Air Date: May 24 – July 6, 2024

Episodes: 14

Where to Watch: Viki

Genre: Crime Action Drama

Starring: Ji Sung and Jeon Mi Do

But if he is going to keep his job, he is going to need to cover up his addiction until he can solve the mystery of what really happened to his old friend and why.  Luckily, two other friends from his past will reconnect with him and come alongside him to help bring the truth to light. 

Jang Jae Gyeong is a determined, successful detective.  When he is kidnapped and forced to take a powerful new street drug until he forms an addiction, his career is in serious jeopardy.  But when he finds out his best friend from high school, Jun Seo, suddenly killed himself in a suspicious fall from an abandoned building, he decides to put off rehab until he can find out the truth about what really happened that night.

When he meets a group of his old classmates at Jun Seo’s funeral, he becomes more sure that something about the suicide story doesn’t add up.  And the incident bears some striking similarities to an accident of another classmate years ago.  Fortunately, the funeral also puts him back in touch with two of his close high school friends, who share Jae Gyeong’s suspicions.  Now the trio will combine their talents to uncover what really happened, both in the past and now.  

Jang Jae Gyeong was expelled from his high school for threatening to report the death of his classmate as more than a simple accident.  He has always believed in doing right, no matter how hard it might be for him personally.  So finding out that he has developed a drug addiction puts him in a devastating moral dilemma.  But his desire to see justice for his friend takes precedent over his career and personal wellbeing.  And as his addiction becomes more consuming, he knows better than anyone that this case needs to be solved quickly and clearly, for everyone’s sake. 

Ji Sung is a phenomenal actor and he has had a lot of memorable roles.  But even by that standard, I felt that this performance was outstanding.   The emotional distress that he portrays while under the grips of powerful addiction felt real and breathtaking.  I absolutely loved watching him in this series.  

O Yun Jin works as an investigative reporter.  She is saddened by the news that her former high school boyfriend, Jun Seo, is dead from an apparent suicide.  And she is absolutely shocked when she hears that, although she had lost contact with him shortly after graduating, she and Jae Gyeong had been named as beneficiaries on Jun Seo’s insurance policy.  She can’t help but think there must be a reason he would name the two of them.  And since, as long as his death is ruled a suicide, the policy is void, she is even more motivated to join Jae Gyeong, combining their investigative skills, to find out the truth behind Jun Seo’s death.

Yun Jin is the only person Jae Gyeong tells about his recent kidnapping and drug addiction, since they seem to be somehow related to Jun Seo’s death.  It is Yun Jin’s support, through some of the roughest moments of withdrawal, that keep Jae Gyeong from falling deeper into his reliance on the drug.

O Yun Jin lost custody of her young daughter during her recent divorce.  Since than, she has become desperate to earn enough money to bring her child back home.  Because of this, she has gained a reputation as someone who will do anything for the right amount of money.  Right or wrong, this definitely factors into her decision to help Jae Gyeong investigate Jun Seo’s death.

Although Jeon Mi Do is actually rather new to the small screen, I have enjoyed her as an actress.  I feel like her feisty personality was a nice fit for Yun Jin.  But I wish that they would have done more to show her character’s journey and growth through the drama.

I loved Yun Jin’s character but I wish we could have seen more of her story.  I think this is even more disappointing because the foundation is there.  The story of her divorce and custody battle, the obvious missed romance between her and Jae Gyeong in high school, and her confusion about what to do with the insurance money all have the makings for an interesting character.

It was surprising and a bit far-fetched that at the end of it all, it was Chairman Won, not the guys, who actually killed Jun Seo.  It seems incongruous that the man who chose to abandon his own son to save the company would bother getting involved in the drug problem Tae Jin caused in the first place.  Also shocking that in all the years since high school, none of the friends had ever figured out that Jong Su killed their classmate.

I feel like it would have been nice to see more of the relationship between Jae Gyeong and his colleagues.  After all, Yeon Joo and Chang Soo put their careers on the line to help him.  To make that believable, it would have been nice to see a bit more of their closeness demonstrated.  

