Squid Game Season 2

A very good setup for what's to come

Just finished S2 and wanted to write my thoughts on it:

While not as good as S1, it had its brilliant moments too;

like the frontman actively manipulating everyone and coming out on top

Gi Hun failing to do anything even with all of that money and previous knowledge of the games

frontman's brother always being a step behind

new games that were entertaining to watch

representing an LGBT character in a way that feels natural and not forced at all, I really wanna give them props for that cuz in western media currently there is a wave of LGBT representation in movies, games and dramas which is great, the issue is that they almost always feels forced, and the characters are always defined just by their sexuality and never by who they are as a person and in S2 they did a fantastic job of creating a character that felt believable and in no way forced.

they also made Gi Hun's growth believable, usually in sequels they make the main character too much OOC, and it always feels unnatural and messes with the continuity of the story but in S2 Gi Hun and what he did with the money matches the level of intelligence he had in S1, they didn’t suddenly make him a genius, he was still a too trusting idiot that is now a little more prepared by everything he's seen in S1 and the money of course.


Criticisms: I don't have much to criticize cuz the story has yet to be finished, so I reserve judgment after I see what ending they wanna do for the whole series, as far as I'm concerned S2 did an admirable job of setting up several story lines with a major confrontation to come, so I have a lot to look forward to.

I've seen a lot of people complain and criticize S2 and compare it to S1 unfairly, and I find that to be quite premature cuz S1 had a complete and finished story to tell with a big confrontation and a major twist, it also had the 1 on 1 game that gave us the most character developments while in S2 we haven't reached that far and only have half of the story and that half is mostly setting up the climax for S3 so of course it's not gonna be as good as S1.

I'll give it a solid 8/10.

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Season 2: A Decent Sequel That Couldn’t Escape Season 1’s Shadow

Season 2 sparked mixed reactions, with opinions divided on its execution. While it didn’t quite meet the bar set by its stellar predecessor, it certainly wasn’t just filler. Here’s a closer look:

Highlights:

- Gong Yoo’s brief yet unforgettable appearance in Episode 1 oozes psychopathic charm and sets the tone for a gripping start.

- Episode 6’s Mingle game on the carousel was a standout moment, injecting the season with much-needed intensity. It recaptured some of the exhilaration of Season 1’s nail-biting tension.

Narrative Strengths and Missed Opportunities:

- Player 001, the Front Man’s active involvement added layers of complexity and intrigue to the story. The dynamic of the wolf hiding among the sheep, particularly under Seung Gi-Hun’s nose, was clever. However, the lack of a surprising reveal for viewers lessened its emotional impact.

- The introduction of new characters brought fresh energy to the season. Performances by Yim Si Wan, Kang Ha Neul, and Lee Jin Wook were commendable but left underexplored. Park Sung Hoon, as Hyunju Unni, stood out with a stellar portrayal, and supporting roles like No. 149 (Geumja) and 390 added compelling moments. Unfortunately, some characters were given excessive focus, diluting the narrative.

Drawbacks:

- The organ trafficking subplot felt unnecessary and disconnected from the premise of fairness within the games. It detracted from the overarching tension rather than enhancing it.

- Seung Gi-Hun’s moral stance appeared hypocritical at times, as he grappled with sacrificing a few for a perceived greater good. This inconsistency left his character arc less impactful than in Season 1.

- The finale, while ambitious, fell short. A small team facing off against the "big boss" and an undercover traitor was bold, but the lack of resources and an overly predictable outcome diminished its impact.

Final Thoughts:

Season 2 doesn’t quite recapture the magic of Season 1, but it offers moments of brilliance and excitement. The inclusion of familiar K-drama actors elevates the series, and their performances bring depth to an otherwise uneven season.

Despite its flaws, Season 2 is still worth watching, and it lays a promising foundation for an explosive Season 3.

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No New Tricks For This Pony

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

Being suspenseful doesn't mean it's good...
Full disclosure: I'm not a fan of the 1st season. I had given it a 4/10.

