This evaluation accommodates spoilers about season one in every of “Squid Recreation”
It’s no understatement to say that season one in every of “Squid Recreation” took the world by storm in 2021. It was the kind of can’t-miss present that feels prefer it solely comes alongside as soon as in a technology. Everybody and their sister tuned in to observe childhood video games like “Crimson Mild, Inexperienced Mild” remodeled right into a feverish sport of life and loss of life, whereas additionally staying for the not-so-subtle commentary on capitalist greed and sophistication inequality. It was an exhilarating, bloody, and sometimes engrossing season that each one however assured a second installment, particularly given the blockbuster viewing metrics.
Although a bit tough across the edges, with quite a few minor subplots and varied characters (to not point out that the seven-episode season doesn’t resolve any main conflicts and as a substitute units the stage for the third and closing season), the second go-around within the “Squid Recreation” universe is a satisfying affair. It expands on the sequence by giving its lead character, Participant 456 (aka Seong Gi-hun, performed by Emmy winner Lee Jung-jae), a justifiable motive to turn out to be entangled in these lethal video games as soon as once more.
The second season picks up three years after Gi-hun received the grand prize of 45 billion received (roughly $30 million). Now, he’s utilizing that monetary useful resource to attempt to cease the video games for good. The primary episode is devoted fully to Gi-hun’s employed fingers attempting to trace down the recruiter who lured him into the video games the primary time with a easy sport of “ddakji.”
Gi-hun additionally groups up with Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), the detective from the primary season who managed to infiltrate the island the place the video games are held. He uncovered that his long-lost brother, In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), was the video games’ notorious ring chief. Simpler stated than achieved, however with out spoiling an excessive amount of, Gi-hun as soon as once more finds himself enlisted within the video games, this time with a brand new roster of 500 gamers, a few of whom have compelling display screen presences.
Among the many new contestants is Younger-sik (Yang Dong-geun), a person saddled with huge playing money owed, and his aged mom, Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), who, unbeknownst to him, was recruited to assist repay what he owes. Different newcomers embody a purple-haired rapper named Thanos (Choi Su-bong), who misplaced every part based mostly on the recommendation of a crypto influencer named MG Coin (Yim Si-wan), who can also be a competitor; a transgender participant named Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon); and one in every of Gi-hun’s closest associates, Jung-bae (Lee Web optimization-hwan).
One among this season’s most intriguing twists—apart from the youthful demographic, which permits sequence creator Hwang Dong-hyu to discover extra well timed matters corresponding to a pregnant contestant and digital forex—is the concentrate on a pink soldier named Noeul (Park Man-young). This storyline reveals a special aspect of the video games, displaying not solely how they aim gamers with low incomes and poor schooling but additionally why somebody like Noeul would select to work for these individuals.
This results in some robust group dynamics and the inclusion of recent video games that Netflix has requested reviewers to not reveal (although one in every of them would seemingly be actually enjoyable, if not for the entire dying half). As the primary season did so successfully, the second season explores the hazards of groupthink and the desperation (and irony) of attempting to outlive in opposition to a system that sees you as disposable. “Squid Recreation 2” does what it must: advancing the story in a believable manner whereas laying the groundwork for what guarantees to be a loopy finale in 2025. Whereas it could lack a number of the first season’s sharp insights and memorable deaths (although there are some gnarly slayings), it stays a worthy addition to the “Squid Recreation” canon that can give followers precisely what they need.
SQUID GAME 2 is now streaming on Netflix.