How Gyeongseong Creature‘s Time-Jumping Twist Makes Season 2 Better

As a dedicated fan of both K-dramas and superhero movies, I found myself utterly captivated by the second season of “Gyeongseong Creature.” Director Chung’s decision to make it more immersive and fast-paced was a stroke of genius that kept me on the edge of my seat. The melodramatic romance between the two lead characters, long overdue from the first season, added an emotional depth that resonated with my own experiences in love.

Spoilers ahead for Gyeongseong Creature

79 years after the events of the first season of “Gyeongseong Creature,” characters played by Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee encounter each other once more on a snowy street in modern Seoul. A lot has evolved on the Korean peninsula since gentle pawn shop owner Jang Tae-sang and resolute detective Yoon Chae-ok parted ways, seemingly with Chae-ok’s death, in 1945. The Japanese occupation ended following World War II, Koreans experienced a war and the division of their country politically, and South Korea underwent a phase of rapid economic growth that shaped it into its current open market capitalist economy.

In contrast to exploring historical events extensively, the second series of “Gyeongseong Creature,” premiering on Netflix September 27, maintains a tight focus on character development and changes since the last season. We discover that Chae-ok, initially thought dead, was rescued by a najin, the central creatures from the Japanese human experiments unveiled in season 1. Besides bestowing her with apparent immortality and eternal youth, the najin also granted Chae-ok extraordinary fighting abilities.

Despite the embarrassment she feels due to the insatiable hunger of the najin within her, Chae-ok generally leads a solitary existence, stepping out of seclusion primarily when tackling missing person cases. As Han explains to TIME Magazine via an interpreter, “In the first season, she had a strong driving force, a purpose, which was finding her mother. However, in this second season, she has already lost that purpose. She’s lived for decades. This time, I believe she wishes to be selfless. She wants to live a life dedicated to helping others, rather than being self-centered.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I find myself captivated by Tae-sang, who continues to hold the spotlight as the central figure of the series, despite his lack of recall regarding season 1’s events. Upon our reunion with Tae-sang, he goes by another identity, Jang Ho-jae, and is unaware of his extraordinary past. Park, the actor who brings Tae-sang to life, speaks about the duality of his characters, stating, “In essence, my two personas are one and the same character.” The intrigue lies in his amnesia and miraculous survival, he explains. The transformation is not just a change of name, but an emotional journey that Tae-sang has endured throughout his time living.

In the beginning of season 2, a man known as Ho-jae operates his detective agency within the same Jongno-dong building where Tae-sang’s House of Golden Treasure previously stood. When an unfortunate event leads him to discover a grisly crime scene, he finds himself once again involved with Chae-ok and on a course that intersects with Jeonseung Biotech – the company born from General Kato’s sinister human experiments, as depicted in the previous season.

In the drama he joined, Park, known for roles in Netflix series like “Itaewon Class” and “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” as well as Marvel’s “The Marvels,” expressed excitement about the time-travel aspect, finding it intriguing as an actor. Although Ho-jae hasn’t yet recalled his convoluted past, the qualities that made Tae-sang a kind-hearted, charming man with deep loyalty towards his friends and community are evident from the start. Despite being unaware of his own past, he looks after the descendants of those who lived near him in colonial Gyeongseong.

Park discusses his approach during season two: ‘I make an effort to differentiate between Ho-jae and Taesang,’ he says. ‘When Ho-jae starts recalling things, I pondered over whether to maintain the speaking style from season one that belonged to Tae-sang or continue with Ho-jae’s distinctive way of speaking after Tae-sang regained his memory.’

If you find all of this overwhelming, it’s worth noting that season 2 serves as a refreshing start for a series that struggled to attract its desired audience with the initial 10 episodes. Asked about audience feedback, director Chung admits that some parts in season 1 were considered slow. Filmed consecutively, any adjustments were made during editing. Chung’s aim was to create a more engaging experience, so he sped up slower sections and eliminated subplots that seemed to be slowing down the pace.

In the second season of “Gyeongseong Creature,” the focus shifts more towards the central, high-stakes romance – a move aimed at appealing to the international K-drama audience who appreciate romantic narratives. As stated by Chung, this was done to provide the melodrama between the characters that wasn’t as prevalent in season one. This shift was part of writer Kang Eun-kyung’s plan for season 2. According to Park, before filming season two began, Kang informed them that the genre for season 2 would be a melodrama, focusing on a love story. It is agreed that the love story plays a crucial role in season 2.

In the opening episode of the new season, there’s an intense emotional connection between Chae-ok and Tae-sang, who have been separated for nearly a century. As they stand there, gazing into each other’s eyes in the snow, it feels like a scene straight out of movies such as “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” or “Wonder Woman 1984”. These films depict superheroes transitioning from historical settings to the present day, struggling to adapt while reconnecting with a lost loved one. Similarly, the series portrays the struggle of its protagonists as they grapple with modernity and reuniting with someone thought deceased. The parallels with the superhero genre are also evident in the intricate, action-packed fight scenes where Chae-ok and Tae-sang battle against Jeonseung Biotech’s covert army of enhanced soldiers.

Chung indicates that popular Hollywood blockbusters served as inspiration for the character-driven action scenes in Gyeongseong Creature‘s second season. As for Seo-jun, he felt Captain America’s style would perfectly suit his character, adding a powerful and forceful element. For So-hee, Chung envisioned quick, agile action that demanded extensive rehearsals, which So-hee executed diligently. Han, with experience in intricate fight scenes from the Netflix crime thriller My Name, gets to display her action skills even more in season 2. When asked why viewers should watch the second season, she compares it to having a female Deadpool.

For Chung, the allure of watching “Gyeongseong Creature” stems from its enduring and relatable themes: “This isn’t merely a tale unique to Korea,” Chunug asserts. “It’s not just a tragic past that only Koreans can relate to.” Seventy years may have passed, but there are still individuals driven by their own selfishness, Chung notes, adding that such characters remain relevant even in contemporary times. He wanted to preserve this aspect from the first season, using it to demonstrate that people like these continue to exist, even in modern days.

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2024-09-27 21:06