kinda zzz
well i think all of us agree that a second season was kinda unnecessary but well, here we are. to be honest, it was sorta interesting... hyunju was my fav character this season btw !!! and i think that was my favorite part of this season... including a trans character must have been really risky and hard (in a korean show). it makes me happy to know that they gave visibility to the korean lgbt community :) HOWEVER, it's so dissapointed the amount of gross people in the cast. it's like they decided to cast all problematic men in south korea damnWas this review helpful to you?
They absolutely nailed the first season, which is why the drop in quality in the second one feels so disappointing. The characters were still interesting on paper, and the story had potential, but it never delivered the same punch. That spark, that excitement I felt while watching season one, was mostly gone. What should have been an easy binge turned into a chore. It honestly took me more than a month just to finish those seven short episodes, which says a lot. It’s not terrible, but it definitely feels like they forgot what made the show special in the first place.
Was this review helpful to you?
MEH.
In comparison to season 1, this one was really disappointing.It had a lot of potential, but I remember watching this when it just came out and being bored. Its not a thrilling story anymore, moreso just "oh i know this and that will happen, gi-hung and his group cant die anyways because its all big actors and blablbla". It was just way too predictable and the characters were in comparison to season 1 way too shallow.
In season 1 Id be crying for every character, here id just think "oh well saw it coming" or i dont care enough about the characters.
And theres no excuse for that, as season 1 had the same amount of episodes and introduced + concluded the entire squid games, while this game needs 2 seasons to do so and doesnt deliver. Its still a fun watch, though predictable, but you have hopes theyd use season 2 as a great set-up for season 3 (spoiler: they didnt).
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It was a very entertaining season
I personally enjoyed season 2 mainly because it felt different, but I also felt the same feelings I felt when I watched it back in 2021. I will say this season had me sort of on the edge of my seat like there were so many twists that I wouldn’t have expected that when I watched it I was amazed. I will also say I know some of these actors have a bad past or are currently getting hated on, but when I watched it I only focused on the characters and some of them did eat. I will warn you that there may be spoilers so be aware.I will say this plot was very unexpected because so many twists and turns happened throughout a seven episode show. I will say if I was 456 I would definitely have so much trauma because he dealt with the first season where 455 people died, but now he has some people alive, but we aren’t so sure who’s alive and who isn’t. I swear the biggest plot twist in my opinion is when Hwang In ho (the front man) started to play the games also and I kind of expected it because 001 was the old man in season 1 and he created the games which I assume that whoever is in charge of the games will always get the number 001. I really liked the dynamic of Gi Han, Dae Ho, In Ho, and Jeong Bae because they seemed like they will always put each other first especially during the mingle game where it was based on numbers, but I will say that I never trusted that the front man was going to stay loyal because the look in his eyes whenever Gi Hun brought up ending squid games he looked upset. I am literally so impressed by Jo Yuri like she was one of my favorites in this season because she was so good at acting and I literally want to see her have her baby because she’d be a good mom. I was also impressed by Si Wan because I didn’t expect him to be that evil by killing two people, but I am at least glad he’s trying to change and want to be a father now. I loved the mother son duo with number 007 and Geum Ja because they were so precious and I’m glad they are still together. I will say I loved the trans person which is Hyeon Ju because he was such a good actor and he’s such a good shooter because his aim was on point. Anyways I was obsessed with him. I will say my favorite character was Thanos and hear me out it’s because he was a baddie because I don’t care that he was taking drugs during the games he was very entertaining because he’d be so hyped whenever people would be dying and just be dancing during the whole mingle game. I will also say I loved Min Su because he’s so adorable. Also I get that the ending is cut so badly because they have to introduce season 3, but I don’t care because this season was so good. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this season and can’t wait to see season 3, but all I have to say is justice for Thanos.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Squid Game Season 2: 01/03/2025 - 01/04/2025
While I didn't like this season as much as the first, I still really enjoyed watching it. I do feel at times that it missed the mark, but I guess it makes sense for not everything to be explained during this season since season 3 will be immediately following it. Beside that I liked how the first games were the same to give a sense that things are the same just for each game after that be-to-be different. I also liked how the MC was still human in the fact he was easily tricked by #1 even despite what happened the previous season. The only complaint I do have is that it seemed they were afraid to kill characters that mattered this season, but I guess it to allow us to get more connected to them and learn more about them. Also, that ending was a major cliffhanger with so many things needing to be answered in the last episode.Was this review helpful to you?
