Gyeongseong Creature Season 2 (2024)

A cautionary tale of how to ruin a drama with lazy writing

When part 2 of Gyeongseong Creature was announced a few weeks ago, I was elated, Part 1, is one of the best TV series in a long time -Korean or from anywhere-: fantastic story, fantastic characters, amazing production values, directing, acting, you name it.
And then, last weekend, when I started watching Season 2, before the end of Ep 1, it was clear, that this was going to be a huge disappointment. The production values, were there in a modern context, additional cast members were added to the already great cast, directing, fight coaches, costume and art department, all these and pretty much every department did a masterful job, unfortunately, unlike part 1, the writer decided to just be lazy and the production company, the powers that be or whoever was in charge just decided to let it happen.

There are a few rules to follow for entry level scriptwriters who are learning to write for TV/Film:
- Never explain or key plot points using only dialogue or a text read by a narrator,
- Never describe what's obviously on screen
- Plot holes cannot be resolved through dialogue
- Never kill a character for a lack of character development or ideas, and a few others that seem obvious, and even expected from entry level screenwriters and students. Why do I mention all these rules? Because, the list above represents some of the many issues with the sloppy writing and poor story development, these two parts are virtually, two different kdramas, not part 1 and 2 of the same story. When you have a poor script, there is very little in the way of production, directing and acting that can salvage things.

So, yes, technically, a scriptwriter can break these rules, there are masterful examples of how to bend and break these rules, but Gyeongseong Creature part 2, is a Masterclass of exactly the opposite situation, when an experienced writer just gives up and does whatever, adding characters and plot lines, no one cares about, whose motives and actions matter to the development of the story are barely, -if present- mentioned casually through sparse dialogue or a few flashbacks.

Also, not there in Part 2: key flashbacks that would have explained a lot of character development and added context to the story. These small details, a few scenes here and there, would have helped with the coherence and continuity that Season 1 had that unfortunately, was wasted, These choices sadly defeated the purpose of most plot lines developed with care and a lot of detail in Part 1. Every single problem with part 2 of this series, comes from lazy writing, poor character development, plot holes the size of the Korean Peninsula, and a few other issues, namely, how to solve a huge gap in time for these characters, things are just talked about and never shown.

Season 3 is probably hinted, I say probably, because, with this level of poor writing, that after credits scene might just be nothing but another meaningless afterthought.

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A Fast-Paced Sequel with Unexplored Backstories

Part 2 takes us to modern Seoul and, like the first installment, unravels the backstory—exploring the events between Part 1 and the current narrative—later in the series. However, it feels a bit limited. I’d love to see more of those 75 years when our main characters were apart! Diving deeper into Lady Maeda's truly wicked nature and Captain Kuroko's backstory would be fascinating.

Overall, this sequel amps up the pace and is packed with action, pulling viewers in much quicker. Despite its flaws, the excitement makes it a fun continuation of the story. I’m curious to see if there will be a Part 3 with that intriguing ending!

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Different setting, Same problems

Part 2 has the same strengths and weaknesses as Part 1: great production, great actors, decent action and FX sequences, uneven writing, glaring plot holes, convenient plot devices, cliche drama beats, cringy dialogue, and an inability or refusal to provide any proper background while constantly teasing that the background is important.

Unfortunately, they also removed the most interesting aspect of Part 1, the setting. Now, we're in the present day, which seems infinitely less interesting. The historic setting also helped cover up or at least smooth over a lot of its flaws. Now, in the present, those flaws are exposed.

The plot still revolves entirely around the ML's and FL's romance which is still an odd choice for a sci-fi monster thriller. The ML still sweeps in to save the FL constantly. I can't count the times the FL gets lured, beat up, or kidnapped... it's definitely too many times for a short 7 episode drama. And they keep clipping in poorly edited flashbacks that don't convey the information we actually need for the plot to make sense. This was poorly done in Part 1 as well. We are still waiting for those Part 1 answers.

I hope Part 3 is better and gives us some proper background and some sense of resolution but judging by Parts 1 and 2, we will just be getting more of the same.

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so, where are we at the second season???

so, here's the thing...
first season was more of a background of where it all started, until the second season was a continuation of the current year where jeonsung biotech continues experimenting people who were chosen to give big amount of money and be part of the experimentation to be infected. Now, it was tooflat, but the romance was getting better from this season. There were still unanswered questions for me, and as well as the new characters, especially the adopted son of maeda yukiko, seung jo was part of the experiment after a huge misunderstanding with his mother. Well, it was too short and I was definetly expecting for more than the 7-episode. And also, it was shown all around the world about a creature that infects people from a worm within in between the waters, especially when drinking it. But the thing here is how the heck did Yoon Chae-ok's body was recovered after the worm that was in her body since born went out from her body? Was that because of the temperature of the water that she was in? Or is there even more behind to that? And also, now Jang Tae Sang was like in the situation of Chae-ok before, now where does the storyline belongs next??? There was an ending credits scene where Seung Jo was already(?) the next leader of the company where packs of bottled water being packed?? Would there be another wave coming????

