Summary
Squid GameSeason 2 has arrived and its Rotten Tomatoes score is now available. Thousands of fans and dozens of critics have already watched it, and you’ll learn from them if the second season is a must-watch.
The hit South Korean survival drama series by Hwang Dong-hyuk is back for another season. Netflix droppedSquid GameSeason 2 on Friday after over two years of waiting. The new season features Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) return to the deadly tournament with a new batch of players other than him. Since most of the cast members were players in Season 1 and only Gi-hun survived, the new season features new characters played by new actors, including Yim Si-wan, Park Sung-hoon, Lee Jin-uk, Park Gyu-young, Kang Ha-neul, Park Hee-soon, Jo Yuri,T.O.P (Choi Seun Hyun), and more. Here’s what critics say about thesecond season ofSquid Game.
Season 2has received an 84% score from critics (57 critic reviews) and 63% from the audience (1000+ audience reviews) as of this writing. The scores are somewhat lower compared to the first season, 95% from critics and 83% from the audience. According to the critics, the second season was able to maintain the thrill and excitement that fans loved from the first season. It was even bloodier but as engaging as Season 1; you may’t get enough of it until you finish all the episodes. It didn’t depart from the show’s already established formula and even dives deeper to present something new. For instance, it gives the recruiter a longer screen time and a surprising twist tothe Front Man’s role– something most probably didn’t expect.
However, while many loved it, surprisingly, a considerable number were also disappointed after watchingSquid GameSeason 2. Some critics were not impressed with how the new season incorporated some of the elements from Season 1. “With every effort to dial up an element from Season 1, be it the voting mechanic or the Front Man’s role,Squid GameSeason 2 weakens its own mystique and appeal,” Mashable’s Belen Edwards wrote. Akos Peterbencze, a critic for Looper.com, was also not impressed. He found Season 2 “desperately trying to manufacture and revamp all the elements that made it an unexpected and fascinating cultural phenomenon.”
Squid GameSeason 2 remains a great show. It features the same elements fans love about Season 1. However, it was noticeably shorter since there were only seven episodes. There were also fewer rounds of games featured in the newest season. The players were only called to play three games, with the first game similar to Season 1’sRed Light, Green Light. However, the second one Six-Legged Pentathlon was done in groups of five where each player had to play different games – Ddakji, Flying Stone, Gong-gi, Spinning Top and Jegi. The second game featured multiple games, but it wasn’t enough to cover the intensity and pressure players face each time they are called for a new round of game. So, when it comes to gameplay, season 1 offers more.
Another complaint aboutSquid GameSeason 2 is its pacing. Many felt like the season ended abruptly, which somewhat dimmed its brilliant execution. However, according to the director, it was the best part to cut the second season, since they were working on Season 2 andSeason 3simultaneously. Additionally, the shocking twist, in which Gi-hun encourages others to wage war against the people behind the game for trapping them, is unexpected. It results in too many unnecessary deaths and doesn’t sound wise at all. Nevertheless,Squid GameSeason 2 is worth watching.
