From its compelling, complex characters to its gripping plot, Netflix’s 2021 TV show “Squid Game” was a cultural phenomenon. While its second season, released on Dec. 26, 2024, has redeeming qualities such as an expanded cast and a storyline with great potential, it falls short of its predecessor. With slow pacing and a stretched-thin plot, the sequel leaves viewers unsatisfied and hungry for more.
The show starts off slow, with its first two episodes focusing on Seong Gi-hun’s efforts to track down the Salesman, a recruiter for the games and an antagonist of the show. While the Salesman remains an intriguing character, the early part of the season feels underwhelming and tedious due to the complete absence of the show’s signature games.
While the action-heavy, quick-paced nature of the first season made it truly unforgettable, the same cannot be said about season two, which is so intent on setting up future events that it seems to exist solely to set up season three.
As Gi-hun participates in the games throughout the season, Hwang Jun-ho, the police detective from season one, works with a crew of mercenaries to attempt to locate the island where the games are held.
Unfortunately, despite receiving a decent amount of screentime, this subplot follows a predictable and tiresome loop: the team checks an island, finds nothing, locates another island and repeats, with no progress made by the end of the season. While I understand that such storylines are meant to be suspenseful and act as a bridge to season three, they lack substance and leave viewers unsatisfied.
The presence of purposeless, underdeveloped subplots is a recurring issue. A major example is Soldier 11, whose backstory is deeply explored in the beginning of the season. However, her character arc comes to a sudden halt, and her later defiant role in the games fails to contribute to the overall plot.
Despite season two serving more as a prelude than a satisfying, complete show, not all aspects of it fall flat. One of its only bright spots is its eccentric new cast. Among these members is Thanos, a former rapper and one of two main antagonists. While it would have been easy for Thanos to be a carbon copy of season one’s villain, Jang Deok-su, the directors made him dynamic and unpredictable.
Thanos’s spontaneous and unhinged behavior, combined with his self-absorbed, quick-witted dialogue, makes him an antagonist who garners hatred and amusement in equal measure. His character offers a refreshing element of humor that was not present in season one, providing a sense of lightheartedness during the darker, more intense scenes and keeping me eager to see what he would do next.
Furthermore, beyond giving viewers a good laugh, a few of the new characters also bring social commentary to the show. Particularly, Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender player who frequently faces discrimination, encourages viewers to engage with relevant social issues, like gender identity, on a more meaningful and socially conscious level.
Specifically, Hyun-ju interacts with Geum-ja, an older woman who holds relatively traditional views on topics like gender identity. Hyun-ju influences her to become more open-minded, opening up conversations about gender identity not only within the context of the show, but also among watchers.
Although season two’s endearing characters stole my heart with their witty personalities and dynamic backstories, the show’s execution of its storylines is mediocre at best. If the “Squid Game” series is to have a lasting legacy, its next season will need to be for all the marbles.
