The first season of Gyeongseong Creature was a show that didn't know when to quit. The story was stretched unbearably to the point where you found yourself detached, uninterested, and sleepy. It combined patriotism (the fight for independence) with the mechanisms of a monster movie. Season 2, on the other hand, mixes the gore of a serial killer thriller with the adrenaline rush of a superhero film. Later, romance and monsters are also thrown into the narrative (these two elements are common in both seasons). Season 1 eventually became a victim of repetition - it desperately tried to fill out its runtime. The second season has a lot of meat in its body. It's always busy, but unfortunately, that doesn't mean it's consistently engaging. Season 2 covers a lot of ground, yet only some parts of it look attractive, which again raises the question of whether the series would have been better suited as a film. The second season, undoubtedly, comes across as an improvement compared to the first season. But should you settle for such feeble compliments? Shouldn't a series be more than just "easy-watch" and "serviceable?"
Season 1 was set in the year 1945. Season 2 unfolds in the 21st century. We see modern technologies, like trains, cars, and mobiles. Nonetheless, humans are as cruel as they were in the past timeline. Ongseong Hospital might have been destroyed, but in its place, a new structure has been erected, Jeonseung Biotech, and the biological experiments continue to occur at the lowest level of the building. The modern setting merely acts as a superficial progressive cover hiding the same old brutalities. Even some familiar faces from the past are revived for this present-day story. Some things don't change - this might be the underlying message of the series. Look at Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee), for instance. Even after all these years, her love for Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon) has not diminished. She collapses into the arms of a man who looks exactly like Master Jang. He is Ho-jae (Seo-joon), a private detective whose main job apparently is to catch couples committing infidelity. We, along with Chae-ok, wonder if Ho-jae could possibly be Master Jang himself. It's one of the few things that keeps you invested in this series. Another point of interest has to be the chemistry between Seo-joon and So-hee. When they tightly hug each other, you feel satisfied. There is also much pleasure in watching So-hee doing action scenes - she is utterly convincing. All the fight sequences are not only well-choreographed but also executed with a kinetic force that raises your adrenaline.
Gyeongseong Creature Season 2, however, soon runs out of steam. It lays most of its cards on the table pretty quickly. There is not enough suspense in the story. The mystery behind Ho-jae's identity, when revealed, comes across as unimpressive. Later in the series, when another character, who should have been dead, turns out to be alive, we neither experience shock nor surprise because, by that time, death becomes a sort of running joke in the series. Chae-ok is often placed on the verge of her demise but is then brought back to life. You feel protective towards her initially. However, the pattern keeps on repeating, and we start seeing death scenes as a cheap emotional trigger inserted to wet our eyes. Gyeongseong Creature even goes for melodrama to evoke reactions from the audience. You react all right, but by yawning, not crying. The melodramatic portions are tedious. A flashback at the beginning of Episode 5, showing us the final moments of a woman, puts you to sleep. It's draggy. You can almost see a signboard with the word "Weep." There is one more thing that's bugging me. It's established that Najins (snake-like creatures) provide superpowers to the characters. One of the powers is rapid healing. A knife cut or a bullet wound disappears after a while. So, what prevents that eye injury from healing?
Season 2, much like its predecessor, maintains a swift, smooth momentum, which is mostly mechanical and impersonal. The scenes often fail to resonate, leaving little lasting impact. You are not bored, but you also don't terribly miss the show when it ends. There will probably be more episodes or seasons in the future. Nevertheless, I, for one, am neither eager for them nor holding my breath.
Final Score- [5.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times