One of the most watched TV shows of all-time, “Squid Game”, recently released a second season. Immediately, the global phenomenon skyrocketed to the top of Netflix’s charts once again staying in Netflix’s #1 trending spot for weeks, only to be dethroned recently by “WWE Raw”.
Personally, I have many conflicting feelings about the new season of this Korean show. Ending on a cliff-hanger, the season left me feeling empty and with many loose ends in mind. For this reason, the ending to the first season was much better to me.
This new season was also especially violent, bloody, and full of betrayal. I would say significantly more than before. This is especially evident after rewatching the first season.
For one, the games in the second season seemed far more complex and placed a much heavier emphasis on players competing in groups rather than individually. Surviving many of the games depended on not upsetting fellow group members, which required all players to befriend others. I believe this added a significant amount of nuance and depth that were not seen in the first season and I am excited to see what the third season will bring to the table regarding group dynamics.
Additionally, this second season included many new diverse cast additions. This included a pregnant and transgender character. The inclusion of a pregnant character again adds more depth to the story, similar to the way group competition makes the series more interesting. Her life also seems to become more valuable, and other characters rally together in an attempt to protect her and her unborn child.
The inclusion of a transgender character in a Korean series is absolutely groundbreaking. In many Asian countries, especially Korea, the topic of gender identity remains taboo. The addition of a transgender character in such a popular series will likely lead to more conversations about gender identity in Korea and other countries and may help destigmatize the topic.
In conclusion, Squid Game season two was a great watch. I would absolutely recommend it, and I think there are many things in the second season and not in the first which add great depth.
