Squid Game, the global sensation that captivated audiences worldwide, returned for its second season, but the critical reception has been far from unanimous. According to Screenrant, the Korean drama has captured audiences with its unique plot, which focuses on players being forced into deadly challenges based on childhood games, such as red light, green light, and tug-of-war. The second season was recently released on December 26, and all seven episodes are available to stream on Netflix.
According to Screenrant, the second season has acclimated to a strong start on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics at 88% and a weak result from the audience at 59%. This is in comparison with the first season, which had a strong start in both scores with 84% and 93%. A review note by Screenrant states, “the first season’s heavy-handed exploration of income inequality is still present,” while “new dynamics raise questions that allow the series to expand its scope.”
According to Screenrant, the second season sees the return of Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae (The Acolyte), who works with Officer Hwang Jun-ho, played by Wi Ha-joon (Gyeongseong Creature), to infiltrate and stop the deadly games from continuing. Despite the mixed reviews, the return of iconic characters combined with the introduction of new ones and challenges has kept the audience engaged within the narrative of the series. The second season’s finale will be left on a cliffhanger, which sets up the series for the final season, which is scheduled to be released sometime in 2025.
Ultimately, this serves as a reminder that even popular series face challenges maintaining the same score as their predecessors. Despite this setback, the second season continues with the theme of survival and social inequality the series is known for. While waiting on further updates surrounding the popular series, the first two seasons of Squid Game are available to stream on Netflix.