Sweet Home 2 (2023)

─ ‍the twisted pattern of monsters and humans

I have been waiting for this season for quite some time as I really enjoyed watching season one and reading the webtoon. Although readings news about them not following the webtoon [ adding characters from Shotgun Boy ] made me question the quality of the writing, I think they did pretty good job.

Undoubtedly, compared to S1, writing lacked a bit ─ ‍from character introductions to complexity of their personas. However, they still followed a pattern that hinted a promising season 3. The first season was mainly about monsters and how humans became one due to their desires or greed. So, it started with monsters and ended with humans. Meanwhile, S2's main focus was humans, how they dealt with fear, and lack of freedom. Even the way they didn't hesitate to use fellow humans as lab rats. So, it started with humans and ended with monsters. Along the way, in this second chapter, they focused on new characters. Hence, we didn't see the original cast more. Yet, I think this hints a more complicated and thrilling S3 ─ ‍ which I'm looking forward to.

I think the reason most people felt unsatisfied is lack of screen time for the original cast. Some of them disappeared for so many episodes, such that it made audience wonder if the writer forgot them. [ I mean, wasn't Sweet Home about Cha Hyunsoo ? ] This, I think is all about marketing ─ ‍if they were going to focus on new cast most, they should have done marketing accordingly. Still, there were actually new characters with potential and I really wished they explored the colours of their personas properly.

The one that stood out the most for me in this season was Go Minsi. She did such an awesome job at delivering the characteristic changes and development that Lee Eunyoo went through and perfectly showed her determination to find her brother. Another character that stood out was Doctor Lim. Oh Jungse truly never disappoints when it comes to delivering diverse characters. Honourable mention to mother and daughter duo ─ ‍they were so twisted and dark while looking for their ownn lights.

I don't think there was a confusion in timeline as they stated how many days it has been since people discovered monsters with days instead of saying how many years it has been. They also showed that Yikyung's daughter grew up every day [ and years when she was killed ].

Also, I have mention that Sweet Home has one of the best soundtrack and am so glad they still delivered masterpieces in second season.

Overall, it was a good watch and is recommended as long as you are okay with the theme and trigger warnings. Looking forward to S3.

link to edits : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI-LyvxxdMxCFyFmMp9zkjp_-gkySTPQj&si=qqSh49vta0dsxDV4

Leia Mais

Sweet Home? More like: Sweet Disappointment

Sweet Home Season 2 misses the mark completely.
Random characters are being introduced at every moment. Previously well-invested characters are being killed off or quickly forgotten. We take the perspective of 10 different characters, a few of whom are well remembered, some, known yet unmemorable, and many, entirely new and forgettable. These are all in the midst of 5 completely different yet irrelevant plotlines taking place simultaneously. If that wasn't bizarre enough, many of the exchange and dialogue between the characters do not make sense, yet all the characters seem to perfectly understand another (almost as if they all telepathically understood what the writer desired!).
Notwithstanding these errors, the show also does a complete 180 of its portrayal of the monsters in Season 1 to feature them as misunderstood, unintentionally violent creatures, which still retain their human souls entrenched deep within their anatomy, somewhere. Where exactly? No idea. But we know they still hold onto their humanity!
The show, then, passes guilt unto the survivors and forcefully tries to garner sympathy among viewers by making the monsters resemble harmless animals, infants, children, or parents. No, no it is not the monsters that are causing mass destruction and deaths that we determine to be evil, it is those pesky, paranoid humans who are the true evil incarnate as they resort to wanton violence (the overused and banal "humanity is the true evil" trope rears its ugly head again).
Season 1's writing was not spectacular either, but it at least got the job done; on the other hand, the quality of writing in Season 2 takes a steep nosedive. I have no idea what happened here, but if someone claimed a random intern took over the writing department, I'd believe him without hesitation. Fortunately, there a lot of random action sequences and CGI interspliced in the muddled storyline to distract the angry viewer from trying to understand this nonsensical story, but they still are not enough to salvage this mess of a show.

