Squid Game 2 reviews range from sensational to letdown
Season two of Squid Game has received reviews as mixed as a Christmas selection box, with TV critics calling it everything from "sensational" to "a letdown".
The Guardian said that after a pretty slow start, the returning series eventually turns into "TV that will make you uncomfortably bloodthirsty indeed".
While the Times described it as a "layered and nuanced story of revenge and redemption".
Netflix's most popular original show returned to our screens on Boxing Day with protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) - aka Player 456 - back for more, three years after his victory in the lethal series of children's games.
*This article contains spoilers*
The first season of the South Korean drama followed a group of 456 people, desperate and in debt, fighting to the death for a huge cash prize.
This time around, the previous winner is joined by hundreds of new competitors who he tries to guide to safety.
The new episodes find the main character "hellbent on seeking revenge on the super-rich puppet-masters who engineered its deadly spectacle", according to the Guardian's Rebecca Nicholson, who awarded three stars.
But the early episodes "feel like delaying tactics", she added, "and considering that this is Squid Game, it is all rather ordinary".
"When we get into the actual games, the smash-hit K-drama finds its feet," she noted. "But it spends far too many episodes dragging its heels extremely painfully."
Series three, which has already been commissioned for 2025, "must do better", she concluded.
"For all of its unevenness, particularly as it is warming up to the proper action, there is one big twist that really works, though whether it is distinct enough from what happens in the first series is unclear," wrote Nicholson.
"And when you think you know where it is going, it turns away from its trajectory, upping the ante and finding its feet. What a shame it takes so long to get there though."
The first series, which the Times' Tim Glanfield notes was viewed as a "dystopian commentary on the ills of late-stage capitalism", became Netflix's biggest ever series launch - streamed by 111 million users in its first 28 days.
The Times critic offered four stars for season two, saying: "The key to the success of this sensational return is the careful and thoughtful pacing, combined with hints of light within the gruesome shade.
"Although the obvious temptation is to throw the viewer straight back into the arena of horror, with 456 new breathless players being manipulated and mutilated in ever-more creative ways (don't worry, there's plenty of that to come), the first few episodes confidently explore life on the outside."
He added: "This is a story of revenge and redemption: more layered, more nuanced and more complex than the original series."
The Telegraph's Ed Power gave season two only three stars however, comparing it to the "equivalent of a difficult second album from an overnight pop star".
"It has lots of what you loved about the first Squid Game, from 2021, but has little interest in surpassing, much less subverting, its predecessor".
A second series was not always on the cards. At one point creator Hwang Dong-hyuk swore against making another, given the stress of the first had seen him lose quite a few teeth.
Like the characters in the show, it seems he is mainly in season two for the money.
"Even though the first series was such a huge global success, honestly I didn't make much," he told the BBC. "So doing the second series will help compensate me for the success of the first one too."
"And I didn't fully finish the story," he added.
His dark commentary on wealth inequality touched a nerve with audiences around the globe.
But having killed off almost every character, Hwang had to start from scratch, with a new cast and set of games, and this time high audience expectations.
The Independent's Annabel Nugent said she thinks the director got it bang on with his approach, awarding the new series four stars.
"Squid Game season 2 is nowhere near as shocking as the first – but isn't that the point?" she wrote.
"It is impossible to replicate the shock of the first season, and writer Hwang Dong Hyuk does well not to try."
Among the new characters to the game, Nugent noted is "No Eul, a North Korean defector forced to leave her baby behind", "Gyeong Seok, a theme-park caricaturist who needs money to pay for his daughter's cancer treatment" and "Myung Gi, a former YouTube star and crypto bro who lost his money in a scam".
Squid Game stalwart Seong Gi-hun tries to help them as well as "a young pregnant girl who hides her growing belly beneath her baggy tracksuit" and "a transgender ex-military officer hoping for a new, more accepting life in Thailand".
"Where the first series relied on shock for horror, each death landing like a brisk whack to the back of your head, season two derives terror from what we know as returning audiences, positioning Gi Hun once again as our surrogate," wrote Nugent.
"He also knows what comes next and yet even with that knowledge is powerless to stop it."
She added: "Stripping away the shock and peeling back the mystery that anchored season one is a risk, but one that allows Hwang to lay bare his show's stridently anti-capitalist message."
The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Feinberg called season two "a thorough letdown".
"It's not a fundamental level on which Squid Game is broken, but season two simply doesn't work."
‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Explained: 14 Things You Might Have Missed
Netflix has finally dropped the long-awaited second season of Squid Game—its most watched show ever—and the action certainly doesn’t disappoint! Driven largely by a tight storyline, its iconic costumes and candy-colored set design, and compelling acting performances from both new and returning cast members, the series immediately shot to No. 1 in the U.S. on Netflix’s daily ranking of the top 10 TV shows.
