chalele athaleah jaimes
Raul Herrera
The tool coming out Thursday can splinter a single Netflix account into up to five different profiles at no additional charge. The Los Gatos, Calif., company is hoping its 37.6 million worldwide subscribers will use the profiles feature because it will help Netflix's recommendation system gain a better understanding of the different tastes of viewers using the same account.
The feature initially will only be available on Netflix's own website and several other viewing outlets, including the iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Apple TV and some smart TV models. It may take up to two weeks before the profiles choice pops up in these options. Profiles should be available on the Wii console before the end of August and on Android devices before the end of the year. Netflix subscribers who use Netflix on Roku's set-top box probably won't be able to use profiles on that device until early next year.
Until now, deciphering the preferences in large households could be tricky because Netflix's system couldn't distinguish between when a 50-year-old dad was watching its Internet video service and when his 10-year-old girl might be viewing under the same account.
"If the kids have been watching a lot of 'Shaun the Sheep,' that doesn't particularly help us help you find the next gritty drama to watch after they have gone to bed," said Neil Hunt, Netflix's chief product officer.
Profiles will now make it possible for several members of the same household to click on their screen name to get customized recommendations, based on what they have previously watched and seemed to enjoy in Netflix's library of movies, old TV shows and original programs. Netflix relies on viewers' own ratings of video, as well as computer-driven analyses of the genres previously watched.
Netflix Inc. considers its recommendation system to be one of its biggest advantages over rival Internet video services run by Amazon.com Inc., Hulu.com and Redbox. As long as Netflix keeps steering its subscribers to videos that they like, the company figures customers will be less likely to cancel the service.
Even though it's often analyzed a jumbled mix of viewers, Netflix's recommendation system apparently is hitting a sweet spot more often than not. The company says about three-fourths of the video watching on its service is driven by its recommendations.
The new profiles can also be used to link to each user's Facebook account. That connection allows Netflix members see what the other people in their online social network have been watching on Netflix, too.
Many people have been introduced to Kdrama thanks to the enormous success of the South Korean series Squid Game on Netflix. Kdrama, which is the common abbreviation for Korean drama (like K-pop is short for Korean pop music), is a genre that became wildly popular during the corona crisis. Since then, the library of the best Korean series on Netflix has grown bigger and bigger.
As you may have noticed, Korean series are very different from American or European series. Romance Kdrama on Netflix is very lovely and sweet, almost fairytale-like, while Korean crime series are very bloody and violent.
Image source: Netflix
When you talk about K-drama, you're talking about A Time Called You. Get your tissues ready, because it is truly the biggest tearjerker of all the series on this list.
"Love," "time travel," and "loss" are the three terms that best describe A Time Called You. Without giving away too much, this series is about Jun-Hee who is trying to cope with the loss of her boyfriend Yeon-Jun in 2023. Somehow, she travels back in time to 1998, where she wakes up in the body of 18-year-old Min-Ju. To her great surprise, she meets Si-Heon, a boy from her school who looks exactly like her deceased boyfriend.
Image source: Netflix
Immediately after the popular Korean actor Woo Do-Hwan was discharged from military service, he began filming the thrilling Korean series called "Bloodhounds." The series is based on the webcomic "Sanyanggaedeul" by Jung Cha.
You follow the story of Kim Gun-Woo, a former marine with aspirations to become a professional boxer. He defeats an opponent named Hong Woo-Jin, also a former marine, with whom he then becomes close friends. When he discovers that his mother has fallen victim to illegal loan sharks, he is forced to leave his boxing career behind. The only way to clear his mother's debts is to work as a 'bloodhound' for the notorious loan shark Kim Myeong-Gil.
Image source: Netflix
This delightful romantic tearjerker was filmed on Jeju Island, also known as the Hawaii of South Korea. Although the village of Samdal-ri does indeed exist, the footage was shot all over Jeju. Meet the Haenyeo (literally translated: sea women). These legendary women dive up to 20 meters deep (without oxygen tanks!) in search of sea urchins, octopuses, and other sea creatures to earn a living. You can recognize them by their black diving suits and floating buoys.
