It took more than three years for Squid Game Season 2 to hit screens, but it’s here finally. And as your favorite critic, I am once again back with my melodramatic review to figure out whether these three years were worth the wait or not. Here’s a fair warning though, spoilers won’t be pretty for the experience. So watch it—it’s good, just needs a little patience. And then come back here, because we have a lot to talk about, from plot twists to the show’s emotional toll.
These three years were definitely the longest ones for Squid Game fans, especially after the twisted cliffhanger at the end of the first season. And now that it’s here, well, reactions are mixed.
Squid Game 2 Reviews by Critics Hint of a Let-Down
Critics’ reviews are not something I often favor. But this time, I get it. Once I tuned in to the show, for almost 2 episodes I didn’t feel much. I am not the only one with this sentiment. The early pacing has sparked debates on Reddit and headlines like these:
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter titled his Squid Game Season 2 Review ‘Netflix’s South Korean Smash Loses Its Edge’. In his review, he added:
“It’s barely a season at all. It’s a seven-episode build-up to a concluding third season that’s expected in 2025 — a protracted bridge lacking the structural integrity to justify inevitable Empire Strikes Back comparisons from its defenders.”
Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian also hinted at the same sentiments, stating:
“The early episodes feel like delaying tactics, and considering that this is Squid Game, it is all rather ordinary.”
I can relate to both of these pros honestly. After a long work day, I was really looking forward to doing an all-nighter for the second season. But these initial two episodes were very stretched, and felt like a snooze fest, forcing me to hit pause and finish it the next evening.
Spoiler Warning: The Slow Burn Begins
The show starts with Seong Gi-hun grappling with his guilt while spending his money like a maniac to find the salesman who recruits players for the game. There’s a lot of planning and conversations happening around it. Meanwhile, Jun-ho is on a parallel mission, determined to locate the island and find his brother.
For the first two episodes, the show focuses heavily on exposition, building tension with shadowy figures and cryptic conversations. It’s far from the adrenaline rush of Season 1’s deadly games, leaving fans like me wondering: Where’s the action?
Things Get Exciting in Later Episodes of Season 2
Well, after sailing for a while in the river of patience, games begin. Gi-hun’s hunt to find the organizers of Squid Game and put an end to the massacre comes to an end when he is abducted by them. Soon he finds himself back in the game, along with 455 other new players.
This time, games have changed to bring twists to the story. These games are also daunting to Gi-hun’s plan to use his experience to protect others. Organizers probably saw that coming once they let him play again.
Anyway, these episodes where games happen are the ones that make Squid Game season 2 a show that feels familiar. These episodes have everything you are expecting, fear, anxiety, and lots of sadness. There are characters that you will feel bad about.
It could be my personal opinion, though compared to the characters of the first season of Squid Game, this season feels like a reattempt to put characters in the story you are supposed to feel bad for. The cliched characters I mean- a pregnant girl and an old woman. That kinda felt like a trying-too-hard sorta thing you know.
Squid Game 2 Character List Has New Names
As I was saying, Squid Game creators have put some new faces in Squid Game season 2 who add layers to the story.
These include:
- Thanos the Rapper, a disillusioned musician
- Myung-gi, a broke crypto influencer
- Dae-ho, a marine with a tragic backstory
- Gyeong-seok, a father of a terminally ill daughter
- Hyun-Ju, a pre-operated transgender woman seeking acceptance
- Yong-Sik and Geum-ja, a mother-son duo with a huge debt
- Jung-bae, Jun-ho’s estranged friend
Gong Yoo also made the return as the Salesman and this time he has a longer screen time as well as a favorite game apart from ddakji– Russian Roullete. How does that make things interesting? Well, I will leave that for you to figure out.
Verdict: Is the Squid Game hit or flop?
Well, I will not say it’s a bad season per se; it’s not a great one either. As Daniel of The Hollywood Reporter said, it’s a bridge season taking us to the VIPs we will meet in 2025. After the success of Squid Game Season 1, Netflix got seasons two and three renewed. Probably to make more money? Well, as long as the following season stands up tall, it’s still fine. But as for the Squid Game Season 2, I must say, I expected more. So I am disappointed more.
Anyway, as I said, you will still find it enjoyable with a little patience, just wait until games begin if you’re not able to keep your eyes locked during the initial runtime. And let me know if you find my Squid Game 2 Review relatable- or maybe too harsh.
Before you go though, don’t forget to subscribe to CineCinnati. I will keep sending you everything about new releases, the latest news from the entertainment industry, trailers, and much more.
Enjoy Squid Game 2!
FAQs
Got some questions? Let me answer them here, and if I missed any, don’t forget to reach out via the comment section below. I will answer them asap.
- How Many Episodes Are in Squid Game 2?
Seven episodes. Seven gut-wrenching hours that feel like seven years. Each one is a rollercoaster of hope and despair, with cliffhangers so cruel they might as well be another game.
- Is Season 2 of Squid Game good?
Absolutely! Squid Game Season 2 is a gripping follow-up that expands on the first season’s themes while delivering fresh twists. The emotional and psychological stakes are even higher, making it a must-watch.
- Who is the villain in Squid Game Season 2?
The new villain redefines terror with their cold, calculated methods and deeply philosophical motives. Without spoilers, let’s just say this one will keep you on your toes. It’s the Frontman, but with a larger screentime, and intent more nefarious than in the previous season.
- Who wins in Squid Game Season 2?
There are no winners in the second season of Squid Game 2. There are no losers either. But, there are those who got eliminated and those who survived. But nobody wins. Why? Watch the show and figure it out bro.
- Is there a Season 3 of Squid Game?
Yup! The Squid Game Season 3 will release in 2025. The number of episodes are not announced yet but it’s going to wrap up the story.
- How many seasons of squid game are there?
There will be a total of 3 seasons of Squid Game. The final season is releasing in 2025, probably between September to December. The release date has not yet been announced though.