Season 2 sees Lee Jung-jae reprising his role as Seong Gi-hun, the sole winner of last season’s Squid Game who decides to reenter the deadly survival competition in order to shut it down for good. Lee Byung-hun and Wi Ha-jun return as the Front Man/Hwang In-ho and Hwang Jun-ho respectively, while Gong Yoo steals the show in the first episode as the recruiter (as a side note, who knew that a psychopathic Gong Yoo could be so hot?!). They’re joined by newcomers that include some of South Korea’s most recognizable K-drama actors (and even K-pop stars) like Yim Si-wan, Park Sung-hoon, Lee Jin-uk, Park Gyu-young, Kang Ha-neul, Park Hee-soon, Jo Yuri, T.O.P and more.
Though thankfully the script is pretty straightforward and the show’s English subtitles are clear enough that most of the scenes don’t require additional context, there were a few instances in the first five episodes that might have left some viewers a bit confused.
So here’s a breakdown of some of those scenes, along with explanations for certain Korean cultural references and nuances that might be unfamiliar to many viewers. (Note that this piece assumes that the viewer will have watched the show in its original Korean audio with English subtitles.)
1. Many K-drama fans will already know this one: When police officer Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) stops a couple on a scooter, the female passenger first addresses him as ajusshi (아저씨), a Korean term generally reserved for middle-aged men, and asks him if he can just let it slide.
When Jun-ho refuses, she suddenly tries to butter him up by complimenting his looks and calling him oppa (오빠), a word used by Korean women to address an older brother. However, since the 1990s many Korean women have also used it as a term of endearment for male friends or romantic partners who are older than them.
Oppa usually implies that the man is only slightly older than the woman and also has a connotation of closeness/familiarity, which the word ajusshi doesn’t have in this case. The Dramabeans site has a great explainer on the meaning of oppa, which is frequently heard in K-dramas.
2. It’s worth noting that the North Korean broker speaks in a North Korean accent, but No-eul (Park Gyu-young), a North Korean defector who was a soldier in her home country, doesn’t. (Note that Sae-byeok from Season 1 also didn’t speak with a North Korean accent except when talking to her brother. Many North Korean defectors who live in South Korea deliberately hide their accent in order to blend in and avoid potential discrimination.)
3. Player 044 (portrayed by Chae Gook-hee) is a Korean shaman (often called a mudang “무당” in Korean, though the term also has derogatory connotations) who offers to perform a ritual (called a gut “굿”) for Gi-hun. Korean shamanism is an indigenous spiritual tradition that has existed in Korea since ancient times, and although very few Koreans practice it today, many view shamans as fortunetellers and might still consult one for serious health issues or thorny personal or professional problems. Korean shamans—the majority of whom are women—perform a gut ceremony to communicate with spirits, often to ask for their assistance.
4. It seems only natural that a character like Myung-gi (played by Yim Si-wan of Run On and Misaeng: Incomplete Life) would be included in this show, as cryptocurrency scams are a huge problem in South Korea, with some of them involving popular YouTubers helping to promote these scams. Just last month, South Korean police arrested 215 people in connection with the largest crypto scam in Korean history.
5. It’s a bit ironic that Thanos (the retired rapper with purple hair) is played by none other than T.O.P, who has a few things in common with his character. T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun) is a former member and rapper of the iconic K-pop boy band BIGBANG. In 2017 he was handed a 10-month suspended prison sentence with two years probation for smoking marijuana several times (drug abuse of any kind in South Korea comes with serious consequences). Due to the public backlash he received over his marijuana scandal, he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry but later reversed course by appearing in Season 2 of Squid Game. His casting came as a shock to many Koreans and incited a lot of controversy in South Korea.
6. As University of Toronto professor Michelle Cho recently shared on the CBC podcast Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, transgender participant Hyun-ju (wonderfully portrayed by Park Sung-hoon of The Glory and Queen of Tears), who reveals herself to be a former soldier, is likely inspired by the real-life Korean transgender soldier and activist Byun Hee-soo, who tragically passed away in an apparent suicide in 2021.
The decision to have Park, a cis man, play a transgender woman sparked criticism from many international fans. Squid Game writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk told TV Guide that although he’d wanted to cast a trans actor in the role, he and his crew found that there were “close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay” due to the ongoing marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community in South Korea.
7. When the players file into a vast indoor track to participate in the “Six-Legged Pentathlon,” the entrance is inscribed with the three words “힘차게 씩씩하게 굳세게,” which can be loosely translated to mean “strongly, energetically, firmly.” Such words were historically used in South Korean schools to encourage kids at sports events or during P.E. class, though here they strike a more ominous tone.
