Kiseiju – The unwanted guest and the manga written and illustrated by Hitoshi Iwaakijust arrived on Netflix with a new television adaptation.
Published from November 1989 to December 1995, the manga tells the story of Shinichi, a boy who accidentally finds himself living with the parasite that has infested his arm. The parasite belongs to a species of strange beings that first take control of the brains of humans and then kill and eat them. Shinichi makes a pact with his own parasite, called Migi, to protect himself from the other parasites, who are taking over people while the Japan is invaded by kiseiju.
The series transforms the protagonist into a girl, Jung Soo In (Jeon So Nee), moves the action out of Japan for the first time (there have already been several adaptations, including anime series and live action, one of which is available on Netflix) and moves to Korea to give us a series that combines science fiction, police drama and a pinch of horror for the splatter scenes in which the infected manifest their true nature with heads that open in style Demogorgon.
The plot of Kiseiju: The Gray Zone
They look strange, small fruits, but they are more reminiscent of the way viruses are represented. They land in random locations and release a creature with a sting, a sci-fi version of scorpions, which burrows into the ears of human hosts and takes control of them. Are the alien parasites which are spreading throughout the world, and which – on a unique occasion – save the lives of Jung Soo Inwhich due to the very particular situation in which it is infected becomes one mutant: his human and alien nature coexist. While the humans who hide their new nature increase, a woman confronts and captures her husband, transformed by the parasite. She will be the head of the task force called Gray Teamestablished by police to deal with the alien phenomenon. Together with a policeman he has known for a long time and a boy who discovers to his horror what happened to one of his sisters, Jung Soo In searches for a way to coexist with the parasite and fight the other aliens.
We are the real parasites: is humanity worth saving?
There plot it is well constructed, with a rhythm that varies and grows from the apparent slowness which lays the foundations in the first episodes for the explosion of action sequences from the fourth episode.
There metaphor, however, is not even remotely disguised. Already the fact of calling aliens “parasites” gives the idea, together with the beginning of the series. The very first sequence shows in fact the damages unequivocal consequences that we inflict on our own planet and its inhabitants. Humans included.
THE parasitesit’s obvious, we are. So the arrival of alien parasites on Earth, all over the world, presents itself as the perfect opportunity to answer the question: Is humanity worth saving?
A question which, moreover, is the same one posed by this story in its original version, the manga.
The source material is vast and very well composed. It would have been difficult to miss the objective. Yet, the series adds something to a story already known to those who have read it.
The most interesting aspect is not, as expected, the coexistence of the parasite with the human protagonist. No. The most interesting aspect is absolute certainty that anyone who behaves in a way that favors aliens is also infected with a parasite. The possibility that there are gods collaborators – and I use this term with full knowledge of the facts – it doesn’t even cross the mind of the investigator.
It goes without saying that predict the presence of traitors to their own species it is part of that reflection on human nature that pervades every episode.
Because in this specific topic it may seem strange, but the ugly and bad parasites beat us 10 to 1. At least they are cohesive. They defend the interests of their species, for better or for worse. Which certainly cannot be said of humanity, especially humanity as we know it today.
The inability to form a common front
Throughout the history of science fiction television, the concept ofinability to unite as a speciesforming a common front against the alien enemy, is recurring.
From the glorious past of V – Visitorsmetaphor of the Second World War, until Falling Skiesnot to mention what we know from The X-Files.
There are many examples and Kiseiju – The Gray Zone certainly adds to the long list.
And then, of course, there is the precious concept of power.
Power, for humans or for aliens, has the same value: the possibility of making decisions that favor themselves and their friends. In any case, their own interests. Or at least those of your own species, if you are interested in preserving it.
L’equilibrium between action, horror, science fiction and police drama in these 6 episodes it is almost perfect. It starts like any other story that introduces the science fiction element and then, gradually, everything else.
Excluding just the moment that is a little too “Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus” on the bridge, in the fourth episode, it must be said that the depth of plot is the master. But also the special effects they are excellent and the battles between monsters they are compelling and well made.
Everything works as it should. Until a conclusion with a scene shotwhich gives us hope for a sequel: one second season will tell us the continuation of this story, most likely.
And readers of the manga will be favorably impressed by the new developments…
