The South Korean series “Squid Game” became the most watched show on Netflix shortly after it debuted in September 2021, garnering over 265 million views with its first season, and on Dec. 26, over three years later, the show’s second season was released following its long anticipation. With its release, the show continues to be an unpredictable, phenomenal masterpiece.
The first season follows Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, as he participates and competes in a series of vicious games among 455 other players. During each of the six games, losing players are killed, and 100,000 South Korean won is added to the prize money with each death. In the end, Seong is the only remaining player, winning the prize money and being forced to live with the deaths of the other players.
When he is about to fly to America and live out the rest of his life with his family, he sees a man in the train station receive an invitation to join the games. Reminded that no one else will stop the vicious games, he decides not to get on the plane, ending the first season on a cliffhanger.
With the bar set incredibly high due to the first season’s immense viewership and unique plot, the second season was tasked with following its massively successful predecessor without seeming repetitive or predictable. In spite of these daunting expectations, Season 2 improves upon many aspects from the first season, creating a more suspenseful story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats even more than they were in Season 1.
Unlike Season 1, which focuses primarily on the newly introduced concept of the games, Season 2 follows Seong as he re-enters the game with the intention of shutting it down and saving its current participants.
Coming into Season 2, viewers have prior knowledge about the games. While this may seem less exciting than witnessing the games for the first time with no expectations, it actually creates even more shocking moments, as viewers now have pre-existing expectations that can be subverted when things suddenly change from last season.
One of the biggest differences between the two seasons is the introduction of mandatory voting between each game. Season 2 introduces a mandatory voting session following each game that allows players to leave the game and split the accumulated prize money among themselves.
The tension between players who align themselves with each side of the vote is frustrating yet entertaining, as greed of the players persistently overtakes their rationality.
Additionally, this season introduces new characters, many of which are more likable and entertaining than those starring in Season 1. This includes arguably the show’s most entertaining character, Thanos, played by South Korean rapper and actor T.O.P. Unlike his fellow participants, Thanos is playful and lighthearted throughout the intense casualties of the games, providing comedic relief, in addition to being unpredictable and intimidating,
Considering the immense popularity of the first season of “Squid Game,” Season 2’s ability to exceed expectations is all the more impressive. The season ends with Seong’s fate left undetermined, building anticipation for the final season premiering in 2025. With expectations being subverted at every corner and the introduction of new characters, fans of the first season can expect to be surprised often and invested constantly as the story develops into something truly special.
