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CJ on Drama Island

Drama Island

CJ on Drama Island

Drama Island
Sweet Home Season 3 korean drama review
Completed
Sweet Home Season 3
0 people found this review helpful
by CJ on Drama Island
Jul 21, 2024
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

We all need a sweet home to return to

If you didn't like season 2's shift of focus from the survivors we've grown to love to a whole new group of survivors in a new setting, you might be thinking season 3 won't have much to offer you.

Yes, the season 2 characters are still around, but the core 5 from season 1 (Cha Hyeon Su, Pyeon Sang Uk, Lee Eun Hyeok, Seo I Kyeong and Lee Eun Yu) are back in the spotlight for this final gory monster filled outing.

So let's start with the good: Lee Do Hyun is back after being absent for practically all of the second season. That appearance at the end of season 2 and the long wait for this season had me anticipating the brother and sister reunion between his character Lee Eun Hyeok and Go Min Si's character Lee Eun Yu.

Did it live up to the hype and delusions I singlehandedly built up by myself? Well, it wasn't bad. I kind of wish we got more interactions out of their characters but I can see why they wanted to wrap things up quickly.

Speaking of interactions: Cha Hyeon Su played by Song Kang has more of a prominent role this season. Despite being THE star of the drama, he was noticeably absent from most of season 2. I mean, sure, he was around, but with the introduction of new characters, he story arc felt like a side quest instead of the main story. I personally couldn't care less about his character if it meant he wouldn't be interacting with the complete cast of survivors (those who didn't die, of course) from season 1.

Anyway, the narrative once again focuses on Cha Hyeon Su's internal conflict and battle with his alter-ego. I couldn't been happier not as a Song Kang fan but as a fan of consistent storytelling. Really, the bar was so low this season. At the very least, I wanted the writers to follow through with plotlines and story threads that they introduced in the first season. I'm easy to please, dammit!

Rambling on with the good comes the acting. It wasn't a stellar story overall, but everyone's acting was great. You really felt the emotions from the characters. Kudos for all of those involved who took an "ok" script and made it slightly above average just with their acting.

That brings me to the bad: The story. While I praise the acting, the story felt rushed and boring at some parts. Around episode 5 is where I felt the pace picked up. I know it's an 8 episode drama, but I feel like the buildup was there for a good sendoff, but the writers kind of fumbled it by speed running to the end and throwing in lots of deaths that lacked emotion.

Also, there were story arcs that I didn't care about along with characters that, while entertaining, added no value to the overall narrative. I've had similar thoughts in season 2, but I was generally still seated because I knew (hoped) this season would be a return to what I loved about the drama in the first place: a great emotionally driven story.

The thing that confused me the most was the lack of attention on the new species called Neohuman's. Season 2's ending had me hype to see what would happen with their inclusion in the overall story. Were these Neohuman's gonna be on the side of good, bad or a neutral party? How were our characters gonna deal with this new possible threat in a world already full of other threaty-threats?

Well, we don't really get an answer to those questions exactly. Instead, the Neohuman's just seemed like a convenient excuse to cut down on the budget, but hey, I don't blame them though! Those CGI trash monster/transformer hybrids from last season were ridiculous and borderline offensive.

I'm closing this review with something positive. The ending was pretty good. Not great, but good. It actually made me emotional. Even with the flaws and narrative missteps that plagued this season, it was still bittersweet to see things come full circle and the three main characters we've followed the journeys of since season one return home.
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