Successful photographer Cho Eun-Hye (also known as Cho Sam-Dal) returns to her hometown of Samdal-ri after a major scandal in which she was accused of abuse of power. Once back in the village, she encounters her childhood love, Cho Yong-Pil - a stubborn weatherman who does everything to protect the village's elderly.
Image source: Netflix
The creators of Korean dramas are known for mixing up all kinds of genres. And this series is no different. With The King: Eternal Monarch, you can enjoy a tasty combination of history, fantasy, humour and romance.
Image source: Netflix
With Twenty-Five Twenty-One we step into the time machine and go back in time. We end up in the 90's, where having a mobile phone was still a rare thing, and you had to rush to the nearest bookstore to be the first to read the latest issue of your favourite comic. Twenty-Five Twenty-One shows us the story of a group of teenagers, and how they rapidly grow up while facing all kinds of hardships.
Na Hee-Do is a crazy, spontaneous and incredibly driven girl who wants to become the best fencer in the world. She lives alone with her mother, who has little time for her daughter due to her high-profile career.
Arranged blind dates are still quite common among South Korea's wealthy families, but Jin Young-Seo just doesn't feel like it. Therefore, she asks her best friend Shin Ha-Ri to go on the arranged blind date for her. Ha-Ri agrees and does everything she can to be rejected by the guy. But it turns out her date is the handsome Kang Tae-Moon, CEO of Go Food - the company where Ha-Ri works.
Image source: Netflix
Are you up for a more serious Kdrama? Then D.P. is definitely one to watch! D.P. is a rock-solid Korean (short) drama series that tackles painful topics such as bullying, abuse and humiliation in the Korean army.
In South Korea, all men between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve at least 18 months in the army. This Korean drama series shows the harsh reality of the Korean obligatory military service, where violent hazing and mental (and physical) abuse by superiors is sadly not uncommon.
In D.P. you follow the story of An Joon-Ho, a quiet young man who joins the D.P. team (D.P. is an abbreviation for Deserter Pursuit). Because they miss their families, but also because of terrible bullying, some soldiers leave the army prematurely.
Image source: Netflix
Do you like fairytale-like, romantic Kdrama series - with a dark twist? Then the award-winning It's Okay To Not Be Okay is definitely a must-see! In fact, it was Netflix's most popular romantic Kdrama in 2020. Sounds promising, right?
This Korean series is about Moon Gang-Tae, a selfless, insecure but sweet boy who works as a caregiver in a mental hospital. Gang-Tae lives with his autistic big brother, Moon Sang-Tae, who loves illustrating and drawing. Sang-Tae has an irrational fear of butterflies, which is the result of a traumatic event from the past. Because of this, the brothers have to move every spring - to escape these creepy insects.
Image source: Netflix
Second on the list is Itaewon Class (based on the webtoon of the same name), one of the best Korean dramas I have ever seen. I must honestly say that I delayed watching it for a long time, but eventually I dove in - and it was more than worth it! In my opinion, Park Seo-Joon portrays one of the strongest main characters ever in this series - and there have also been plenty of tears shed.
As the name suggests, this series takes place in Itaewon - one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul. Park Sae-ro-yi seeks revenge on his father's murderer, which lands him in prison. After serving his time, he discovers that his crush has received a scholarship from Jangga Group - an organization led by the murderer's father. He does everything in his power to become more successful than Jangga Group, in order to avenge his father's murder.
Image source: Netflix
Crash Landing on You is an all-time favourite of almost every Kdrama fan and should therefore not be missing from your Netflix Kdrama watch list. This romantic Korean drama is about an impossible love affair and shows the obvious difference between North and South Korea. Fun fact: the protagonists are married to each other since 2022. So the sparks you see between them in the series are real!
Successful businesswoman, and Chaebol heiress, Yoon Se-Ri wants to test her latest line of extreme sportswear. But while paragliding, she suddenly gets caught in a tornado and makes an emergency landing in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) - a buffer zone between North and South Korea that is strictly guarded by both North and South Korean armies.
Army officer Ri Jeong-Hyeok comes across her and tries to help her, but she escapes and flees back to South Korea - or so she thought. As it turns out, she ran the wrong way, ending up in a North Korean village and bumping into the officer again. It seems impossible for Se-Ri to return to South Korea, but Jeong-Hyeok does everything he can to help her.
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