Leia Mais

Coming from someone who read the webtoon sweet home (No spoilers)

I have said this before, but the webtoon was one of the masterpieces and I love the other works of the author. I had a beef to pick with in the first season, but it was still leagues above what the second season is (can't even call it a season, to be fair). The whole 8 episodes could have easily been delivered in a single episode and would have been way better. Not gonna lie, I was massively excited as to how the story will progress, as it was diverging from the webtoon in the first season to begin with. However, now after completing it, the only thing I can say is the whole season felt like a dish served after it had gone bad.

The fan service of naked men was one thing, but the story was going around in circles and the bare minimum progress it had wasn't enough to keep oneself interested in keeping up with the whole darn eight episodes. The acting of the cast members was good, but too much CGI, which left a bad aftertaste for me personally, as I think it could have been done way better. Also, the individuality monsters had in the first season was gone, and the focus was more on portraying monsters as zombies than "monsters". I don't know how much budget went into the whole season but the gunfires, explosioins, fires, and such were done like poorly designed 3D warfare game. Anyways, it was a complete mess, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but for now will see how season 3 pans out.

Leia Mais

Home is no longer sweet

Extremely inconsistent tone for its episodes that led the storyline direction to nowhere. The action sequence in the first three episodes is absolutely impressive, it's cinematic and immersive but that's all about it. The episodes ahead are of really questionable decisions, the whole mood shifted out of sudden with a bunch of newly added characters that look detached and don't provide much to drive the storyline. Things got stagnant and the monster craze wore out pretty quickly, it felt like they were trying to reserve the bigger part for the next season, but hype dies down and home is no longer sweet.

Leia Mais

What if Humans are Virus and Monsters are the treatment? Damn, it made a huge impression on me ?

Season 2 took a different approach than Season 1, and while some folks might not think it did justice, I see it as a season where we saw how people live in constant fear, with the real monsters being human. It's like a build-up for Season 3.

Despite Song Kang's absence in several episodes, I didn't mind it, as it allowed a connection buildup with other characters.The director gave us what we were waiting for from S1 ( I shouted around 5 am when i saw that scene).

Eunyoo's character glow up will standout to everyone I can bet on that, that girl became such a bada**, and I'm all for it.

Season 2 left me craving for those unforgettable OST moments that Season 1 nailed. Like that heart-wrenching scene when the character who believed in God died in the elevator—the OST there made me feel every character's emotion. So yeah, Season 2 missed the OST magic. If those tunes were there, it would've been a solid 10/10 without a doubt! ✨

Season 3 is coming in summer 2024, but the wait is tough, like 8-9 months.

Overall, Season 2 left lingering questions, creating anticipation for answers in the upcoming season. Recommend to watch it with an open mind for a fulfilling viewing experience.

Psst, just a heads-up, you'll be admiring a lot of characters' physical assets, and hey, no complaints here! It's all in good fun.

Leia Mais

Well...

I rated season 1 a 10 and this would be 9.

So here, while Sweet Home Season 2 maintains the intense horror and suspense elements that made Season 1 a hit, some viewers including me might find that the sequel falls slightly short of the original. Season 1 introduced us to the terrifying world inside Green Home Apartments, creating a unique atmosphere and establishing a strong connection with the characters. In Season 2, the shift to the outside world and the introduction of new characters may be seen by some as a departure from what made the first season so captivating. While Season 2 has its own merits, including increased action and deeper character exploration, those who were enamored with the claustrophobic and intense setting of Season 1 might find themselves longing for the initial thrill that hooked them into the series. Actually, it ultimately comes down to personal preferences, and while Season 2 is undeniably gripping, some may argue that Season 1 holds a special place in their hearts.

Still recommendable and I'll rewatch the two seasons until s3 comes out and it should better be as great as the first season.

Leia Mais

I somwhat predictable entry to the post-apocolyptic subgenre

As an avid horror enthusiast, I enjoyed this overall. I think it is worth a watch, and I'm going to explain why by drawing a parallel here to the Romero zombieverse, because I think in essence there is a homage here to the post-apocalyptic subgenre.