Not too bad. Actually quite good
This does not deserve such bad ratings. Yes, I agree that not everything about this season was great... but it still at least deserves 8 Stars.The acting was great, the characters were interesting.
I wish the characters' deaths weren't so predictable. They should have let some of them live. They had a lot of potential.
I'm sad that Gi Hun didn't learn much from season 1 (or so it seems). Hopefully season 3 is better and he doesn't fall for the same trick again and realizes how people are during the games.
Was this review helpful to you?
I loved season two.
Frankly, I'm baffled by some of the lower ratings. I think many of them have to do with the cliffhanger ending. I knew before watching that this would be sort of a part one, so I was not so disappointed.Season one was mind blowing because it was a novel idea at the time. Season two had big shoes to fill. I liked that we start to see from the point of view of the characters who are not part of the games and I'm interested to learn more of their motives and backstories in season three, especially the North Korean defector.
The rock/paper/scissors/Russian Roulette segment was so impactful. Even more so when Gi Hun and the recruiter square up. I really didn't expect that outcome.
A couple of caveats here. When the Front man joins the game (not a spoiler, since it happens in the beginning), the fact that he's number 001 doesn't throw up any red flags to Gi Hun seems a bit unbelievable. Also, with so many top stars, there wasn't a lot of mystery about who would not be eliminated early on.
I think season three is going to totally blow us away. I hope it comes out by summer. Can't wait!
Was this review helpful to you?
IF JUST ONE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ENJOYED THIS SEASON..THEN IAM IN THAT ONE PERCENT!
I wanted to take a moment to share my positive experience with season two of Squid Game, especially since the review section seems to be filled with negativity. Honestly, I’m glad I didn’t let those comments sway my opinion because I genuinely enjoyed this season.Going into it, I had no expectations of closure, knowing there’s a third season on the way. The way the season ended didn’t bother me at all because I understood that the creator wrote both seasons together, intending for them to be one cohesive story. Season one had this intense, dark tone, and I didn’t expect season two to replicate that. Instead, it felt like the beginning of a resolution.
We pick up with Gi-hun, who is determined to find the creators of the game due to his survivor's guilt. The fact that he dedicates his winnings to this search shows his commitment to stopping the games, even if it means taking the long route. It’s almost like a revenge mission for him, and it makes sense that he would rejoin the games to convince others to vote out.
I found season two to be a refreshing change from the first season. While the first season had me holding onto my seat with stress, this one was genuinely enjoyable and binge-worthy. I loved the fun interactions between the characters and the variety of games, even if some were a bit serious. Up until episode six, I was having a blast!
The introduction of new characters was a highlight for me. Although we didn’t get to see everyone's backstories, it felt like a diverse mix of personalities—ranging from annoying to funny, and even the scaredy-cats. I enjoyed seeing new faces and appreciated how the show portrayed characters that weren’t perfect. In life-and-death situations, it’s natural for some to rise to the occasion while others might show fear or trauma. This realism made the characters relatable, and I applaud the writers for that.
The acting was, as expected, top-notch given the talented cast. I even found myself with new favorites! Overall, I see season two as a setup for season three, introducing new motivations for the male lead and laying the groundwork for the finale. It might be a bridge, but it certainly wasn’t useless—it added depth and excitement to the story!
Was this review helpful to you?
Better than I expected! Great new characters
I hated it when the season one ended with the open spot for continuity. At first I thought that would be just for the hype but I got surprised that I actually liked this new season. Of course that the mains focus is on the revenge of the main character but I liked the way they brought more things other than that - the recruitment, the story of the new characters and from the front guy. I loved the new characters and the way they got involved with each other easier than in the first season and It got me thinking why is that? I mean, in the first season, if I'm not wrong, the players only got together for the advantage of being in a group, protection.. but now I had the feeling of the people being more open to interact other than just surviving in group. Probably that's because of the possibility of not winning alone and actually ending the game before it was supposed too.I liked the story of the new characters and loved to see other actors that I'm a fan of being part of this big drama.
