안나라수마나라 S1

당신... 마술을 믿습니까?

Amazing, wonderful, captivating... I think I've found my new favourite Korean series!

Although this might be described as a musical, there are only two or three songs per episode, so very little of the story is actually delivered through musical numbers. I particularly enjoyed the opening song, as well as the final performance (don't miss it - it's after the end credits of the final episode). The music is incredible throughout the series, even without considering the songs - the background music is fantastic at creating atmosphere and heightening emotion in important scenes.

As well as the fantastic soundtrack, the show contains interesting and complex characters, and I was captivated by the story, which kept subverting my expectations. All these factors make it an addictive and bingeable watch; it's only six episodes long, but that is perfect for the story. I don't want to give too much away, as I think this show is more enjoyable if you go in with only a vague idea of the story.

I didn't find the language too challenging, with the exception of the parts relating to the police investigation, which uses more specialised vocabulary - this is mostly limited to the final episode, though. Having said that, there are some elements that I felt upped the difficulty a bit, such characters speaking quickly during highly-charged scenes, and some of the story being delivered through singing rather than dialogue (although the lyrics are straightforward and without many of the literary devices you might expect from songs).

I would highly recommend the series to everyone, especially those who enjoy musicals and believe in magic!

Content warnings: bullying, violence, sexual assault, murder