On December 26th, the highly-anticipated second season of Squid Game premiered on Netflix, much to the delight of fans across the globe. It has been over three years since the show's first season captured audiences worldwide, and swiftly became one of the most successful titles on the platform. So after such a long wait, and with such a tough act to follow, did Squid Game season 2 live up to its monumental hype?
When Squid Game first premiered on Netflix, it was an unassuming K-Drama about a secret contest with high rewards and deadly consequences. It was created by filmmaker, Hwang Dong-hyuk, who came up with the idea initially in 2008 and fought to get it produced for over a decade. Nobody could've predicted the massive success that the show would encounter so soon after its release. Fans resonated with its message of wealth inequality, desperation, and the indomitable human spirit. Squid Game has since inspired a reality show, a giant Youtube competition series, and has become a definitive cultural juggernaut, not just in South Korea, but across the globe.
Not long after its release last week, Squid Game season 2 became the first ever series to debut at #1 in all 93 countries where Netflix is available. This kind of clean-sweep is completely unheard of in the realm of television. Today, it reigns supreme above Stranger Things, Wednesday, Black Mirror, everything...but is it actually good?
Following the first season of Squid Game was an extremely daunting task, but nevertheless, Hwang Dong-hyuk and company went to work to continue their harrowing story.
In Season 2, about three years have passed since the events of season 1 and the protagonist Gi-Hun is using his immense wealth to track down and stop the games from continuing and causing more grief. This journey eventually leads to his return to the island, where he participates in the next slate of new, deadly childhood games.
Obviously, because of the nature of the games, very few characters return from last season, and instead, a whole new cast is introduced. And with that cast has come from controversy...
The biggest controversy that season 2 has encountered so far centers around the character of Hyun-ju, a former special forces officer turned transgender woman. Hyun-ju is played by cisgender male actor, Park Sung-hoon, which has angered a large number of viewers. Creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk responded to the controversy by explaining that it was "near impossible to find someone who we could cast authentically" and that he had trust in Park Sung-hoon's performance. South Korea is not considered an LGBT friendly country, especially towards transgender people, therefore the casting of a true trans woman for this role was not only difficult but potentially dangerous for the actor involved. Still, fans of the show remain disheartened by the choice to cast a cisgender man in a transgender role.
The reviews for season 2 of Squid Game have not been nearly as kind as they were for season 1. In the brief time since its release, the show's audience score on Rotten Tomatoes has dipped from 83% to 65%. Critics appreciated the new challenges and performances from the cast, but the simple fact is that the show has lost what made it so gripping in the first place: the element of surprise. Yes, there are new games but the audience knows how the game works now, they know what to expect. Most of the show's suspense this season comes from voting scenes where the contestants vote whether or not to continue the competition. A kind of civil-war breaks out between those who want to leave and those who want to stay. This adds something fresh to the show that season 1 didn't have, but for a lot of viewers, this wasn't enough.
The biggest issue that I, as well as many others had with season 2 was how it ended. The season ends when the contestants organize an uprising against the guards, ending the series before the games can be finished. With only seven episodes in the entire season, this ending felt premature and was not nearly as satisfying as watching Gi-hun's victory in season 1. It was meant to be a climactic, unexpected ending but it just came across as ill-conceived. Squid Game promised to return at an unspecified date in 2025 for the next installment, and audiences will just have to hold their breath until then.
There are two specific scenes in season 2 that deserve praise and they both take place in the first episode. Actor, Gong Yoo briefly reprises his role as the game recruiter, this time with a penchant for Russian Roulette. These two Russian Roulette scenes prove just how well Squid Game does suspense. Everything from the pacing to the lighting to the staging all culminate in two of the best scenes the season has to offer. Gong Yoo and Lee Jung Jae have such an undeniable on-screen chemistry, and their commitment to their respective characters make for some truly great television. If you don't see yourself watching all of Squid Game, do yourself the favor and at least watch the season 2 premiere.
While Squid Game season 2 isn't nearly as good as the original, it stands as a huge achievement in the world of television, and it feels like the real story is just taking off. I'm confident that Hwang Dong-hyuk and company can create a compelling finale to their magnum opus. We will know for sure in the coming year...