Acting/Cast: A more recognizable cast this time around. One of my favorite actors is in this season, Yim Si Wan (임시완). I ended up liking his character the most. Actually, I like this season's cast of characters a lot. It's a shame that the character building was as weak as it was... Everything felt so forced, inauthentic, and rushed. However, the acting is good for the most part (although the writing did hurt it). I would say the main character, played by Lee Jung Jae (이정재), stood out to me as feeling inauthentic with his acting. I liked him in the 1st season though, when he was just an average joe. Now he's trying to be Batman or something. 6/10

Writing: This is the area that really ruins this series for me...and even more so this season. Things happen that just don't make sense logically and psychologically. A huge issue I had with the 1st season is the stupid ass voting system. What are the odds that it would be split 50/50? Can someone do the math on that? Ok...now image those odds happening two more times. It's so dumb. Speaking of dumb, the lead is an idiot. Basically, this season is watching a bunch of people doing every single thing wrong. It's very frustrating. How does the main character get tricked the same exact way? He, of all people, should be the one who should know better. Long story short, this season is a rehashing of the 1st, but done even worse. The shock value of the games is gone, the emotional impact of characters dying is gone, the secondary police officer storyline feels useless, and this season ends abruptly with a cliffhanger. If I would have known that this season wasn't complete, I wouldn't have watched. I would have waited for season 3 (or season 2 part 2). By the way, 3% and The Hunger Games did this plot better. 3% is also a Netflix drama with a similar plot and suspiciously similar scenes and characters. I liked 3% a lot, especially the 1st season, and I can't help but feel like Squid Game is just a poorly executed Korean version. 1/10

Direction/SFX/Music: One thing this drama does right is the cinematography, the SFX, and the iconography (that of which has made Squid Game very marketable). It's nice visually, it's eye-catching, and it makes you want to keep watching. This season had a different vibe from the 1st, however. The 1st season had more of a sense of dread, eeriness, and hopelessness while this season is more...fun? The best way I can describe it, is that it feels like that frozen in bullet time bar scene from the movie The Other Guys. I don't know how to feel about that. 5.5/10

Entertainment Value: So stressful, so frustrating, and then it gets the the point where I'm rolling my eyes at the repetitively bad writing. I can't look away, though. So, I'll give it that. I want to see where they take this story. Also, I'm so glad the VIPs weren't in this season. That was another thing that ruined season 1 for me. The VIPs were terrible...the acting, the dialogue writing...just cringey as hell. I hope they will continue to refrain from torturing me with that mess in season 3 as well. 2/10

Overall, I gave season 2 of Squid Game a 3.5/10. Worse than season 1 in every way except for the more recognizable cast maybe. It is also unfinished, so I wouldn't recommend watching this until season 3 is released. And because it's unfinished, it's harder for me to judge it. 3.5 makes sense for now though, since I had given season 1 a 4 and this season is definitely worse.

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ReVieW Of ThE SeRieS

I just wanted to say Season 2 is way better & enjoyable than Season 1. Really it's thrilling. Loved all the episodes. In episode 1 Gong yoo just nailed it. His role was mind-blowing. Lee Jung jae made a team and did lots of preparation in order to get them .Real game started from Episode 4 with red light green light like season 1. The main twist is that Lee Byung hun is also playing in this game as Player 1 along with Lee Jung jae Player 496. I am surprised and got excited after Park Hee soon appearance, but he just appeared few times. 2nd Game was twist turner, the way the first team played and won the game was just very amazing.I loved the 3rd Mingle game and round-round OST was very sweet . That song was just giving relaxation in that thriller moments. Series was made great, filled with thrills twist turns mystery action gore violence, little commedy as well. I just loved whole cast. Acting was great. OSTs were just awesome .Best cinematography. Rest I enjoyed watching it. I just started watching at afternoon 1:40 pm and continued till it complete. I didn't get bored at a single moment. Watching it was worth it. Now; I'm just excited for the second part of Season 3. Hope I will come soon !!!

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Lots of Meat for a Great Trilogy Sandwich!

As brutal as "Squid Game" Season 1 is I have watched it over and over and have become obsessed with the characters and the story. It took 3 years to finally release this second season and after so much hype I was afraid Season 2 would be disappointing. I was pleasantly surprised instead. First, I think it did a great job of recapturing the intensity of the original without trying to repeat it. I knew I would miss certain characters and may not connect to these new characters as deeply, which was true, but with so many familiar KDrama faces in new roles (like Kang Ha Neul and Si-Wan) and knowing how Hwang Dong Hyuk is mindful of the tiniest story details, I trusted I would become invested in these new people who volunteered to join the Squid Game Universe, and I absolutely did. The returning cast and new cast live up to the hype, but unlike Season 1 where everything was packed into 9 episodes, we are left with so much more to learn about so many by the end of Season 2, and Season 3 thankfully comes in 2025.

