Plagiarism controversy surrounds Netflix's 'Black Knight' as viewers spot 'Death Stranding' similarities

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers. Proceed with caution if you have not watched the show/movie.

Netflix's latest Korean drama, Black Knight, finds itself embroiled in accusations of plagiarism, with critics claiming that the show shamelessly borrowed elements from the popular video game Death Stranding. However, Netflix swiftly refuted these allegations, clarifying that Black Knight is based on a webtoon.

Set in a dystopian future ravaged by overwhelming air pollution, Black Knight presents a desolate Korean peninsula where survival is contingent on the heroic efforts of delivery drivers. With a meager 1% of the original population remaining, the wasteland requires the resilience of its inhabitants and the skills of legendary deliveryman '5-8' to ensure their sustenance. The story also revolves around Sa-wol, a refugee who aspires to become a delivery driver and holds the key to hope for fellow displaced individuals.

While the game Death Stranding centers around a protagonist navigating the post-apocalyptic United States, Black Knight takes inspiration from a webtoon of the same name that debuted in 2016. Despite the show's basis in pre-existing material, some online users raised concerns after the release of the teaser trailer, drawing parallels between Death Stranding and Black Knight. They pointed to similarities such as the main character delivering packages and the shared dystopian settings. Nevertheless, Netflix's assertion that the series draws from the webtoon contradicts claims of plagiarism.

“Are we going to label every work as plagiarized whenever they share similarities with other works in terms of setting or premise?” argued some online users while others believe that labeling it as plagiarism is excessive, stating, “I think people are overreacting by calling it plagiarism. The show just has a similar vibe to the game.”

Those who question the validity of the plagiarism accusations argue that it is unreasonable to label every work as plagiarized when there are resemblances in the setting or premise. They contend that mere similarities in ambiance should not automatically warrant allegations of plagiarism. However, proponents of the plagiarism claims maintain that the teaser trailer for Death Stranding had been publicized as early as June 2016, along with accompanying promotional materials, suggesting a potential connection. Moreover, there have been allegations of "visual concept plagiarism" concerning the show's direction.

In response to the accusations, the production team of Black Knight stated Newsen on May 16th, firmly refuting any claims of plagiarism. They emphasized that Black Knight is an adaptation of the webtoon authored by Lee Yoon-gyun, which commenced serialization in 2016.

As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen whether these accusations will impact the reception of Black Knight, which has generated significant interest due to its compelling storyline and dystopian backdrop. Regardless of the allegations, viewers eagerly await the series premiere to determine for themselves whether the show lives up to its intriguing premise.

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