How far would you go to get $31 million? For the characters in Squid Games, the answer would be anything.
Squid Games, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, is the most watched non-English show on Netflix. Squid Games 2 is well-constructed, building on the success of the original with plot twists that are not easy to predict even though they have subtle foreshadowing, making the series surprising and more entertaining.
The first season of Squid Games came out in 2021, and it was based on the premise of how desperate people can get over money. It also explores themes of betrayal by showing friends who turn on each other just to win the game. Set in South Korea, season one followed 456 people who competed in a series of deadly games for 45.6 billion won ($31 million). Essentially, every time someone died, 100 million won was added to the piggy bank, and the last player left got all the prize money.
Season two came out Dec. 26 and it starts with Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), the previous season’s winner, ripping a tracker out of his ear. Instead of using his money to live a rich life, he chooses to use his money to try to find the Frontman (who hosts the games) and put an end to Squid Games. Fans are hooked when last season’s winner signs up again despite knowing what he is getting himself into.
The Recruiter made a return with the same purpose as the first season. He sets up the contestants for the game and helps demonstrate how people would hurt themselves for some money. Player 456 finally finds the Recruiter after so many obstacles, but he is not able to get what he wanted easily. So he decides to rejoin the games. The main character not getting everything handed to him makes the show more believable.
Unlike season 1, the contestants are able to choose if they want to end the games or continue to play after each round. I really liked the voting system because it goes to show how having no money makes someone feel worthless, and I honestly cannot think of a better way of showing people’s desperation for money.
One of the people who kept voting to stay, and a fan-favorite, is Thanos (Player 430). He is a K-pop star who fell into great debt due to a crypto and drug addiction. During the games, he had a cross necklace that smuggled pills to steady his nerves inside. I thought it was interesting how his character in the game is so similar to Choi Seung-hyun in real life, who used to be a famous K-pop star but lost fame when he went to jail for drug use. Apparently, the actor was not even paid, nor did he have a script! He only took the offer because he wanted some screen time. While a lot of people liked Thanos for his goofy personality, I found him annoying because he made it obvious that he only cared for himself.
A player I liked a lot more was Cho Hyun-ju (Player 120). She is played by a male actor (Park Sung-hoon) because in the show, she is a trans woman who went into the games to pay for her surgeries. The part that made her stand out to me the most was the Pentathlon game, where five Players are tied together at the foot and one at a time have to complete a game. She coached everyone in her group on how to do their game. I really liked her as a character, and other than Player 456, she is the best leader. It was also funny when she disciplines the other players.
One thing that viewers will hate is the way that the season end on a cliffhanger, but it is a good way to drum up anticipation for season three, which comes out on June 27. Season one and two debuted three years apart from each other, but the gap between season two and three is only six months. This is probably because season one ended with a winner, while season two ended more abruptly. The director of Squid Games said that season two and three were supposed to be one season, but there were too many episodes so he made it into two separate seasons.
The plot twists make Squid Games 2 worth watching, and everyone will be looking forward to season three because of how interesting the show is. The only real reason to be upset is that season three will mark the end of Squid Games, which has been such an enjoyable series to watch. If you like suspense and enjoyed the first season of Squid Games, don’t miss season two.
