Premiering at 5 PM on December 26, Squid Game: Season 2 continues the story of Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who returns to seek revenge and confronts the mysterious Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun) in another round of deadly games.
The first season of Squid Game, released in 2021, became a global phenomenon, earning Lee Jung-jae the Best Actor award and director Hwang Dong-hyuk the Best Director award at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022. Given the massive success of Season 1, expectations for the sequel were sky-high.
However, following its release, public opinion regarding the inclusion of Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P), who was convicted of drug use, has been largely negative, and critics have also expressed differing opinions on the new season.
Positive Reviews Highlight Action and Depth
Rama, an MPA-certified entertainment journalist, praised the series, saying, “Squid Game: Season 2 is even crazier than the original. Some moments, like the ‘Deer Hunter’-style scenes, are deeply unsettling. The season is packed with action driven by themes of retribution.”
Variety also gave a favorable review, noting, “The structure, costuming, setting, and even the haunting cover of Fly Me to the Moon remain the same in Season 2. Yet, it mostly avoids repetitiveness by exploring new angles of societal issues such as capitalist exploitation, the erosion of morality, and class inequities. The show’s signature brutal violence is still present, and the terror among the players, including Gi-hun, remains palpable.”
The publication also commended the introduction of new characters, including a mother-son duo (Yang Dong-geun and Kang Ae-shim), a YouTube star (Im Si-wan), and a psychotic rapper (Choi Seung-hyun), which added fresh dimensions to the series. They noted, “One of the most interesting aspects of Season 2 is that it moves beyond the players.”
Criticism for Pacing and Familiarity
On the other hand, Time Magazine criticized the season for its pacing, stating, “It takes too long—two plodding episodes out of just seven this season—to get them there.” The review added, “As it stalls, the show unnecessarily reiterates Gi-hun’s grievances against the bored billionaires and burns time on characters who don’t end up being especially important.”
The publication also argued that the plot felt like a rehash of the first season, stating, “Once Gi-hun is back in his green tracksuit, the season feels like a cycle of play, murder, rage, repeat. The return of the giant, creepy robot doll Young-hee feels like pure fan service.”
Furthermore, Time criticized the season finale’s abrupt cliffhanger, calling it “frustratingly unfinished.”
Divided Reception Raises Interest
With reviews split between acclaim and criticism, it remains to be seen how Squid Game: Season 2 will perform in the coming weeks. While some praise its deeper exploration of themes and compelling new characters, others lament its pacing and lack of innovation compared to the original.
Squid Game: Season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.
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