It goes without saying that when it comes to survival shows, Squid Game tops the list. But there is actually one Kdrama that comes pretty close. Bargain Kdrama is the latest survival series to be released. But what is the show about?
If you're someone who's fond of watching survival shows, Bargain just might interest you. It's a thriller series that took the award as the first Kdrama to win Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival's Canneseries in 2023.
Some have even pointed out that the series has the potential to be as big as Squid Game (or even bigger). It is even referred to as "more clever and complex" than Squid Game. So what is Bargain Kdrama about?
What is Bargain K-Drama About?
The official synopsis of Bargain Kdrama reads:
"In Bargain, men are lured to a remote hotel under the guise of sexual encounters only to be caught in a trafficking ring where their organs are auctioned off to the highest bidder. After a catastrophic earthquake, the victims, traffickers and buyers all are trapped inside the crumbling building. Cut off from the outside world, they must fight to survive the aftermath at any cost."
The series follows Noh Hyung-soo (played by Jin Seon-kyu) who is led to believe he is meeting a high school student for an intimate encounter at a remote hotel up in the mountains.
Unfortunately for him, Park Joo-young (played by Jeon Jong-seo) is actually part of a group of traffickers who sell human organs to the highest bidder. Hyung-soo finds himself strapped to a gurney as strangers start bidding on his kidneys.
Luckily for him, a strong earthquake hits and crumbles the building. This gives him another shot to escape from those who would kill for his organs.
Who Stars in Bargain K-Drama?
Avid fans of The Uncanny Counter 2 will be pleased to see Jin Seon-kyu in Bargain. This time around, he stars as the lead.
But is he exactly someone who's a good character worthy for viewers to root for? Well, he squandered that opportunity the moment he stepped into the hotel and was seduced by a younger woman.
This leads us to the next question, is Jeon Jong-seo's Park Joo-young character any better than Hyung-soo?
How about the highest bidder of Hyung-soo's first kidney, Geuk-ryul (played by Chang Ryul), who is desperate to obtain a healthy kidney for his dying father?
It's interesting to see how fans will play favorite with the characters of Bargain since none of them are exactly innocent. But who is the lesser evil out of the group?
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The cast of Bargain includes the following:
- Jin Seon-kyu as Noh Hyung-soo
- Jeon Jong-seo as Park Joo-young
- Chang Ryul as Geuk-ryul
- Park Hyoung-soo as Hee Sook
- Jung In-gyeom
- Shin Jae Hwi as Chang Sun
How Many Episodes Are in Bargain K-Drama?
Bargain is considered a mini-series since it only has six episodes. Each episode runs around 35 minutes, which is a bit short for usual shows. But each episode will keep you on the edge of your seat.
There is a cliffhanger at the end, which will make you wish for a second season to get announced. But looking at Squid Game's example, it could be years before a second season happens.
You can watch all episodes of Bargain on Paramount+.
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