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One Last Game

Review of “Squid Game” Season Two



POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!


On Dec. 26, 2024, “Squid Game” season two released on Netflix. The first season is the most-watched series on Netflix, generating 265.2 million views and an estimated value of almost $900 million. The new season debuted with 126.2 million views in eleven days, the biggest debut for Netflix. The season follows the main character, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), as he returns to end the games. This season remained entertaining with new perspectives, games, characters and acting that kept it engaging. However, the plot and storyline fell short at times.


The beginning of the season felt unnecessarily long, as it focused on setting up a subplot for a side character that ultimately had minimal impact and fell flat. In some ways, the plot felt like a rinse and repeat dynamic. Almost every episode revolved around the contestants voting on whether to continue the games or not. These segments could have been decreased in length and were often repetitive. There were sequences that were almost identical to last season, like the attacks outside of the games, which were less interesting and the same. Though still interesting, the competition games, a highlight of last season, decreased in number. The decrease took away from moments that would’ve been entertaining for viewers to balance out the filler scenes that were not exciting. The cliffhanger ending, while suspenseful, was abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving the season ending feeling unresolved.


The acting between the characters, however, makes the season interesting. The show introduced a male actor playing a transgender woman in this season, and had her character interact with an old Korean woman. The way the old woman’s actress portrayed the old woman's journey from bewilderment to supportiveness is heartwarming to watch. The representation of transgender people in Korean media is also encouraging to see. Lee, who plays the main character, used his acting to showcase the desperation of his character and his moral conflicts. Through the somber expressions he uses and the tense body language he has towards other characters, his acting intensifies those feelings. The acting of the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who disguised himself and joins the game, is interesting for the viewers to watch with the knowledge that he's the antagonist. To see how the actor portrays the character as smiley and getting along with others one moment to occasionally showing his rage with furious expressions allows viewers to understand the complexity of his character and feel conflicted.


New additions to the season kept it enjoyable. One new addition to this season is the perspective of the guards. Through that, the behind-the-scenes of the game is shown, adding more depth to the story while providing something entertaining. This season brought new games that incorporate Korean culture. Games like gong-gi are traditional Korean games; in this case, many Korean children learn it growing up. Seeing how games from another culture are played was fun to watch because of the tension and excitement they brought. New characters like Thanos, a purple-haired rapper with drug problems, added a level of unseriousness and humor that complemented the gravity of the series. It allowed viewers to still enjoy watching when nothing special was happening. In this season, when we see the Front Man again, we get glimpses of his backstory. As viewers, the addition of this adds backstory to the games, which ignites an eagerness to know and keeps the season entertaining.


Overall, “Squid Game” season two introduced new aspects, such as perspectives, characters and games, that kept it entertaining. The acting provided an emotional understanding of the characters and was enjoyable. However, despite these positive traits, occasionally the plot and storyline fell short. While the first season was undoubtedly better, season two still was an exciting watch after the beginning episodes.


<Star Rating> 

Plot: ★★★★★

Acting: ★★★★★

New Aspects: ★★★★

Overall: ★★★★

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