Seasonal variety survival shows often risk franchise fatigue. But Netflix’s Physical: 100 series is continuing to find success in its third season with Physical: Asia. Unlike the first two seasons, which mostly featured Korean athletes, CrossFitters, or fitness influencers, Physical: Asia gathers the best across Asia.
Producer Jang Ho-gi shared his inspiration behind the series: “There are prejudices and biases that Asian people are smaller, but we wanted to show everyone out there that Asian people can be very strong, and they have their own very strong traditional sports games.”
The eight countries—Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, and Australia—demonstrate traditional sports such as Ssireum (Korea), Judo (Japan), oil wrestling (Turkey), Muay Thai (Thailand), and Bökh wrestling (Mongolia). The result is a cast that feels more diverse, dynamic, and unpredictable than ever.
While Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao draws immediate attention, the real highlight is Team Mongolia. Their lineup includes a Bökh wrestler, Judoka, a basketball player, MMA fighter, volleyball player, and a Cirque du Soleil acrobat. Together, they’re a team that blends strategy, skill, and quiet confidence. Amid a pool of CrossFitters and traditional athletes, they stand out not just for their strength but for their intelligence and teamwork.
For many, Mongolia is known primarily as the land of Genghis Khan. As a country that’s often outside of the global spotlight, it makes the team’s participation in Physical: Asia a fascinating introduction to Mongolia.
Team Mongolia naturally became excellent ambassadors for their country, as they gave viewers a sneak peek into their country just by displaying grit, humility, and respect, filling the show with memorable and touching moments. Even days after the show’s finale, the buzz around Team Mongolia has only grown louder. Viewers are still riding the high of their standout performance, hungry to learn more about the players and, by extension, about Mongolia itself.
Equally notable is the team’s respect for its female members, a marked departure from previous seasons where women were often underrepresented. This inclusivity elevates this season’s casting, making it feel stronger and distinctive.
Just as Team Mongolia showcases their country, Physical: Asia also spotlights Korea as the host nation. The show takes this opportunity to spread K-culture to the world, notably in Quests Three (the team representative challenge) and Five (Castle Conquest), both of which unfold in large, cinematic sets that are characteristic of Korea.
In Quest Three, set in a traditional Korean village, players tackle the Stone Totem Endurance, standing back-to-back to hold four 135-kg stone poles. These stone totems, known as 장승 (jangseung), are traditional guardian poles carved from wood or stone, meant to protect an area and mark territory.
Another challenge, Hanging Endurance, has players hang from long fabric strips. Although the challenge does not involve hanging from a tree, behind them stands a 서낭당 (seonangdang), a sacred tree wrapped in colored ribbons, serving as a shrine for the village guardian deity. Referees also sport uniforms inspired by the Royal Guard, with the traditional 갓 (gat) adding a striking detail.
These small yet deliberate elements allow the show to introduce traditional Korean culture to a global audience in an accessible way. Instead of presenting culture overtly, Physical: Asia repackages it in visually striking ways.
The result is a subtle incorporation of traditional motifs into a contemporary context. It is a clear nod to Korea’s cultural richness and the depth of its heritage. In many ways, these sets are a cultural display, presenting Korea to the world through design and storytelling.
As with any Physical series, the challenges are the main draw. Most of the games are strong. But the final quest, consisting of the Wall Pushing Match, Iron Ball Dragging Match, and Infinite Tail Tag Match, falls short of expectations. The finale feels anticlimactic and underwhelming, not because Korea won, but because the challenges themselves fell flat. Compared to previous seasons, it lacked the expected scale and spectacle.
In hindsight, Castle Conquest might have been better suited as the final challenge. In fact, an overall critique is the lack of variety. This season favours strength and endurance, which suits CrossFitters, but a mix of agility, mental, and strategic challenges would have made the competition more varied, engaging, and well-rounded.
Still, Physical: Asia has more hits than misses. It excels in casting, cultural representation, igniting national pride, and female representation. With new seasons on the way, including Italian and American editions, the Physical: 100 franchise is definitely doing something right.
In fact, it is doing many things right. The show doubles as a display of entertaining and impressive athleticism, and a cultural showcase: letting viewers in on how different countries adapt, problem-solve, motivate themselves, treat others, and ultimately, compete. The interplay between human skill and cultural identity is what makes Physical: Asia enjoyable. Ultimately, Physical: Asia is not only a celebration of human physicality and physical prowess, but also the culture and diversity that these accomplishments stem from and embody.
