Round 6 parte 2 (2024)

Talented Actors.. Ample Budget.. All the Time in the World.. Yet a Below Par Unfinished Sequel..

When you create a banger of a first season the audience expects the next one to be equally good if not better.. Unfortunately Squid Game Season 2 completely fails to meet those expectations.. I spent seven hours watching it.. Only for it to end on a cliffhanger.. Now I have to wait several more months just to get a conclusion?? What a waste of time..

Honestly all the emotions, the quality of the games and the sheer thrill that made the first part unforgettable were completely missing in season 2.. Why couldn’t they just release everything in this one season?? This money grabbing trend is getting worse.. While I agree that some dramas need to be split into multiple parts to make sense.. Squid Game Season 2 doesnt fall into that category..

Psychopath Gong Yoo was an absolute sight to watch.. If I am not wrong this is his first time playing a psycho and he absolutely nailed it.. His character was fascinating.. I mean this guy when he wasnt recruiting people for a kill or die game in the most bizarre way.. He was casually roaming around, taunting and messing with the homeless.. How much of a psycho is he really?? He deserves a spin off like a prequel or something..

The first 2-3 episodes were pretty boring.. The build up was poor and failed to capture the momentum.. Honestly.. In my opinion Lee Jung Jae’s story should have ended with first Season.. If not he definitely shouldn’t have been in the anchor role again.. He literally fell into the same trap again... How stupid is he?? He also took away the opportunity to explore new characters or stories and there were plenty to explore..

I don’t know what to say about Park Sung Hoon.. He absolutely nailed his role.. And TOP?? His character was so pathetic.. I was expecting nothing less than a horrible death for him and he got what he deserved..
Im Si Wan.. You can always expect a top tier performance from him.. And he definitely delivered.. I really hope he and Jun Hui get a happy ending..

The introduction of Player Number 1 was a huge twist.. Totally unexpected.. I was thinking "Gi Hun and his plans are screwed "..

Why so many talented actors if you dont plan on utilising them??

Squid Game Season 2 really missed the chance to recreate the intensity and impact that made the first season so iconic.. It ended up being a below par season.. Felt more one dimensional.. They should have just made it a 12 ep season and finished the drama.. For me Im Siwan and Park Sung Hoon were the standout performers..

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A Fun Ride with Missed Opportunities

Was it bad?? No. Was it that good?? Not exactly. Was it underwhelming?? Kind of.

I wont lie, i enjoyed this season of Squid Game but it still felt underwhelming considering the immense hype surrounding it. This was certainly the best sequel Netflix Korea has produced recently especially after the disappointing Sweet Home 2, Gyeongseong Creature 2 and others. However there are quite a few reasons why it left me feeling unsatisfied.

While it didnt reach the heights of Season 1, it was engaging enough to keep me watching till the end.


Here is what i liked and disliked about it:

What I Liked:
1. Front Man’s Direct Involvement in the Game:
I appreciated Lee Byung hun’s larger role in this season. After his brief cameo in S1, it was great to see him step into a main role. Having him directly participate in the games added much needed tension and intrigue.

2. Hyun Joo & Player 149 – The Heart of the Show:
Park Sung hoon and Kang Ae shim absolutely stole the spotlight. Their characters were well written with depth and emotional weight making them easy to root for. They were undeniably the standouts of the season.

3. Gong Yoo’s Extended Cameo in Episode 1:
I loved Gong Yoo’s performance in the first episode. His charismatic yet paychpathic portrayal left a lasting impression. Honestly his psychopathic energy made me wish he would star in a serial killer thriller. I also hoped his character would stick around longer, at least for a few episodes in S3.

4. New Games:
While most of the new games werent as thrilling, the carousel game in Episode 6 stood out. I appreciate the effort to introduce fresh challenges but i felt they lacked the intensity and depth of S1’s games. A bit more focus and creativity could have elevated them further.

5. Favorite Episodes - E1 & E6:
Although some found Episode 1 slow, i personally enjoyed it because of Gong Yoo. His presence carried the episode. Episode 6, featuring the brutal carousel game was another highlight for me.

