English Title: Hellbound Season 2
Korean Title: 지옥 시즌2 [lit. hell season 2]
Director(s): Yeon Sang-ho
Screenwriter(s): Choi Gyu-sok
Studio: Climax Studio, Wow Point, Midnight Studio
Released: 2024
Runtime: 6 episodes, 40m–57m each.
Starring: Kim Sung-cheol, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Shin-rok, Moon So-ri, Jo Dong-in
My Verdict: Plot-driven, focused on human and material aspects with the supernatural taking a backseat. Entertaining and, intended or not, even comical.
● This review assumes one has seen Season 1.
● Season 2 is set about 4 years after the end of Season 1. South Korea is in effect under the power of the megachurch-like New Truth and anarchist Arrowhead which both claim to interpret “God’s will” regarding the supernatural forces that supposedly take individuals to hell. Both are still fanatical in their own way.
● It is obvious in Season 1 that this supernatural force is not entirely truthful and that the moral reasoning behind its actions is not quite sound. The end of the first season seems to prove the point when the child decreed to be taken is not and Park Jung-ja (Kim Shin-rok) is “resurrected”. This apparent inconsistency sets up the situation that makes the second season moderately intriguing.
● To add more intrigue is the so-called resurrection of Jung Jin-soo, now played by Kim Sung-cheol since Yoo Ah-in was dropped because of so-called drug abuse. Both resurrection cases are initially kept from the public.
● Another participant in the conflict is the underground group Sodo in which lawyer Min Hye-jin (Kim Hyun-joo) is a high-ranking member. Whilst New Truth and Arrowhead vie for influence, Sodo is protecting the abovementioned child and apparently aims to expose both New Truth and Arrowhead. Of course, Sodo’s motives and means are questionable too even though they are not claiming to be religious.
● Meanwhile, the government tries to maintain order by initially helping New Truth. The operation is run by an official named Lee Su-gyeong (Moon So-ri).
● So, whilst the supernatural premise tries a bit too hard, it has settled in Season 2. In the first season, this was part of the mystery and thrill. In the second season, that is still a mystery but less of a thrill as the supernatural elements take a backseat whilst the human and material elements—particularly the so-called politics—are more central to the plot and themes.
● The first season has some satire although being the first season, the mystery overrides the comedy. In Season 2, whether intended or not, all the parties trying to gain and maintain control are comical. This is not a bad thing. However, the lack of development regarding the supernatural aspects is dissatisfying.
● Whilst the first season arguably criticized religion mildly, Season 2 more overtly does so given that the plot is in essence a religious war between four parties. Whilst New Truth and Arrowhead are extreme and deserve to be criticized, the subtler message is one of “don’t need religion to be good”, which is a form of religious indifference. This message is conveyed via Sodo which is not religious and the most reasonable of the four parties.
● Visually, it is similar to the first season with its dark and gritty tone. Although not poorly executed in any way, it is too often that it is dark and it does not need to be.
● The performances are solid. As before, Jung Jin-soo is not a particularly likable character. This is not a criticism of the two actors who play him, he is simply not written that well. Just because he is hiding something doesn’t make him an interesting character.
● Moon So-ri does very well as the manipulative government official Lee Su-gyeong. It is a shame that the dialogue is sometimes too crude, as if the characters are lecturing the audience about the themes.
● Jo Dong-in as the leader of Arrowhead, “Pinwheel”, is crazy as it is comical. Regardless of the writing, it’s great to see an actor enjoy being a villain. I hope he gets more work.
● Despite the above, apart from Min Hye-jin, everyone else is either a villain or a morally grey character. In that respect, the characters have some complexity and are interesting.
● Like the first season, it is plot-driven and mostly well-paced. The focus heavily leans towards the human and material aspects, which is fine in itself but does neglect the supernatural aspects too much. Either way, it is still entertaining. Although not ending on a cliffhanger, it is clearly setting up for another season.
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