‘Connection’ ties up all the lose ends and sees justice served before ending on a sweet, comic moment.  In the end, we see Yun Ho and Tae Jin dead.  Jong Su, Chairman Won and his secretary, Sang Ui, and Chang Soo are all behind bars for their crimes.  Jae Gyeong and Yun Jin got the insurance money and share it with Jun Seo’s wife.  The final scene shows our trio on a beach trip, when they suddenly realize the final code for the crypto account is a date dubbed by Jun Seo as Friendship Day back in high school.  They use their final attempt, and when the account opens they react in shock and excitement!

In “A Comprehensive Look at Sweet Home Seasons 1-3“, get a closer look at the Korean drama sci-fi series, ‘Sweet Home’ with plot and character analysis, series highlights, and an explanation of the ending.

This review contains significant spoilers for Sweet Home Seasons 1-3. If you haven’t watched the series yet, we recommend you do so before reading further to avoid any plot revelations.

People enter a phase of evolution called “monsterization’ that threatens to wipe out all human existence as we know it.  Behind the violent transformation lies a small team of researchers and a handful of test subjects know as “special infectees”. And as humans band together and seek safety and protection, an unlikely”monster” will show the world that all is not lost, and traces of humanity still exist, even in the fiercest of symptomatic victims.  But can a small group of survivors find a way to end the destruction and offer a safe, normal future?

 Cha Hyeon Su moves into the Green Home Apartment Complex after the death of his family.  Strange transformations among his new neighbors soon leads to a nation-wide outbreak of what scientists call “monsterization”.  As more residents fall victim to the symptoms, we find that Hyeon Su in not only aware of what is happening, but has the ability to somehow hold onto his humanity despite showing symptoms.   

And as the group is forced to leave their “safe” hideaway, Hyeon Su goes his own way in the hopes of finding a cure. But he stays close by to protect those he has come to care about.  His journey will eventually bring him to a final showdown between those who believe this evolution, beyond “monsterization” and into “neo-humanism”, will beneift the world and those who want to protect the world from it.  

Cha Hyeon Su has lost much in his short life and this has made him something of a loner.  But when he moves to Green Home, he meets people who are willing to befriend him without judgement.  And although his relationship with his own family had been strained before their deaths, this new family that he built teach him about love and friendship.  Their bond as survivors keeps Hyeon Su at their side, even when the rest of the group goes to live in the stadium shelter.  This role was such a great one for Song Kang.  He was able to explore complex emotions in a thrilling story.  I think he was perfect as Hyeon Su.  

Lee Eun Yu and her step brother, Eun Hyeok, live together in Green Home Apartments.  The pair didn’t have much time to get to know each other before the death of their parents left Eun Yu under Eun Hyeok’s guardianship.  But when the people in their building start to experience strange symptoms, her world quickly becomes focused on the need to survive. 

When the group is forced to leave Green Home to find shelter somewhere else in the city, Eun Yu loses both Eun Hyeok and Hyeon Su, who have protected her up until this point.  And while she is sure that the phantom “angel” who rescues her whenever she is in danger, is her first love Hyeon Su, she spends her days wandering their old neighborhood in search of her brother.  But when she finally finds him again, she will be shocked to discover he is not the same young man who she left behind in their old home.

Lee Eun Yu is rebellious and angry at the world.  The death of her parents ended not only her happy family life but eventually her dreams of becoming a dancer.  But when she meets Hyeon Su, she finds a kindred spirit who has been through his own tragedy and is willing to keep fighting.  Unfortunately, she never appreciated Eun Hyeok and all he did to take care of her, until he chose to stay behind and help the other residents escape Green Home.  Go Min Si did a wonderful job developing this character into a young woman who seemed realistic and sincere.  I enjoyed her in this role and I felt like she was a good fit as Eun Yu.

Monsters as Heroes

This drama strays from the common delineation that says humans-good monsters-bad.  Hyeon Su is a fascinating anti-hero.  Even in human form, he is emotionally detached and ready to give up on the world around him.  He is hardly the stuff most heroes are built from.  But this sensitive soul understands pain enough to sympathize with those who are hurting and protect those that can still be saved.  And it is only as a monster that he could have the strength to do anything about it.

