Fans have been eagerly watching Sweet Home 3 since its release on Netflix on July 19, 2024. Directed by Lee Eung Bok, the series is adapted from the popular webtoon Sweet Home (2018) by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young Chan. The webtoon even has a sequel titled Shotgun Boy (2021). While it’s not officially confirmed that Sweet Home 3 directly adapts Shotgun Boy, there are undeniable similarities in plot, settings, and characters. Let’s dive into the key similarities and differences between the two.
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Character Crossovers: A Familiar Face
In Shotgun Boy, we follow the main character Han Gyu Hwan and his school friends as they face a sudden monster attack during training. Interestingly, characters from Sweet Home also appear in the Shotgun Boy webtoon. This crossover happens in a bonus episode where Han Gyu Hwan, Jayden, and Kang Si Hyeong meet Sweet Home‘s Cha Hyun Su, Lee Eun Yu, and Pyeon Sang Wook. This encounter adds depth to the interconnected world of the two stories.
Monsters: From Experiments to Escapes
Both Sweet Home 3 and Shotgun Boy feature groups of monsters created through experiments. In the drama, these creatures are referred to as Monster Humans (MH), whereas in the webtoon, they are simply numbered (Zero, One, Two, etc.). In Sweet Home 3, the Monster Humans escape from the Banseom Emergency Management Bureau, while in Shotgun Boy, the monsters break free from the MM Corporation’s facility and seek new hosts among Han Gyu Hwan’s schoolmates.
Diverging Fates: Different Paths for Familiar Characters
Despite some characters appearing in both Sweet Home 3 and Shotgun Boy, their fates diverge significantly. For example, Lee Eun Yu undergoes a transformation into a monster only in the drama. Seo Yi Su, depicted as the child of Seo Yi Kyung and Nam Sang Won in the drama, shares similarities with Zero from the webtoon. However, while Seo Yi Su survives until the end of episode 8 in the drama, Zero dies in Shotgun Boy.
The antagonist Nam Sang Won’s fate also differs. In Sweet Home 3, Nam Sang Won dies in Pyeon Sang Wook’s body, whereas in Shotgun Boy, a character similar to Nam Sang Won, One, remains alive and eventually transforms into Zero. Additionally, Lee Eun Hyuk and Cha Hyun Su’s relationship evolves from conflict to collaboration in the drama, but their reunion in the webtoon is less detailed, leaving room for speculation.
Research Facilities: Banseom vs. MM Corporation
Both stories feature research facilities conducting experiments on monsters. In Sweet Home 3, it’s the Banseom Emergency Management Bureau, while in Shotgun Boy, it’s the MM Corporation. These facilities explore the abilities of Monster Humans, with the webtoon describing the monsters’ ability to change hosts. In the drama, only Nam Sang Won’s character exhibits this capability, moving from his original body to Jung Ui Myeong’s and then to Pyeon Sang Wook’s body.
The Climactic Meeting: Similar Yet Different Endings
Shotgun Boy concludes with a significant meeting between Cha Hyun Su and Lee Eun Hyuk at a cinema, where Lee Eun Hyuk is portrayed as the leader of the monsters (UBERMENSH). This moment parallels a scene in episode 5 of Sweet Home 3, where Cha Hyun Su and Lee Eun Hyuk meet on their way to a stadium. In the drama, their relationship culminates in a fight, whereas the webtoon leaves their future more ambiguous, leaving room for speculation.
Ultimately, while Sweet Home 3 and Shotgun Boy share many elements, they also have unique differences that set them apart. Both stories offer thrilling experiences, keeping fans eagerly anticipating what comes next.