8. In the past, ddakji (딱지) was usually played by boys, while gonggi (공기) is traditionally considered to be a game for girls. This is why it’s a bit hilarious when Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul) says he can play gonggi, while Jun-hee (Jo Yuri) says she’s never played the game before but is good at playing ddakji.
9. When it comes time for Gi-hun’s team to attempt the “Six-Legged Pentathlon,” the song played in the background is “To You (그대에게),” one of the most beloved and recognizable songs to ever come out of South Korea since the 1980s. Written, composed and performed by the legendary Korean musician Shin Hae-chul, “To You” was the debut song of Shin’s college band Infinite Track, who won the grand prize at the 1988 MBC Campus Song Festival, a once popular annual music competition that launched the careers of countless Korean artists.
Shin would go on to form the rock band N.EX.T and launch a successful solo career, earning the nickname “The Devil” or “Demon Lord” for his electrifying performances and lyrics that often contained sharp social commentary. He tragically passed away in 2014 due to surgical malpractice.
To this day, “To You” is considered Shin’s most iconic song and is often used to cheer on teams at school festivals and sports events, making this the perfect soundtrack for this scene.
10. Thanos tells Nam-gyu (Roh Jae-won) to call Se-mi “noona” (누나), a Korean term used by men to address an older sister, but the word can also be used by men to refer to a female friend or even a romantic partner who’s older (but not too much older) than them (similar to how many Korean women use the word oppa for an older man that they’re close with).
11. Unnie (or unni) (언니) is how a Korean woman addresses an older sister, or an older female friend. Either way, the term is reserved for women, which is why Hyun-ju looks a bit surprised and touched when Young-mi (Kim Si-eun) calls her “unnie,” essentially acknowledging Hyun-ju’s gender identity.
12. In this scene where two male pink guards threaten No-eul, they say the phrase 남남북녀 (pronounced like “nahm-nahm buk-nyuh”), which literally translates to “south-man-north-woman.” It’s an old saying that predates the division of Korea and is often taken to mean that men from the southern part of the Korean peninsula are traditionally thought to be more handsome and successful, while women from the northern part are believed to be more naturally beautiful.
Also, because most North Korean defectors who settle in South Korea are women, there are a number of matchmaking agencies that specialize in pairing South Korean men with North Korean women. The sign in the broker’s office, for instance, reads “marriage between a South Korean man and a North Korean woman.”
13. The Front Man (played by veteran actor Lee Byung-hun) disguises himself as Player 001 and introduces himself with the pseudonym “Young-il.” While the name “Young-il” itself would likely have a different meaning, its first syllable “young” sounds like a Korean word for “zero,” while “il” sounds like “one”—just like his player number.
Gi-hun’s last name “Seong” also sounds like the Korean word for “last name” (they’re also both written the same way in Korean—성). Young-il laughingly points out this pun but is met with awkward silence from other members in his group.
14. Okay, can I just say that “둥글게 둥글게” (“Round and round”)—which is the song played during the last game, Mingle—is a classic Korean children’s song that my mom used to play for me on a cassette when I was a child so that I could learn Korean? When I was young, I’d picture happy Korean kids dancing, clapping and singing this tune with smiles on their faces, something similar to this:
But from now on, every time I hear this song, I’ll just think of adults getting brutally murdered. (Thanks, Director Hwang, for totally ruining this song for me lol…)
Squid Game Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
Update: This article, originally published at 3:07 p.m. EST, was updated with a correction about T.O.P’s prison sentence at 9:33 p.m. EST. The article previously stated that T.O.P had been sentenced to 10 months in prison, but it was actually a suspended 10-month jail term with a two-year probationary period.
The article was updated again at 11:32 p.m. EST with a video clip that provides a glimpse into Shin Hae-chul’s illustrious music career.
When Is ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 Coming Out? Everything To Know So Far
Squid Game is back and deadlier than ever. If you’ve reached the end of the latest season of the gripping South Korean drama, you’re probably eager to find out when Squid Game Season 3 will hit Netflix.
Season 2 sees the return of Season 1 champion Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who re-enters the deadly competition years after winning the 45.6 billion won prize. This time, with the help of Detective Hwang Jun-ho, Player 456 is determined to bring down Squid Game and dismantle the operation led by the enigmatic Front Man, who takes an even more hands-on role in this season’s deadly challenges.
Following the Season 2 action-packed finale—filled with rebellions, shocking deaths, and countless twists—fans are already speculating how long they’ll have to wait for the final season to hit Netflix. Seriesdirector, writer, and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed last summer that the third season will serve as the last of the series.
