Squid Game S2: does it hold up?

Art by Jarisse Nabung

We’ve watched these shows before– but does it live up to the hype? December 26th, 2024 marked the release of Squid Game’s second season. Being arguably one of the most popular shows on Netflix due to its initial release during the pandemic, Squid Game had big shoes to fill with its second season. Now it’s the spring of 2025, long enough for recency bias to wear off and allow for a proper review. Was season two worth the four year wait? Did it meet every expectation and then some? If the opinion of two regular TV-show enjoyers mean anything to you, then you’re about to find out. (Obviously, spoiler warning. This review is only gonna make sense if you’ve watched both seasons.)

E1: Bread and Lottery 

J: On my first watch, I didn’t really like this episode. I thought it took too long to get to what the main spectacle was– the games. However, once you power through the first few minutes, the episode is a perfect showcase of why Squid Game is as big as it is. I loved seeing Gi-hun and his investigation progress, getting to know the salesman, and oh-my-god the cinematography. My favorite part of this episode was definitely the last scene’s russian roulette– if I had to use one word to describe it? Chills. 

C: I actually really enjoyed how this episode was set up. Due to the fact that we had to wait 3 years for a new season, I started the episode on the edge of my seat. The seamless introduction of new characters while expanding older ones was a perfect setup for the drama to unfold! Despite only knowing the characters for a few minutes, it’s unfortunately quite easy to get attached to them. That’s the beauty (and heartbreak) of a show like Squid Game. You never know who’s bound for the grave next. The last moments of the episode bring back the stakes that we felt during the original games, and I have to agree with Jarisse— It gave me chills. 

E2: Halloween Party

J: Unfortunately, the second episode falls flat compared to the first. Whereas the first episode felt like a genuinely interesting build up to the games, this one just felt like busy work. I can give credit where credit’s due, though. I really enjoyed No-eul’s character and the whole “morality” surrounding the games. This episode is where Gi-hun’s ideology and values first get challenged, and especially when considering the season’s finale, it’s such an interesting development for his character. 

C: Compared to the first episode, the second episode feels as if it was made to be filler. Although episodes like these are necessary to further the plot, this one was harder to get through than the others. Unlike season one, in which the build-up for the games only lasted one episode, this episode only felt like it was dragging the build-up for longer than it needed to last. I did enjoy the beginning of the episode, though, as the last episode’s ending had me on the edge of my seat. The salesman, although not a major character— remains iconic till the end, and I will admit that his death was probably my favorite conceptually.

E3: 001

J: Finally, we’re at the games. Having already known the games’ nature this time around means you really get to focus on the character interactions, which the show excels at. Most notably (for me) is any scene with Thanos involved. You either love him or hate him, but you can’t deny that anytime he’s on screen, it’s just… fun. However, I have one, very nitpicky, flaw. Despite Jun-ho being one of my favorite characters last season, I did not care for him and his search party’s subplot. Even more so when Gi-hun’s tooth tracker ends up missing– they’re doomed from the start, and the search gets boring knowing that. 

C: Now that we’re back in the games, it only gets better from here! As much as I enjoy setup, it’s safe to say that I enjoy the actual games quite a bit more. Something that I think Squid Game is special for is their unique characters. All of the contestants are there for a reason, that being to win money, of course— but what sets them apart lies in their reasons for joining the games. Not only are they constantly challenging themselves physically, they are also constantly challenging their own moralities. Every decision that they make creates suspense, as you know that it’s going to affect their fates in the end. I’m one of the people who actually enjoy Thanos and his character, as I think he adds the touch of flair that the games really need.

E4: Six Legs

J: The main game this time around is Six-Legged-Race, which is my favorite of the games, but the reason why isn’t till episode five. Regardless, I did like the character moments we got. Last episode ended with the reveal of the Front Man being a contestant, and it was entertaining to see him pretend to be some normal guy in debt. Another contestant, Geum-ja, was one of my favorites solely because I have a soft spot for elderly characters. Seeing her care for Jun-hee, a pregnant contestant, was just so heartwarming and sweet. We also revisit No-eul’s character, who’s now working for the games, and it’s really interesting to see how the game works behind the scenes. While the first season focused on the illegal organ trade, this season shows how things are for the guards, which is cool to see. 

