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Squid Game Season 2 Review: Netflix delivers a well-layered sequel with meatier characters and impressive performances.

Squid Game season 2 review:
Lee Jung-jae in the Netflix series.
Squid GameA
4/5
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Lee Byung-hun, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-shim and Lee Seo-hwan.Director: Hwang Dong-hyukPlatform: Netflix
Squid Game Season 2 Review: It is a ‘bloody’ holiday this year as Squid Game returns with its second season. The hit South Korean drama, which took the world by storm in 2021, decided to paint the festive season red but with a hint of gloom. Like the first season, Squid Game season 2 has a few South Korean games making an appearance. However, this time, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk shifted the gear from focusing on the games and deaths to giving the series a slightly different approach. The writing plays the hero here and various elements elevate the series to a new height. This approach works brilliantly for the Netflix series.
With Squid Game season 2, Hwang Dong-hyuk leaps three years after the events of the first season and reveals that Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is on a hunt for the salesman (Gong Yoo) and the mastermind behind the game to end it all. His hunt takes a while but he succeeds and nabs the salesman. Their face-off opens his doors to the game and he is back in the room, this time with new players. While his number remains the same — 456 — his agenda for the game is simple: End it all.
Seong Gi-hun remains the central character of it all. However, this time around, Hwang Dong-hyuk has branched out the tentacles of this squid by delving into various aspects of the game. Yes, a few new games have been introduced for the international audience. But the creator doesn’t invest as much time in the games as he did in the first season. Instead, it’s all about the politics this time. I did miss the aspect of the game to an extent but the politics and the plot building were strong enough that I could forgo that complaint.
The series also hits a new nail by exploring the politics of those donning the red uniform. We meet a North Korean expat wearing one of the suits and following the orders to kill people during the game. The introduction of this element and everything that she goes through as the red soldier is a refreshing viewpoint to explore and has been executed well.
We also see a few mysterious characters who, under the garb of being friends, are out to be their foes. As much as the execution of this element was done well in the second season, this aspect was explored better in the first season. In the last season, one of the characters was a man from the system and we were blissfully unaware of it until the final twist. This gave the series a massive punch. However, this season, the secrecy doesn’t last too long. This fades away the essence of the character. The surprise element was flashed too fast and too early. I will not spoil it for you but once you watch the series, you might understand why I say so.
Another writing win for the series is the room to develop Wi Ha-joon’s Hwang Jun-ho to develop an arc. It is interesting to watch his character come into shape in the series.
While writing has been a great weapon of Squid Game (both seasons), the casting also has been spot-on. We all know that Lee Jung-jae is outstanding as Seong Gi-hun. He brings a different shade to the character in season 2 thus eliminating the conversation of repeated performance. However, there were four more actors that stood out for me in this season.
Setting aside the controversies for the sake of the review, ex-BigBang member T.O.P is one of the best performers of the series. He plays the role of the purple-headed ‘Thanos’, a broke rapper, in the series and holds your attention in every scene that he is in. The second actor who is brilliant in the series is Park Sung-hoon. He plays the role of a trans person with utmost sensitivity and empathy. Both the actors deliver a memorable performance.
I am not sure if the next name I take will hit the mark with the audience but she had me invested. Kang Ae-Sim the aged mother, who is participating with her son, won me over. A good blend of writing and performance, my face would light up every time she was on screen.
Lastly, Lee Byeong-heon as Hwang In-ho leaves the impact the creators want him to leave. He gets under your skin and ensures that you are as confused as the people in the series. Special shoutout to Gong Yoo. He shines in the first episode, delivering two heart-racing scenes that don’t allow you to take off your eyes off him.
Although the series overall impresses, Squid Game season 2 lacked one factor — the deaths. The first season had viewers invested in the characters so much that when they died, most of us needed a few minutes off from the binge to embrace the death. However, the second season doesn’t have the same impact. In an attempt to keep the good ones until the last episode, the series appeared to downplay the deaths. It does impact you once you hit the mid-season mark.
Nevertheless, Squid Game is back with a bang and it proves that it deserves the Golden Globes 2025 nomination.