So yes, you must watch Season 1 to understand everything in Season 2 and eventually Season 3. Think of the movie musical "Wicked" but with more guns and less singing, besides Thanos' cringy rap verses courtesy of T.O.P.

Lee Jung Jae is back to revise his role as #456 Seong Gi Hun. He is still as bitter and mournful as he was at the end of Season 1 and he is obsessed with and determined to end these games once and for all. It's also not a spoiler if you watch any trailer to know that Wi Ha Joon is back as Officer Hwang Jun Ho as well. He too is just as obsessed and determined as he was in Season 1 although clearly the inspiration for his motivation has changed. Other returning characters that I was happy to see and see more screen time from in Season 2 are Lee Byung Hun as "Front Man" In Ho, and Gong Yoo as the recruiter. There are a couple more side characters from Season 1 who make a big reappearance in Season 2 but I won't spoil their reveals if you missed them in the trailer. I actually loved how all of the characters evolved over the 3 years in a way that stayed true to them and their story.

I was not as emotionally invested in the new characters as much as I was in Season 1 but I believe that is because of the direction of the story not because of the performances. T.O.P as "Thanos" is entertaining. The Mom and Son duo and Baby Mama Drama is a nice dynamic to add to the plot. With more time and episodes to tell the story I believe we will learn more about many of the cast we've only seen glimpses of in Season 2 in Season 3, but the roles that impacted me the most so far are Park Gyu Young as Kang No Eul who is so different from Dali in "Dali and the Cocky Prince" and has such an interesting character perspective from any of the characters in the first season which surprised me, and Park Sung Hoon as Cho Hyeon Ju, who I just watched in "Queen of Tears" and I didn't even recognize him at first because he is so different and this time very likable. Talk about range!

Would I watch this again? Of course. I binged it in one day on the release day and I will likely watch it a bunch before the release of Season 3. I can already tell that this is the kind of season that has details I may have missed since we know some of the clues for what will happen next are literally written on the walls. The way the Squid Game story takes a look at humanity in a philosophical way is still super entertaining, reflecting people who vote against their own self-interests as well as those willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. The games still inspire a "what would you do?" feeling with morally gray characters that make you both empathetic and frustrated. The story hits familiar plot beats from Season 1, Like 'red light green light', without making it feel redundant or predictable. The only part of the story that I couldn't really vibe with was the last episode. I don't think it is badly written, it just switches the tone we are used to so much that it feels like a normal action drama which was less interesting than diabolical kid's games. But by the end of the final episode, we are back to the same kind of suspense that kept me eagerly waiting and excited for Season 2 for these past few years, but this time I'm glad we only have to wait one year (or a few months).

I like that this season came at it from the perspective of putting together all the pieces of the game that we already know. As an audience, we have seen a lot but each individual character only has their limited perspective which is fascinating to see when you realize what they still don't know. I also love that the true question is still the blue pill red pill dilemma that questions whether it is important to play the hero even if most of the odds are against you or just enjoy living under the delusion that everything is ok with as many comforts as you can get.

Overall, "Squid Game" is still a well-done dystopian spin on capitalistic greed, and human nature/survival instincts. It does a good job of reflecting society without doing any finger-wagging. It's still visually iconic with a soundtrack that is haunting and campy and will remain burned into my brain (I love the 'red light green light' game remix). I can see people not liking it as much as the original but for me it's like comparing Star Wars to The Empire Strikes Back (iykyk). I can tell this was a compromise where they chose to tell a longer well-developed story and break it up rather than just come up with a quick formulaic sequel and I think they pulled that off. I may not have cried the way I did in the first season but I was shocked many times, touched by a few moments, and even plot points I could see a mile away got me hyped and yelling at the screen. Everyone has their taste but Squid Games is my "Hunger Games" and I'm all in for the thrills, sacrifices, betrayals, heroism, and unlikely teamwork. I see a lot of reactionary low scores for this season and that just makes me think many people still prefer 'blue pill' entertainment, which is fine. Personally, I am now once again invested in Gi Hun's journey and curious about how he will evolve in Season 3. Hwang Dong Hyuk is a great storyteller and dare I say it's been fun to be a viewer of these games. Does that make me a low-key VIP? I don't know, but I can't wait to see who ultimately "wins" in this series.

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A Missed Opportunity

The much-anticipated second season of Squid Game has finally landed, and with it comes a medley of highs and lows, sharp twists, and bittersweet disappointments. While the first season was lauded for its unflinching critique of societal hierarchies and its deeply emotional narratives, Squid Game 2 feels like a diluted echo of its predecessor, stumbling under the weight of heightened expectations and the greed of corporate serialization.

