'Sweet Home' Season 3: All the characters who died tragic death in apocalyptic K-drama
Contains spoilers for 'Sweet Home' Season 3
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In Season 3 of 'Sweet Home', the series grappled with high expectations set by its debut, but many fans felt the narrative lost its coherence and emotional impact.
As the show’s plot became increasingly fragmented, it struggled to maintain the depth and relatability that made its first season compelling. The character's motivations seemed muddled, and their deaths often felt abrupt and lacking in significance.
Let's delve into the tragic deaths of key characters in 'Sweet Home' Season 3 and explore whether these losses carry any thematic weight within the show’s apocalyptic framework.
Tragic victims of cruel experiments: Yong-seok, Jong-hyun, and Seo-jin and Seok-chan
In 'Sweet Home' Season 3, several characters met tragic ends that underscored the series's dark and chaotic atmosphere. Yong-seok, Jong-hyun, and Seo-jin all met grim fates at Doctor Lim’s old lab, where they fell victim to a group of special infectees.
These infectees, who had turned the lab into a nightmarish arena, killed the trio for their own cruel amusement, turning what was meant to be an experiment into a horrific spectacle. Their deaths, although meant to highlight the ruthlessness of the infectees, felt inconsequential within the broader narrative.
Yeong-hu, one of the survivors of the attack, managed to escape the facility severely injured. In a poignant moment of sacrifice, Seok-chan, recognizing the gravity of Yeong-hu’s situation, gave his own blood to save him.
Seok-chan’s selfless act allowed Yeong-hu to survive, making it to the end of the season, while Seok-chan’s sacrifice added a layer of emotional weight to the ongoing struggle.
Fall of a tormented survivor: Wang Ho-sang
In 'Sweet Home' Season 3, Wang Ho-sang's (Hyun Bong-sik) journey takes a tragic turn that highlights the emotional turmoil and moral conflicts faced by the characters. Ho-sang, who had been a close companion to Ha-ni since Season 2, was initially driven by a need to protect himself and others from the monsters plaguing their world.
However, when Ha-ni revealed that Cha Hyun-su (Song Kang) had the ability to turn monsters back into humans, Ho-sang began to question his actions. Struggling with guilt over the lives he had taken, he was haunted by the voices of his victims.
Overwhelmed by remorse and the fear of becoming a monster himself, Ho-sang succumbed to his inner demons. In a heartbreaking conclusion, he chose to end his life by orchestrating a car explosion, reflecting his final, desperate attempt to escape his torment and the monstrous fate he could no longer bear.
Sacrifice that felt hollow: Seo Yi-kyung
Yi-kyung’s death in 'Sweet Home' Season 3 is a poignant example of a character arc that felt deeply unsatisfying. Reverting to human form at the season's start, Yi-kyung’s primary goal was to reunite with her daughter, Yi-su, whom she believed was near the stadium.
Upon discovering her fiancé, Sang-won, and his army also searching for Yi-su, Yi-kyung learned of Sang-won’s sinister plan to exploit her daughter’s body. Determined to save Yi-su, Yi-kyung attempted a rescue.
However, their escape was thwarted when Sang-won attacked them in the tunnels. Despite Yi-kyung’s brave efforts to protect her daughter, she is overpowered and ultimately sacrifices her life to give Yi-su a chance to flee.
Tragically, her sacrifice proved futile, as Sang-won captured Yi-su and imprisoned her outside the stadium. Yi-kyung’s death felt hollow, undermining the depth of her character’s struggle and sacrifice.
The end of a sinister scientist: Doctor Lim
Doctor Lim’s (Oh Jung-se) death in 'Sweet Home' Season 3 was a long-awaited moment for many fans. As the sinister scientist behind a series of cruel experiments on both humans and monsters, Lim had become a symbol of unchecked evil.
His relentless pursuit of scientific curiosity, often at the expense of human life, had made him a central antagonist throughout the series. Despite Sang-won’s initial need for Lim’s expertise in body-swapping, their relationship soured.
In the final episodes of Season 3, Sergeant Tak In-hwan exposed Lim as the creator of special infectees, which further strained his position with Sang-won. Infuriated by Lim’s manipulative games, Sang-Won decided to end his life.
In a dramatic turn, he crushed Lim’s last vial of his own blood and fatally attacked him, piercing his gut. Lim’s death marked the end of a pivotal evil force, closing a dark chapter of the series.
A brutal end of a monster and the compassionate sacrifice: Lee Jae-jin and Ja-yeong
Lee Jae-jin and Ja-yeong, both special infectees created from Sang-won’s blood, played pivotal roles in Season 3. Jae-jin, known for his brutal nature, was a significant threat, while Ja-yeong displayed a more compassionate side, even aiding Yeong-hu’s escape from the facility during an attack.
By the end of the season, Ja-yeong experienced a change of heart, choosing to help the humans rather than her malevolent master. She sacrificed herself heroically to stop Jae-jin and his molten lava attack, aiming to protect Yeong-hu and other survivors.
Jae-jin’s reign of terror ended when Yeong-hu planted an explosive on him, detonating it to eliminate the threat. Meanwhile, Sergeant Tak, transformed into an ice monster, played a role in the climactic scene but was left in uncertain status as the season closed.
A mysterious and grim fate: Chief Ji
Chief Ji's (Kim Shin-rok) fate remains one of the season's lingering mysteries. It was revealed that she had been concealing a horrifying secret her son, transformed into a monster and hidden in the basement of the stadium.
To keep him alive and subdued, Chief Ji had been feeding him symptomatic survivors. This dark revelation came to light when Sergeant Tak discovered the truth and subsequently restrained her for public safety.
After the Crow Platoon abandoned the stadium, the show left Chief Ji's ultimate fate ambiguous. Her uncertain end is likely linked to the chaos surrounding the stadium's collapse or potentially at the hands of Sang-won’s monsters. While the series did not provide a conclusive ending for her character, it’s implied that she met a grim fate amidst the turmoil.
The fiery end of the mastermind: Sang-Won
Sang-won’s (Lee jin-wook) reign of terror finally comes to a dramatic end in Season 3. Once more, he attempts to seize control by inhabiting Sang-wook’s body, but this time, his sinister plan falters. Despite his evil prowess, Sang-won finds himself unable to overpower Sang-wook’s will.
In a final act of resistance, Sang-wook seizes the opportunity to end Sang-won’s menace. He drags his own body into a fire, ensuring that Sang-won is consumed by the flames. This act of self-sacrifice decisively terminates Sang-won’s life, eradicating the threat he poses.
The fiery demise marks the end of Sang-won’s cruel influence, leaving no room for his return or body-switching schemes. The show's conclusion brings a sense of closure to the long-standing battle against this formidable antagonist.
'Sweet Home' Season 3 leaves Lee Eun-yu and Seo Yi-su's fate hanging
In reviewing the deaths from Season 3 of 'Sweet Home', we’ve covered the major characters who met tragic ends. For those concerned about Seo Yi-su and Lee Eun-yu’s fates, both characters remain alive.
Yi-su (Kim Si-Ah) survives the turmoil, while Eun-yu (Go Min-si), despite being infected and close to becoming a monster, is not explicitly accounted for in the season’s conclusion. Given the series' narrative twists, it’s plausible that Eun-yu could turn into a neohuman and eventually return to her old apartment, where other neohumans reside.
The show leaves room for speculation and future developments regarding these characters, adding an intriguing layer to the ongoing story.
'Sweet Home' Season 3 trailer