I was a huge fan of season 1, it has a low-budget, indie feel, featuring the trapped with a monster trope, and a small band of survivors, very much like the original Dawn of the Dead. Even the ending was similar with the breach of the apartments, and the military coming in. With the season ending as it did, as well as the larger budget for the new season, it was pretty predictable where they would take this one; world-building and survival horror.

This season, is very much like Day of the Dead, military vs. survivors coming into conflict, even the mad doctor doing experiments. I was expecting it, as well as the evolution of the 'curse' and its effects on the monsters. We are in season 2 and this is how post-apocalyptic horror works, once the premise is established survival is next.

I did think the focus of the survivors in the bunker was a rinse-wash repeat from season 1 with less likable characters. And I do agree the more engaging characters should have had more screen time. The creature design for Hyun Soo is so striking, and we had only a few glimpses which is a shame. The military commander was a great foil this go around drawing on Hyun Soo's character arc in the first season and the internal struggle.

I wish they would have leaned more into the monsters, the first season had some fantastic designs that I missed in this one (yes I have a fondness for the claymation in season 1) there wasn't anything really of note in this one.
I did like the sanity slippage in the more commanding characters, the juxtaposition there is always compelling plots and that was more interesting.

The morality of human vs monster was leaned on heavily here, and the diatribe was a little trite and overly predictable would have been nice to see somthing different but it wasn't and it hit all the beats of the standard subgenre and that's ok too. You know what to expect, and there is predictability in it.

This honestly felt like somewhat of a filler season, I am hoping it's teeing up for the next installment and I'm on board, with the expectation it will be balls out.

Leia Mais

phenomenal unpredictable chaos

completely different than the webtoon I found it much more better to make zero the daughter of Yi-kyung, I don't know I think it adds more to the story that way, her mother death was really emotional, If the dauther really cares about Hyun-su she wouldn't have done that even if she don't like her mother

Also the add soldiers side was great, and I wished they have added more episodes so Hyun-su would have more scenes, I still don't know how he was able to come back to life after fighting with Ui-myeong

overall I loved it to the point that i binge watch it in one sitting and can't wait for season 3

Leia Mais

Humanity's hurdles.

We enter season 2 with a lot of differences from the first season.

Firstly all around the budget, there is more use of CGI because of the increase of monsters, the sets are vast and in different locations which opens for more exploration and the number of characters, the cast has expanded exponentially.

Second, the group finds itself separated. Hyun Soo is riding alone with Sang Wook in his wake, little happens on their side in the first part of the season aside from Hyun Soo having an existential fight with himself, seeing monsters who are still human getting killed and humans themselves who are victims of monsters, he does not know where to stand and how to consider himself.

For others, they desperately try to reach a safe heaven but only end up in dangerous places.

As for Yi Kyung, she struggles to find her husband, and finds herself confronted with a terrible situation and reality.

I won't talk about the rest of the season, which is really more exciting in terms of storyline, although I hate that some major characters were missing from few episodes and Hyun Soo wasn't featured as much as he should have.

I have to say that overall, I felt something was lacking from this season, it felt like I was watching a transition, this season felt like appetizer that prepares for the main course (season 3), we had quite a lot of action scenes, but the pace was rather stale. However, I do have to say, strangely the series had a lot of depth and emotion. They made us feel for both humans and monsters alike, while also hating them, that was masterfully executed. Quite a few characters encounter a tragic destiny, people we had become attached to, the series is crueler in this aspect.

If I had to summarize this season, I would say that despite the action in a sense it is more slow-paced and has more emotional depth to take us through a journey of hardships where humanity is the center of it all.

Leia Mais

A broader exploration and deeper perspective to Sweet Home's universe

Season 1 is surely the best, but Season 2 is also amazing. Compared to Season 1 where the characters are stuck and staying inside their apartment, Season 2 explores more and shows the condition of the outside world. Season 2 has a more serious tone since it includes the military and government. It has political and power struggle that shows the perspectives of various characters - from what's happening with the higher ups who controls the situation and between the civilians who have to survive together. While for the monsters, there's now more variety of them from dangerous to harmless, and even those who are normal yet have special traits. But at the end, they're still humans who have their own feelings and stories behind their transformations.

