Sisyphus: The Myth

★★★☆☆ 6.9/10
📅 2021 📺 16 episodes ✅ Completed 👁️ 41 views

Advertisements

Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Sisyphus: The Myth, which has polarized Netflix audiences with its ambitious blend of time travel, sci-fi action, and high-stakes romance that either captivates viewers with its complex mythology or leaves them questioning the endless plot twists.

Sisyphus: The Myth premiered on Netflix on February 17, 2021, concluding on April 8, 2021. The series features 16 episodes, each running approximately 80 minutes. This Korean sci-fi thriller delivers a narrative that combines time travel with conspiracy elements, creating a viewing experience that explores themes of fate, sacrifice, love transcending time, and the consequences of trying to change destiny.

The series takes its inspiration from the Greek myth of Sisyphus, who was condemned to push a boulder up a mountain for eternity, only to watch it roll back down each time. Directed by Jin Hyuk and starring powerhouse actors Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye, Sisyphus: The Myth presents a world where time travel exists but comes with devastating consequences. What begins as a mysterious plane incident quickly evolves into an epic battle between those trying to prevent a dystopian future and those working to ensure it happens.

When Genius Meets Time Traveler

Sisyphus: The Myth follows Han Tae-sul, a brilliant engineer and co-founder of a tech company, who becomes entangled in dangerous conspiracies after surviving a mysterious plane crash, only to encounter Kang Seo-hae, a warrior from the future who has traveled back in time to save him and prevent an apocalyptic war. The series begins with Tae-sul questioning his own sanity as increasingly impossible events occur around him, from people who shouldn’t exist to technology that hasn’t been invented yet.

The genius of the premise lies in how it uses time travel not as a simple plot device, but as a complex web of cause and effect that traps characters in cycles of trying to change the past while unknowingly ensuring the future they’re trying to prevent. The mythological reference becomes literal as characters find themselves pushing the same boulder up the same mountain, hoping this time will be different.

Han Tae-sul’s Journey from Skeptic to Believer

Cho Seung-woo delivers a compelling performance as Han Tae-sul, a character whose transformation from a rational engineer to someone willing to accept impossible realities forms the series’ intellectual foundation. His portrayal captures the frustration of someone whose logical worldview is constantly challenged by increasingly bizarre circumstances. Tae-sul’s genius becomes both his greatest asset and his biggest obstacle as he struggles to solve problems that may be unsolvable.

What makes Tae-sul’s character particularly engaging is how Cho Seung-woo shows his evolution from someone who believes he can engineer solutions to any problem to someone who must accept that some things are beyond human control, even for the most brilliant minds.

Kang Seo-hae’s Desperate Mission Across Time

Park Shin-hye brings fierce determination and emotional depth to Kang Seo-hae, a warrior from a dystopian future who has traveled back in time to save the man she believes holds the key to preventing humanity’s destruction. Her character represents hope, sacrifice, and the willingness to give up everything for a chance to save the people you love, even if they don’t understand why they need saving.

Seo-hae’s relationship with Tae-sul becomes the emotional anchor of the series, as she must convince him to trust her while hiding the full truth about their connection and the stakes of their mission. Park Shin-hye’s performance captures both the warrior’s strength and the vulnerability of someone carrying the weight of the future on her shoulders.

When the Future Becomes Inevitable

The series reaches its most intense moments when the characters realize that their attempts to change the future may be the very actions that ensure it happens exactly as predicted. The time travel mechanics become increasingly complex as multiple timelines and parallel realities collide, creating scenarios where victory and defeat become indistinguishable. These climactic episodes showcase the series’ ambitious scope while testing the limits of both the characters and the audience’s ability to follow the intricate plot.

The turning points in Sisyphus: The Myth are both the series’ greatest strength and its most controversial element, as the show’s commitment to complex time travel logic sometimes comes at the expense of emotional clarity and narrative satisfaction.

Success on Netflix

Sisyphus: The Myth became one of the most talked-about Korean series on Netflix, generating intense discussion among viewers who were either fascinated by its ambitious storytelling or frustrated by its complex plotting and ambiguous ending. The series has been praised for its high production values, strong performances from the lead actors, and its willingness to tackle complex sci-fi concepts, while also receiving criticism for plot holes and an ending that left many questions unanswered. The show represents Netflix’s investment in high-budget Korean content that pushes genre boundaries.

A Polarizing Sci-Fi Epic Worth Experiencing

If you love complex time travel stories with high stakes, romantic elements, and mind-bending plot twists, Sisyphus: The Myth is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. The show succeeds in creating an ambitious Korean take on sci-fi thriller narratives, though your enjoyment will largely depend on your tolerance for complex plotting and ambiguous resolutions.

Why You Should Enter This Time Loop

Positive Aspects:

  • Outstanding performances from Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye who bring emotional depth to complex sci-fi characters
  • Exceptional production values with impressive action sequences, special effects, and futuristic set design
  • Ambitious storytelling that tackles complex time travel concepts with serious commitment to internal logic
  • Strong romantic chemistry between the leads that provides emotional stakes beyond the sci-fi elements
  • High-budget cinematography and direction that creates a cinematic viewing experience worthy of the genre

Negative Aspects:

  • Extremely complex plot with multiple timelines that may be confusing or overwhelming for casual viewers
  • The ambitious scope sometimes leads to plot holes and inconsistencies that can break immersion
  • The ending may be unsatisfying for viewers seeking clear resolution to all mysteries and character arcs
  • Some episodes feel overly long with pacing issues that test viewer patience
  • The series requires significant attention to detail and may not be suitable for casual viewing

Sisyphus: The Myth stands as one of the most ambitious examples of Korean sci-fi television, demonstrating both the possibilities and challenges of complex genre storytelling.

Series Details

  • Number of Episodes: 16 episodes (completed series)
  • Platform: Netflix
  • Release Year: 2021
  • Current IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
  • Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller, Time Travel, Action, Romance
  • Production Type: Korean K-drama
  • Status: Completed series
  • Protagonists: Cho Seung-woo (Han Tae-sul), Park Shin-hye (Kang Seo-hae)
  • Antagonist: Various time travelers and conspirators working to ensure the dystopian future