Upcoming Netflix Sci-Fi Show Is An Extended Black Mirror Episode

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Netflix’s new K-drama, Boyfriend on Demand, is generating a lot of buzz and is expected to be a major hit. However, its storyline shares a chilling resemblance to the dark, futuristic themes often seen in Black Mirror. While the series gained early attention due to the casting of Jisoo, it’s proving to be much more than just a vehicle for the BLACKPINK member’s acting debut.

With so many K-dramas coming to Netflix in 2026, Boyfriend on Demand is already generating buzz. Netflix consistently releases or acquires compelling Korean miniseries and films, often focusing on thrilling, romantic, or action-packed stories. However, Boyfriend on Demand offers something different, blending two very distinct worlds—both in its plot and its themes.

What Is Boyfriend On Demand About?

Jisoo Takes On A Sci-Fi Love Story

Although Jisoo’s past leading roles have received mixed reactions, her new Netflix romance, Boyfriend on Demand, has the potential to be a huge hit. She’ll be starring alongside Seo In-guk, a highly acclaimed K-drama actor famous for his memorable roles in shows like Doom at Your Service and Death’s Game.

In the upcoming drama Boyfriend on Demand, Seo In-guk plays Park Kyeong-nam, a colleague and competitor of Jisoo’s character, Seo Mi-rae. They are both successful webtoon producers with demanding careers that leave them little time for dating. Feeling lonely, Mi-rae tries a subscription dating simulator, but things get complicated when the line between the virtual world and reality starts to blur.

As a total movie buff, I’m already hooked on this premise! It follows Mi-rae, who basically dives headfirst into incredibly realistic virtual reality – all powered by a ring she wears. She starts meeting these ‘perfect’ guys in different romantic setups, but something unexpected happens: the woman creating these scenarios, the producer, starts longing for a real connection. It’s a classic question, isn’t it? With this amazing VR world so easily available, Mi-rae has to figure out what she truly wants: the fantasy or the real thing.

Boyfriend On Demand Is Giving Black Mirror Vibes

The Technology Is Equal Parts Impressive & Terrifying

Science fiction has changed dramatically in the digital age. While new technology inspires many stories, it also sets limits on what feels original. This technology can also fuel frighteningly realistic dystopian visions. No series captures this evolution better than Netflix’s Black Mirror, a show known for its standalone episodes, each exploring a unique and thought-provoking science fiction idea.

The show Black Mirror is known for its incredibly creative ideas, with episodes that feel like short, scary movies or surprisingly hopeful looks at a retro-futuristic world. Romance often plays a key role in the show’s most popular episodes. For example, “San Junipero” from season 3 has a dedicated following because it features a love story within a virtual reality, offering the characters a chance at a truly eternal and happy life together.

Episodes like “Hang the DJ” from Black Mirror (season 4, episode 4) explore the idea of dating app algorithms, even going so far as to base compatibility on thousands of simulations. The show also frequently uses love as a key theme, as seen in season 1’s “The Entire History of You,” which centers around heartbreak. Therefore, an episode like “Boyfriend on Demand” would feel right at home within the Black Mirror series.

A Virtual Dating Subscription Feels Very Dystopian

Human Connection Is Already A Commodity

While Netflix’s Boyfriend on Demand is probably a lighthearted romantic comedy rather than a scary thriller, the core idea is still unsettling. The title itself feels contradictory, because Mi-rae’s virtual relationships are fleeting and unreal. Though convenient, swapping genuine human connection for a paid romantic service ultimately offers only a superficial illusion.

It’s easy to see why Mi-rae is first attracted to the dating app. The virtual reality offers a powerful escape and lets her experience incredibly romantic scenarios, much like the stories she creates at work. But this similarity is perhaps the most unsettling thing about Boyfriend on Demand.

As Mi-rae spends more time living as the main character in her webtoon simulations, she starts to lose touch with the real world. Because her only way to escape the virtual reality is a digital ring, the immersive world of Boyfriend on Demand could become dangerous. However, this dark and dramatic K-drama doesn’t have to end badly.

Boyfriend On Demand Isn’t The First Dystopian Rom-Com

K-Dramas Have Pulled Off Similar Feats Before

While the idea of virtual reality in Boyfriend on Demand might seem strange, it’s similar to many other Korean dramas that combine science fiction with romance. Popular shows like Love Alarm and My Holo Love also feature futuristic technology – one uses an app to predict romantic connections, and the other features an AI boyfriend hologram. This kind of cutting-edge tech is a common source of ideas for many sci-fi K-dramas.

For example, Yonder is more melancholic than a typical love story, focusing on a man who reconnects with his late wife in a digital afterlife. Even without relying heavily on science fiction, K-dramas like Extraordinary You and W – both of which explore the idea of characters stuck inside webcomics – paved the way for Boyfriend on Demand and its central relationship.

I think it’s wonderful how stories can find romance even in the darkest, most futuristic worlds! To me, seeing genuine love blossom against a backdrop of artificiality feels like a powerful act of rebellion. And while the upcoming K-drama, Boyfriend on Demand, might not directly address the unsettling premise of its VR technology, I have a feeling it’s going to really resonate with anyone who loves both romance and sci-fi – I know it does with me!

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2026-02-05 22:10