Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark K-fantasy series is violent and compelling.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
What's the Story?
BULGASAL: IMMORTAL SOULS is a South Korean fantasy series about two people fighting to stop an ancient curse. Six hundred years ago Dan Hwal (Lee Jin-wook) was cursed at birth, and as an adult is transformed into a bulgasal, a.k.a. an immortal that survives on human blood, while heroically fighting monsters as a soldier. Now he's driven by revenge as he seeks to reclaim his soul. Meanwhile, Min Sang-Woon (Kwon Na Ra) is a former bulgasal who has lost her immortality, and now secretly lives her life as a human. Both their lives will change when their paths intertwine.
Is It Any Good?
The myth-based K-fantasy, available subtitled in English, offers an intense narrative that is easy to get caught up in. Its artistic cinematic style helps create the dark but compelling world in which monsters exist and immortal beings continue to haunt. While there are cultural elements that may be lost on those unfamiliar with South Korean culture or tradition, there are still enough universal themes that make it appealing to widespread audiences. If you like this storytelling genre, Bulgasal: Immortal Souls is worth investing in.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fantasy dramas. Why are TV series and movies with mythical creatures, monsters, and other fantastical elements that don't exist in real life appealing to viewers? How much of the subject matter is rooted in cultural folklore?
How do the creators of Bulgasal: Immortal Souls balance the series' use of South Korean cultural elements and the use of narrative devices that are more familiar to broader audiences? Are they successful?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 18, 2021
- Cast: Lee Jin-wook , Kwon Na Ra
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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