Physical Asia Netflix Series Review

This spoiler-free Physical Asia Netflix series review looks at how the show transforms athletic competition into spectacle, and whether it succeeds as compelling television.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been taking my workouts at the gym more seriously. They’re a lot more consistent, organised, and enjoyable than they used to be, and I’m looking forward to continuing the journey.

Of course, going to the gym and staying fit is an uphill battle. It demands patience. Drive. Discipline. Consistency. The hardest thing wouldn’t be the workouts themselves, but just exercising on a regular basis when life throws all sorts of hurdles at you.

But I’d say my fitness journey has become a lot more exciting and meaningful thanks to a new show I’ve been watching recently.

If you watch Netflix, you may have come across the shows Physical: 100 or Physical: Asia a couple of times. Maybe you pressed play. Or maybe you scrolled past like I did the first time I saw them. I mean, come on — a reality tv-show? Really? Aren’t those things staged? Why watch something like that?

Because it’s damn good TV. And that’s all you need to pick up a show these days.

How is Physical: Asia different from Physical: 100?

For those who don’t know about the Physical: 100 series, let me fill you in.

Physical: 100 is a Korean survival game show where real-life contestants are chosen to compete in a series of gruelling fitness-based challenges to determine who has the “best” physique. The contestants come from all walks of life and personalities, ranging from Olympic gold medallists, CrossFitters, UFC fighters, firefighters, dancers and bodybuilders. They’re tested on brute strength, speed, endurance, agility, and there’s also some serious team coordination required to get through the games.

By the end of it, Physical: 100 and indeed Physical: Asia ends up looking more like bite-sized snapshots from the Olympics, although on a much more intense and jam packed scale that blends the emotional highs and tight storytelling of k-dramas with the showstopping performances of a FIFA World Cup final. If you’re a fan of shows like Wipeout and Ninja Warrior, you’re right at home. But you don’t have to be a sports fanatic to enjoy the Physical: 100 series. Just like the Olympics, I think there’s something in it for everyone, and you’ll definitely be playing favourites by the last episode.

The first two seasons of Physical: 100 focus purely on contestants in South Korea and are a lot more focused on the individual becoming the victor rather than a team (although some of the series’ best moments come from the team challenges).

In Physical: Asia, the producers ramp it up a notch and decide to invite a host of countries to compete and demonstrate which country has the best physique. With countries like Australia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Turkiye, and Mongolia butting heads to give it their all on the world stage, it’s a truly electrifying premise. South Korea also makes a grand return, this time assembling a team of all-stars from the previous seasons of Physical: 100.

And if you know who’s who in the sports world, you’ll probably recognise a few familiar faces, the most iconic being eight-division world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao! How the hell they managed to bring Manny to the show I have no idea, but with the abundance of famous faces that they have brought on to perform in Physical: Asia, it shapes up to be a bit like some kind of incredible Avengers reunion.

The Good:

• The show does a great job at showcasing the personalities and cultural mannerisms of every country, unbridled by language barriers. Some contestants come off as proud and boastful, others as humble and reserved. Because of the variety in contestants, you can expect there to be plenty of moments highlighting the dark horses, underdogs, fan favourites or even “villains” in each episode. And for the most part, these narratives aren’t created by the show, but come out naturally as a result of the games and contestants themselves. Mongolia for example, didn’t stand out that much in the first few episodes of the show, but their presence becomes harder to ignore as the challenges become tougher.

• Netflix’s introduction of colour-coded subtitles is a nice feature that helps when every country is speaking in their own native tongue. I also think the show did a good job of giving every country their moment in the spotlight, rather than focusing too heavily on one country’s story (considering this was still a Korean production, it was a possibility).
• It’s exciting, fast-paced, inspiring, and emotionally gripping. As someone born in Australia but also of Indonesian blood AND who really loved the Korean contestants from previous seasons, you can imagine I was conflicted about who to support. In the end, I still have no idea (it’s Mongolia).

The Bad:

These weren’t really criticisms that I considered myself, but there was a lot of discussion about how the show was delivered:

• Some countries didn’t perform as strongly in the earlier challenges as others, so there was quite a bit of criticism against the producers about how the contestants were selected. Some teams seemed unbalanced, and combining that with a bit of country pride is a recipe for backlash.
• Because it is a Korean production, the allegations of “RIGGED!!!!” were to be expected. There was a lot of this especially towards the end of the show from online fans, which is quite sad, considering many of the contestants got along and had little to complain about regarding the show (many of them had rather rave reviews).

Truthfully, you’ll find a lot of these criticisms overlap in ANY global sport. It’s a matter of national pride whether a country wins or loses, and emotions are going to be through the roof no matter who wins. If you’ve watched soccer, cricket, or the Olympics before, then you’ll know this kind of heat is nothing new. I would consider it a testament to how much hype and attention the show has generated from its acknowledgement of diverse backgrounds and countries.

Is Physical: Asia worth watching?

Yes!

Physical: Asia replicates the success of the Physical: 100 series on the global stage and promises an exciting display of strength, physical prowess, and perseverance in the face of adversity. It brings the energy of the Olympics to a stage that’s a lot more closer to home. You don’t need to wait for the next match — the only thing stopping you is the PLAY button on your device. Because of its great entertainment value and international appeal, I believe there’s something in the show for everyone.

I’m excited to see where the show goes next. More representation of other countries would be amazing (we missed out on an Indonesia v Malaysia face-off!) , but I’ve heard there are plans for a Physical: 100 based in Sweden and Italy.

Perhaps a Physical: Europe or Physical: World is not too far off.

Rating: 9/10

FAQS:

Is Physical: Asia a Netflix original?

Yes, Physical: Asia was created and released through Netflix, following the success of the first show, Physical: 100.

Where to watch Physical: Asia

Physical: Asia is streaming exclusively on Netflix. Watch the trailer.

How many episodes are in Physical: Asia?

There are twelve episodes.

Should I watch Physical: 100 or Physical: Asia first?

There is no required watching order for these shows. However, Physical: Asia does include contestants from Physical: 100 and make references to previous winners and games, so it’s recommended you watch Physical: 100 first so you have a better idea of how the show works and who’s who on Team Korea. However, it’s not necessary to enjoy the show.

Like this review? Read more of my movie and series reviews.