Let’s start with the brighter spots, dim though they may be in the overall shadow of the season. Gong Yoo’s increased presence is a genuine highlight. Every second he’s on screen feels electric, a masterclass in understated charisma that leaves the audience wishing for more. Though his screen time remains fleeting, it’s a testament to his talent that he manages to inject so much gravitas into what could otherwise be a throwaway role. Lee Byung-hun, reprising his role as the enigmatic Front Man, similarly commands attention with his characteristic poise. His layered performance adds a veneer of intrigue to a character that could easily have become a caricature in less capable hands.

Another pleasant surprise comes in the form of Jo Yu-ri’s acting debut. Her portrayal of a young contestant, desperate to secure a future for her unborn child, is one of the few emotional touchpoints of the season. Her earnest performance brims with authenticity, grounding an otherwise chaotic narrative with moments of genuine heart. It’s a promising start to what will undoubtedly be a flourishing career.

The new games, albeit fewer in number, manage to retain the macabre creativity that defined the series’ first outing. Bloodier and more ruthless than before, they are designed to shock and awe, keeping viewers on edge with their relentless brutality. These moments remind us of what Squid Game once stood for: a visceral critique of human desperation framed within a grotesque spectacle.

Yet, these few merits cannot mask the glaring flaws that plague Squid Game 2. Chief among them is the show’s blatant exploitation by Netflix, which opts to leave the season dangling on a cliffhanger. The bitter irony of a series built on critiquing capitalism’s excesses being reduced to a tool for corporate gain is almost laughable. Instead of a coherent, self-contained story, we’re left with an unfinished tale, a dangling thread that screams “watch the next installment” rather than providing any real closure.

The truncated format of only seven episodes does little to alleviate these frustrations. The first three episodes are bogged down by redundant exposition, rehashing familiar themes and setups from the first season. For returning viewers, this feels like a tedious exercise in redundancy, while new viewers are unlikely to be drawn in by such meandering storytelling. By the time the show finds its footing, it’s already rushing to an unsatisfying conclusion, leaving little room for the kind of emotional depth that made the marble game in season one such an unforgettable moment.

This lack of emotional investment is further exacerbated by a cast of largely forgettable characters. While Jo Yu-ri’s character shines, others are relegated to the sidelines, serving little purpose beyond cheap comic relief. Thanos, in particular, is a glaring misstep. His antics are grating and pandering, dragging the show’s tone into unwelcome territory. His eventual demise is less of a tragedy and more of a relief, a moment where the series mercifully spares us from further irritation.

Perhaps the most egregious sin of Squid Game 2 is its abandonment of what made Korean dramas so compelling in the first place: their commitment to telling a complete, satisfying story. Unlike Western series, which often stretch narratives thin in pursuit of longevity, Korean dramas traditionally pride themselves on tight, cohesive storytelling. The decision to end this season on a cliffhanger feels like a betrayal of this tradition, a move dictated not by artistic integrity but by the cold calculus of profit margins.

In the end, Squid Game 2 is a pale imitation of its predecessor. While it offers glimpses of brilliance in its performances and games, it’s ultimately undermined by a rushed narrative, underdeveloped characters, and the suffocating influence of corporate interests. The series has lost its edge, trading its incisive social commentary for the empty spectacle of a franchise being milked for all it’s worth.

If you’re able to overlook these shortcomings, Squid Game 2 might still be worth a watch for its fleeting moments of brilliance. But for those hoping to recapture the magic of the first season, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

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Only this dream of a cast can carry such underwhelming plot

I cannot stop thinking about it. What a stellar cast was assembled in S2. It makes absolute sense that in S2, arguably the most famous Korean show, gets onboard the most phenomenal Korean actors of our time. How did they get them all is beyond me? And all those brilliant actors competed for viewer's attention. How delicious and exciting! Keep reading to see who won over mine...

One right move was to bring S1 actors in a different light. Time has passed and they changed. Lee Jung Jae as Gi Hun was a different character from S1, physically and mentally. Although his decision to not board that plane...was the wrong one, indeed. Then Gong Yoo in his convincing comeback as the salesman. He was well loved for his short cameo in S1 and I was so happy to see him back with some development. Then Lee Byung Hun as In Ho... tbh him joining the characters in such manner was unexpected and intriguing. Although he lost me throughout and if his story was to be the center, the mission was not accomplished as S2 was so scattered. Wi Ha Joon as Jun Ho did not shine at all, the focus was not on him, and the plot placed him nowhere.

