‘Gyeongseong Creature’ Season 2 Review: Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee’s Netflix Show Trades Nostalgic Charm for Superhero Chaos in Its Thrilling Return (LatestLY Exclusive)

Gyeongseong Creature Season 2 Review: When the first season of Gyeongseong Creature ended, it left us with many puzzles and questions—not to mention a baffling epilogue that shifts from the World War II period to the present day, yet keeps its protagonist, Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon), mysteriously ageless. But wait, he's now called Ho-jae? What is going on? What did the parasite, Nanjing, do to Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee) after it passed from her dying mother to her while they were drowning? Have the Gyeongseong Creatures been defeated for good, or are they still loose in the world? ‘Gyeongseong Creature 2’: Park Seo Joon Talks About His Dual Role in Netflix Series, Thanks Han So Hee for Her Unwavering Support.

The new season of Gyeongseong Creature, directed by Chung Dong-yoon and Roh Young-sub, opens with a montage of scenes that leave you intrigued before we meet Ho-jae, who wakes from a dream from a life he doesn't remember and a face he can't recall. Ho-jae has lost his memory in an accident and is now working as a private investigator with his friend. While acting on a tip-off about a secret rendezvous at a hotel, Ho-jae walks into the wrong room and stumbles upon a corpse. There’s also a mysterious woman in the room who beats him up before fleeing from the scene, leaving him a suspect in the murder.

Watch the Trailer of 'Gyeongseong Creature 2':

Of course, we know that she is Yoon Chae-ok, who has somehow survived into the present era without ageing a day. Now also working as a private investigator, Yoon Chae-ok possesses superhuman strength, turning her into a powerful fighter. She is shocked when she sees Ho-jae's face, but while he doesn’t recognise her, he can’t shake the sense of a deep connection with her.

'Gyeongseong Creature' Season 2 Review - Thrilling If Somewhat Convoluted Mysteries

As the episodes progress, we peel back the layers of their mysterious pasts—and even their present—as Ho-jae uncovers the truth about his hidden history, bit by bit. But the mysteries don’t just revolve around these two; they extend to their enemies, both old and new. The Japanese military may no longer be around to conduct inhuman experiments, but they’ve been replaced by an evil corporation, Jeonseung Biotech (because, of course, corporations are evil... oh, hi, Netflix!). There’s also a killer on the loose, Seung-jo (Bae Hyeon-seong), who can produce tentacles from his body to kill, and who possesses superhuman reflexes, strength, and speed. We’re definitely entering superhero territory here.

Naturally, Gyeongseong Creature S2 also has to address what happened to Yukiko Maeda (Claudia Kim), the main villain of the entire show, who was last seen wheelchair-bound and heavily scarred, and tempted by the idea of having the parasite inside her.

Gyeongseong Creature S2 is packed with so many mysteries and puzzles that nearly every scene comes with a twist or a revelation. It certainly sets a fast pace, constantly reminding us of the many questions it still needs to answer. After a while, though, the story becomes a bit too convoluted, with too much drama being unravelled at once. And, like in the previous season, there are some glaringly convenient plot devices. For instance, a character who should have been killed by a deadly assassin is left merely injured, clearly so they can play a role later. Or the hero survives dangerous falls with just minor scrapes, or escapes from a heavily guarded hospital far too easily.

'Gyeongseong Creature' Season 2 Review - Fab Performances and a Few Chinks

The production value of the show has certainly ramped up this season, with slick visuals, set pieces, and action scenes. The attack at the R2 abandoned facility, where Ho-jae and Chae-ok realise they've walked into a trap, is a standout action sequence, brimming with tension. However, I wish the camera work was steadier, with fewer cuts—the fast movements made my head spin a bit too much. The superhero elements add to the mystery, though somewhat comically, they kept reminding me of Venom and, ugh, Morbius—two superhero films I definitely didn’t want to be reminded of. At least it wasn’t Madame Web.

While the present-day setting brings a dark, sleek visual style, I really missed the nostalgic charm of the period setting from the first season. It didn’t help that the flashbacks kept reminding me of what I was missing. With so many mysteries to unravel, even the relationship between the two leads—a key element that made this creature horror series compelling—feels somewhat sidelined. Fortunately, the emotional connection isn’t completely lost. Park Seo-Joon Expresses Love for Bollywood Films and Desire To Visit India Amidst ‘Gyeongseong Creature Season 2’ Premiere.

It helps that Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee are both in top form here. Park Seo-joon abandons the aristocratic grace of the first season for a more street-smart persona, convincingly portraying a man caught in a bewildering dilemma. He handles this new dimension of his character brilliantly. Han So-hee, on the other hand, shines in the action scenes as a badass fighter but also delivers in the more dramatic moments. The newcomers to the series, Lee Mu-saeng and Bae Hyeon-seong, significantly elevate the sinister atmosphere of the season.

'Gyeongseong Creature' Season 2 Review - Final Thoughts

Gyeongseong Creature S2 expands its universe with a plethora of twists, heightened stakes, and even more mystery. It might get bogged down by its overly convoluted plot at times and we missed the period setting, but the show’s fast pace, slick production values, intriguing twists and strong performances from Park Seo-Joon and Han So-hee keep the series from losing its edge. Gyeongseong Creature S2 is streaming on Netflix.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2024 01:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).