My only complaint is that the cop survived after all of that in season one and just DID NOTHING THIS HOLE SEASON!!! My man is not so dumb!!! Why they did so bad of him. I hope he will finally get to do something in the next season.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Underwhelming, but has potential in the future
After watching the season a few times and reading reviews online, I can acknowledge that the second season of Squid Game could be underwhelming and disappointing to many, however that doesn't mean the show doesn't deliver. I believe the third season of squid game is worth the hype and it will all be worth it in the end.The Good:
1. Expands upon the world building/lore
We get to know a little bit about the Salesman (Gong Yoo) and give us some background on the Guards (Park Gyu Young) and how they play into the story. We also get to see how Sae Byeok's brother is doing after her death in season 1.
2. The Cast
As much as I love the old cast, and how iconic they are, the new cast should not be overlooked either. The new cast gives us new perspectives. For example, Cho Hyeon Ju (Park Sung Hoon) who is a man transitioning, but can't afford to pay their debt, which is a very interesting point of view. There's also Kim Jun Hui (Jo Yu RI) who is going through relationship problems, financial problems, and on top of all that she's also pregnant. Another very interesting point of view. Although the new set of characters might not have the same spark as the original cast, they are still worth appreciating and worth recognizing.
Thanos was funny. Wish he stayed around longer so that could participate in the night fight.
The Bad:
Underutilized Characters:
There were a lot of characters introduced in season 2; however some outshine the rest, and they are not properly developed and are basically filler characters (most of them die). However, the characters that survive have potential to develop as the story continues into season 3.
Plot Holes:
Guard 11 (Park Gyu Young), what is her plan? Does she have a secret agenda in mind? Why did she take the job to be a guard? Why was she offered a job? Is she just trying to make a quick buck? These questions weren't really answered in this season but will probably be explored in season 3.
What will be the fate of the father (Lee Jin Wook)? It can be assumed that the guard who shot him was Guard 11, and that she didn't kill him, rather she just wounded him by shooting him in the stomach. If the father did die, then what will become of the daughter?
Personally, I believe Gi-Hun should have warned a few players on the "X" side that an attack from the "O" side was imminent. I understand that some players on the "X" side had to die in order to draw out the guards, but he could have at least given them a heads up so that they could at least defend themselves.
It was pretty obvious that Gi-Hun was being monitored because he was a previous winner. I think he should have had a second tracking implant (perhaps an injected implant) just in case the first one was discovered and removed.
Last but not least, it was pretty obvious the Front Man was going to betray Gi Hun or screw him over somehow. I mean, come on he is basically the person running the games, ain't no way he was going to let Gi Hun get away with stopping the games.
Filler Sequences:
The scenes with Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon) and his team trying to find Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae) were kind of meh for me. I know they're trying to find Gi Hun, but like it just felt like filler. However, these sequences with Jun Ho and his team trying to find Gi Hun do lead to an interesting plot-twist which could lead to a greater plot in season 3, so there is some potential in that regard.
What's the deal with the organ selling? This was first introduced in season 1, but not properly explained. When it's introduced in season 2 again it's still not explained in detail. It's basically just a bunch of people taking advantage of the games to harvest the organs of decease players. Are these people just trying to make a quick buck by selling organs on the black market? Or is there a hidden agenda that hasn't been explained yet? Or is this just a common occurrence that happens in South Korea, because in season 1 there are some hints that insist that organ selling is common in South Korea? If that's true, then that's pretty dark. But hey, I still don't know how the organ selling ties into the plot of Squid Game.
Overall, the second season of squid game was a good watch, and was definitely worth the wait. It may be underwhelming to some, but it had me on the edge of my seat regardless if the beginning was mild or not. I can't wait what is in store next in season 3.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good, but was never gonna be great.
Overall, I really enjoyed this season! I didn't expect it to be at the same level as the first season. Anytime an unplanned second season is unannounced, it's never as good as the first, especially with Netflix exploiting popular shows for all the money they can get by splitting up a season into two. However, despite the new format, they made some great choices to keep viewers engaged.Story:
Honestly, I thought about giving the story a perfect 10, but the only thing that stopped me was the holes surrounding the investigation and the lack of character development. Towards the middle of the season, it felt like the writers had completely forgotten about the outside investigation. I would get really into what was happening on the inside and then suddenly it would cut to outside investigators for a few seconds as a reminder that they're at a dead-end. Hopefully, we'll see more from the new twist we got at the very end of Season 3. With character development, I wished we knew a bit more about the backgrounds of some characters beyond why they're in debt. Like last season, I felt like we knew the stories behind most of the characters and we got to see them grow and understand themselves. However, I could claim that they're are just too many characters for the writers to focus on. The screentime was so limited for some, but others who died had a majority. However, I feel like I can't say much because this season is essentially filler for the actual story. They're not gonna give us everything in this season. I hope Season 3 can wrap this up well.
