After years of waiting for season two of “Squid Game,” fans finally got to relive the heart-pounding intensity we all know and love — but it did not live up to the cultural phenomenon of season one.
“Squid Game” took the media by storm back in 2021. It’s still the most-watched Netflix series of all time with season one drawing in over 265.2 million views, and season two at over 165.7 million, according to Netflix. I don’t think any show deserves this more than “Squid Game,” but it makes sense why season two might fall short compared to the jaw-dropping first season.
Season two was nothing short of expectation, with many viewers like myself waiting years to see exactly what happens to Player 456. Coming in with three episodes less than the original season had me expecting intensity, but after watching, I was wondering if anything had actually happened when it comes to the lore.
The first and last episodes are jam-packed with action and lore, but the middle five seemed to have the same thing over and over — voting. This entire season was about voting, but that is not to say it was not enjoyable. It did not add anything to the world of “Squid Game” that viewers were not already aware of. The games brought season one lovers back into the nostalgia of what we all loved: the action and horror. Cheering on characters we grow to love, just to watch them fall victim to the pink guards.
Just like in season one, the characters in this season were amazing. Two of my personal favorites were Hyun-ju, or Player 120, and Thanos, or Player 230. These are two astronomically different characters that glued me to the screen. Player 120 was nothing short of sensational. She is a great example of trans representation in media, with her determination, strength and resilience. Thanos, on the other hand, was made to be annoying. He brings comedy to the show in a way most people would hate, making him such a great character.
The biggest problem I had with this show was the unnecessary plot twists. There was a character reveal that did not add much to the overall storyline. At first, this got me super excited, as I hoped it would give viewers more intel on the history of the games, but it seemed to end us off with nothing other than an insane episode twist.
While I do have quite a few things to say when critiquing season two of “Squid Game,” I can’t help but love it. It is an amazing story with incredible cinematography and inspiring plotlines. Season three is set to come out later this year, and I will be watching it the second it drops.