“I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for Season 2 and share the news of Season 3, the final season,” he shared in a letter to fans. “The fierce clash between [Gi-hun and Front Man’s] two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year.”
Here’s everything you need to know (so far) about Squid Game Season 3, including its anticipated release timeline, the returning cast, and more.
Squid Game is set to return for its third and final season in 2025, though the exact release date has not yet been revealed. However, the show’s creator has hinted that an announcement is expected “soon,” as the third season has already been filmed.
“At this point, anything I might say is going to be a spoiler, so I want to be cautious,” Hwang told Variety. “But what I can say is, after season 2 launches, I believe we will be announcing the launch date for season 3 soon. I probably expect that to launch around summer or fall next year.”
If Season 3 premieres in the summer or fall, this timeline aligns with Emmy nomination schedules. According to Digital Trends, Netflix will likely submit Season 2 for the 2025 awards and may aim to submit Season 3 for the 2026 Emmys. This suggests the earliest Squid Game Season 3 could debut on Netflix is June 1, 2025, to qualify for the 2026 Emmys.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Squid Game Season 2.
The third season of Squid Game will continue the story after the violent rebellion in the Season 2 finale, which ultimately fails when the rebels exhaust their ammunition and are vastly outnumbered. However, the most shocking moment in the finale was the heartbreaking death of Gi-hun’s best friend from Season 1, Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan).
Hwang revealed that Jung-bae’s death was deliberately planned as the perfect way to conclude Season 2. “Audiences are definitely going to be shocked and very sad to see Jung-bae go,” the creator told Tudum. “He’s also the only person within the games that Gi-hun can trust and completely rely on.”
The Front Man, who disguised himself as Player 001 (aka Young-il) and formed a bond with Gi-hun and his group of allies, has “faked” his character’s death and returned to his role behind the signature black cloak and mask. By the end of Season 2, Gi-hun remains unaware of the betrayal. “I don’t think Gi-hun knows the truth yet” because his character is “blaming himself for everything that happened,” Jung-jae told Tudum.
At the end of Episode 7, a mid-credits scene confirms the games continue even after Gi-hun is captured. The mid-credits scene shows players entering the arena, which now includes two giant dolls and a new variation of “Red Light, Green Light.” Hwang teased that the third season will continue highlighting “the fierce clash between [Gi-hun and Front Man’s] two worlds.”
Season 2 of Squid Game saw the loss of several important characters, especially during its brutal final episodes. As for which characters will return in Season 3, here’s a look at those who have survived so far (with a few already already confirmed in the mid-credits scene).
Stay tuned to learn more about Squid Game Season 3.
Squid Game is streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.
‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Just Broke A Huge Netflix Record
We knew that Squid Game would be huge when it returned for season 2, given that season 1 was the most-watched Netflix series ever by a significant margin. But now it has set an entirely new record.
We don’t know viewership yet, it’s too early for that, though of course that’s going to be enormous. Rather, the record in question is that Squid Game season 2 is the first series to debut at #1 in all 93 countries where Netflix is available. That’s everywhere from the US, of course, to Cyprus to Honduras to Kenya to Oman to Thailand. The entire globe.
This simply doesn’t happen. Even big shows that do well on global charts never debut simultaneously at #1 on the service, as some regions always prefer one series over another, however popular. But here this is a clean sweep for Squid Game, which is not something the original achieved as it took some time to go fully viral. But not Stranger Things, not Wednesday, not anything else.
Now we wait for viewership. I did not imagine that Squid Game season 2 would be able to break the 2.2 billion hours viewed of season 1, but I suppose I cannot rule it out with a debut like this. You might think that subsequent seasons of shows cannot get higher viewership by definition if you need to catch up on a series, but that just isn’t the case. Shows like Money Heist and Stranger Things have much higher viewership than when they started.
If there is one thing working against Squid Game season 2 in this case, it’s that this season is just 7 episodes, down from 9 in season 1, meaning completing the season would be two less hours per viewer. Though it could get more viewers overall.
Additionally, Squid Game season 2 is not being received as well as season 1. It’s down to a 63% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes as opposed to an 83% for season 1. I suspect that much of this is due to the fact that this feels like more like half a season with (spoilers) the show stopping in the middle of the games with the rest to be finished in season 3 next year. It does end somewhat abruptly and plotlines that were built up end up going nowhere, perhaps a bit too much of a set-up for season 3. So I certainly understand the criticism.
I suspect that Squid Game season 2 will put up much better numbers than season 1 at least in its debut week, but long term? Can it catch the original? That remains to be seen, but this record-breaking debut could not be a better start.
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