The new characters are necessary to the plot and it completes the worldbuilding for this Season. My favorite characters are the soldiers and they deserves more credit for their important roles. The best part is when a group of soldiers made a coup against the evil government officials who were mass murdering the people for their own greed. Soldiers are like puppets who only follows orders from their superiors, but I'm so glad how they have their own mind and put their humanity first. It was so refreshing to see a better representation of the soldiers in this drama. I love how they organized a big shelter for the survivors, protecting them and risking their lives outside while also researching about the monsters. I also love how this Season didn't really have villains, there were bad guys at first but they easily got rid of them and even the monsters themselves showed compassion to the humans. For most part in this drama, the focus is on the teamwork and growth between the military and civilians who are working together against the monsters, while the old characters are navigating their new journeys with new people and adapting to the outside world with the monsters.

Season 2 did a great job with its worldbuilding, showing the perspectives of everyone and their different motivations while trying to survive from the monsters, humans and their own selves. It also gave us a grand finale with the return of an old character on his new form. Season 3 is even more highly anticipated and it might show us the epic battle between all kinds of monsters.

Leia Mais

Give me more of the original cast

So I was sort of middle-of-the-fence about season 1, and I feel similarly about season 2.

To start with the good things — the vibe of the show is on point. The cinematography and set design give, and the effects do a nice job of tying it all together. I particularly love the look of Hyun-su's monster form.

The characters that had survived S1 were all my favorites — Ji-su, Eun-yu, Hyun-su, Yi-kyung — so I was really excited to see how they stories would continue and who they would meet along the way, but I tuned out to have a bit of mixed emotions on this.

I liked Hyun-su's story but I felt like we barely saw it. There were a few episodes where he was completely sidelined and just in general the subplot of him being experimented on ended really fast, which was disappointing because it would've been a much different plot than the "humans running from monsters in the wild" situation we'd seen before.

I was the most satisfied with Eun-yu's story and her screentime. It was amazing seeing her develop into such a badass, and she had really good chemistry with Chan-young, who is probably the only new character that really grew on me this season.

With that being said, I felt like there were one too many new characters that were introduced and I don't think I was that invested in a lot of them. There were a lot of soldiers and some new people who were also just living at the base, and overall I didn't think focusing on all of these characters were necessary. There were several antagonists, some of which I didn't care too much about, and overall with so many subplots I feel like they took screentime away from the original cast. To be honest, I also just found the soldiers difficult to tell apart.

My biggest gripe, however, is with Yi-kyung and how sidelined she felt when she was supposed to be a main character. I've never been a fan of the "special child" trope, and this really reminded me why — a new character comes in and suddenly all our original cast acts like they're the most important and their existing plotlines fizzle out. Yi-kyung was pretty much shown only in relation to her daughter this entire season, and even the other characters like Hyun-su got a bit of this treatment near the end.

It's one thing if we had gotten more time to gradually see the development, but the time jump + flashback method didn't help.

Other than this, this season still ends on a strong note, and I'll be tuning into S3, for Hyun-sun, for Eun-yu, and for Chan-young.

Leia Mais

So great and entertaining! Knew since last year that Ui Myeong was actually Sang Won

Sweet Home season 2 is an electrifying rollercoaster that doesn't just meet expectations but exceeds them in every aspect. This gripping series not only continues its heart-pounding narrative but elevates it to new heights. The character development is profound, diving deeper into their complexities while maintaining the perfect balance of action and emotion.

The storytelling remains top-notch, seamlessly weaving together multiple storylines that keep you on the edge of your seat. The visual effects are nothing short of spectacular, bringing the monstrous creatures to life in a way that's both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

What truly sets this season apart is its ability to explore profound themes amid the chaos, delving into the human condition, relationships, and the resilience of the human spirit. The performances are stellar, each actor bringing an undeniable authenticity to their roles, making you empathize with their struggles and triumphs.

Leia Mais