Squid Game is one of the most successful TV shows in history, so it’s no surprise that the sequel has generated a lot of anticipation among viewers for 2024. However, Squid Game 2 faces criticism for the plot holes, disappointing viewers as it fails to meet expectations.
Table of contents
A Slow Start and Unnecessary Details
Squid Game 2 picks up right after the phone call in the first season. Gi-hun, who survived the deadly challenges, decides to return to the island and confront the creators. However, instead of rejoining the game immediately, he is rejected by the leader. Gi-hun embarks on a two-year search for answers, while police officer Jun-ho is rescued and spends his time trying to locate the island. Both characters sacrifice their personal lives in the process.
The slow pacing becomes an issue, especially in the first two hours of the season, which focuses more on preparation and search for the organization than on the action. Unlike Season 1, where players were quickly brought to the game, Season 2 takes its time. While this is understandable given the leader’s anticipation of Gi-hun’s every move, the extended start feels unnecessarily long. For example, a scene showing a man handing out bread and tickets doesn’t contribute much to the story. With only seven episodes, this slow buildup could have been handled more efficiently.
The Tension Returns, But Games Are Limited
Once the games begin, the tense atmosphere characteristic of the series is re-established. The challenges, including the five-way challenge and team assignments, are creative and difficult, with moments where teammates turn into enemies. The distinct aesthetic of Squid Game is also maintained, with surreal, liminal spaces and contrasting bright costumes that add to the dark and unsettling world of the games.
However, the number of challenges in this season is limited, with only three main games. This reduction in games is partly due to the shorter season and the slow buildup. In the first season, games like the marble challenge were impactful because of the emotional investment in the characters. Season 2, with a larger cast, introduces some memorable characters but many are forgettable. Gi-hun’s companions, such as Jeong-bae (the fried chicken shop owner) and Hyun-ju (the transgender soldier), are well-developed and leave a strong impression. Hyun-ju, in particular, stands out with a relatable backstory and skills that are crucial for the final episodes. However, characters like Jun-hee, Gyeong-seok, and No-eul feel underdeveloped, with some storylines repeating elements from the first season.
Lack of Character Development and Unresolved Plotlines
Many of the characters in Season 2 don’t receive significant development. This could be because Netflix has reserved more room for them in the already confirmed third season. The season’s central themes of inequality, greed, and human coldness under the influence of money are explored, but there are missed opportunities to flesh out the characters further. There is a lack of revelation about the mysterious organization, and many secondary characters are left unresolved, which detracts from the overall experience.
Gi-hun’s Illogical Decisions and Naivety
Despite surviving the first season, Gi-hun doesn’t seem to have learned much from his experience. He doesn’t hire professional hunters to help him infiltrate the organization, instead relying on a group of debt collectors. His trust in them for two years to carry out an assassination plot against the leader with the black mask raises questions about his judgment. The final episode presents a major contradiction. Gi-hun had previously vowed to return the players home, but instead of using his leverage to help the others escape or to plan a rebellion strategically, he impulsively leads them into a doomed confrontation.
The illogical nature of his decisions becomes even more apparent when characters who could have gone home with over 300 million won choose to follow Gi-hun to their deaths. After three years of preparation and ample resources, Gi-hun wastes everything in a fight that seems both unnecessary and predictable.
Unresolved Storylines and Underused Characters
Police officer Jun-ho and his elite team don’t make much progress in this season. Aside from joining forces with Gi-hun, they don’t contribute significantly to the plot, and it’s likely they will continue to be manipulated by the organization in Season 3. Meanwhile, the show introduces a few humorous moments, such as Woo-seok maintaining his lighthearted demeanor even after surviving a near-death situation, which undermines the tension of the games.
Squid Game 2 feels more like a setup for Season 3 rather than a fully realized season on its own. Despite its flaws, the season continues to explore important themes and maintains the intense atmosphere fans expect, but it ultimately feels incomplete.
