English Title: Squid Game 2
Korean Title: 오징어 게임 2
Director(s): Hwang Dong-hyuk
Screenwriter(s): Hwang Dong-hyuk
Studio: Siren Pictures
Released: 2024
Runtime: 7 episodes, min. 51m – max. 1h 16m
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon, Kang Ha-neul, Jo Yu-ri, Park Sung-hoon, Lee Seo-hwan, Park Gyu-young, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-shim, Noh Jae-won, T.O.P
My Verdict: Forced premise just to get the guy back in the game. Good production. Decent pacing, moderately entertaining but obvious setup for Season 3.
● This review assumes one has seen season 1.
● As seen at the conclusion of season 1, Seong Gi-hoon (Lee Jung-jae) is not happy with all the cash he had just won and wishes to go after those who run the games. Season 2 continues directly from that.
● Gi-hoon has settled his debt with his creditors and then hired them to find the recruiter (Gong Yoo) who he met at the subway station. The search takes a couple of years before Gi-hoon manages to get in contact with the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun).
● Meanwhile, police officer Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) had survived and along with the fishing boat captain who had rescued him goes searching for the island on which the games are held. He, of course, does not reveal that the Front Man is his brother.
● Jun-ho has every reason, professional and personal, to go after the game-runners whereas Gi-hoon’s motivation, although honorable, is somewhat weak. In that sense, the premise is forced.
● The above is mitigated to a small degree by not rushing Gi-hoon into the game halfway through the opening episode. [Minor Spoiler] The first two episodes are dedicated to how Gi-hoon and Jun-ho try to find the game-runners. Eventually, they do meet and work together.
● Even then, however, it is not plausible enough. Although the game-runners have a lot of money and connections to cover their tracks, Gi-hoon could better use his money. Instead of merely relying on thugs searching subway stations, he could form his own connections and network with, for example, police officers and subway security.
● Once Gi-hoon (as player 456) is at the games, he tries to keep people from dying. The pacing and therefore tension are skillfully handled during the first game “Red Light, Green Light” since Gi-hoon slows things down. But once the mayhem starts… well, it’s mayhem.
● To avoid repetition, the subsequent games are different. The narrative also shifts to focus on two other characters: Jun-ho as he approaches from the outside (whilst Gi-hoon is on the inside); and Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young), a former North Korean soldier and defector working as a “triangle” solider. The latter provides more insight on the game-runners although there are not enough scenes of her even if this is merely to set up for Season 3.
● Front Man joins the game as Player 001, conveniently without anyone noticing that he was not present in the first game. Whilst Gi-hoon cannot be expected to suspect him just because he is number 001, Gi-hoon can be more generally more suspicious towards others.
● Of course, there has to be a woke element with a transgender character named Cho Hyeon-ju. Whilst the point is not initially dwelled on, it does make the point that he is a nice person and is persecuted and needs the money for a fresh start. Park Sung-hoon is a good actor and he manages to play the character with pathos without overdoing it; the character would work just fine if he is just another dude.
● The other players, like the first season, are nothing particularly special. This is presumably deliberate and the cast does well with what is written for them. The only exception is the washed-up rap artist Thanos who is just annoying. T.O.P pushes it too much which is probably also deliberate.
● In addition to the obvious commentary on class struggle and financial control, this season further emphasizes the fake democracy and the psychological aspects of population control.
● Setting aside that the premise is forced, the overall pacing is not bad. This is a more significant achievement than it seems considering that the pacing and tension are so much more difficult to handle in a sequel that is repeating the same format. This is where Jun-ho and No-eul partly mitigate the problem. Moderately entertaining if one likes Season 1 and/or the genre but is obviously a setup for Season 3.
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