Squid Game

🏆 SEASON 2 | 1st Watch | TV Shows Ranked | 12/29/24 - 1/5/25 It's hard to rival the novelty of the first season, but Squid Game's second season is brilliant. The show finds a good balance between reinforcing the worldbuilding of the first season and introducing new concepts in the second season. New contestants are repeatedly selected to participate in the squid games. The contestants repeatedly play challenges throughout the Squid Games. In season 2, the contestants repeatedly vote whether to continue the games or not. Furthermore, with very consistent production design, Squid Game, by nature, is a very repetitive show. It makes it even more impressive that the creators are able to always able to prevent the show from becoming stale. They always find a new way to defy our expectations. The games admittedly aren't as tense in season 2 as they were in season 1. Sugar Honeycombs, Glass Stepping Stones, and Marbles were all very intense games in ways that season 2's game just don't compare. However, it's not a big issue because season 2 isn't focusing on the games, it's focusing on the players. The tension in season 2 is built from In-Ho's deceitful dynamic with Seong Gi-Hun. The recruiter was such an amazing character and made Bread and Lottery arguably the best episode of the season. His demonstration in the park lays the entire basis for the gambling subtext that would be expanded upon throughout the games, such as the "one more game" motif. The Russian Roulette sequence was also fantastic where the recruiter's performance is able to shine. For both seasons 1 and 2, the pink guards a little bit of a mystery. However, I found it interesting that season 2 attempted to humanize them more, especially with how you can barely see their skin through their mask during this season but not from the prior season. Still, I do believe there are many unanswered questions regarding the pink soldiers, and I really hope season 3 answers a lot of those questions. This part of the review is where I start to get into the heavy season 2 spoilers, but while the final episode might be a little too radical for some, I loved Gi-Hun's failed revolution. It was the most visceral episode of the season, and it culminates with a nail-biting cliffhanger. Cliffhangers with little payoff where you’re forced to wait years for the conclusion are typically infuriating, but it's apparent season 2 and the imminent season 3 aren't actually distinct seasons but rather two halves to one massive season. I appreciate the filmmakers not trying to condense everything and truly allow the story to play out in full. The "quiet before the storm" is what makes Squid Game such a phenomenal show. Squid Game is just such a brilliant premise. The childlike innocence of the set design beautifully juxtaposes the sheer brutality of the games. Squid Game is abundant with imposing images like these, and it makes the show visceral and unforgettable. I always had confidence in season 2, but it genuinely exceeded my expectations; it built upon the first season in so many great ways, and I can't wait to see how Gi-Hun's story will conclude. At least I can watch Beast Games in the meantime... ⬅️ Previous Review: Se7en