6. Solid Acting Across the Board:
Even though several characters were underutilized, the entire cast gave strong performances.



What I Disliked:

1. Wasted Potential of Big Actors:
This was one of my biggest frustrations. Talents like Im Si wan, Kang Ha neul and others were severely underused. This seems to be a recurring issue with Netflix’s survival thrillers, bringing in big names for secondary roles without giving them enough material to shine.

While it wasnt as bad as Sweet Home 2, it still felt disappointing. Some annoying side characters received more screen time, while stronger actors were left with little to do. Im holding out hope that S3 will give these characters the attention they deserve.

2. Slow Start:
Despite enjoying Episode 1, i cant ignore how much the story dragged into Episode 2. I felt the content of both episodes could have been condensed into one allowing the games to start sooner in Episode 3.

3. Flat New Characters (Except Hyun Joo & 149):
Most of the new cast members felt one dimensional. It was hard to connect with them, they were just there. Hyun Joo and Player 149 were the only exceptions.

4. Annoying Characters Getting More Screen Time:
Some characters who should have been explored further were sidelined, while others, like Thanos were unnecessarily prominent. Lee Jin wook’s character arc felt incomplete and since he died in S2, there is no room for his development in S3. This imbalance was frustrating.

5. Gi hun & Front Man Felt Bland:
Gi hun occasionally came across as cringey, while the Front Man’s storyline lacked the twists we saw in S1. The big reveal about the old man in the first season packed a punch but there was nothing surprising about the Front Man here.

6. Lack of Game Exploration:
While the carousel game stood out, the others felt rushed and underdeveloped. S1’s games were meticulously crafted and filled with tension but S2 lacked that same level of care, possibly because more main characters survived diminishing the stakes.

7. Missing Intensity & Seriousness:
The emotional weight and tension of S1 were noticeably absent. The sense of dread when characters faced death just wasnt there.


Overall Thoughts:

I did enjoy S2, it was engaging for the most part and i watched it from start to finish with interest. However compared to the S1, it felt underwhelming. Still it far exceeded Sweet Home 2 and other recent disappointments.

Im hoping S3 will bring back the intensity and depth that made the first season what it is today.

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a filler season to setup for season 3

would have worked better if none of the past characters were there. an entire new ensemble with new games would have been as exciting as the first season. this season felt like a filler/part one of two. they are probably leading up to the third season but this was boring for the most part. we spent so much time on the past characters, almost two whole episodes and good majority of other episodes on them we barely explored much of the new players. there were interesting new players but u could see the team trying to recreate some past characters. it was fun seeing t.o.p back on the screen.

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ELENCO IMPECÁVEL!

O que mais me chamou a atenção desde o anúncio foi o elenco. Eles entregaram atuação de qualidade e sinceramente essa parte foi muito boa com a excelente escolha do cast.
Já a história..... Eu não achei nada novo, umas das poucas coisas que fiquei surpresa foi a personagem da Park GyuYoung ser parte da equipe do jogos, tirando isso não teve tanta novidade. Mas gostei dos jogos e também simpatizei muito com vários personagens.
Nessa temporada eles incluiram coisas novas como a visão por trás dos jogos, foi legal de entender, porém essa temporada não teve nada resolvido, apenas o meio da história. Estarei aguardando a parte final ansiosamente

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Season 2: A Decent Sequel That Couldn’t Escape Season 1’s Shadow

Season 2 sparked mixed reactions, with opinions divided on its execution. While it didn’t quite meet the bar set by its stellar predecessor, it certainly wasn’t just filler. Here’s a closer look:

Highlights:

- Gong Yoo’s brief yet unforgettable appearance in Episode 1 oozes psychopathic charm and sets the tone for a gripping start.

- Episode 6’s Mingle game on the carousel was a standout moment, injecting the season with much-needed intensity. It recaptured some of the exhilaration of Season 1’s nail-biting tension.

Narrative Strengths and Missed Opportunities:

- Player 001, the Front Man’s active involvement added layers of complexity and intrigue to the story. The dynamic of the wolf hiding among the sheep, particularly under Seung Gi-Hun’s nose, was clever. However, the lack of a surprising reveal for viewers lessened its emotional impact.