Well the ending seems to be an open-ending, as I am really suspicious of another season. Well I really do hope because there were still plotholes and some areas are missing with the second season that has short episodes. But thankfully, the acting of Han So Hee and Park Seo Joon was cool yet versatile as well!! Love their chemistry all the way from the first season. If there would be another (possible) third season, I do really hope to get romantic scenes between the main leads, as it was less due to focusing on the background of the story.

Overall, it was okay, but I was expecting for more. The second part was so short but on the other side, I was very impressed with the main lead's acting. Looking forward IG to the next season???? I do hope so T-T

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Unnecessary Second Season: The Drama That Should've Ended After One

The curious case of a drama that honestly didn’t need a second season. The entire arc of this season could have been condensed into about three episodes. Combined with the first season, this continuation had zero impact and relevance to what we saw in the initial and decisive season. It felt as though the stories were disconnected, with the only link being the protagonists who, somehow, fell in love in the first season. This romance, forged amidst the insane chaos of a Japanese hospital, seemed absurdly out of place. Who thinks of romance in such a macabre and chaotic environment? These are the quirks only South Korea can provide.

The CGI was, to say the least, poor and mediocre. What’s even more astonishing is that we’re talking about a standard Netflix drama. However, not everything was a total loss. Claudia Kim was phenomenal, perfectly embodying a Japanese aristocrat. She was a character who, despite despising human weaknesses such as emotions, harboured a sick and vengeful obsession with Jang. She managed to maintain this contradiction assertively and fully, with lines in Japanese that sounded beautiful, always maintaining a serene and unique tone. Bae Hyeon Seong, portraying Seung Jo, was also worthy of praise. He finally broke away from the roles of innocent and pure characters he usually plays and did very well.

I liked the subtle ending of the drama, suggesting that they would start a new story there and finally leave the past behind. Fortunately, they didn’t leave any room for a third season. We’re done here and that’s it.

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A bad season!

After the first four episodes, I was well and truly invested. Although the modern-day setting lends the second season a different flavor, the callbacks and connections to season one occur gradually and organically, almost in sequence with Ho-jae's recovery of his memories.
The episode three action sequences. I understand that shrouding scenes in darkness are true to how the lighting would look in those environments, but when it's coupled with the rapid editing style of the fight sequences, it sometimes makes it difficult to follow exactly what's going on in those scenes.
Obviously, the budget was on the finale so the fight sequences were quite better and well-lit. Other than that, no cliche plot lines and good integration of past to present timelines.
This season is edgier and the storyline seems more compelling. Also feel like the chemistry is off the charts this time. Though the first season had good world building and layered characters, while this one has the complete opposite.

Seong Jo's motivation is so fucking stupid.
Why did Chae-ok not keep tabs on Tae Sang. I get the melodramatic we can't be together sentiment, but you would still like to be aware of the love of your life being dead or alive, which in fact would have helped her realise that he's also like her now.

I loved the twists though.

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Just like season 1, season 2 never lives up to its potential

In my review for season 1, I talked about how the show had a really compelling premise that was let down by lackluster character development, and sadly, that trend continues in season 2. For starters, the time jump to the modern day removed the most compelling part of season 1 - the theme of maintaining one's humanity while fighting against oppressors whose weapon of choice is dehumanization. The backdrop of Japanese-occupied Korea was one of the best (and honestly only) things I enjoyed about the first season and without that context, this turns into a more run-of-the-mill revenge story with a supernatural bent.

The story itself is extremely muddled. With only 7 episodes, it needed much tighter writing but instead we got a mish mash of private investigators, well-meaning but mostly useless cops, memory loss, long-lost lovers, a shady conglomerate conducting illegal human trials, superpowered ninjas (??), hideous tentacle monsters, and numerous double crosses and betrayals. Sprinkled throughout are some genuinely interesting points about justice and human connection, and in the last episode, Chae-Ok has a really gut-wrenching line where she says she's not afraid of death but of living forever alone without being able to die and I wish we'd gotten this insight about her character earlier in season and I wish we'd gotten it via showing instead of just telling.