Acting/Cast:
As I mentioned above, I think they're are now way too many characters; the writers don't know what to do with all of them. However, this cast is made up of some amazing actresses/actors who are known for being AMAZING. I was really surprised with some of the choices some actors took with their roles! I do want to shout out Park Gyu Young. With such little screen time, her range is so unbelievable. She is just so convincing. Si Wan as well. He is so incredible as well! I also can't wait to see what Yuri does with her character. I felt her character didn't have much to her besides the fact that she's been caring for her baby alone, but I'm hoping in Season 3 that we get to see more from YuRi. Overall, the acting was fantastic!
Music:
I'm not someone who really cares about the OST in any show, but I wasn't particularly impressed by the music in this drama. In both seasons, I do like the use of classical music and jazz and what it symbolizes with the themes of the drama, but I didn't particularly enjoy the remixes. It felt a bit random.
Rewatch Value:
Would I rewatch this? The answer is yes and no. I've rewatched Squid Games Season 1 a plethora of times and sometimes will go back to games I enjoyed watching. However, there were very few moments in this season I would go back and rewatch. I would rewatch this in a sense if I needed to rewatch it to prepare for Season 3, but I feel I can't give a straight answer until Season 3 comes out!
Overall, I really enjoyed this season! I didn't expect it to be at the same level as the first season. Anytime an unplanned second season is unannounced, it's never as good as the first, especially with Netflix exploiting popular shows for all the money they can get by splitting up a season into two. I think it's a good season, but it will never be as great as the first season. If you watch with the mindset that it's going to be as great as the first season, then I think you'll be disappointed. However, I do recommend everyone give this season an open mind.
Was this review helpful to you?
Season 1.5
Given the premise is already known, there isn't much the author could do aside from introducing and setting up new characters, as well as give a new character journey for the main character.In terms of setting, it's the same; and the plot more rushed; the author favoring direct exposition than spending the time for it to become clear as the story progressing. I guess the choice there was to avoid making it boringly long, or changing the genre of the show.
Thematically it's a much stronger more coherent critique compared to the first season. While people think it's a critique of capitalism, it's actually more a critique of liberal democracy, from a liberal who won't sacrifice it for something post liberal. It's more a lament for the Korean soul in certain respects but is also hopeful.
It's anti-conservative, anti-religious, anti the shift within Korean youth culture influenced by American Urban culture and the embracing of the Halyu wave within the West, fueled in part by Korean expression of "urban music" (Urban in the American context). A liberal dissatisfied with liberalism. Highly individualistic, but as with the first season, unable to bring things to a proper resolution.
Given there was going to be little shift in terms of setting. More has been poured into the plot, and characters. We are given more time with other Characters; I imagine since, their reasons would be more compelling than that of our main character. Many mysteries from the first season being resolved makes this feel more like an add on. Ideas from the 1st season being made clearer. The ideological conflict being given a bigger stage.
So, this season is more of a character study far more than the first one. Giving it a feel of clarifying ideas from the first, and its individualistic conception of human motivation, and coping strategies. It's a competent an anti-morality tale, which will struggle to meet the expectations of the fanbase that loved it for the gore; but has opened new doors, promising more about those who make the game work, not just those desperate enough to participate.
I give it a 7.5 or an 8 as a piece of entertainment. Those familiar with death games (more common in anime and manga) will not find anything really new. "Liar Game", "Tomodachi Game", "Btoom". It's more of the same. What fans of death games can appreciate is how the author weaves common struggles into his narrative, and how he updates it with his characters.
Most people will like this, except for horror fans. (Specifically, those who hunger after gore). A good watch for those who liked the first season. This is more for the Character-narrative fans, and "theorycels" who enjoy figuring out the author's critique.
Was this review helpful to you?
