Warning: Spoilers for Squid Recreation Seasons 1-3.
Of all of the issues Netflix’s Squid Recreation does effectively, it actually is aware of how one can shock its viewers. When the collection first premiered in September 2021, its ghastly premise and gore took audiences by storm, prompting an attention-grabbing debate about what folks would do if offered with an identical state of affairs. Regardless of the extreme bloodshed, it didn’t take lengthy for audiences to rally behind Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and the allies he made throughout these harrowing video games.
In spite of everything, regardless of the grotesque circumstances of their state of affairs, there was surprisingly lots of coronary heart current all through the present. However, Season 1 concluded in dramatic trend and left everybody’s favourite competitor with a vengeful rage that drove him to reenter the video games in Season 2 with a mission to destroy them as soon as and for all.
Nonetheless, by the tip of Season 3, it’s abundantly clear there’s no stopping the video games, irrespective of how exhausting Gi-hun might need tried and practically succeeded. The island in South Korea might need succumbed to self-destruction, however that doesn’t imply Gi-hun and Hwang Jun-ho’s (Wi Ha-joon) efforts put an finish to the horror. So long as there are rich VIPs to entertain and determined people to take advantage of, violent video games will persist.
Sadly, the shock and awe of Squid Recreation Season 1 can’t be replicated as a result of viewers already know what to anticipate. That isn’t to say Seasons 2 and three have been unhealthy. The truth is, they every managed to incorporate some attention-grabbing additions which have made for some entertaining seasons, which viewers cannot cease streaming. Nonetheless, there’s no denying Squid Recreation hasn’t been nice since Season 1, which is probably going why it’s lastly come to an finish, at the very least in South Korea.
The Uniqueness of ‘Squid Recreation’ Season 1 Can’t Be Repeated
Squid Recreation
- Launch Date
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2021 – 2025
- Community
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
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Lee Jung-jae
Seong Gi-hun / ‘No. 456’
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Wi Ha-jun
Detective Hwang Jun-ho
Indubitably, Squid Recreation Season 1 provided viewers a novel sort of collection many had by no means seen earlier than. The character of its violence, set amidst such harmless youngsters’s video games, actually took audiences aback. However, past its gore and grotesque premise, there was one thing that prompted viewers to image themselves in the identical state of affairs, which garnered a connection and deep affinity for the present’s characters that audiences weren’t anticipating. As such, that first season set an especially excessive bar for any potential future seasons.
The truth is, Season 1 was initially designed as a self-contained story, however the present’s success sparked a drive to proceed Gi-hun’s narrative, which explains why Seasons 2 and three really feel considerably disjointed. Even referring to them as separate seasons is odd as a result of they really feel like two elements of the identical season. One can’t exist with out the opposite, whereas Season 1 could be absolutely loved by itself. That doesn’t imply the ultimate seasons aren’t good or entertaining, however they don’t seize the identical spark as the primary one, nor do they generate the identical form of feelings with viewers.

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There was a uniqueness in regards to the present’s first season that may’t be repeated. Season 1 of Squid Recreation was like lightning in a bottle, and whereas the present’s subsequent seasons are actually entertaining and provocative, they don’t stand an opportunity when in comparison with their predecessor. Given what the collection evoked with its viewers throughout that first season, it’s understandably difficult to prime the shock and admiration viewers initially skilled. On the finish of the day, Season 1 reigns supreme.
Season 1 of ‘Squid Recreation’ Had Higher Character Growth Than Seasons 2 and three
Whereas there have been loads of characters all through Seasons 2 and three that viewers loved, their inevitable deaths didn’t fairly hit our hearts the identical approach as a few of these from Season 1 did. In contrast to the present’s later seasons, Season 1 did a greater job of contextualizing the explanation why the sport’s contestants determined to take part within the first place, which in the end allowed for more practical character growth.
The primary season provided viewers a glance past the video games and highlighted the principle characters’ rationale behind their selections, which helped us empathize with them. Seasons 2 and three tried to do the identical factor with Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young), who served as Guard 011, however it was troublesome to care a couple of guard in the identical approach we had cared about prior contestants. Sadly, such narratives felt extra like pointless subplots slightly than a correct try at high quality character growth.

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To be clear, Seasons 2 and three of Squid Recreation are actually value watching. There are many good characters to root for in addition to horrible ones to root towards, and the setup it gives for the upcoming American model of the collection undoubtedly prompts a satisfying smirk amongst viewers. Nonetheless, replicating the magic of the primary season proved unattainable for the collection. Squid Recreation Seasons 1-3 are at present streaming on Netflix.