“Squid Game Season 2 Review: Nearly a Perfect Follow-Up”
The wait is finally over. After three long years, Squid Game is back, and Season 2 does not disappoint. Comprising seven episodes, each about an hour long, the season delivers a powerful punch. Lead actor Lee Jung-jae returns with a commanding performance, stepping into a determined, mission-driven role that contrasts with his more carefree demeanor from the early days of the first season.
Though certain moments from season 1 – for example, the intense tug-of-war or the marbles game that broke my heart, are unmatched in season 2, which has gripping moments of its own but perhaps not quite as much for those of us with vivid memories of the originals’ tension and emotional intensity.
That said, there is much to enjoy in the new season. Even for newcomers, the world of Squid Game is engrossing, with its layered exploration of societal divides and human struggles.
The series, created by South Korean writer and producer Hwang Dong-hyuk, continues to transcend cultural boundaries, addressing universally resonant themes of inequality and power dynamics.
Rooted in a specific socio-economic context yet globally relevant, Squid Game uses children’s games as a powerful metaphor for adult struggles with class disparities, exploitation, and survival. Season 2 sharpens its focus on these themes, introducing fresh characters and dynamics while expanding on previously established elements.
The story revolves around participants trapped in dire circumstances—victims of financial scams, gambling addictions, business failures, and overwhelming debts—compelled to play deadly games for a chance at redemption.
New characters, including a troubled rapper, a pregnant girl, a transwoman saving for surgery, and others, enrich the narrative with their unique backstories and motivations.
The plot comes full circle as Seong Gi-hun, the protagonist, now wields his newfound wealth as a tool for fighting against the game’s sinister creators. He has now joined the game to not win the prize money but to break down the system from within.
In a similar turn of events, Detective Hwang Jun-ho re-emerges from the shadows to partner with Gi-hun in a continued search for truth and justice.
There are six deadly games that the players go through in six days, where democracy acts as a false tool of oppression. As each round passes, people vote to either continue the game or stop it, showing how desperate people will get to break free from their despair.
The climax is nothing but explosive—a blood-soaked climax that outdoes everything that has happened in Season 1. Most of the action takes place underground in the arena, but in parallel with that, Jun-ho travels the open seas chasing the enigmatic Front Man’s stronghold.
Season 2 ends on an open-ended finale, leaving it all hanging in the balance for the next installment. The bright side? A third season is apparently in post-production and will arrive much sooner than the last.
With masterful storytelling, gripping characters, and unrelenting scrutiny of power and survival, Squid Game Season 2 has emerged as a near-flawless sequel to a revolutionizing show. The game is still far from being over and the world breathes into its wait.
