By Jayden Boyer ‘26
Squid Games season 2 gives the same feeling as season 1 – perfect. It grasps the viewers’ attention and makes them want to binge watch it. It is the fastest growing show in Netflix history, and fans love each moment of it. From the intense moments to the laid back funny moments, this season has it all. Hwang Dong-hyuk does another excellent execution of his Squid Games creation.
Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, gives another great performance in season two. His heartfelt search to shut down the horrific events at the Squid Games drives him through the season to persevere through any challenge. Through plot twists and emotional scenes season two is great.
Season two follows Seong Gi-hun through his efforts to shut down the games he played three years ago. He eventually returns to the games with a whole new cast of characters, many beloved but many hated. The show uses characters like Thanos (Choi Seung-Hyun) and has many fans caught between loving him or hating him. He is a care-free character who feels free to do whatever he wants throughout the second season. He has many moments that bring comedy to the gory show and also many moments that make viewers hate him as he torments loved characters.
The show includes an emotional aspect with a mother and her son being in the games. This creates suspense throughout as viewers hope they make it through together. In the first season of Squid Games there is a character with the number 001. That character is seen at the end to be the creator of the games. Going into season two the viewer gets to know that number 001 is the frontman/creator of the games. This causes a mixed emotion between the character as he seems beloved during the game, but knowing his true nature changes the thoughts about him.
Season 2 revolves around the quest to end the Squid Games. It begins with the search for where the games could be held. Eventually Seong Gi-hun decides to just reenter the games. He has a crew of people outside of the games searching for where the island could be whilst he is in the games. Each game comes with surprise and fear over characters’ lives. The iconic red light green light makes a re-appearance in season 2.
A player of the number 333 is the cause of many people being in the games as they trusted him to invest in some crypto that made many go in debt. Number 222 is pregnant, carrying the baby of 333, as they were previously together. This causes tension between the two characters and between other characters who hate 333. Just like season 1, this season comes with betrayal, the twists and turns that keep the viewer guessing and on the edge of their seat.
Squid Games is a dystopian survival thriller horror show which is clearly shown through the survival aspect of the games and the constant fear the characters feel. The director (Hwang Dong-hyuk) does an excellent job conveying the fear the characters feel to the viewer.
I strongly recommend this show to anyone looking for a new show to watch. This show has reached its elite status for a reason. Being the number one show on Netflix and the fastest-growing show ever, it’s a must-watch. With season 3 coming late 2025, everyone should make sure they witness this record-breaking show.