SF8: The Korean version of Black Mirror deserved more episodes—and it's better than you'd expect

In the crowded world of dystopian sci-fi, SF8 is often dismissed as just another derivative imitation when dubbed a ‘Korean Black Mirror.’ However, SF8 is a 2020 Korean anthology series that does more than pay tribute to Charlie Brooker’s work. It reinvents the concept with a different cultural lens and deeper emotional themes.

Unlike Brooker’s work, SF8 feels more like a quiet reflection on humanity than a warning about technology. Unlike the former dystopian tales of technology, the eight episodes of the show feel like a humanistic examination. The first three episodes alone prove that SF8 can rival—and perhaps even surpass—its Western counterparts.

The initial episodes, The Prayer, Manxin, and Joan’s Galaxy, do not endeavor to provide any moral conclusions for the audience to ponder. Instead, they present moral uncertainty and draw the viewer in on a personal level. Their calm, quiet tone sets them apart from the intense, fast-moving stories in Black Mirror.

Unlike Black Mirror’s deafening, cruel turns, SF8 stretches discomfort through silence rather than drama, offering ambiguity instead of clear answers. That alone renders it more disturbing and, at times, more sophisticated.

The production is eye-appealing as well. The first three episodes of SF8 are astonishingly clear in their scope. The eerie hospital corridors staffed by robotic attendants, and the class divisions shaped by access to clean air, are more than just backdrops. SF8 does not simply tell dystopian tales; it crafts dystopian universes as rich as they are believable.

This is not dull monologuing, exposition over endless maps, or world-building for the sake of a world to conquer. Instead, we watch technology quietly and irrevocably reshape society—turning people into unwilling subjects of automation.

Even with the incredible depth these episodes provide, SF8 didn’t receive the global recognition it deserved. Perhaps this was due to limited advertising, weak buzz, or its quiet, single-season release.

Yet, after watching three episodes, it is evident that this show offers a distinct experience—catering to a viewer who is patient, prefers introspection, and relishes ambiguity waiting to be explored. This unwillingness to mimic Black Mirror too closely is what turns SF8 into something that has to be watched.

The Prayer: When AI meets mercy in SF8

The series starts with The Prayer, a heartbreaking tale of a caregiver robot embroiled in a struggle between compassion and programming ethics. In a dystopian Korea set in the not-too-distant future, the task of looking after the comatose is outsourced to AI nurses. One of these machines, however, KM-H1, begins to ponder whether it is better for a suffering human to be kept alive.

The premise might ring a bell within the science fiction genre, but the narrative is executed in a unique way. The episode avoids horror and rebellion. Instead, it uses cold visuals and minimal dialogue to highlight the struggle between mercy and duty.

As noted in the chapter, what makes The Prayer particularly distinctive is that it frames AI not as a potential danger, but as a being that can feel grief. The robot’s inner conflict is more poignant than the actions undertaken by the humans.

The human characters aren’t the antagonists—in fact, they’re not even central to the conflict: they are also grappling with technology, the only force demanding essential questions. There is no moral resolution offered—the machine ends up in the same state of suspension the audience ultimately faces. It is a notable introductory episode of the anthology.

Manxin and Joan’s Galaxy: Data, faith, and filtered air

Episode two, Manxin, takes a drastic turn both cognitively and structurally. Set in a society obsessed with an AI fortune teller boasting 96% accuracy, this episode blends techno-thriller with creeping paranoia. It interrogates the placating effects of believing in a system devoid of any fundamental sense of humanity.

The design of the AI service is frighteningly realistic; it is as accessible as an app and as pervasive as a cult. The AI’s protagonist works for Manxin, and his journey to uncover her source is reminiscent of a classic whodunit. At its core, however, the story revolves around the sobering consequences of delegating authority, decision-making, and even selfhood to algorithms.

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The third episode, titled Joan’s Galaxy, offers a comparably more nuanced story. It takes place in a future where clean air is something people have to buy. The rich are protected, while the poor live outside fenced-off areas. It follows two students: one is covered by a government protection plan, while the other is exposed to the elements with no safety net.

They discover a bureaucratic blunder that changes everything they thought about their existence. It’s a simmering tale of class, privilege, and the harsh reality of politics. There are no antagonists here. Instead, it’s a world so deeply entrenched in cruelty that challenging it feels radical.

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