New Approach to Zombies

With the abundance of zombie stories these days, this drama offers a fresh look at the evils of monsters.  This is not some random virus or medical experiment that somehow got out of hand.  This is a condition that scientists believe will have a positive impact on the world and ultimately humankind.  Though the difference is subtle, it shifts the focus to a bigger question;  are we as a species destroying this planet, and what would it look like if we took radical actions to somehow “save” it.

Balance of Genres

While this drama is obviously a thrilling sci-fi story, I felt like they did a nice job of developing complex characters and relationships that made it more than that.  The stories of love, family, and loyalty, both from a positive and a more negative perspective, gave this drama a depth that went beyond exciting horror story to include elements of both romantic and life dramas.  

2. Survival of Season 1 Characters:

I think the filming gap may have also contributed to the death of so many season 1 characters.  But even the ones who left Green Home had a surprisingly low survival rate.  There were a lot of great characters from season 1 that I would have liked to see developed more instead of introducing a whole new set of characters that we never get to know that well.

3.  How it All Works:

I know this is sci-fi horror and maybe most people don’t watch this drama for the whys and wherefores, but I would think after 3 seasons we would understand a bit more about the process of monsterization.  How did it happen, what’s up with the vial in the special infectees stomach, and was neo-humanism part of the plan?  How did Dr. Lim lose the ability to turn himself into the monsters he admired so much?  And how did all the monsters suddenly turn into neo-humans simultaneously?   The whole process felt a bit rushed, convenient, and unexplained.  

‘Sweet Home’ Seasons 1-3 ends with the anticipated, although a bit lack-luster, final showdown between Hyeon Su and “Sang Uk”.  After some body shifting, Hyeon Su finally throws Sang Uk into the fire, killing him once and for all.  I Kyeong dies trying to protect Yi Su from her “monster” father, and Yi Su herself dies during the final battle.

With the villains dead and the stadium destroyed, Hyeon Su with the help of the remaining Crow Squad, decide to take the survivors back to their “Sweet Home” as humans and neo-humans make an effort to coexist.  But all is not hopeless as Hyeon Su realizes that neo-humans can regain their humanity slowly through their memories.  This is proven by the slight smile on Eun Hyeok’s face at the end.  The final scene shows Eun Yu, now an expressionless neo-human on the roof of Green Home as Eun Hyeok and Hyeon Su wait for her to regain her human memories.

You should expect plenty of blood and violence with this one.  I definitely would not recommend it if you are squeamish.  And while I enjoyed binging all 3 seasons, I enjoyed some seasons more than others.  I suspect the gap between season 1 and the other 2 seasons may have effected the continuity of the story and its casting choices.   I give ‘Sweet Home’ Seasons 1-3 a solid 8 out of 10.

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Welcome to Kdrama and Ramen

Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Korean dramas and indulge in the delicious flavors of ramen. Here, you’ll find in-depth reviews, unspoiled recommendations, and all the latest updates on your favorite Kdramas. Join me on this exciting journey as we explore the best that Kdramas and ramen have to offer. Let’s dive in!

This review contains significant spoilers for the Korean drama ‘Yonder’. If you haven’t watched it yet, I recommend reading the unspoiled review and viewing the series first, to fully enjoy our detailed analysis.

Air Date: October 14 – 21, 2022

Episodes: 6

Where to Watch: Paramount +

Genre: Sci-Fi Melodrama

Starring: Shin Ha Kyun and Han Ji Min

Yonder is created by a famous “doctor” as a place that exists from the memories of loved ones we have lost.  And as questions about the ethicality of Yonder surface in the media, he will be forced to make a choice about what defines life and what he is willing to give up to be with his wife again.

Kim Jae Hyun is heartbroken that his wife’s cancer is taking its toll on her life and happiness.  He agrees to help her end her life legally, to end her suffering.  But after her death, he begins getting mysterious messages that say they are from her, asking him to come and see her in By and By.  At first he ignores it, but eventually he gives in and finds an AI generated world created from her memories.

And when the AI invites him to leave his life in the real world behind and join her in this new “reality” called Yonder, he agrees.  But what seems like paradise in the beginning starts to show its limitations.  Will he be able to say goodbye to his wife again, knowing that it is forever, to go back to the “real world”?

