Why 'Sweet Home' Season 2 was not as well received as third chapter
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Season 1 of 'Sweet Home' captivated international audiences with its unique blend of creepy horror sequences and endearing characters. Based on the Webtoon by Carnby Kim and Youngchan Hwang, the first season remained largely faithful to the source material, with significant deviations occurring only at the story’s end.
While these changes divided some fans, they effectively set the stage for a promising second season. However, Season 2 failed to meet the high expectations set by its predecessor. Despite some strong points, it struggled to recapture the elements that made the series so popular.
In contrast, Season 3, released on July 19, has been met with a more positive response from fans. This shift highlights the series' ability to bounce back and improve, learning from the missteps of its second installment.
Why 'Sweet Home' Season 2 was a missed potential?
Season 2 of 'Sweet Home' faced several issues that made it less compelling compared to Season 1. Firstly, the focus shifted away from Cha Hyun-su, who had a smaller role and became more predictable, losing some of his initial appeal.
The show also moved away from its unique and creepy monsters, introducing a more conventional military presence and action, which diluted the horror and made the monsters less threatening. The series also strayed from the source material, making the story less engaging.
Additionally, Season 2's plot became overly complicated with political struggles and less interesting new characters. The monsters became more normalized and less menacing, reducing the impact of their presence. Overall, the mix of these elements made Season 2 feel less fresh and exciting.
A love-hate relationship of fans with 'Sweet Home'
Sweet Home's fans had mixed reactions to the show's progression from Season 1 through Season 3. While some viewers found Season 3 an improvement over Season 2, noting its richer character development, others felt it ended abruptly and left too many questions unanswered.
The shift from the compelling debut of Season 1 to the more fragmented narrative in later seasons has sparked debates about whether the series lost its initial charm. Discussions reveal a mix of disappointment with certain plot developments and mixed feelings about the show’s direction.
A user expressed that while Season 3 of 'Sweet Home' was better than Season 2, it felt rushed towards the end, leaving many questions unanswered. They pointed out and wrote, "Season 3 was better than Season 2 but they rushed it at the end. I have lots of questions unanswered."
Overall, they felt dissatisfied with the Season 2 finale due to these unresolved plot points.
Another user penned their question to know a few things before committing eight hours to watching the show, "To people watching and before I commit 8 hours to this show I just want to know few things. Is Song Kang barely in this show just like in Season 2, and also is this season overall atleast better than Season 2?"
Meanwhile, another user shared their experience after watching Season 3 and wrote, "Season 3 is way better than season 2. I thinks it’s because they haven’t added new characters. They’re taking the characters and storylines they already have, and working with that. Makes for richer character development, more viewer investment, and overall a better episode-to-episode series."
However, between all the chaos a user also defended Season 2 plot and penned, "I think Season 2 was better than Season 1. People said it was confusing to follow but for me it was really easy. Season 3 is so far really good I'm on Episode 7 and honestly it's the best yet. I loved Hyun su and his alter and his blue eyes. I also liked that we see a lot more of his winged arm."
On the other hand, a user was seen rating all three seasons for others and wrote, "I'm going to keep it simple: Season 1: Amazing and worth the watch — 9/10, Season 2: A complete mess and worth skipping — 2.5/10, Season 3: Slightly better than Season 2 but still bad, also worth skipping — 6/10"
Another fan sarcastically wrote, "So they should rehire the scriptwriter from Season 1." While replying to this comment another fan explained the whole reason why Season 2 was a bit dull and penned, "Yeaah, that wasn't the main problem either since it's the same screenwriters. The main issue was that this drama was never intended for multiple seasons. The story ends with Season 1, which aligns almost perfectly with the webtoon. The other two seasons were concocted by screenwriters who lacked the ability to create a captivating story."
Overall, fan feedback highlights a sense of dissatisfaction with the later seasons of Sweet Home. Despite some appreciation for Season 3’s focus on existing characters, many agree that the series struggles with coherence and unresolved storylines.
The initial success of Season 1 sets a high bar, and subsequent seasons have faced criticism for not living up to that standard. The general consensus suggests that while the show still has its moments, it has not managed to recapture the compelling essence that made its debut so impactful.
'Sweet Home' Season 3 trailer