On Dec. 26, 2024, season two of the action packed Korean dystopian survival thriller, Squid Game, was released. As the show continued its immense popularity, the plot began to unravel in the best way possible, following new characters with diverse backstories, new games that kept fans on the edge of their seat, and an anticipating cliffhanger at the end of the season.
The suspense is unmatched, as the audience is able to see characters in absolute fear while playing innocent games that could take away their life in one second. Squid Game navigates troubles of people who are deep in debt, and demonstrates the loss of basic human civilization, and how quickly people can resort to violence in life or death situations. This is crucial to acknowledge, as this behavior highlights a probable realistic outcome if society was placed in these games.
For background, the show revolves around Gi-Hun, the main character and hero that is determined to abolish the violent cycle that is Squid Game. In season one, he is portrayed as poor, with a gambling addiction, and recently divorced while barely seeing his daughter. With his financial woes and crippling debt, he is given an opportunity to win 45.6 billion won (the currency of South Korea). Little does he know that his life will be in jeopardy, and his financial situation would be the least of his problems. 456 players were invited for a chance to attain an abundance of money in their favor, at the ultimate cost of fighting to stay alive while playing Korean childhood games. If they lose even one of the games, they will be eliminated, or in other words, killed.
Similar to season one, the game contestants are unaware of the life or death situation they have been placed in. Each character has a different motive to win in Squid Games, as they have a tragic background and are in financial disparity. Each unique traumatic story among specific contestants make the likelihood of the audience becoming attached to them, and eagerly hope that they stay alive increase. An example of this was how fast I wanted the best for the pregnant woman; Jun-Hee, to make it out alive. She was weak and vulnerable and obviously terrified in such a dangerous environment. Especially considering she was left in the common area, while the rest of the players were trying to break into the headquarters, what happens in season three is yet to be determined.
One particular aspect of season two that I really enjoyed was the team bonding and collective cooperativeness to end the games,and make it out alive. This spirit was also inspired by Gi-Hun who had played these games before, as evidenced by season one. The energy this season was more hopeful than last season however, there were obviously bloodthirsty, selfish individuals who gradually became more insane in an environment where everyone knew only one could make it out alive if the games continued. Such as Player 001, who was the frontman for Squid Games, was a master con artist, who made it believable to everyone else playing that he was innocent, and had a tragic backstory similar to them, who just needed money to support his family. He even bonded with Gi-Hun, or so it seems. The season two finale ended with a failed attempt at a strategic plan to break into the frontman’s office and a death from Gi-Hun’s best friend Jeong-Bae who died tragically from a gunshot. Needless to say, this broke me. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see his closest companion, and motivation to stay positive in these treacherous games, be killed off. This represented Gi-Hun’s attempt at trying to end the games, and maintaining his status as a “hero.” I can’t wait to see what is in store for season 3, which releases in summer 2025. As this is the last season, I am expecting it to be a tearjerker, and my attachment to these fictional characters will play a role while I am watching. I thoroughly enjoyed this season, and it was composed of very thematic elements that made the plot even more cohesive. I will be rushing to Netflix during the summer to watch season three.
