Hellbound Season 2 Ending Explained: What Does the Mass Decree Mean?

So we explain what happened, how it ended, and what it could mean for an as-yet-unannounced Season 3.

Season 1 introduced us to a cast of characters living in an alternate future in which ethereal “angels” appear to announce the time of someone’s death – and that they are headed to Hell.

At the appointed time, three demonic creators called Executors appear to beat the victim to within an inch of their lives, then suck out what we can only assume is their soul before leaving burnt bones in their wake.

Hellbound is a fascinating series because it focuses not on unraveling the mystery of these creatures, but on how humanity responds to their sudden appearance.

It’s also worth noting that season 1 references the world outside of Korea, but the main focus is on how the residents react to this very supernatural event.

Hellbound Season 2 Ending Explained: What Is The Mass Decree?

It’s now gotten to the point where viewers are realizing that we only saw resurrections and demonstrations in Season 2; This is the first return of the ‘angels’, and the first target is Lee Sugyeong himself, who has spent the last few hours playing Kim Jeong-chil for the fool that he is.

Each appears before a mass decree, condemning hundreds to hell at the appointed time and setting up a possible season 3.

Some characters we like, some we hate, and some we just met. Everyone is now required to go to the same place, albeit at different times.

It’s a beautiful scene, but also horrifying, as everyone, from the good, the bad and the downright ugly, sees themselves condemned.

The series ends there, with the promise of an even more fractured, religiously polarized world in season 3.

We know it hasn’t been announced yet, but leaving things on such a cliffhanger means we should see a season 3, even if it takes a while.

What happened to Kim Jeong-chil?

Unlike season 1, season 2 is one complete story. While Season 1 was set around 2020-2027, another four years have passed, bringing us into the 2030s and a world forever changed by the threat of Hell.

In episode 1, Kim Jeong-chil somehow remains in power as chairman of the New Truth. They have Park Jeong-ja in custody, and she is shocked; her appearance is wild and she rarely speaks, but it soon becomes clear that she can sense the moments when others will die – as she prophesies to Jeong-chil of his own demise.

New Truth calls her ‘the Risen One’ and, as a new figurehead, the giver of a new doctrine from God, which they will write and she will parrot.

He also begins an uneasy alliance with the Korean government and its figurehead, Secretary Lee Sugyeong, which easily makes him believe they are allies, but this eventually comes back to bite him.

Min Hye-jin is now part of a group that protects the fast-growing Toughie, while continuing to help those she can, including Park Jeong-ja.

Detective Jin Kyung-hun cares for his cancer-stricken daughter until the former chairman of the New Truth comes back to life.

Unlike Park Jeong-ja, Jung Jinsu is almost normal, except for the visions of the executors he sees in mirrors. He also has no clear memories of Hell, but since no one knows what happened to him, he is able to reappear and fight his way to the Arrowhead to help save Park Jeong-ja.

In the final episode, the rescue proceeds with several problems. as well as the death of Kim Jeong-chil.

As chaos reigns, ethereal voices and glowing faces appear by the dozens: ‘angels’ with melodious and especially feminine voices.

What happened in season 1?

Season 1 introduced us to several factions: We have a religious group – the New Truth – who make these demonstrations of righteousness the main doctrine of their sect. They are led by the calm and charismatic chairman Jung Jinsu, a down-to-earth man who simply wants others to understand God’s will and rise above their sinful nature.

We also have the Arrowheads, a militant wing closely associated with the New Truth and later breaking away, which is full of young people who take righteous joy in violence. They are fanatics who force those they see as ‘sinners’ to suffer before going to hell.

Finally, we have the police, who consider the inciting ‘demonstration’ a murder, and through Detective Jin Kyung-hun we see how normal society turns from curiosity about the strange, supernatural event to fear and panic as Korea is in turmoil . into a theocracy.

What’s fascinating about why this series works is that South Korea has a very long relationship with religion, from its own shamanic origins to a modern occupation with monotheism.

Christianity, especially Protestantism and Catholicism, is huge there. However, there are also a large number of new religious movements and sects that are adopting Christianity and splitting off from regular megachurches.

The interesting part of Hellbound does not confirm whether God really exists and whether these beings are ‘angels’ or ‘demons’. Rather, it’s about how society responds when people assume this is the case.

New Truth believes it, the Arrowhead believes it, and while everyone may react differently, no one doubts that either group has misunderstood this important piece of information.

Also, both claim, in their own fanatical and fearsome ways, to be the ones who understand God’s plan in dragging seemingly good people to hell, whether it be to expose their sins or profit from the demonstrations.

Season 1 was split into two different arcs, the first (episodes one to three) in which Korea comes to terms with the decrees and demonstrations, creating the Arrowhead, which begins online with the local equivalent of TikTok and Twitch.

It also focuses on Park Jungja, a mother of two who receives a decree and becomes a public example of the demonstration.

In the frantic run-up to her own death, she is pursued by both factions as a figurehead for their own twisted beliefs. Jungja just wants to make sure her children are protected, and if this means agreeing to the first public demonstration so her children have money to live without her, then she will do that.

We are also introduced to Min Hye-jin, who starts off as Jeong-ja’s lawyer, but during the timeskip in episodes 3 and 4, begins her own arc of change and becomes part of a new faction, looking to help the damned.

The first arc ended with the reveal that Jung Jinsu himself had been given a decree, decades before this all started, and is now on his way to Hell himself; dragged away never to be seen again.

The second arc focuses on a baby, Toughie, who is given a decree shortly after her birth. The final episodes are a struggle to figure out how to save her, but also what this means for the established beliefs of both the New Truth and Arrowhead.

The original sin, the idea that a baby is born infected, was not previously part of their doctrine, causing the new leader, Kim Jeong-chil, to panic. He is not a real chairman, and the video of Toughie’s decree sends him and his organization into a doctrinal tailspin.

The season ends with the death of Toughie’s parents, who sacrifice themselves to save their daughter, and the mysterious resurrection of Park Jeong-ja..

Hellbound can be streamed on Netflix.

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