The Korean drama “Parasyte: The Grey” introduces new characters from the “Parasyte” manga, offering a spin-off that retains the essence of the original story. This Netflix original series delves into a world invaded by enigmatic parasites, albeit with altered settings and characters from the manga.
The protagonist of this drama is Jeong Su In, portrayed by Jeon So Nee. Su In becomes a host for parasites following a severe injury. However, one particular parasite, named Heidi, fails in its attempt to fully mutate within Su In’s body. This failure results in three significant weaknesses for Heidi.
Warning: This article contains spoilers.
1. Limited Consciousness
footage of Jeon So Nee in the drama Parasyte: The Gray (doc. Netflix/Parasyte: The Grey)Heidi’s inability to consume all of Su In’s brains upon entering her body stems from the necessity to first heal the host’s injuries. Consequently, Heidi cannot directly access the entirety of her host’s brain like other parasites.
Due to the incomplete mutation process, Heidi can only control her host’s consciousness for about 15 minutes daily. Extended control requires prolonged periods of sleep for Heidi, causing Su In’s brain activity to decrease during these rest periods. This reduced brain activity could alert other parasites, making it risky for Su In to interact with them while Heidi rests.
2. Inability to Switch Hosts
footage of Jeon So Nee in the drama Parasyte: The Gray (doc. Netflix/Parasyte: The Grey)The imperfections in Heidi’s mutation process also hinder her ability to switch hosts effectively. Unlike other parasites, which can freely change hosts after severing their previous host’s head, Heidi’s partial control over Su In’s brain prevents her from doing so without risking both her and Su In’s lives.
3. Lack of Direct Communication with the Host
footage of Jeon So Nee in the drama Parasyte: The Gray (doc. Netflix/Parasyte: The Grey)Heidi’s final weakness lies in her inability to communicate directly with Su In. In contrast to the manga’s parasite Migi, who can communicate with its host, Heidi’s location within Su In’s brain complicates direct communication. Initially, Su In is unaware of Heidi’s presence until the parasite seeks help from Seol Kang Woo. The only opportunity for direct communication arises when Su In enters a coma, allowing them to connect in Su In’s subconscious.
Despite these weaknesses, Heidi prioritizes protecting Su In above all else, ultimately earning acceptance from both Su In and fellow parasites by the end of “Parasyte: The Grey.”
Overall, Heidi’s struggle with mutation failure highlights the complexities and challenges faced by parasites in their quest for survival and acceptance in the human world.
