The final reveal of the second season of “Sweet Home” marked the return of Lee Eun-hyeok, played by Lee Do-hyun, leaving many unanswered questions about what happened to him after he was presumed dead at the end of the first season.
Lee Eun-hyeok had sacrificed himself for the sake of his sister and the other survivors of the Green House, allowing them to escape while succumbing to the building’s collapse as he showed signs of transforming into a monster. Eun-hyeok’s death was one of the saddest scenes in the K-drama, but it ultimately paved the way for his return in “Sweet Home.”
Season 3 of “Sweet Home” mixed elements from its first and second seasons to conclude its story, where a viral infection turns humans into monsters. Although the second season of “Sweet Home” did not receive the same critical acclaim as the first, the final reveal of Lee Do-hyun’s return to his “Sweet Home” role was highly anticipated. There were many theories about what role Lee Eun-hyeok would play in the ending of “Sweet Home,” as well as how his character survived a fate that seemed so certain at the end of the first season. Luckily, “Sweet Home” Season 3 answered those questions.
The reason why Lee Eun-hyeok is still alive in ‘Sweet Home’ season 3
Although Lee Eun-hyeok sacrificed himself to secure the future of the residents of Green Home, his salvation was to be infected by the monstrosity virus. One of the benefits of this infection is accelerated healing, which likely increased Eun-hyeok’s chances of survival. Indeed, “Sweet Home” confirms that he survived the collapse of the building because he transformed into a monster.
It’s unclear when exactly Eun-hyeok became a monster. However, it is assumed that he began his transformation around the time of the building’s collapse, as he showed symptoms of monstrosity, including excessive nosebleeds. This would explain his miraculous survival, as a normal human probably would not have survived under such circumstances. Subsequently, it is assumed that Lee Eun-hyeok spent some time in monster form before entering the next phase: cocooning.
Eun-hyeok’s cocooning phase explains his late return in “Sweet Home.” Just like the previous phase, it is unknown how long he spent in his cocoon. However, this was enough for him to enter the final stage of the monstrosity process. As seen in the final moments of season 2, Eun-hyeok emerges from the cocoon as a neohuman. Although he resembles his character from season 1, his appearance in season 3 of “Sweet Home” proves that he is now a completely different person.
Why does Lee Eun-hyeok look so different in ‘Sweet Home’ Season 3?
Neohumans may appear human, but they are much more than that. Neohumans are entirely new beings, capable of being reborn after death, making them almost immortal. Lee Eun-hyeok demonstrates this process in episode 3. He dramatically commits suicide after being attacked by Sang-won (Lee Jin-uk) in Bamseom, but is quickly sucked into a cocoon to be reborn again as Lee Eun-hyeok. While this process offers a gateway to immortality for neohumans, it presents its own problems.
Throughout “Sweet Home 3,” Eun-hyeok keeps a family photo with him. This photo has sentimental value for Lee Eun-hyeok, who was last seen holding this photo just before his death. This implies that he can remember his past life. However, as a neohuman, Eun-hyeok cannot feel any emotions. This affects her reunion with her younger sister, Eun-yu (Go Min-si), who asks her to use her accelerated learning skills to learn to feel emotions, hoping to reunite with the brother she knew.
The introduction of the neohumans brings a welcome new dimension to “Sweet Home”. These beings add a new dimension to the monstrosity but also offer a sense of hope. Until now, all cures for the virus had been destroyed or hidden by Dr. Lim (Oh Jung-se), who viewed humanity as a disease rather than something to be cured. Neohumans like Lee Eun-hyeok prove that monstrosity is not the end of humanity, but perhaps even a new beginning.
Lee Eun-hyeok’s role in ‘Sweet Home’ season 3
In “Sweet Home” season 3, Lee Eun-hyeok’s new role sees him acting as the on-screen representative of the neohumans. These neohumans are briefly introduced early in Season 3, when three mysterious figures approach the stadium in search of their kind, but are ultimately killed by Sang-won (Lee Jin-uk) and the Special Infected. Eun-hyeok’s reappearance allows the audience to better understand the history and characteristics of this new type of being in “Sweet Home” without feeling too overwhelmed, thus setting up the beginning of the end of the K’s plot -drama.
Lee Eun-hyeok plays a crucial role in defeating Sang-won and the Special Infected, his latest partnership echoing one of the best duos of Season 1. Although he is initially dominated by his monstrous side, Cha Hyun-su (Song Kang) reunites with Eun-hyeok to stop Sang-won for good. Lee Eun-hyeok and the neohumans believe that the special infected are disrupting the natural order of the monstrosity process and seek help from Hyun-su, as only a half-monster, half-human being can defeat someone like Sang-won , who became a hybrid due to Dr. Lim’s experiments.
What happens to Lee Eun-hyeok at the end of “Sweet Home” season 3?
The ending of “Sweet Home” shows that Lee Eun-hyeok’s new life echoes his death and finally allows him to start living again. Initially, Eun-hyeok offers his body as a sacrifice for Sang-won, knowing that he needs a new body after the failure to possess his daughter, Yi-su (Kim Si-a). As a neohuman, Lee Eun-hyeok can kill Sang-won’s monstrous entity but can also be reborn by throwing himself into fire. Although Cha Hyun-su also offers to do so, the surprise reappearance of Sang-wook, whose body was possessed by Sang-won during seasons 2 and 3, leads to Sang-won’s ultimate defeat.
Although Lee Eun-hyeok was presumed dead in the final moments of season 1, “Sweet Home 3” gives hope for the future of Eun-hyeok’s character, as humans and neohumans find a way to coexist. The monster virus of “Sweet Home” is never eradicated. Instead, the humans learn that becoming a monster is not the end, but a new beginning, especially for Lee Eun-hyeok and his sister, Eun-yu.
Some characters in “Sweet Home” remained human, while others became monsters or went through all the stages of becoming neohumans. Eun-yu’s presence suggests that she is now a neohuman like her brother. However, Lee Eun-hyeok’s smile suggests that neohumans can relearn how to express emotions. While this gives hope for their future, it’s also a bittersweet reminder of Eun-hyeok’s death, as he appeared for the last time as a human, smiling. Although sad, this serves as a continuation of Lee Eun-hyeok’s life, with his new life beginning where his old life ended.