Despite the return of beloved South Korean actor Lee Do Hyun to the ensemble cast, audiences felt disconnected from the storyline of Sweet Home Season 3 on Netflix.
Sweet Home Season 3 generated significant buzz with teasers ahead of its July 19 release on Netflix, featuring prominent cast members Song Kang, Lee Jin Uk, Lee Si Young, Lee Do Hyun, and Go Min Si. However, the South Korean apocalyptic horror series, based on Kim Carnby and Hwang Young Chan’s popular Naver webtoon, failed to meet expectations in its third and final season. Although it initially climbed up Good Data Corporation’s weekly buzzworthy K-drama chart for the third week of July (TV-OTT), it didn’t secure the top spot.
Song Kang, Lee Do Hyun, and Go Min Si in Sweet Home Season 3.(Netflix)
SBS’ Good Partner, starring Jang Na Ra and Nam Ji Hyun, claimed the top position instead.
During its second week on Netflix, Sweet Home Season 3 dropped to #7 on the buzzworthy list (TV-OTT). Conversely, Good Partner maintained its dominance in the fourth week of July. tvN’s new romantic comedy, Serendipity’s Embrace, starring Kim So Hyun and Chae Jong Hyeop, ascended to second place from seventh.
Reasons for Sweet Home 3’s Decline
A special FUNdex report for the third week of July revealed that none of the 19 original K-dramas on OTT platforms reached the top spot. Sweet Home struggled with the declining popularity of the thriller genre in dramas. South Korean network tvN has shifted towards multi-genre shows with a focus on romantic comedies, such as Queen of Tears, Lovely Runner, and Serendipity’s Embrace, which have shown promising results on the buzzworthy chart.
Sweet Home failed to meet audience expectations, with over 90% of initial reactions in the first week being negative. Introducing numerous unfamiliar and unnecessary characters prevented the audience from engaging with the show. Critics also pointed out the messy storyline that lacked focus, making it hard to distinguish between main and supporting characters.
The show’s visuals, especially the CGI, were also criticized. According to Good Data Corporation’s analysis of online public opinion, fans found the show “too chaotic” and “boring.”
