Hot on the heels of uberhit "Squid Game", another Korean show "Hellbound" captured some attention for a brief period of time too. I'm sure I even read articles that said we were wasting our time with "Squid Game" when we should be watching this one instead. I'm not sure I agree with that sentiment, but I liked "Hellbound" enough to get through the first season and will be back if it returns in the future.
In a Korean city, a rumour is about to come into focus. A man is attacked in the street by three large creatures from another world, who disappear as soon as they've finished him off. The action is recorded and though some are sceptical, a young pastor Jung Jinsu (Yoo Ah-in) declares that the creatures are sent by god to despatch sinners to hell. This appears to be backed by footage that appears of a spectral face, that appears to various people and tells them exactly when they're going to be killed and that they are "bound for hell".
I enjoyed where the series went from the initial premise, I assumed that the show may be about investigating and stopping what is happening. It is, however, not that - it's a religious allegory. Though, to be clear, it's about the cruelty and corruption of organised religion, rather than of simple faith itself. Though we, the audience know this is not the case a religion called The New Truth quickly co-op's the phenomenon and uses it to gain power and wealth. Though the organisation appears benign, it has a violent associated group, called Arrowhead that is used to keep investigators and exposers in line.
Performances in this are really good. There are essentially two stories in this, a before and after a critical moment, with a time jump between them and only really one member of the cast runs throughout. You can certainly argue that the creatures aren't a brilliant special effect though and that even at just six hour long episodes it doesn't quite have the storyline to fill that much time.
Then ending though makes it look like it will return with an intriguing premise at least, we'll have to see if that comes to fruition.