world. What was once a private curse becomes a universal revelation. This shift reveals the show's core message: people often fear their past, but true collapse begins when they cannot accept it. The red lines, once symbolic of shame, now become a mirror forcing society to confront the hidden. Characters who couldn't come to terms with their own histories—like the teachers and the idol trainee—spiralled into violence, guilt, or denial. Meanwhile, those who did, like the detective, managed to remain in control. Sin Hyeon Hop's arc also reflects this transformation. For most of the show, she believed she was responsible for her father's death, but her mother's confession changed everything. Her journey ends with her appearing emotionally stable, yet in the final moments, she hears Gyu Jin's voice again, implying that desire, guilt, and temptation never fully die. The return of a new red thread in her vision suggests that even if one source is gone, another always lurks within. Desires can't be erased. They can only be recognised, resisted, or accepted. Fans' reactions: 'Wasted potential' The bold concept of the drama, paired with its unique fantasy element, had fans raving early on. The ability to see red lines revealing past sexual encounters was unlike anything K-drama viewers had seen before. However, by the finale, many felt the story lost its grip. While the emotional depth and moral dilemmas were compelling, several viewers believed the plot would have been stronger had it focused more on the "killer line" narrative rather than expanding into a full-blown S Line universe. Some users expressed that the final scenes felt unexpectedly comical, undercutting the tension that had built up over the episodes. There was also a shared sentiment that the show introduced too many subplots that were never fully resolved. Over on the K-drama community on Reddit, one fan wrote, "What was the cult/dystopian ahh ending? Extremely disappointing. The concept of the S line had such great potential. The drama was such a wasted potential. They could have just gone with the serial killer storyline." Another fan highlighted, "I could accept that they leaned a bit too much into the fantasy element in the last episode, but it felt too rushed and too open-ended for my taste. Especially after that 5th episode. I would consider this as a wasted opportunity." "The concept is so cool they could've made many interesting seasons. But no, they wasted it," a third fan complained. "I really liked the drama in the beginning, but what was that ending? Like seriously, after finishing the drama, I thought it was such a bummer. It could've been much better. Hated the ending and didn't expect it to end this way," one mentioned. Check out more comments in the Reddit thread below: Will there be S Line season 2? Though the ending provided emotional closure for several characters, it also introduced enough ambiguity to leave the door open for another season. The reappearance of the S-line, paired with Gyu Jin's lingering voice, hints that the curse—or perhaps the consciousness behind it—is far from over. Fans are already speculating on potential new storylines, including deeper dives into the origin of the glasses or a broader exploration of how the S-line affects society on a mass scale. As of now, there's been no official confirmation about a second season. But with the series gaining popularity both domestically and internationally, the chances for S Line Season 2 remain strong. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
India Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
S Line could just be the most genius K-Drama of 2025. Because sex and secrets!
If you're the type who's always up for a K-drama that messes with your mind while making you question your morals (and, occasionally, your sanity), 'S Line' should be firmly on your radar. There are no slow-motion piggyback rides or love triangles fuelled by shared umbrellas. Instead, this one kicks open the door with a premise so wildly original, it'll have your brain short-circuiting before the opening credits are the heart of 'S Line' is a provocative concept. In this world, the sexual relationships between people are exposed as literal red lines. Yes, visible to the naked eye. Imagine walking down the street and being able to see who's been intimate with whom. You won't need a Coldplay concert and a kiss cam to find out what's going on with the CEO and the Head of HR. You'll just need a pair of supernatural glasses and a taste for scandalous tea. It's a rather oddball take on the Red String Theory. For those unversed, the Red String Theory suggests that an invisible red thread connects soulmates, binding them together regardless of time, place, or circumstance. Now, onto the plot. This isn't just shock value for the sake of it, though. The drama dives deep into the chaos that would follow if our most intimate secrets were laid bare shame, judgment, societal collapse (and probably a few very tense family dinners). It's a razor-sharp commentary on privacy, perception, and how fragile society's moral compass really is when the curtains get pulled if you're thinking, 'Okay, cool idea, but does it deliver?' Oh, absolutely. 