C: I appreciate this episode for the character development, differing from the others as it places the characters in a group setting, one that we didn’t see quite often in the first season. Even if the third episode was technically “the reveal” for the Front Man being in the games, I kinda expected this to happen from the beginning. I like the way that the Front Man is interested in Gi-Hun and his actions, even going so far as to join the games himself. I also really like Jun-hee, as her character feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the largely male main cast. I enjoyed how they weren’t afraid to put her in dangerous situations, despite her condition. Her character exists beyond the fact that she is pregnant, and I feel as if most shows portray pregnant women to be fragile.

E5: One More Game

J: This episode is easily one of my favorites. When watching a show, I love good character interactions, and this episode was a treat for that reason. Hyun-ju, one of my favorite characters from this season, was such a compelling character. I loved learning more about her backstory and the scene where she yells at the shaman was probably one of the funniest moments for me on my first watch. The Front Man was also one of my favorites this episode, just because the irony of him cheering for Hyun-ju’s team was pretty funny, as well as seeing him stress out his team by fumbling with the spinning top game.

C: I can agree with Jarisse when I say that this episode is also one of my favorites in this season. Despite the high stakes, the mood remained goofy in a way that we don’t really see in this show. It’s with this game that we really start getting attached to certain characters and their motives, displaying their different personalities and strengths in a way that makes them unique, even despite the fact that there seemed to be a bigger cast this season. I liked Gi-Hun and the Front Man’s dynamic, as although we know that they are on opposing sides— this episode almost makes you forget just that.

E6: O X

J: The main game this episode was Mingle, which I can appreciate as a good tone shift. After the optimistic Six-Legged Race, this episode really brought us back to reality with the deaths of important characters, which I liked! I’m glad Squid Game doesn’t hold back their punches. However, and maybe this is a hot take, I didn’t really … care for the people that died. I wasn’t really attached to Young-mi since she didn’t have much screen time, and I thought Thanos got what he deserved, even if I liked him as a character. 

C: Contrary to popular opinion, Mingle is probably my favorite of the new games introduced in this season. The characters and their relationships with each other are both challenged and strengthened throughout the course of this game. Unlike my fellow reviewer, I believed that the characters who died in this game left quite the lasting impact. Hyun-ju and Young-mi’s sister-like relationship really hit home for me here. Young-mi’s death was probably the most emotional of the major deaths this season. Her screaming for Hyun-ju’s help always gives me the chills. As for Thanos, it’s true that he had it coming. I will say that I’ll miss him, though! I didn’t expect him to die this early though, especially to a fork.

E7: Friend or Foe

J: Considering season two takes place three years after season one, you’d think Gi-hun would be smarter about his plan to take down the games, but surprise! He drags everyone into this near impossible mission of … killing the soldiers…? I did like how they highlighted Gi-hun’s hypocrisy, he’s now stooped to the level of letting people die, but I thought the whole riot was just messy from start to finish. And maybe that’s the point they wanted to make, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. It almost feels like they needed an excuse to have season three start with Gi-hun at seemingly rock bottom.

C: Compared to the ending of season one, I didn’t really like how this episode was made. I honestly feel as if this ending was quite rushed, as even if it was meant to end in a cliffhanger, there were a few choices made that I believe weren’t the best in furthering the plot. Jung-bae’s death also felt rushed, as although he wasn’t necessarily a crucial character in furthering the plot, it almost feels as if the only reason why he died was because they wanted to display how deeply in trouble Gi-hun is in.

Final Thoughts

J: Overall, though the season ended on a pretty sour note, I thought it was still good regardless! Does it exceed the first? No, but that’s a pretty high standard to beat. Though this review couldn’t really cover the whole story (since there’s like, three plots to follow), I hope it’s a good reflection of my viewing experience. I really enjoyed the new additions, the Front Man’s inclusion, and Gi-hun’s shift in morals. Though this season was more comedic than the first, I assume our tears are being saved for the next, which I am actively fearing the release of.

C: All in all, this season was actually pretty well written! I feel like it was overly hyped up due to its former success during quarantine. Obviously, all loose ends will probably be tied up after the third season. But, until then— we still have to wait to see how this will end. I do really enjoy the new characters, and I’m excitedly waiting to see how they’ll end up after the games are over. I wonder if it will end the same with a sole victor— or if we’ll have to say goodbye to the new characters that we’ve become attached to.