It’s no secret that the hit Netflix drama “Squid Game” was an instant worldwide sensation upon its release back in 2021. As the most-streamed show in Netflix history, “Squid Game” demonstrates the inherent greed of man, the troubles of living in a world of socio-economic inequality, and the use of human strength to fight against injustice. With the recent release of a second season, the show has once again made its way to all our TV screens, leading fans to begin discussing how Season 2 compares to the phenomenon of the original. Some of the online discourse revolves around Season 2 not meeting the high expectations of fans, which I cannot help but disagree with.
Without a doubt, one of the most distinguishable qualities of the show is its phenomenal acting. Although it is quite certain that the English dub of the show does not provide as much raw emotion compared to the original Korean version, it undoubtedly shows that each actor in “Squid Game” is incredibly talented and worth acknowledging when reviewing this season. With many new actors joining the cast for season two, I cannot help but point out my strong attachment to every actor – new or returning – and how strongly they made me feel for each character, which serves as a huge factor in what made my love for season two hold so strong.
To build off of this, there are many claims that this season falters with the inclusion of too many new characters which I contest wholeheartedly. I feel that each of the new faces and their storylines add new levels of depth and complexity to the show, making it more emotionally weighted. Instead of being overwhelmed by all the new characters, I find it a refreshing change to invest in multiple storylines.
Unlike Season 1, which follows five or six central characters throughout, Season 2 opens the doorway for viewers to become emotionally invested with a larger main cast as they lead a collective and large battle against the corrupt games. I feel that the inclusion of an underlying romance between player 222 and 333 and their pregnancy, the introduction of a powerful female transgender character, and the loving relationship and sacrifice found in a mother and son in the game not only deepened the narrative but also enhanced the show’s emotional pull, as one wants to see more out of each character. Something is thrilling in seeing how different characters react to the games and how their backgrounds influence their decisions and actions in fascinating ways, which brings me to disagree with the fact that there are “too many” new characters.
Another crucial element of season two is how the world outside the games is brought into a more mainstream view. Seeing Seong Gi-hun, the show’s main protagonist, have to deal with the trauma of what happened in season one added an extra layer of realism and humanness to the story. Since everything inside the actual game is so characterized and childlike, down to the bright colors and happy music, bringing viewers into the real world more throughout season two made the show feel far more raw and real, as if it could truly be happening.
This further develops the psychological effects such games have on their survivors, which in turn allows the viewer to relate more to Gi-hun’s tragic story. Additionally, Season 2 provides more perspective on the lives of people outside the deadly games, peeking at personal dilemmas, relationships, and motives that drive them to act one way or another. This is a release from the closed walls of competition into the wide world around them, which in my opinion provided a much wider and deeper narrative.
Furthermore, “Squid Game” does a remarkable job of showing different aspects of Korean culture and traditions. For example, a few of my Korean friends claim that they know many of the games included in the series, as they had grown up playing them with their families, which makes it all the more meaningful to see that representation of Korean culture so vibrantly translated onto a platform like Netflix. As Ethan Lee (12), put it: “Squid Game does an excellent job of representing Korean culture in media, and I feel as though it’s super interesting and fun to get to watch my friends who aren’t Korean watch it and learn Korean phrases or learn games that I’ve been playing since I was young.” Although the cultural representation is not exclusive to Season 2, the second season offers additional insight into Korean games and traditions, which deserves to be highlighted.
Although there are many strengths of Season 2, there’s one persistent factor that I will admit I found unenjoyable this season: the consistent attention given to the voting after every game in which players vote for either continuing the game or dividing the cash and going home starts to get wearisome after some time. While this plot is necessary for moving the story along and working through the moral dilemmas of the players and clear divides among them, the repetition of the voting scenes does feel a bit overdone. Screen time given to these scenes feels as though it could be better spent on character development. Again, with so many new characters being brought into the storyline, this time could have been allocated to developing the additional nuance of each of their backstories rather than being used towards an event that did not further develop the plot.
Overall, although many viewers may feel that this new season did not meet their expectations, I cannot help but disagree. From the phenomenal additions to the “Squid Game” cast, new intriguing games, and views of life outside the games undeniably enhanced the story to a whole new level. Although I can agree that it is likely impossible to ever top the phenomenal first season, I feel that Season 2 is an extremely close second and deserves your time to watch!