On that note, character development is practically nonexistent, which is a shame because, again, the potential is there. Lady Maeda has consistently been one of the most interesting characters on this show but she was criminally underutilized here. She and Chae-Ok could've been incredible foils for each other as they both keenly understood the loneliness of the decades they endured after the events at Onseong Hospital but they only have 1 brief scene together. The Kuroko captain guy was also fascinating - he clearly had his own agenda in trying to save his girlfriend but again, none of that is revealed until the very last episode and then nothing really happens with any of that? Lee Moo Saeng is very good at playing a sociopath though, love that guy. Seung-Jo is another character whose shifting loyalties made him a wild card and I wanted to see more of his friendship with Tae-Sang/Ho-Jae. His struggle to embrace his inner monster vs following in his hyung's footsteps and being a good person was so compelling, which made his choice in the post-credits scene to basically unleash the naijin on the entire population of Korea all the more disappointing. Boo hiss, I was rooting for you, Seung-Jo! I don't even know what to say about Tae-Sang/Ho-Jae. With his superpowers, he seemed less like an actual character and more like a plot device this season. Again, Park Seo Joon did his best but it says a lot that my favorite scenes of his were the flashbacks to the 1940s, especially when we got to see the old House of Golden Treasure crew again. Chae-Ok, my sweet girl, how this show failed you. I loved seeing her continue her work of finding missing people in the first episode, but after that, it seemed her only purpose in the story was to get injured and be held hostage to trap Tae-Sang. The love story did not move me in season 1 and it moved me even less this time around but they deserved a happy ending so I'm glad they got it.

Will there be a season 3? I sure hope not and I will definitely not be watching if there is one. After watching these 7 episodes, season 2 doesn't even seem like it was really necessary as it just re-hashed many of the same plot points from season 1. To be honest, I think the multi-season format is kind of ruining kdramas but that's a rant for another time. This show would've been better off ending with one of the flashbacks we saw this season, with Tae-Sang and the rest of the House of Golden Treasure crew celebrating Korea's independence while Chae-Ok watches from afar. In the midst of the celebration, he notices her, and instead of walking away, she approaches him, and they get the future they deserved.

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repetiu a primeira temporada

Terminei de assistir ao drama e achei interessante no começo. Não vou dizer que foi totalmente ruim, mas uma coisa que percebi é que foi muito parecido com a primeira temporada. Não teve um enredo diferente e inovador como no início. Quando comecei a assistir, estava gostando de ver os personagens se reencontrando depois de tantos anos e estava curioso para saber como seria a história. Mas, quando chegou pela metade, vi que estava seguindo o mesmo caminho, cometendo os mesmos erros e enfrentando os mesmos problemas. E a mesma coisa aconteceu no final: um gancho para uma continuação no mesmo estilo.

Dava para ter feito algo diferente, poderia ter sido um final fechado com tudo resolvido, mas não. Tiveram que colocar um gancho para uma continuação. Não tenho certeza se haverá uma terceira temporada; isso pode depender das críticas. Mas, com essa segunda temporada, não tenho muito o que falar. Basicamente, pegaram a primeira temporada e replicaram nesta segunda, só mudando o ambiente. Esperava mais dessa temporada.

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Another story that takes shortcuts

Well, I was interested in seeing where this story was heading after the first season's last episode twist. I liked the period setting of the first season and grew to care for the characters, so I was already invested in them enough to look forward to season 2. Unfortunately, I felt it far too rushed and the 7 episode season, too short to tell a proper story. Because the new season was taking place in the present, there needed to be some backstory on just how it's possible for our young leads to still remain young in the 21st century. Though there are scenes explaining this, the lore became muddled and, then, back tracked itself. When scripts do this kind of thing---negating what they themselves create, they lose me. It gives me the sense that the writers themselves didn't quite know how to end this storyline, or at least the main couple's story arc in this series. What we seem to get is a possible continuation of the series without the main leads, as it seems by the end of this season, headed in that direction.

What I liked about season one is that it had heart. I accepted the messy mother/daughter relationship and how it's the main purpose of season one. A mother will do anything to protect her child, even if it turns her into a monster figuratively, and in this case--literally. Holding on to her humanity made season one compelling, which is what season 2 seems to lack. It lacks direction and I felt sick to my stomach seeing endings for characters I never imagined. Around the end of the 4th episode, I started asking myself what the point of it all was? Master Jang explains it's to make the bad guys feel guilty, and if not, be a nuisance to them. But this rings hollow to me. There wasn't enough aha moments to balance out the pointless violence. It also leaves me with lots of unanswered questions like, what has Biotech evolved to since the end of the war? What do they hope to achieve with their experiments? Then there is the messy plot holes which will only be spoilers if I mention them.

In general, I would have appreciated this more if the writers would have taken the time to delve deeper into the story. It had a good premise, but evolved into another pointless monster movie akin to Sweet Home's last season.

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