As for the newcomers -- the producer brought their A game with all that cash from S1. What an ensemble!!! Probably 70% of my favorite Korean actors came together in S2. We got Kang Ha Neul as Dae Ho, who delivered perfectly his golden-wimpy convincing character. Then we got Park SungHoon. Please tell me how many words are enough to explain the brilliant performance he gave as Hyeon Ju. He is definitely the best performance of S2. There I said it, he won the competition of the attention. And the mere fact people are now taking this away from him, trying to bury him as if he is hateful towards transgender people -- please, why would he be ACTING as one. And everyone, I mean EVERYONE was pleasantly surprised by his performance. Stop cancelling Korean actors for everything for God's sake. We are losing art over here and they are losing their careers.

...And finally, my increasingly fave actor Yim Si Wan. You gotta make the best out of Siwan, he truly can give every movie award potential. He is a great actor and needed a stronger role. But I understand he is not as established as some of the others. I hope more complex character arc is coming in S3.

I mean all three of them really: Ha Neul, Sunghoon and Si Wan can carry the heavy role so give them sufficient backstory. S2 was disappointing in such sense.

There is no point in missing it if you watched S1, but it seems like a trap for S3, because nothing really happened.

Thanks for reading.

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They should stop till here, it's not enjoyable anymore

This drama is being recycled over and over again and each new version gets worse, if they kept it to one part it would have been valuable and people would remember it and its story would still be unique, but they keep making empty parts and the story is becoming dull and not interesting anymore, it was unique because it was something new when it first came out so people were impressed by it even those who are not fans of Korean dramas but now the story is really not as interesting as before، they should stop it here, i don't know how will they film the next season i can't expect anything, but they may bring some famous stars to save it.

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A not needed sequel, less thrilling than S1

To be honest, I was part of the people that find that season 1 of Squid Game was enough by itself and did not warrant a continuation. However, I still decided to watch the season 2 to see what it was about. Overall, I have the same take away than for the original show: great production value but some flaws in the writing and pacing. There is also of course less of an effect of surprise and an impact that when season 1 was released, as the concept is not new anymore.

The ensemble cast remains solid. There a couple of actors that I found were a bit overplaying their roles : T.O.P (as the rapper) and Chae Gook Hee (as the shaman) were clearly doing too much in a almost caricatural way. But there were also a couple of great addition to the cast that did an excellent job in portraying their characters, giving them layers that I think were not necessarily detailed by the script: Kang Ha Neul, Yim Si Wan and Park Sung Hoon.

Production value is impressive. There is a clear cinematography that leaves an impact with the gore and bloody details on top of colorful and childish decors. The soundtrack was quite good in fitting with the angsty vibe of the story.

I would recommend this to people if you have seen the first season of course. I think this season 2 is beneath season 1 but it seems also to be just an introduction to season 3 which I hope will be reaping the benefits of all what's established by the season 2. The production value is still very impressive, there are some ups and downs in terms of writing with less effect of surprise and a filler side quest out of the game.

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I like season 2 more.

The first season was exactly what I expected, so I wasn't expecting much from the second season. But I like season 2 more. The amount of popular actors in this drama is amazing. Of course, the threads raised in this season were not fully developed. Probably because a third season was already planned. But for me this season was definitely more interesting. I feel like more characters were introduced and brought closer.

There were some elements that gave a glimmer of hope that the characters' situation would change. And sometimes there was a hint of unpredictability.

The choice of actors is questionable but in Korea it is increasingly difficult to find someone without a shady past. (And I am not talking about T.O.P because the criticism he receives is sick.)

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"Welcome to da Thanos world."

Overall 9/10
🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐

SO ENTERTAINING!!
I enjoyed this season a LOT more than the first season. I've seen many mixed opinions about season 2 but I genuinely enjoyed it! The games were different and the new characters are so fun. I liked that they did not do a more in depth backstory to the main players we get introduced to but instead let's us discover what they are like the same way the characters get to know each other. Still zero regard for life but player 230 really made it less stressful with the comedy he brought along. Player 120 is the DIVA and player 222 is a cutie pie, I absolutely loved everyone (especially player 388). Just be prepared that season 2 ends on an extreme cliffhanger! (Don't say I didn't warn you!😂)

"I'mma legend. Thanos💅💚💜💙❤️🧡... WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS... I'm sorry, boiiii🚪"

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