Sweet Home Season 3 Full Review: A Terrifyingly Satisfying Finale or a Letdown?

After the record-breaking success of its first two seasons, Sweet Home has become one of the most iconic K-dramas in the horror genre so obviously, fans had high hopes for the season finale. In the first season, we were introduced to a group of people who tragically survived a horrifying apocalypse. Season 2 expanded the plot and gave us a broader picture of the apocalypse while diving deeper into its emotional stakes and further expanding this terrifying universe. After that fans were eagerly waiting for the finale, and I am here with Sweet Home Season 3 full review.

As the final chapter of this intense saga, the anticipation among fans was massive. They wanted all their unanswered questions resolved. Fans were desperate to know what would happen to the wrecked world and what happened to their favorite characters. But above all, the biggest question still is: Will this season live up to its predecessors?

Of course, such high expectations put immense pressure on the makers. Would they be able to deliver a satisfying conclusion to this electrifying war between humans and monsters? In this review, we’ll examine just the fact that Sweet Home Season 3 was able to satisfy its fans, or did it fall short. 

Plot Overview: How Season 3 Continues the Chaos

The survivors continue to live a horrifying life in the stadium while the outside world is fully wrecked. New monsters are introduced and some mystery is revealed. Cha Hyun Soo now copes with his power and continues defending the survivors. Some human-like monsters are also introduced in this part. Seo Yi Kyung, who was pregnant in the first season, gives birth to a child with special powers and becomes one of the most significant parts of the story. Lee Eun Hyuk, the leader of part one, comes back as a transformed monster who does not have any previous memory and this monster is called neo-human. The government and scientific figures try their best to understand the monster theory and come up with a cure that adds a layer of intrigue and hope to the survivors. On the other side, Pyeong Sang Wook became the main villain this time who wants his daughter’s powers. Sergeant Kim Yeong Hoo is also trying his best to save himself and his fellow soldiers during the fight against the unexpected villains. Cha Hyun Soo is doing everything to keep the human self alive in Seo Yi Kyung and is taking care of her daughter who can be the ultimate threat to the world. Meanwhile, Lee Eun Yoo and Military Private Park Chan Yeong are watching over Cha Hyun Soo. Now the battle is not between humans and monsters anymore, now the war is between humans, monsters and neo-human with a greater threat. 

Character Arcs: Growth, Surprises & Tragedies

The drama Sweet Home comes in three respective seasons that introduce us to a variety of characters but season 3 delivers some of the most intense character transformations. As the finale season is the final battle between humans and monsters the main characters have to make some cruel decisions, as a result of that, some characters become stronger and some face tragic ends. So let’s talk about the most significant characters of the season finale.

Cha Hyun Soo: The Ultimate Survivor or the Ultimate Monster?

From the beginning of the series Cha Hyun Soo is the heart of the story, he is the ultimate protagonist of the series. As he is the center, every plot runs around him. He is the one who struggles the most in the battle of Human vs Monster and later Human vs Neo-human. In season 1 he embraces the monster in him for the sake of other people whom he wanted to save. In season 2 he accepts his fate and becomes the key figure of the apocalypse but in the final season, his power reaches its peak. Does he fully accept his monstrous identity? No, deep down he still is a human with a soft heart that wants to protect innocent people. He knows he lost everything but somewhere he still has hope to save humanity. The monster with him did its best to overpower his humanity but ultimately it failed. He ends his heroic battle like a real hero and not like a villain. 

Lee Eun Hyuk: Sacrifice and Redemption

In season 1 he comes forward as a calm and calculative hero who sacrifices himself for the sake of the people who followed his lead. He always had a burden in his heart that made him feel the responsibility to save other people including his sister. While in season 1 his story ends the fans still were hopeful for his return. And he returns but when he does he is totally a new creature. He is not human anymore, he forgot all the memories he had as a human. But his unconscious mind still recognizes his sister. Though nothing goes back to normal, they become the partners of this new journey. To some fans his ending was satisfying but to others, it did feel rushed because, for them this character was an emotion. 

