Even BETTER Than the First!

I spent a solid chunk of my Boxing Day consuming every single episode of Squid Game 2 as my excitement and impatience got far too much for me to handle ahead of this highly-anticipated if albeit unnecessary second season. 

When Squid Game took the world by storm back in September 2021 I was way behind the curve and was probably one of the last people on the planet to see it. Story of my life as I always seem to start binge-watching series the second they start to dip in public popularity but thankfully for me Squid Game stayed very relevant for a very long time.

From one of the last to see it to now amongst the first. Oh, how times have changed! 

Originally when the show creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said that he would only be making one season we all understood. End on a high note and release something that quite literally changed the world and catapulted a South Korean language film into the public domain with such global impact and engagement.

Fast forward to now and we not only have a season 2 but a season 3 on the way in 2025. Money really does talk it seems but the worry gets greater for fans of the show who usually see a dip in quality and performance in subsequent seasons of giant viral shows such as this.

On this occasion, Squid Game 2 changes that rule and arguably provides something even better than the first series!

The opening of Squid Game 2 plays out in quite a slow manner, the pacing is much different, there’s a search mission afoot to locate the island where the games are taking place as no evidence has been found that they are taking place and it’s very slow and sluggish to start in the opening episode whilst still keeping me engaged (somewhat). 

It’s only when we get back to our familiar surroundings, the real fun begins but you have to drag yourself through a few episodes before the show finds its purpose. 

Whilst I’m still a firm believer that this should have been kept as a one-series show it’s great to dive straight back into the games in a gorier and effective manner. It does feel as though the show is baiting you in, this sudden change of pace as the series plays out like a one-man vengeance mission (with a little help along the way).

But we all know what happens in the end, the trailer showed us that, the Squid Game does eventually take place I feel as though it may test viewers’ patience as everyone is now at this point only tuning in to see the games themselves and the consequences for those who lose.

It’s only when Gi-hun becomes Player 456 again that there is a feeling of security or stability within the series. It’s back to what it knows best and whilst it strayed off course for a moment there, all is well in the world. It’s here and only here moving forward does the show feel like it steps up far beyond what the first series was capable of.

We get much deeper backstory than ever before on the games, not to mention the masked guards but the games are more clever, the kills more gory and human nature put to the test once again with such a diverse range of contestants each with their own story to tell. 

Squid Game 2 constantly pushes and pulls you at every opportunity including a great twist at the end of episode 2 before the games even begin but once it finds its feet, it’s a treat, it’s just a shame that it takes a few episodes to settle in.

Squid Game 2 steps away from just the mindless violence with a little bit of story and dives deeper into the contestants, the guards and the Squid Game universe, it adds layers to the story and provides a more well-rounded experience than the first season, but still some questions remain.

By the end of Season 2, I can’t help but wonder how the third season is going to rectify everything without going off-track somewhat again but hopefully, they’ve taken feedback on board from a variety of reviews and steer it in the right direction for the final series. 

I’m sure we won’t have too long to find out as production is coming to a close on the third instalment with a 2025 release date merely months away.