‘Sweet Home 3’ review: A masterfully executed, thrilling conclusion
The final season of ‘Sweet Home’ delivers a satisfying conclusion with stellar performances from the cast. Read our review to find out if you liked it or not.
It has happened many times – a show starts, has a great first season, and then the subsequent seasons seem unnecessarily cumbersome. If you think that’s what happened with ‘Sweet Home’, you’re wrong.
The final season of ‘Sweet Home’ is here, and it’s safe to say this season does not disappoint. The iconic cast reprises their roles, including Song Kang as Cha Hyun-su, Go Min-si as Lee Eun-yoo, Lee Jin-uk as Sang-won/Sang-wook, and the much-anticipated Lee Do-hyun returns as Lee Eun-hyuk, the Neohuman.
The first season of any show is often considered the most iconic, and when the second season of ‘Sweet Home’ arrived, it felt disappointing to introduce several new characters without much pacing and proper development. However, that’s not the case with Season 3.
The story moves along at a decent pace, although some scenes seem a bit dragged. The cast is brilliant as always. While other characters have been in the show since the first two seasons, Lee Do-hyun’s return as one of the first Neohumans is quite striking. Dressed in all black and with a stone-cold straight face says a lot about the actor’s range.
The characters who are already there go through a lot of development, especially Eun-yoo. Her determination to not give up on the man she likes, Hyun-soo, and her brother (who is no longer her brother), Eun-hyeok, says a lot about her. Go Min-si is able to express a lot through his body language.
The show’s main antagonist, brought to life by Lee Jin-uk, really stands out. His terrifying portrayal of the evil Sang-wook is spine-chilling. The sense of dread is palpable in every scene with him, making his character one of the most memorable villains in recent times.
Song Kang lives up to his hype. He plays two different roles – the demon Cha Hyun-soo and the real Cha Hyun-soo. While the demon Hyun-soo is short-tempered and doesn’t care about anyone, the real Hyun-soo is a good person who wants to use his demonic powers to save people, just like he saves Yi-kyung from turning into a full-fledged demon.
Lee Si-young as Yi-kyung has been one of the strongest characters in this franchise since the first season. However, this season, we get to see her as a mother and her bond with her child, Yi-su. Si-young is one of the experienced actors in this cast, and she undoubtedly lives up to her name.
The characters who join the show in the second season – Yoo Oh-seong, Oh Jung-se, Kim Moo-yeol and Jung Jin-young – are also worth watching. They help the main characters when needed and emerge as main characters by the end of the season.
The series comes full circle, bringing us back to the Green Home, where our three main characters are finally together and content. In this scene, they reveal the poignant reason behind the title ‘Sweet Home’ – having someone home to make life sweet and meaningful. This ending beautifully demonstrates the enduring power of love in all its forms – friendship, siblinghood, romantic love and beyond.
The direction is superb under the expert guidance of Lee Eung-bok. If seasons 2 and 3 were released together, viewers would have had fewer complaints about character development, as most of it is revealed in season 3, making season 2 feel incomplete. The decision to split the characters into two separate stories and then bring them together was a masterstroke, allowing for more focus and engagement with the characters.
The cinematography in this season is exceptional, especially in the dynamic scenes where Hyun-soo engages in a fight in the air. There is careful attention to detail in the choreography and framing of these intense moments. In particular, the first confrontation between Hyun-soo and Eun-hyeok on the bus is shot brilliantly, providing a seamless perspective that allows the audience to experience the fight from both characters’ perspectives.
However, there are some notable shortcomings. First, the visual effects remain a point of contention. Despite the show’s high production values, the VFX have consistently been weak, with some scenes appearing visibly chopped-up and lacking polish. This problem persists in the final season, weakening the overall visual experience.
Second, the pace of some scenes seems uneven, which can disrupt the narrative flow and pull the audience out of the story for some time. This inconsistency in pace, while not affecting the core of the story, does affect the viewing experience to some extent.
Despite these minor shortcomings, the series ends on an exceptionally high and satisfying note. It skillfully ties up loose ends and provides a satisfying resolution to the story. It’s safe to say that ‘Sweet Home’ ended at just the right time, ensuring that it leaves a lasting impact without overstaying its welcome.