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Squid Game Season 2 Review

The second season of Squid Game premiered on Netflix in 2024. It’s another exceptional season of this now iconic show.

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“Whether to continue to play the games for a bigger prize

or to stop here is entirely your choice“

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Seong Gi-hun returns to the game after winning last time with the new resolution in mind – to stop this deadly game with the help of the police detectives. This season came three years after the original, which is quite a long in-between time, but I am happy to say that the series has lost none of its edge and/or excitement. This season is almost as good as the original and I cannot wait to see the next installment after the shocking cliffhanger ending of this season. If done right, this will be a television trilogy for the ages.

Yes, this season was undoubtedly never going to be as fresh or as original as its predecessor, but the quality of its storytelling, character development and technical aspects is so obviously strong that it ultimately managed to stand on its own and be comparable with the original, even trumping it in certain aspects. The first season had deeper themes, but this one still emphasizes the class struggles in Korea that are resonant the world over, which makes this show so universally appealing. The series isn’t subtle in its exploration of the human psyche, but it felt very truthful in is sad depiction of greed and capitalism run amok.

There is a new rule this time around and that is the vote after each game. The participants get to vote on whether or not to continue the games or stop them and walk away with the prize accumulated by that point, but shared equally among all. This was an ingenious idea that led to not only intense voting sequences, but also a lot of drama between the participants as they split into two very different groups. The fact that the series actually managed to give a proper excuse to those who wanted to continue the games is a testament to its strong storytelling.

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My favorite episodes were those that consisted of more dialogue and complex character dynamics than the games themselves, which are once again phenomenal. The first one is a classic repeated from the previous season while the second one is this interesting mix of mini-games that are too Korea-specific, but still a lot of fun. The highlight is clearly the last game called Mingle, which brought out the worst in participants in the most brutal and dark ways possible.

But ultimately this season wasn’t as horrifying as the last one until the finale that was twisty and unexpected in the best ways possible. Not that many important characters die in this season, but we still have another one to go, which will undeniably lead to many more painful deaths. I did find those first couple of episodes somewhat pedestrian as the show is at its least interesting when operating as a detective police procedural, but the fifth episode was a stellar showcase of superb character development while the finale was such a delightful shooter thriller that reminded me of video game levels where you have to shoot your way to the top of the building. It was a whole lot of fun with very high stakes, but also a sense of realism retained throughout.

Gi-hun continues to be a fantastic protagonist and our guiding sense of morality and fight for justice. He is a different man here in a sense that he knows the games and stakes, so he sets out to help others, but he is still just as smart and as capable as he was before. I loved his character. Another standout is Lee. This is a trans character who was ridiculously attacked by some unreasonable people online for being played by a straight actor, but he did an excellent job in this role and the show is actually very positive in its depiction of transgender people. She is after all one of the biggest heroes of this entire season and I appreciated how the series tackled her transition and her shy yet dignified interactions with the other participants in a nuanced way.

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My favorite characters are the mother and son playing the games together. This season is all about the dangers of gambling and how it’s a rarely discussed, but heartbreaking issue that many face. It’s particularly well explored through this mother-son duo. I loved this older woman who is both gentle and feisty. She’s funny, but just so wonderful as she clearly cares for her son and her entire team. The one character who turns out to be a traitor is also fantastic and a very eerie psychopathic villain. I also really liked Thanos as this over-the-top, buffoonish villain of sorts and the series is very contemporary in his characterization and the depiction of online gambling and the crypto market. The protagonist’s friend is also memorable while the other characters are much less important.