Screen Test: ‘Squid Game' Season 2 Reveals New Characters & Plotlines
Did a new show pop up on your Netflix watchlist? Or maybe there's a new Asian drama making its rounds on social media? Stop scrolling before you fall into the spoilers black hole and let us help you decide if it's worth watching.
From Hollywood sitcoms that tickle your funny bones and thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seats to romantic K-Dramas that make your heart skip a beat, The Beat Asia is taking a first look at the latest series releases for your viewing pleasure.
So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the review!
Squid Game: The Second Season
No. of Episodes: 7
Run Time: Approximately 60 mins per episode
Rating: TV-MA (for mature audiences)
Genre: Thriller
Subtitle Availability: English, Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese
Warnings: Contains violence, profanity, and drug use
The long wait has finally come to an end. Three years after the debut of Squid Game – which has since become Netflix’s biggest hit and most-watched series – fans will finally get to see what happens to Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after he steps off the plane on the last episode of Season 1.
For those who haven’t binged it yet, Squid Game Season 2 promises dangerous new games and a fresh roster of characters. Of course, we also get to hear back from recurring personalities, such as Gi-hun, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), the Recruiter (Gong Yoo), Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun), the policeman and Front Man’s brother, and Jung-Bae (Lee Seo-hwan), Gi-hun’s friend who we first see in Season 1, Episode 1, as a fellow gambler.
Director and Writer Hwang Dong-hyuk, who never expected a Season 2 (much less Season 3) of the show, has meticulously crafted an intense storyline for the new installment. New characters reflect modern-day problems and circumstances such as crypto scams, sexual discrimination, and drug abuse. To portray these, Dong-hyuk (who’s never been shy to cast fresh talent) has pulled a diverse team of actors, including renowned rapper T.O.P, K-Pop star Jo Yuri, and former colleague Lee David.
REVIEW: Off the Heels Of A Mega-Hit
A big challenge for Squid Game Season 2 is the fact that the show comes off the tails of a mega-hit, which we all know, is hard to top.
To add to that, Season 2 no longer has the same shock value that Season 1 had simply because fans are already familiar with the rules of the game. They know more about what to expect than they did in Season 1. The second season also comes with only 7 episodes, compared to the 9 episodes that its predecessor had, leaving fans with a cliffhanger.
Lastly, Season 2 was, in fact, conceptualized in less time than Season 1 was. Dong-hyuk, who shared that he first began writing Squid Game (Season 1) in 2009, had had to write Seasons 2 and 3 in less than a year due to demand.
That’s not to say that the series isn’t well-written. Details reveal that Dong-hyuk maintains his incredible meticulousness throughout the season, but if we had to make a choice, we would definitely say that Season 1 was a better watch than Season 2.
SPOILER ALERT! This section contains details from the premiere episode of “Squid Game Season 2.”
Nevertheless, the show comes with plenty of strengths, one of which was the first episode, which some might argue is the best of the season. It gives us a little insight into the backstory of the Recruiter; needless to say, Gong Yoo’s performance has been rightfully praised by critics online. It’s a strong start to the show and will definitely keep viewers clicking on the next episode.
Another strength of the second season is the Front Man, who keeps viewers in for a loop as he joins the games himself. His actions throughout the season are confusing; and one never really understands what he’s planning until the very last scene of the very last episode, keeping viewers on their toes about his motivations.
While the plotline for Season 2 is captivating and immersive in its own way, there were some instances when the show started to feel like a comedy (i.e. Thanos rapping to the other players).
Gi-hun’s hero complex also starts to feel generic; he definitely showed more complex character traits in the first season. The first time fans meet him, we see multiple aspects of Gi-hun; he is a good teammate yet a bad father, a good friend but a terrible son. This makes him relatable and human, someone we would want to cheer for. Yet in Season 2, he seems to be portrayed as a “savior” and nothing more; and while this kind of integrity is honorable, it also feels flat.
Of course, one thing to be expected from Squid Game is death. And while plenty of people die, scenes in the new season are much less gut-wrenching than in the first. The first season killed off pretty much every character people had an emotional connection with; while the second season sees more survivors and more annoying competitors.
Lastly, characters in the second season are not as well-developed as those in the first. In the first season, every character’s life story and motivations are masterfully portrayed. In season two, we don’t quite get to connect with the characters as much. For example, we never quite understand why Chae Kuk-hee’s character, Seon-nyeo, feels so connected to the spiritual world. We also meet Min-su (Lee David), who seems to be nothing more than a man with zero integrity and zero backstory.
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 BEATS
Our final verdict is that while Season 2 falls a little short, it is still overall, a captivating watch. It’s definitely very easy to binge; if you’re someone who found it difficult to get through the gut-wrenching scenes in Season 1, you’ll be glad to know that Season 2 is much easier to get through simply because it’s a lot less so.
Season 2 also sets the stage for an exciting third season; personally, we're excited to see what happens with Jun-ho and the sea captain. Because Season 2 ended with such a cliffhanger, fans will be excited for the release of the third and final installment, which Dong-hyuk teases will be closer than we think.
Overall, we give Squid Game Season 2 three and a half beats, which is still pretty good — though of course, not as good as Season 1’s five full beat/star rating.
Watch Squid Game Season 2 on Netflix
Get the latest curated content with The Beat Asia's newsletters. Sign up now for a weekly dose of the best stories, events, and deals delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss out! Click here to subscribe.