'S Line' doesn't just throw its characters into a voyeuristic nightmare and call it a day, it wraps this world in a gripping murder mystery. Someone's dead. The truth is buried. And that mysterious red string of connection? That might just be the key. It's suspense with teeth, every episode drips with tension, slowly unravelling a conspiracy that's both personal and cast? Nothing short of magnetic. Lee Soo-hyuk (whom you might know from 'Tomorrow') leads with his trademark icy elegance, turning in one of his most layered performances to date. Lee Da-hee (from 'The Divorce Insurance') brings a fierce vulnerability, while K-pop group Oh My Girl's Arin surprises with emotional range that proves she's no longer just the rookie on the scene. Each character feels raw, real, and heartbreakingly human, even when they're tangled in a reality that's anything in case you needed more convincing, 'S Line' has already made waves internationally, winning Best Music at the Cannes International Series Festival and sparking online buzz before it even dropped. It's bold, it's stylish, and it's got the kind of concept that makes you question whether your phone camera is watching you a little too a world where social media already blurs the line between public and private, 'S Line' asks what if that line wasn't just blurred, it was visible to everyone? If you're looking for something sleek, unsettling, and thought-provoking, 'S Line' isn't just worth watching, it's impossible to ignore. You can watch the show on Dailymotion.- Ends
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
S Line free watch episode 1 to 6: Check out streaming platforms for all episodes of Lee Soo-hyuk's hit K-drama
S Line free watch episode 1 to 6: S Line is currently dominating everyone's social media feed, thanks to the viral red-line memes popping up everywhere. With just six episodes, the series wrapped up on July 25. The hit K-drama - starring Lee Soo Hyuk, Lee Da Hee, A Rin, and Lee Eun Saem - has surely ignited everyone's online obsession. So whether you're in the U.S., Canada, or tuning in from abroad, here's a full breakdown of where to watch all the episodes form1 to 6, where to stream it, and how to watch it without spending a dime (and legally). S Line: Has the hit K-drama come to an end? The final 2 chapters of the dark Korean fantasy thriller came to an end of July 25, 2025. Despite having just 6 episodes, the fan-favourite series still has got everyone talking and spreading memes surrounding the red lines popping out of human heads. Where is S Line streaming? In South Korea, S Line is exclusively streaming on Wavve. This short K-drama which released on July 11 has come to an end on July 25, 2025. Here's what you need to know: Wavve subscription for S Line costs $8/month When was S Line finale? The finale of S Line aired on Friday, July 25, 2025 11:00 PM KST, which means viewers in other time zones saw the finale at approximately 8:00 AM GMT in the UK and 7:30 AM IST in India on the same day. How to watch the S Line for free if you are in the US? If you're in the USA and want to watch the Korean drama S Line, your primary option is Wavve, the official streaming platform for the series. Accessing the show will likely require a paid subscription, and due to regional restrictions, you may also need to use a VPN. Here's a breakdown of your options: Wavve (Official Source): S Line is available exclusively on Wavve. Watching it through this platform ensures you're accessing the official release. A Wavve subscription is most likely necessary to view the episodes. VPN Use: Since Wavve may be geo-blocked outside South Korea, you might need a VPN to bypass region restrictions. Services like PureVPN can help with this. How to watch the S Line finale for free if you are in Canada? If you're in Canada and looking to watch the trending Korean drama S Line, your best bet is to explore both official streaming services and VPN-supported options, as the show may not be directly accessible on local platforms. Wavve: As the drama's original distributor, Wavve is the most reliable source. However, it's a South Korea-based platform and typically requires a subscription. Kocowa and Viki: These platforms often license popular Korean dramas for North American audiences. Search for S Line there, as availability may vary. Try using a VPN: If S Line isn't available on Canadian services, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help you access it through platforms that stream it in other regions. Connect to a U.S. or South Korean server using a trusted VPN like NordVPN or Surfshark. Once connected, visit Wavve or other geo-restricted platforms where the drama is officially available. If you're outside the U.S. and Canada If S Line isn't showing up on your usual streaming platforms, there are still ways to watch it - both through official sources and alternative methods. Here's what to know: Use a VPN to unlock official streams: The drama is available on select platforms that may be restricted based on your location. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) lets you bypass these limitations by masking your location. Choose a reliable VPN provider such as NordVPN or Surfshark. Connect to a region where the show is officially available. Once connected, head to platforms like Wavve, the official distributor, to watch the series. Explore streaming services known for K-dramas: In addition to Wavve, you can check other popular platforms that specialize in Korean content. Availability may vary depending on licensing deals, so search across a few services. Be cautious with unofficial sources: Some viewers turn to third-party apps or websites to find S Line. While these may offer the episodes, they often lack proper licensing and can pose risks such as malware, intrusive ads, or poor video quality. Use discretion, and prioritize trusted platforms whenever possible. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