- The introduction of new characters brought fresh energy to the season. Performances by Yim Si Wan, Kang Ha Neul, and Lee Jin Wook were commendable but left underexplored. Park Sung Hoon, as Hyunju Unni, stood out with a stellar portrayal, and supporting roles like No. 149 (Geumja) and 390 added compelling moments. Unfortunately, some characters were given excessive focus, diluting the narrative.

Drawbacks:

- The organ trafficking subplot felt unnecessary and disconnected from the premise of fairness within the games. It detracted from the overarching tension rather than enhancing it.

- Seung Gi-Hun’s moral stance appeared hypocritical at times, as he grappled with sacrificing a few for a perceived greater good. This inconsistency left his character arc less impactful than in Season 1.

- The finale, while ambitious, fell short. A small team facing off against the "big boss" and an undercover traitor was bold, but the lack of resources and an overly predictable outcome diminished its impact.

Final Thoughts:

Season 2 doesn’t quite recapture the magic of Season 1, but it offers moments of brilliance and excitement. The inclusion of familiar K-drama actors elevates the series, and their performances bring depth to an otherwise uneven season.

Despite its flaws, Season 2 is still worth watching, and it lays a promising foundation for an explosive Season 3.

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Slightly..disappointing

I've waited for it since the previous season finished.
The storyline somewhat repeats itself (granted that it's the same game), like the relationship MC has with both 001s.
So many characters got added, but didn't get fleshed out enough (i.e. 011). For 095's death scene I felt bad, but not nearly enough as bad as I had felt for Ali's (still hurts my heart to this day The games felt novel and really interesting, I liked the new characters and how their relationships developed. (Absolutely despised TOP's character, he's a menace... TT)
With the outside intervention and frontman, I'm intrigued to see where the next season is going!

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Did I like it?? Yes...Maybe...

First things first season 2 did not come up to the level of season 1..season 1 was wayyyyy good it created a global impact!!did season 2 live upto the expectations od season 1?? No it did not...It is definitely a good watch setting up the atmosphere for season 3.
The cast was definitely expensive 🙃 and refreshing, everyone did play thier role well. The story in itself was all over the place, it was squid game at one point then it became money heist...lol... I thought if the games are same won't it be boring??but season 2 had new games it was refreshing. The cinematography, background score like last time is soo good.
Squid game season 2 is a very good watch if you liked season 1 you will definitely like season 2. Do give it a watch.

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An easy binge watch

I had liked S1 until they introduced the worst foreign actors and voiceovers who played the wealthy sponsors of the game. That ruined the entire season for me by making the show laughable and stupid. S2 eliminated that problem so in a way I did enjoy this more than S1, but it did lack in a lot of ways compared to S1.

LIKES:
1) The peek into the staff of squid game. I liked the introduction of Park Gyu Young's character. We get to see a glimpse of the people behind the mask
2) Gong Yoo's character expansion. Those were some fun scenes
3) The Front Man's involvement - that kept the plot interesting
4) The carousel game - I liked the intensity in that game which brought out people's true traits
5) The feisty mother character player 149 - she adds some heart amongst the greed
6) TOP's weird druggie character - while I don't like the bully, I did find his tripped out moments funny

DISLIKES:
1) The intensity didn't feel as strong as S1 esp with the games except for the carousel game
2) The weird shift in the middle eps where the tone felt almost comical instead of seriously intense. It was odd and disruptive to the momentum
3) Wi Ha Jun's whole arc felt very lackluster. His storyline didn't really add to the story at all.
4) The supporting characters development felt underwhelming and underdeveloped.
5) The casting of more recognizable faces. I actually liked how S1 had only a few main stars and the rest were not that famous. In my mind, it made the characters a little more believable. S2, it took me longer to believe the acting from the recognizable faces

Overall though, this was an easy binge watch that can be done in a day. Just note, that this is only Part 1 and not a complete story. Season 3 will be Part 2 and will hopefully give us all the answers we need.

