Song of the Bandits RISES 4 spots to #2 on Netflix most-watched non-English TV series chart
Michelle Topham 
Song of the Bandits gained even more popularity on Netflix last week
The new Korean action period drama Song of the Bandits was still one of the most popular non-English TV series on Netflix last week.
According to the latest figures from the streaming platform, Song of the Bandits was the #2 most-watched non-English TV series on Netflix for the period September 25th to October 1st, 2023, and is in the Top 10 in 26 countries.
That is an increase of four spots after the Kim Nam Gil-led drama ranked #6 on the previous week’s list, with 22.7 million hours watched last week and 2.6 million views.
Meaning most people who watched it binge-watched the entire series in just a few days.
And not remotely a surprise to me, as I binge-watched the entire series on my own Netflix account last week, then recommended it to my parents with whom I binge-watched it through a second time.
So yes, I watched about 20 hours of the drama last week myself.
What is Song of the Bandits?
The drama takes place during the Joseon period of South Korean history and right after, during a decades-long period of time when Korea (Joseon) was invaded and ruled over by the Japanese.
A brutal people who treated the Koreans horifically, stripping them of their history, their culture, their language, their traditions and their natural resources, and murdering well over a million of them while subjugating Korean women and using them as “comfort women” for Japanese soldiers and military and civic officials.
The phenomenal Korean drama follows a group of “bandits” who have fled from the brutal Japanese to Gando (now modern day Yanbian, and part of China) and who band together to try to liberate Korea from the Japanese.
And no, it isn’t depressing in the slightest, but more hopeful than anything and, in places, very funny.
Song of the Bandits stars Kim Nam Gil, Seohyun, Yoo Jae myung, Lee Hyun wook, and Lee Ho Jung.
The drama features superb acting from every single actor, but especially the main cast, the plot is gripping, the action scenes are wonderfully shot with some amazing stunt work, and with fast-paced action throughout.
As someone who watches a helluva lot of non-English TV shows on Netflix, and isn’t usually a huge fan of western-style dramas, I can absolutely guarantee Song of the Bandits is currently one of the best shows on the streaming platform.
Non-English or otherwise.
Now come on Netflix, pull your finger out, give Song of the Bandits the attention and promotion you should have given it when it released if you weren’t so apathetic, and then give us a second season.
As this drama deserves it more than any other streaming right now.
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