Intense rivalry, terrifying feats of strength, challenges that leave some athletes muttering ‘I hate contact sports’ … Netflix’s new competition is a reality TV joy
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f there was one problem with Physical 100, the Korean gameshow featuring top-flight athletes rolling boulders, hauling mine carts and unspooling giant ropes in a bid to find the ultimate physique, it might have been a lack of swagger.
For some people, the starstruck, aw-shucks bonhomie between the contestants was part of the show’s appeal: a breath of sweat-tinged fresh air amid the faux sincerity and psychic barbs of other reality shows. For others, raised on The Real Housewives and boxing weigh-ins, it just wasn’t dramatic enough.
This, you’d have to say, is not an issue with Physical: Asia. This time, it’s a team competition featuring competitors from eight countries (including, for some reason, Australia) and right from the off, things feel a lot more dramatic.
