After a three-year hiatus, Netflix’s most successful series ever, Squid Game, returns with its highly anticipated second season. It seemed unlikely that the follow-up would capture the same viral sensation as the first, and while it’s still too early to judge the total viewing numbers, it’s clear that this season holds its own—though perhaps not quite as compelling as the original.
Squid Game season 2 shines in some areas but falters in others, padded with what feels like filler material, which is less than ideal for a season only seven episodes long. Much of the content seems like a setup for the third and final season, and by the end, it becomes clear that this season essentially splits one long arc into two parts.
The Quest for the Front Man
Seong Gi-hun has been using his vast fortune to track down the recruiter behind the deadly games in an attempt to reach the mysterious “Front Man” in the black mask. Meanwhile, Hwang Jun-ho is also on the hunt, sailing the seas in search of the island in hopes of reconnecting with his brother, who is revealed to be the Front Man. The two eventually team up, with a plan for Gi-hun to be abducted and sent back to the island with a tracker, while Jun-ho and his mercenary team follow him to infiltrate the island. As expected, things don’t go as planned—Gi-hun’s tracker is removed, and he finds himself thrust back into the games.
Character Development and New Faces
While the season takes a while to pick up pace, once it returns to the games, it arguably delivers a more compelling experience than the first season in some respects. Season 2 does a commendable job of introducing a diverse range of characters with distinct personalities and motivations. These characters include a mother and her troubled son, a party-loving rapper indulging in drugs, a transgender woman seeking funds for surgery, and a pregnant woman with her lazy boyfriend, also involved in the deadly competition.
One of the most notable additions is In-ho, who is secretly the Front Man, though Gi-hun never uncovers this truth throughout the season. By the end, it’s still unclear why the Front Man actively participates in the games, mirroring the first season’s story with the terminally ill old man. In-ho betrays other players during a player uprising and puts his mask back on, but the reasoning behind this remains unclear. Is it purely for shock value, or is there a deeper purpose that we never get to understand by the finale?
A New Gameplay Mechanic
An interesting twist in season 2 is the new mechanic that allows players to vote to leave the games after each round, leading to intense moments and unexpected chaos, such as factions eliminating one another to maintain their numbers. Though the continuation of the games seems inevitable, this added dynamic provides some refreshing new drama, along with a set of all-new games (except for the return of the original Red Light, Green Light).
Underwhelming Subplots
However, the non-game storylines of season 2 largely miss the mark. The subplot involving Jun-ho and the mercenary team searching for the island only becomes intriguing in the final moments when it’s revealed that the boat’s captain is a traitor working for Squid Game. But even that felt like a waste of screen time, as these scenes dragged on for 10 minutes per episode.
Similarly, an intriguing story about a North Korean defector working as a guard in the games is introduced but fizzles out without resolution. The guard, No-eul, clashes with other members of the guard team while trying to thwart an illegal organ-harvesting operation targeting injured players. She ultimately becomes a target herself, but this storyline is abruptly abandoned, and she plays no role in the season’s final battles. This subplot, along with others, feels like unnecessary filler, further dragging down the pacing.
Final Thoughts
While the main plot of season 2 is solid, the inclusion of weak subplots makes the season feel bloated, despite its brief seven-episode length. This season isn’t a failure by any means, but it doesn’t quite match the groundbreaking quality of the original. It’s good enough to leave us curious about the eventual conclusion, but much of that early magic seems to have dissipated.
