Squid Game season two review: Slow start soon kicks into gear for an action-packed follow up

The popular South Korean Netflix show returns after a three-year wait

The second season of the popular South Korean Netflix show Squid Game released on Thursday. Photo: Netflix

The second season of the immensely popular South Korean show Squid Game was released on Netflix on Thursday. Fans of the dystopian thriller series have been eagerly awaiting its return since the first season ended in 2021.

The show was a smash hit when it premiered, becoming the number-one show in 94 countries. According to Bloomberg News, a month after its release in October 2021, Netflix estimated that based on extended viewer data, Squid Game had generated about $900 million in value.

But the data isn't needed to demonstrate the show's success; it's cultural impact is clearly evident. After its initial release, real-life games inspired by the show were held in Abu Dhabi (without deadly consequences, of course), each Halloween since has seen party-goers dress as characters from the series and Netflix further capitalised on its popularity with a spin-off reality show, Squid Game: The Challenge, released in 2023.

In season two, viewers can return to the original action and see how the story pans out for the surviving characters. Some spoilers for the second season will be revealed in this review, so venture forth with caution.

Gi-hun’s on a mission

Lee Jung-jae returns as Seong Gi-hun in the second season of Squid Game. Photo: Netflix

While the show has many characters of interest, there is one that could be called the star – Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae. Having survived and won the tournament, the first season ends with him choosing to take vengeance on those who created the game, rather than embarking on a quiet life with his winnings.

The second season starts exactly where the first left off. Gi-hun tells the game organisers that he will not forgive them, promosing to uncover their identities and destroy their operations.

The first two episodes centre around setting up his mission to dig up information on the organisers, and it’s very methodical. There’s a sense that his efforts might be fruitless, as he employs a small army of workers to track down one man, the man who recruited him for his tournament.

During these first two episodes, the pace is steady, and there are flashes of urgency, but we’re being lured back into the world as viewers, and it’s a good thing. After a three-year wait, Gi-Hun and other characters need to be fleshed out again.

New games, higher stakes

With a new set of contestants and new games to take part in, the second season of Squid Game raises the stakes to a new level. Photo: Netflix

Gi-hun’s plan to get closer to the organisers lands him in a situation where he offers himself up to participate in a new tournament. He does so thinking it's his best option, as he has planted a tracker in his tooth so that his friends can find him and thus find the location of the games.

Unfortunately for him, his plan doesn't, well, go to plan. For viewers, however, this is when the action kicks into gear, and it's non-stop from here on out. Stakes remain high throughout the series with twists and turns that viewers don't see coming.

This time around, both viewers and Gi-hun know what's coming – initially. He is able to assist several of his fellow players with his prior knowledge of Red Light Green Light, but is taken by surprise to find every game that follows is new, and he's lost his upper hand. This only adds to the thrill factor for viewers.

Third season conclusion

Seong Gi-hun's storyline continues in the second season of Squid Game which ends on a cliffhanger that sets up the third season, which is due to be released next year. Photo: Netflix

The second season’s last two episodes are non-stop action as the participants fight back against their captors. Gi-hun is closer than ever to finding out more about the organisers and their motives.

The show unfortunately ends on a cliffhanger and promises that the third season will arrive next year, so we won’t have to wait too long to see the protagonist's fate. And despite some frustration felt knowing there will be another period of waiting, it does set up the prospect for an incredible, possibly best yet, third season.

There were some doubts as to how well the second season would land when compared to the perfection of the first. The inclusion of new characters and games has made sure that there’s something to be invested in, even outside of Gi-hun’s storyline. Anyone nervous about the season should not fret – it's safe to say it delivers a great television viewing experience.