Hellbound Season 2 Review: Decent Continuation But Too Much Politics and Power Struggles

Hellbound Season 2 Review (2024) | Leisurebyte

Director:
Yeon Sang-ho

Date Created:
2024-10-25 12:30

Editor’s Rating:

3

In the second season of Netflix’s Hellbound, we return to a world dealing with the terrifying Prophecy of hell and the chaos they bring. The series dives deep into power struggles, faith, and the consequences of unchecked beliefs. With key characters making a comeback, the tension only rises as old wounds are reopened and new dangers come to light.

The series has 6 episodes, each with a runtime of around 50 minutes.

-No Spoilers-

Hellbound Season 2 Review

When Hellbound season 1 aired, it shocked everyone with its intense scenes of supernatural creatures sentencing people to hell. The story was fresh and gripping, and it made us question what is good and evil in our society. Now, in Hellbound 2, the series takes a different route, focusing more on politics and the power struggles between various groups, which might not be what everyone was expecting.

In this new season, the world is still haunted by the fear of sudden, brutal demonstrations where condemned people are dragged to Hell. After Chairman Jung Jin-su’s mysterious return from the dead, things quickly spiral out of control. The show focuses on Min Hye-jin and her group Sodo as they try to protect people from the New Truth Church and the aggressive Arrowhead cult. The reappearance of the resurrected adds more questions to the mix, as the authorities struggle to regain control.

This time, the series explores power dynamics more closely, especially how different groups fight to take advantage of the chaos. As the government and religious leaders try to handle the resurrections, the narrative highlights how easily fear and belief can be twisted for control.

The character Jung Jinsu, who was the mysterious leader in the first season, is back in an unexpected way. Kim Sung-cheol’s performance as Jung Jinsu shows a more manipulative side of him this time. It’s interesting to watch him navigate the power dynamics, but his character’s mystery and impact felt stronger in the previous season.

The central theme of Season 2 is not just supernatural terror, but the battle for power. As more groups and individuals get involved, the show digs deep into the politics of the New Truth and its effect on society. Unfortunately, with this focus on politics, the eerie, intense atmosphere that drew viewers in earlier seems to fade away a little.

I am not saying that the fear of hellish decrees is not there in this season, it is still there, but the show leans more into the human conflicts that have emerged. I appreciated this shift in focus, but it also made me miss the intense suspense of Season 1. Instead of relying on horror, the show now delves deeper into the complexities of power and manipulation. The plot also highlights how easily vulnerable people can fall victim to cult ideologies. Moon Geun-young’s short but impactful role as O Ji-won captures this perfectly, showing how individuals get caught up in dangerous beliefs.

The acting remains one of the series’ strongest points, with the entire cast delivering solid performances. The direction by Yeon Sang-ho creates a tense atmosphere that keeps you engaged, even without heavy supernatural moments. Every scene is heavy with a sense of unease, capturing the fragile balance in this chaotic world.

Final Thoughts

Hellbound S2 is a darker and more thoughtful continuation of the story. It explores themes of power, control, and the consequences of blind faith in a complex, layered way. While the shift towards a more political storyline may not be for everyone, it offers strong commentary on the dangers of unchecked authority.

For me, this season was both engaging and slightly disappointing. The focus on political drama made it feel like a different show at times, taking away some of the suspense that made Season 1 so gripping. However, the strong characters and deep themes kept me invested in the story.

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