Kim Jae Hyun is logical and loyal.  His love for his wife makes it impossible to ignore her messages, even when they seem like some cruel joke.  And that same loyalty makes it harder for him to leave Yonder once he goes there.  But even his love can’t stop him from wondering if this alternate reality is really life at all.

Shin Ha Kyun is a talented actor and I love that he isn’t afraid to take such a wide range of roles.  This character allowed him to explore a softer, more introspective role, and I enjoyed watching him show so much emotion.

Cha Yi Hoo was living a blessed life with a husband she loved, dreaming of having their first child.  But a shocking cancer diagnosis changed all of that.  As the illness begins to take its toll, she decides to end her life.  But first, she contacts an organization that promises to save her chosen moments on a chip that will create an alternate world where she will live on through the memories.

When her husband finally comes to join her in Yonder, he finds not only his wife but also their daughter, alive and well.  Their days fall into an easy, carefree rhythm until Yi Hoo starts to feel the emptiness of living the same day over and over.  And when she realizes her daughter has not grown a single inch, the futility of their new life becomes overwhelming.  Yi Hoo talks with Jae Hyun and they decide to end it all by drinking a potion Yi Hoo got from Dr. K.

Cha Yi Hoo is thoughtful and full of a contagious joy.  But all of that changes after her illness.  And even the “perfect” world of Yonder can’t bring her any real happiness.  Her realization that Yonder has no “future” for them or their daughter is the final straw for her.

 Han Ji Min plays this kind of role well.  She seems slightly ethereal as the perfect memory of herself and her life with Jae Hyun.  There is a quiet grace to her that made Yi Hoo’s struggle and sacrifice feel genuine.

“If you can’t forget about what you’ve lost, then it’s not losing”

‘Yonder does some interesting things with stunning, dreamlike sequences.  The views and colors shift and change with what is happening in the story in ways that give a full immersion kind of feeling.  As Seiren rockets the sports car down the road toward Yonder, we feel catapulted into the new world with Jae Hyun.  No shot feels wasted and all of it seems ripe with meaning.

Peach’s story was really intersting.  The idea of Yi Hoo and her memories makes sense.  But Peach’s whole memory world is founded on her own delusion. That takes the idea of Yonder to a whole new levels where people can create and live in whatever fantasy they want.  This is also a nice intro into the idea of Yi Hoo’s baby, who never actually existed.  

I don’t necessarily hate short dramas or open-endings.  But this one seemed to leave way too much vaguely unanswered.  If Jae Hyun can be brought back into his body from Yonder, than what is happening to the bodies of everyone else who stay there.  Do they slowly age and die in some kind of coma?  Who actually has the “agency” to decide the memories?  In Yi Hoo’s case, it’s the one who has died but in Peach’s case she, as the “surviving” family member, created her father out of her imagination.  

I want to understand the characters in this drama, but it’s a hard one for me.  I can’t imagine being selfish enough to expect my loved ones to die just because I am no longer with them.  To ask the living to willingly walk away from the world they exist in just for me seems entirely unfair.  Likewise, I can’t imagine packaging an alternate reality as a heavenly religion that obviously takes advantage of someone in the midst of their suffering.  

‘Yonder’ ends with Yi Hoo and Jae Hyun deciding to share the potion given to Yi Hoo to help her “leave Yonder”.  Jae Hyun is saved by his hacker buddy and his new side-kick Eun.  He wakes up sometime later to find the world fully embracing Dr. K and Yonder.  He confronts Seiren, who tells him she can’t give up on the idea and that some day it will be perfect.  The final scene shows Jae Hyun leaving By and By, looking like he is ready for a fight!

‘Yonder’ is a slow, thought-provoking drama that delves into the complexities of life, death, and what lies beyond. At 6 short episodes, it feels more like an extended movie than a full drama of developed characters.  But the concept is fresh and I found myself thinking about it long after I had finished the drama itself.  The cinematography is sweeping and beautiful.  I give ‘Yonder’ a 7 out of 10 ramen.

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