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Worth the hype? YES

i watched s1 with no expectations loved it, and watched it with a lot of expectations still loved it from start it starts hooking u never drops in the ways, they added a lot of thinks packed up all are in the right direction some pros and cons are there
cons are negligible just few words sit back and watch it ur going to love it

ur going to have the thrill factor, suspense, coincedce as all the satisfying.

some disappointments are
1. there is another season i thought they would finish up here but nope

2. some of the chracters which are negative and postive doesn't have much impact i thought it got wasted.

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season 1 shouldve been the end of this series

finished everything bc i skipped a lot... this was mid if not ass, nothing was outstanding nothing was that much interesting and while yes there are new characters and new games, it doesnt compare to season one. also, this is probably gonna get part two which is somehow annoying bc they shouldve released everything in one go. by ep 7, nothing is resolved, no winners and the games arent even finished. even if its a cliffhanger ending, its not even leaving me unsatisfied and anticipating bc nothing was worth anticipating for. if they take time releasing the continuation of this part people would just stop watching and forget about it imo. also, i think this show should've ended with season 1 but thats just meee

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Blah games

The fundamental problem is that season two feels utterly unnecessary. It lacks any genuine creative spark, instead rehashing familiar elements with diminishing returns.

Well.. we're here. So...

The core components that made Squid Game a global phenomenon—the brutal games, the exploration of class disparity, the desperate lengths people will go to for survival—are all present in season two, but they lack the same impact. The shock value of the games is gone; we’ve seen it all before. The social commentary feels diluted, less focused and more like window dressing. The desperation of the players feels less authentic, replaced by a sense of obligation to the plot. The few new additions introduced feel less like organic expansions of the narrative and more like tacked-on elements designed to justify the season’s existence. The introduction of a pink-clad soldier within the main cast and the exploration of the Front Man's backstory, while offering brief moments of intrigue, ultimately fail to provide sufficient narrative weight to justify an entire season. They’re simply not compelling enough to warrant this continuation.

The acting, a significant strength of the first season, takes a noticeable dip. While the returning actors do their best with the material they’re given, the new additions to the cast are largely forgettable. They embody thinly sketched archetypes, lacking the depth and complexity that made the characters of season one so compelling and emotionally resonant. The performances themselves are technically adequate, but the actors are hampered by a lack of substantive material. This is further exacerbated by the over-the-top acting from many of the guest performances, which shatters any remaining pretense of realism and often veers into unintentional parody. These exaggerated performances clash jarringly with the more grounded portrayals of the main cast, creating further tonal issues.

This brings us to perhaps the most egregious flaw of season two: its jarring and inconsistent tone. The pervasive tension and palpable sense of dread that defined season one, creating a truly unsettling and immersive experience, are replaced by a bizarre and often jarring mix of melodrama, forced humor, and over-the-top action sequences. It’s as if the creators fundamentally misunderstood what made the original so effective, mistaking its dark themes for mere spectacle. In prioritizing entertainment over substance, they’ve sacrificed the show’s emotional core. The result is a tonal inconsistency that severely undermines the narrative. This inconsistent tone makes it impossible to invest in the stakes of the games or connect with the characters on an emotional level. It becomes abundantly clear that the showrunners have lost sight of what made the original Squid Game so compelling.

Season two demonstrates the challenges of continuing a successful narrative. While it retains some elements of the original's visual style and explores the backstory of key characters, it struggles to recapture the thematic depth and emotional resonance of the first season. The narrative may feel repetitive, and the impact of social commentary may be less pronounced. Additionally, the introduction of new characters and storylines may not be as engaging as those in the original. The potential for a third season, hinted at throughout Season two, might leave some feeling that the narrative is being artificially extended

Pros:
• Nostalgia: Returns to familiar characters and offers some closure.
• High production values: Visually appealing with strong technical execution.

Cons:
• Repetitive narrative: Rehashes familiar elements without adding significant depth.
• Weak character development: New characters are forgettable, and performances lack nuance.
• Inconsistent tone: Shifts from dread to melodrama, undermining emotional impact.
• They made filler, feel like filler.

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