The Power of 'Kenya's Three Meals' Reigns Supreme on Netflix: Is a Revival of 'New Journey to the West' Possible?
Netflix's variety show Kenya's Three Meals has concluded its successful run with the release of its final episodes. The show, which aired its last episodes on December 2, showcased the latter part of a chaotic travel adventure set in the distant land of Kenya, providing great satisfaction to long-time fans of New Journey to the West.
After five years since the airing of New Journey to the West 8 in October 2020, and four years since the spinoff New Journey to the West Spring Camp, Kenya's Three Meals brought together core members Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, and Kyuhyun. Despite concerns about changes in the airing platform and a focus on certain members, the show achieved remarkable success, ranking first in Netflix's Korean series from November 24 to 30, outpacing other major dramas.
As always, the show's unique 'spicy' talk format thrived on Netflix, providing an upgraded experience through familiar game formats combined with new elements, resulting in enhanced fun and laughter.
The episodes 4-6 introduced on December 2 featured local experiences such as safari adventures and hot air balloon rides, along with a variety of games including Mafia, Charades, and Poetry Contest. The members, represented as different animals and plants, engaged in logical games with each other, showcasing the signature chaotic chemistry that reminded viewers of the show's roots in New Journey to the West.
In the Mafia game, participants had to deceive each other to win prizes, creating bizarre situations where citizens tried to outsmart the Mafia and fellow citizens, showcasing exceptional comedic moments. The unexpected anecdotes shared by Kyuhyun about his past managers added to the hilarity, wrapping up the six-episode series on a high note.
Kenya's Three Meals, despite its familiar content and cast, quickly climbed to the top of Netflix's rankings, drawing overwhelming support from Korean viewers. This success can be attributed to the individual talents of PD Na Young-seok and the core cast members. Even with games that have been entertaining in other contexts, their chemistry produced unpredictable and humorous situations, reaffirming the show's distinctiveness.
While the absence of foreign language dubbing and the retention of Korean subtitles may have limited international responses compared to other TV dramas, this was an expected outcome. The strong focus on retaining domestic subscribers rather than targeting the global market has led to the show's success.
As viewers ponder the future of the Three Meals series and the potential revival of New Journey to the West, PD Na Young-seok has successfully silenced critics of 'self-replication' with the success of Kenya's Three Meals. This has reignited hope among fans for the return of the beloved series.
With the possibility of exploring diverse themes such as Himalayan, Alaskan, and cruise adventures, the Three Meals series may continue to expand. The positive response during promotional activities suggests that new series through Netflix could be on the horizon, keeping the hope for the revival of New Journey to the West alive.
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