(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – In a recent press conference, Lee Eung-bok, the director of “Sweet Home 3,” revealed that he paid close attention to the feedback from “Sweet Home 2” and is dedicated to ensuring that the final season will be just as exciting and enjoyable.
Netflix’s monster horror series “Sweet Home” took the world by storm in 2020, making history as the first Korean series to break into Netflix’s top 10 list in the US.
Despite the initial success, “Sweet Home 2” faced heavy criticism for its sprawling setting and lack of focus on beloved characters like Hyun-soo, portrayed by Song Kang.
Lee Eung-bok assured fans that these concerns were taken seriously as he crafted the conclusion of the three-part saga.
“Receiving various feedback for the second season made us reflect on the key aspects (of the series),” Lee said.
“Since we shot season two and season three simultaneously, we can’t say that we have new content (for season 3). However, I listened carefully to all the feedback … We dedicated ourselves to concluding the series with season 3, with more help from Netflix (than before),” said Lee.
According to Lee, “Sweet Home 3” follows Hyun-soo as he awakens from his monstrous transformation and reunites with his friends, from whom he was separated in season 2.
“Season 3 is about ‘coming back home,'” said Lee.
“Many things will return. People will come back, Lee Do-hyun will come back, Song Kang will come back and. hopefully, the fun will come back as well,” Lee laughed.
“Viewers seemed to enjoy the relationships in season 1. In season 3, there will be sadness, tension, and mystery as the characters separated by various circumstances come together again. These reunions will create a captivating mix of emotions,” he said.
Meanwhile, at a press event held on the same day, Netflix’s Korean content production heads were asked why successful Korean series often face sophomore slumps, where the second season struggles to replicate the first season’s success.
Alongside “Sweet Home,” Netflix’s military series “DP” was mentioned as an example of such a phenomenon.
Netflix Korea officials at the press event acknowledged they are still seeking a solution to the problem, highlighting that there is no universal answer as contents vary significantly from each other.
“Some adaptations are entertaining when they stay true to the original, while others need to be done differently to be enjoyable.
We have these discussions with the original creator, the director and the writer, but there doesn’t seem to be a single right answer,” said Keo Lee, director of content at Netflix Korea.
“Understanding why the original work is enjoyable and adapting it well (into several seasons) is the key, but since each project requires a different approach, we realize that there is no single solution in this industry,” Lee added.
Netflix directors also noted that the challenge is compounded by the fact that they are pioneering a new frontier in Korea.
“There have been few examples of season-based content in Korea,” said Lee.
“We acknowledge there is some unfamiliarity with the season system. However, recognising its benefits, we are contemplating how to create season-based content tailored to the Korean market,” Lee said.
The first episode of “Sweet Home 3” streams Friday on Netflix.