Lee Eun Yoo: Strength in the Face of Despair

While her brother was calm and calculative, Eun Yoo was the total opposite of her brother. She starts her journey as a rebellious character who does not even like her brother. She was a free-spirited and carefree woman. But at the end of season one he acknowledges her love for her brother when he sacrifices his life for her, and for the first time she calls her brother “Oppa”. However, in the next season, she becomes completely different from her previous character with much more strength and bravery but her ultimate growth happens in the final season. Here also becomes a fierce survivor with an unbreakable will. She finally becomes a hero. She goes to the extreme to find her brother and her love interest Cha Hyun Soo, and when she ultimately finds her she breaks down because both of them are humans anymore. Cha Hyun Soo still recognizes her but her brother does not remember anything. But she stays hopeful anyway that one day she will have them by her side. She also finds a trusted friend in the military who was by her side in her journey to find Cha Hyun Soo and Lee Eun Hyuk.

Pyeon Sang-wook: Hero or Villain?

Pyeon Sang Wook was always a mysterious character. In the first season, he comes to the Green Home apartments out of nowhere and as a thug. Nobody knew him and his origin but he appeared as a hero to save the residents without thinking about his own self. He was even ready to sacrifice himself and his bravery and ruthless fighting skills were feared yet admired by everyone. But in the next season his character totally changed and that is the most unexpected twist of the entire series. An outsider who was trusted by the people of Green Home in the first season now has become the most feared face in the next two seasons. But again like Hyun Soo, the real Pyeon Sang Wook was alive somewhere in the body of the fearful beast who stopped him from becoming the villain and with his ultimate sacrifice he again became the hero.  

Seo Yi Kyung: Who Stole the Spotlight

Seo Yi Kyung, the firefighter who was in search of truth, is one of the most significant characters in the whole drama. In the first season, we see her as a bold fighter who became the savior of the residents. In the midst of fighting she comes to know about her pregnancy but for her it is more important to find her fiance who is missing right now. She also doubts his connection with the monster outbreak. At the end of the season, she sets out to find the truth behind all of these. In the next season, we see her giving birth to a child which later appears to be the most powerful monster with unique powers. Yi Kyung’s fighting skills and strength make her one of the most favorite characters of the whole series by the fans. 

Horror vs. Action: Which One Wins in Season 3?

In the very first season, Sweet Home appears as a psychological horror series full of horrifying monsters, eerie settings and the nerve-wracking idea of losing humanity but as the story moves forward to the next season to another season the main theme slowly loses its mark. Slowly it leaned more towards action than horror. Season 2 and especially season 3 introduced large-scale battles and the military officers present gave a war vibe more than a horror atmosphere. Season 3 is full of blood, fire and many more but the question is were the horror elements still present there or did the action take over completely?

Well, the answer is quite tricky. The new seasons successfully delivered visually stunning fighting scenes and also included new monsters but it could not beat the horror of season one. If I tell you in my perspective as an audience then Season 2 and 3 had nothing like Season 1. When I started watching the series, I remember I could not finish the first episode at once. I completed the first episode of Season 1 in a total of 3 days because I was so scared. In every scene I got goosebumps from the tension of what was going to happen now. But in other seasons I could not feel the kick at all. I thought I was watching an action movie or drama. So in my opinion obviously it lost the spark of season one, but no doubt the other seasons are also worth watching in many aspects.

In conclusion, Sweet Home is one of the most iconic K-dramas of all time so it is for sure a must-watch for every K-drama fan. Like its own legacy of record-breaking storyline and box-office collection, it also delivers a power-packed finale. Fans were super excited for its release because the first and second seasons left some questions unanswered and the finale answers them all. A perfect balance of horror roots with high intensity action sequences this series comes to an end. Though there is a mixed reaction among the fans, some fans are totally satisfied with the ending and there still is room for improvement. If you compare the first season with the rest then maybe somehow you can feel a bit disappointed but if you focus on each story and plot then I’m sure the finale will satisfy you. 

Finally, if you watched season 1 and season 2 then it will not be a good idea to miss the finale. Maybe you will get your answer here in this season, who knows? And if you haven’t watched any of the seasons then what are you waiting for? Sweet Home is going to give you one of the best experiences of being a K-drama lover. Watch this series on your favorite streaming platform and witness one of the most exciting saga of the battle between Humans and Monsters.