Unicorn

Name: Unicorn
Genre: K-drama
Rating: 11

(유니콘) 2022 Coupang Play

A satirical look at the world of tech startups. Sort of an absurdist Korean Silicon Valley. 대박!

K-Drama Bingo Score

Using the Modern K-Drama set

Running commentary

Even if this scored no other points, it would rank as one of my favorite K-dramas. Over-the-top, absurdist, and with brilliant characters, Unicorn is an under-appreciated gem.

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Vehicular tragedy
(2 pt)
Notes
Someone is/was hit by a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle
S01E14
Saving the best for last
Bullying
(1 pt)
Notes
Be Best, Korea
S01E06
Jay is forced to spy on Maccom for Magenta
Cartoony FX
(1 pt)
Notes
Animal or cartoon visual and sound effects to reinforce behavior or mood
S01E08
Money money money
Crushing Debt
(1 pt)
Notes
Characters are motivated by their debt (or a family member's), including the threat of foreclosure

S01
The entire company is constantly on the verge of bankruptcy
Memorial service
(1 pt)
Notes
Funerals and memorial services
S01E10
Charles missed his wife's funeral
Piggyback
(1 pt)
Notes
Someone gives someone else a piggyback ride
S01E14
Immediately following a vehicular tragedy…
Shamans & Talismans
(1 pt)
Notes
Yellow paper talismans, written in calligraphic red ink; visits to a shaman for fortune-telling or body transfers

S01E02
Steve visits a shaman for advice
Thumbs up
(1 pt)
Notes
Two thumbs up for "Good job!"
S01E09
Carol approves
Wrist grab
(1 pt)
Notes
Dramatically grabbing someone by the wrist as they walk away
한국어학교 (Language lessons)
(1 pt)
Notes
Specifically linguistic wordplay, discussions about spelling, pronunciation, or Chinese root words
S01E01
Tech terms and English expressions are flaunted in the office, with on-screen explainers

Unmatched Bingo Spaces

(Dis)possession
Ghosts, spirits inhabiting bodies, or body- or identity-swapping
Childhood friends forgotten
Characters knew, or at least encountered, each other in childhood, but somehow forgot
Chicken & Beer
치맥, anyone?
Cramped quarters
Sleeping in a repurposed closet, or on a balcony, or in insane tiny student housing
Finger hearts
Any use of finger hearts by a character
Korean Standoff
Two principal characters have a serious, sometimes emotionally confrontational, conversation while standing at least 1m apart
Middle-of-the-Road Soliliquy
Verbal musings on deep existential questions and/or tragicomic situations while in the middle of the street
Pinky swear
Two characters doing a pinky swear

Touching thumbs at the end is not a thing in America (based on my terrible polling), so that gets an easy bonus point for any wannabe K-drama.
Rumble tummy
Audible stomach rumbling to indicate hunger
Son Hyeung Min
Mentions of Son Hyeung Min, or staying up to watch Tottenham Hotspur play
The Playground
Any scene taking place in a neighborhood playground
강한나 (Kang Han-Na)
The presence of Kang Han-Na makes everything at least 1 point better
내 친구 ("My friend…")
A character tells a story about "My friend" that is actually about themselves