From breaking records to capturing global attention, season 1 of the Netflix original series Squid Game captivated audiences worldwide with its intense and unique storyline. Reaching 68 million views in its debut, season two of Squid Game was released on Dec. 26, 2024 and it did not disappoint.
In season 1, contestants play children’s games to win $45.6 billion won but if you lose, you die. Season two then picks up with Gi-hun (Lee Jung-Jae), the winner of the first season’s games, returning with a new purpose: to take down the main antagonist, Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), and permanently end the games. However, Gi-hun unknowingly befriends a character, In-Ho: the very Front Man he seeks to defeat.
Following Gi-hun and his journey to navigate the new and unpredictable games of season two, the show introduces two parallel subplots along with the main plot. One follows a policeman, Hwang Jun-Ho (Wi Ha-joon), and Captain Park (Oh Dal-su), searching for the mysterious location of where the games are held, while the other delves into the life of a Red Guard 011 (Park Gyu-young), giving us a new perspective on the games.
While these subplots are intriguing, they occasionally fall short of their potential as they lack depth and importance. For example, the subplot with the policeman’s journey to the island feels underwhelming as his character ends up aimlessly sailing around to find the island without any meaningful conclusion.
An overabundance of characters also hinders the season’s ability to delve deeper into each storyline. For example, I had hoped that the storyline of the father entering the games to save his daughter with cancer and his connection with Red Guard 011 could have been explored in greater depth, adding more emotional weight to the show, but this wasn’t the case.
However, I believe that it’s this overabundance that helps create a diverse range of characters making season 2 entertaining to watch. From a drug-addicted rapper nicknamed Thanos to a transgender character who won over the audience with his humor and courage, the range of personalities helped keep the show engaging.
Another flaw lies in the cliffhangers and unanswered questions. Originally intended as a series finale, season two was restructured to pave the way for the third season. The abundance of cliffhangers leaves many loose threads that could either be frustrating or engaging, depending on the viewer.
Despite my critiques, the show’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. With new games, this season introduced viewers to Korean childhood games like gonggi and Round & Round, which were cleverly twisted into life-or-death challenges. Inspired by the show, I found myself trying out some of these games that opened my eyes to a unique part of Korean culture.
A particular highlight in the characters was Gong Yoo’s return as the recruiter. His unforgettable performance — especially exemplified in a scene where he portrays confidence on one side of his face and fear on the other at the same time through his eyes — was very impressive. The cast, as a whole, displays stellar performances with raw emotion that add authenticity to their roles.
Ultimately, Squid Game season 2 is thrilling and succeeds in many ways but also leaves room for improvement. The new characters, games, and storylines make it an engaging experience, even if some storylines lack resolution. For fans of the first season, season 2 will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you eagerly waiting for season 3.
Season 2 of Squid Game introduces new characters, game, and subplots. It is entertaining to watch with cliffhangers and plot twists to keep the viewers on edge.