by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
There is a trend right now where TV shows branded as miniseries are coming back for more seasons. It’s understandable, when a series has cultural relevance and the attention of a national (or sometimes global) audience. Shōgun, 13 Reasons Why, and Beef are all examples of this, while Watchmen faced people calling for more seasons, but resisted the urge, allowing the lone season to speak for itself as generational television. Many shows face this decision, and Squid Game is the latest answer to whether a miniseries should continue.
I first saw Season One of Squid Game back when it came out in 2022. It was transcendent and oddly relevant. Everything that it says about class (the wealthy in particular), and how money changes people, is astonishing, particularly in depicting how people can have their minds warped when they’re desperate. The series introduced me to Lee Jung-jae, a performer on the rise, and one who I’m looking forward to seeing more of in the future. Moreover, the show introduces a different take on the Battle Royale formula by adding children’s games into the killing, making it feel much worse in the show.
So, does Squid Game 2 recapture the national attention from its predecessor?
It’s a little complicated, and I don’t necessarily think it’s the show’s fault.
Season Two of Squid Game picks up exactly where we ended Season One, with Gi-hun (Lee) leaving the airport after getting a call from the Game organizer. This season, Gi-hun uses his resources to figure out how to end the Game. His resources include former enemies and acquaintances, and his drive to ensure that no one ever has to experience what he did in the first season.
Squid Game continues several aspects of Season One that made it iconic. First, many technical elements remain intact. The music is still eerie, and the cinematography is still off the charts. In addition, the set design is still outstanding, particularly the room with all the staircases leading players to the games. Kudos to the creative team for keeping many of these aspects alive, and not trying to reinvent the wheel.
Thematically, Squid Game feels more relevant today than three years ago. The toll that money takes on people is ever-present, but the biggest issue is how people who have money treat individuals who don’t. That was the central theme of Season One, and Gi-hun is an excellent example of what people will do with their money if they try to use it for a noble purpose. We see so many individuals at the end of their ropes financially that they will do anything to get out of their situation. Squid Game has always done a great job of resonating that theme with childhood games and showing that people will do anything for a once-in-a-lifetime prize.
Most of the returning elements are the performances that carry over from Season One. Lee is still as fantastic as Gi-hun, adding new tricks for him, such as leadership and the ability to fight. He’s a steady presence throughout the show, which is a welcomed sight, especially since many new characters are ridiculously over the top in the best ways possible. One returning actor who makes his presence known is the recruiter from Season One (Gong Yoo). His interaction with Gi-hun is terrifying, flipping the script from their positions in the previous season. Their interaction sets the stage for how different of a person Gi-hun is from Season One, and how motivated he is to end the Game once and for all.
Two new elements from Squid Game 2 make this season fantastic. The first is the evolution of the games. I’m grateful the show doesn’t rehash all the games from Season One; however, the return of Red Light and Green Light is a great way to set the stage for a tumultuous set of games. Two newer games are inventive in their use and devastating in how people die, ratcheting up the tension. Game three, particularly this season, is stressful for several characters.
The second element is the new characters, many of whom are looking for a cut of the cash prize with a new game. The main thing that intrigues them is the generational gap differences. Although the split isn’t equal, the characters we focus on are divided between older and younger people. This generational gap is very pronounced in the Games, with a mother-son combo who find themselves in the games to pay for their debts. There is a stark difference between their priorities in the Game and what they want to do with the money afterward.
Some of the new players bring fascinating motivations for getting out of debt. Many of them are in debt due to bad investments in cryptocurrency. Of all the characters in this position, the standout is Choi Su-bong, a.k.a. Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun). In addition to being a drug addict and amateur rapper, he also gives into the allure of the game, and will stop at nothing to get the prize money himself. The other standout new character is Cho Hyun-ju (Nicky Endres), a transgender woman who needs the money to help pay for her gender-affirming surgery. She is a fierce competitor and a substantial addition to the main cast. Her story also brings a new layer to the game: The money is not simply used to pay for debt, but to help people start a new life. Although many believe they can start a new life, the addiction to gambling or spending is still present for each competitor.
The biggest problem with Squid Game Season Two is the structure. Netflix did the series no favors by saying Seasons Two and Three would be coming within a year of one another, and there were some curious and bad choices made regarding how each of these seasons is structured. If you enter this season expecting a complete story with an arc for all the characters, it’s best you temper expectations right now. I was shocked by how little resolution happens at the end of the season. For all the crap I’ve given Netflix for releasing shows into two parts, the one that they should have done that release strategy with is Squid Game.
The other problem is that there are two characters, and I don’t understand what is happening with them. The first is the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). He made a choice in the first few episodes that I thought was intriguing. Yet, by the end, I wondered what the point of this decision was, and why he acted the way he did during the season. Another character that I’m scratching my head about is Kang No-eul (Park Gyuyoung), a North Korean defector. The beginning of her arc is exciting, once you realize what she’s doing. However, she’s still shrouded in so much mystery that I don’t understand why she’s included in this season. I hope both of these characters have a strong Season Three, but if not, it’s a bad look for a show that otherwise has strong characters.
I’m a little torn about Squid Game Season Two. There are many aspects that I found compelling. Stylistically, thematically, and performance-wise, the show is still as good as ever. However, whether it was Netflix, the creative team, or a combination of both, the structure is so distracting it cannot be ignored. I’m excited about the following (and final) chapter, but I did not like how we got here.
Rating: Low Side of Liked It
Squid Game is currently streaming on Netflix
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