Review: Squid Game Season 2 – Netflix’s Biggest Hit Returns, But Does It Deliver?
Written by Spark on 16th January 2025
By Rowan Usher
After a long-awaited three years, Squid Game Season 2 premiered on December 26, 2024, with an exciting new cast joining the returning stars. Notable additions include Park Sunghoon, Jo Yuri, and Choi Seung-hyun (known by his stage name, T.O.P), alongside returning favorites Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Lee Seo-hwan. Following the massive success of Season 1, which premiered on September 17, 2021, generating over $900 million in revenue and becoming one of Netflix’s biggest hits, the expectations for Season 2 were sky-high. Unfortunately, it struggled to live up to the benchmark set by its predecessor.
Season 2 focuses on Seong Gi-hun, the winner of the first season’s deadly games, who returns to infiltrate and dismantle the games once and for all. His mission, however, is cut short when the enigmatic Front Man disguises himself as a player to sabotage Gi-hun’s efforts. Despite forming a seemingly genuine bond with Gi-hun, the Front Man’s inevitable betrayal in the final episode, while predictable, still delivers an emotional punch.
While the new season offered fresh games, an intriguing plot, and promising characters, the pace ruined it. It took two full hour-long episodes before introducing the majority of the cast and returning to the iconic setting of the games. Moreover, the season featured only three games, with much of the time spent debating whether players should stay or leave—a process that felt unnecessarily drawn out.
The subplot involving Wi Ha-joon’s character, Hwang Jun-ho, searching for the island was also underwhelming. Despite its potential, it lacked direction and ultimately led nowhere. The only highlight of this subplot was the captain’s sabotage efforts, which raised more questions than answers.
Most disappointingly, the season felt like one long buildup to a climax that never fully delivered. The abrupt ending left viewers unsatisfied, feeling more like an unfinished narrative than a proper cliffhanger, especially given the three-year wait and the anticipation surrounding the release.
Despite its flaws, the season has its strengths—particularly its characters. A standout is Park Sunghoon’s portrayal of Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender woman. Hyun-ju’s character is a rare example of well-written transgender representation, which is especially notable given South Korea’s conservative stance on LGBTQ+ issues. While the decision to cast a cisgender male in the role initially raised concerns, it was revealed that no transgender actresses were willing to take on the part. Park Sunghoon’s respectful and powerful performance ultimately won over skeptics, making Hyun-ju a standout character.
Another notable addition is Thanos, a rapper struggling with debt after a failed cryptocurrency investment. Played by Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P of BIGBANG), Thanos became a fan favorite despite his antagonist role. This marked T.O.P’s return to a significant acting role after his marijuana controversy in 2016, and he delivered a compelling and memorable performance.
While Squid Game Season 2 falls short in pacing and narrative structure, it remains an engaging watch, buoyed by its strong characters and performances. The season sets up intriguing possibilities for Season 3, which is due to release later this year (2025). Ideally, Season 3 will serve as a continuation of Season 2, providing the much-needed resolution and context that this installment lacked.
Although Season 2 may not surpass its predecessor, it lays the groundwork for a potentially satisfying conclusion. Fans can only hope that the next chapter will bring the closure and payoff this season was unable to deliver.
3/5
