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Review: ‘Squid Game’ is back for Season 2, and Player 456 is on a crusade to end it

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As a binge-watcher who’s seen more shows than I care to admit, let me tell you about my experience with the new season of Squid Game. It was a rollercoaster ride, filled with suspense, action, and a whole lot of emotional turmoil.

You may ask yourself, “Did the world need a ‘Squid Game 2?’” Hwang Dong-hyuk, who wrote and directed 2021‘s “Squid Game,” didn’t think so originally, having devised the Korean Netflix series as a single-season stand-alone. But success is a great corporate intoxicant, and so Hwang has found something new to do with Lee Jung-jae‘s Seong Gi-hun (a.k.a. Player 456) and the secret island where luckless souls are murdered in the name of rich people’s fun, under the pretense of playing a game.

You might wonder why a series with such a dark and violent concept has become so popular globally, but if you’re someone who eagerly watches “Saw” movies and is anticipating “Saw XI,” then this query may not resonate with you. Similarly, the reasoning behind the success of last autumn’s “Squid Game: The Challenge,” a reality show from the U.K., might be clear to you as it too is available on Netflix. This show could serve as a sort of precursor for the sequel, debuting this Thursday, potentially dampening your holiday spirit (though no one was actually killed during “The Challenge,” only metaphorically).

While I’m not suggesting that “Saw” and “Squid Game” are equivalent in any way, I must say that “Squid Game” boasts intelligent writing, stunning performances, and excellent direction. It tackles themes and carries a moral essence – even a touch of sentimentality – with a protagonist who manages to preserve his humanity amidst violence, depravity, and corruption. However, it’s not the type of series I would feel compelled to watch again.

Awards

There’s plenty more to say about human nature in Seasons 2 and 3 of the hit South Korean drama.

Instead, I’ve observed its subsequent installment, maintaining a professional demeanor without uttering any complaints. Like many sequels, it is inherently less crucial than the initial version, as it rehashes its themes and M.C. Escher-inspired Fisher-Price environments. Introducing new characters is one of its features; most of the original cast has perished in the first round – for those unfamiliar with the first series, it revolves around financially struggling individuals tempted into participating in lethal adaptations of children’s games, with the last participant winning a substantial reward. There’s a provision allowing the game to be halted and the wealth distributed equally, but human nature being what it is…

The first season finale hinted at more to come, leaving room for interpretation; sometimes, ambiguity can be stronger than a definitive ending. (We’ve managed fine in the gap for three years without any issues.) In the final scene, Gi-hun was poised to fly to Los Angeles and meet his daughter, but as he spotted the Squid Game recruiter, or the Salesman (Gong Yoo), he understood that the game was ongoing. He turned back, looked determinedly at the camera, and walked away, indicating a return. The second season starts right there, focusing on Gi-hun’s mission to put an end to the game forever. Dramatically or in line with his character, this is the only viable path for him. Let’s move forward now.

Three years later, police detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), who was left comatose after being shot by his stepbrother Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun) at the end of the first season, regains consciousness. Known as the Front Man, In-ho is a former player who now controls the game. Miraculously surviving this shooting and a plunge into the sea, Jun-ho has switched from investigating major crimes to traffic division work for its simplicity. This change allows him to focus less on providing evidence or revealing the island’s location, which he has been searching for in his spare time.

In a different turn of events, Gi-hun finds himself barely getting by, residing in a rundown hotel he owns and unwilling to splurge on himself with his newly acquired wealth. He considers this money tainted, using it solely for his developing scheme to dismantle the Squid Game. Over the initial episodes, there’s an ongoing effort to track down the Salesman through a group of informants. Although there is still some violence present, it’s comforting not to be back on the island where participants, unaware of this outcome, will literally face elimination. Upon his return, Gi-hun frantically works to rescue as many individuals as possible, acting like the watchful protector in “The Catcher in the Rye”.

Hollywood Inc.

Netflix is advertising its array of original series produced internationally, such as the upcoming second season of the globally popular show ‘Squid Game,’ set to debut in the coming month.

As a devoted fan, I’ve decided not to rewatch the initial season for comparison purposes due to the brevity of life. Nevertheless, my immediate impression is that this new season seems to delve deeper into the intricate web of relationships (both harmonious and tumultuous) within the group, which inevitably disintegrate as characters meet their demise. The games appear bloodier and more sinister in nature compared to before.

In essence, the theme is quite simple and even traditional: kindness prevails over self-centeredness, unity outweighs solitude, no matter how unfavorable the circumstances or disheartening the end result. Critics often pointed out that the series “Squid Game,” despite its bleak tone, serves as a critique of advanced capitalism during its premiere season, and it’s evident that economic disparity forms the foundation of a narrative about the jaded rich exploiting the destitute poor, whom they manipulate to maintain their power. If this season has a theme of its own, it may revolve around distinguishing the real enemy from the false ones that the enemy creates.

Gi-hun says to the Game Master, “You seem to view people as participants in a race, and you control those racers,” referring to the contestants. (Their conversation takes place through a pig-shaped speaker, mirroring the large piggy bank filled with money that hangs above their dormitory, encouraging them to continue playing for bigger winnings – classic game show dynamics.)

The Front Man refers to the many who’ve perished as mere participants who lost the game. He describes them as waste discarded from the contest. Regrettably, more waste seems to be added to our world at this moment.

In the storyline, Gi-hun and Jun-ho, each with their own agendas – Gi-hun amassing weapons in Seoul and building a team, while Jun-ho aims to challenge his brother, the Front Man, will soon find themselves on collision courses. This situation appears to be setting up for an intense showdown reminiscent of a battle royale. However, this is only part of the narrative; there’s talk of a third season in 2025, and I can only hope that it brings about justice, or as we say during the holidays, “comeuppance.

Is there enough substance in “Squid Game” to support its themes, or will it simply be another tale of fear and terror? The enigmatic character known as the Front Man hints at a reversal of events when he declares, “The game won’t conclude unless the world changes.” However, one can never truly tell.

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2024-12-28 15:39

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