Netflix’s global competition series Physical: Asia has launched, pitting elite athletes from eight countries against each other in extreme physical challenges. The first six episodes are now streaming, with new episodes arriving in November 2025. Here is a complete recap of the winners, eliminations, and what to expect next.
Show Premise and National Pride
Physical: Asia is the first international version of the South Korean hit Physical: 100. This edition features 48 contestants from eight nations: South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Turkey, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines, with six athletes representing each country. Unlike the original, which focused on individual glory, this spin-off emphasizes teamwork and national pride. The competitors, including famous captains like boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for the Philippines and UFC fighters for Japan and Australia, face challenges designed to test their strength, stability, and strategy.
Territory Conquest: The First Major Challenge
The first game, Territory Conquest, was a fast-paced race on sand dunes where teams fought to claim and hold plots of land. The rules allowed for pushing, pulling, and grabbing. The competition unfolded over three intense rounds.
- Round 1: Teams battled for one of four available plots. Australia and Japan secured their territories early. Mongolia and Thailand were eliminated at this stage, forcing overtime matches where Korea defeated Turkey and the Philippines beat Indonesia to advance.
- Round 2: With only two plots available, the four remaining countries—Australia, Japan, Korea, and Turkey—fought for a spot in the final. Turkey overpowered Australia, and Japan edged past Korea after two rematches.
- Round 3: The final round featured a single plot and a direct showdown between Turkey and Japan. Turkey emerged as the victor, earning a significant strategic advantage: the right to determine the matchups for the next challenge.
Shipwreck Transportation: A Test of Strength and Strategy
The second challenge, Shipwreck Transportation, required teams to move over six tons of cargo from a wrecked ship to their base within 20 minutes. The task involved two types of goods: large 50kg crates that had to be carried by air and 20kg sacks that could be moved on carts. A key rule was that players chosen to handle the heavy crates could not be swapped out mid-round.
The group results were:
- Group A: Australia dominated, moving 2,100 kg, while Japan transported 1,820 kg.
- Group B: Mongoila won with 2,000 kg, defeating the Philippines, which moved 1,290 kg.
- Group C: Korea took the top spot with 2,120 kg, beating Thailand’s 1,380 kg.
In a separate face-off, Turkey defeated Indonesia. Indonesia’s team was impacted by an injury to athlete Marcus Gideon, with Isai Kesek stepping in as a substitute. Turkey ultimately hauled 1,990 kg against Indonesia’s 1,480 kg.
The Death Match Cliffhanger
Episode 4 introduced a tense Death Match mini-game. The goal was to score by getting a ball into the opponent’s goal. The match consisted of five three-minute rounds, alternating between one-on-one and two-on-two formats. The first country to win three rounds would secure victory.
The episode focused on two key battles: Thailand versus the Philippines and Japan versus Indonesia. The episode concluded on a major cliffhanger, showing Thailand and Indonesia locked at 2-2, leaving their fate unknown until the next episode drop.
Where to Watch and Full Release Schedule
Physical: Asia is a Netflix original series and is available exclusively on that platform worldwide. The 12-episode season is being released in batches over four weeks.
The complete release schedule is:
- Episodes 1-4: Released on October 28, 2025.
- Episodes 5-6: Released on November 4, 2025.
- Episodes 7-9: Scheduled for release on November 11, 2025.
- Episodes 10-12 (The Finale): Scheduled for release on November 18, 2025.
What to Expect in the Next Episodes
The next set of episodes, arriving on November 11, 2025, will continue the high-stakes competition. With the field narrowing, the physical and strategic demands will intensify. Reports indicate that by Episode 6, two countries have been eliminated, leaving six teams in the race for the 1 billion won prize.
A significant team shake-up occurs as Team Philippines’ original captain, Manny Pacquiao, is replaced. CrossFit champion Justin Hernandez takes over leadership of the team under immense pressure.
Justin Hernandez said: ‘This is more than a competition. It’s our chance to prove who we are, physically and mentally.’
New challenges like ‘Shipwreck Salvage’ and a ‘Team Representative Match’ will push the remaining athletes to their absolute limits.
Credits: IBTimes UK, Netflix
