Has ‘Squid Game’ Lost Its Spark? Season 2 Faces Backlash

“Squid Game” season 2 arrived with sky-high expectations, however not all viewers are happy with the newest chapter of Netflix’s international phenomenon.

Whereas the sequence continues to ship intense stakes and harrowing ethical dilemmas, some followers have expressed disappointment, claiming the present has “misplaced its edge.”

Like its predecessor, “Squid Sport” Season 2 introduces a various forged of financially determined gamers, with some abandoning their morals in pursuit of victory whereas others cling to their humanity regardless of the brutal stakes.

Season 2 of the South Korean dystopian drama “Squid Sport” has already confirmed to be successful for creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, receiving early crucial acclaim and securing a 2025 Golden Globe nomination for Finest Drama Sequence even earlier than its launch. The brand new season rapidly claimed the No. 1 spot on Netflix and at the moment holds a powerful 85% Licensed Recent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nonetheless, some U.S. viewers really feel in any other case.

Collider gave a brutally sincere evaluation, which learn, “You’ll be able to see the plot twists coming a mile away even when a brand new sport is launched — and for those who don’t, the present flashes lights in your face to be sure you’re ready for the incoming twist. It usually feels just like the present is afraid its viewers may not perceive what’s going on, so every thing must be spelled out.”

They added, “By the point the season reaches its ending, it appears like lots of time has been wasted on repetition.” 

The Guardian stated, “It struggles to seek out its goal … What a disgrace it takes so lengthy to get there.”

Social media customers additionally voiced their disappointment after watching the second season.

“Simply completed season 2. THAT SH-T WAS TERRIBLE IM CRYING,” one viewer wrote on X, the social media platform previously often called Twitter. “All the components from the primary season GONE… there’s no emotion, substance, and all of the video games had no thrill or stakes in it #SquidGame2.”

“SquidGame2 is so underwhelming likeee WHAT WAS EVEN THAT it is low key so messy and in every single place,” one other stated.

“I didn’t wait 2 years for this,” a 3rd wrote.

Constructing on the record-breaking success of the primary season, hailed as Netflix’s “largest sequence launch ever,” Lee Jung-jae shared his gratitude for the immense fan assist and enthusiasm surrounding the release of “Squid Game” Season 2.

“I need to say that I do know that numerous followers are rooting for us,” he instructed People Magazine. “They love us, and what I actually really feel particular about ‘Squid Sport’ is that I not solely have Korean followers now, however folks all throughout the globe seen me they usually love me. So I actually like that.”

In June 2022, Netflix formally renewed “Squid Sport” for a second season and later confirmed plans for a 3rd, cementing the sequence as one of many platform’s flagship franchises.

“I used to be considering to myself: will I actually be capable to pull this off? Will I be capable to create or write one thing that may exceed Season 1?” he instructed IndieWire of writing the second season. “However as soon as I bought to writing, and as soon as I bought into the story of Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) returning to the video games along with his personal motives, it really went loads higher than I believed it might.”

“Alongside the best way, I feel that sense of burden or strain really became a supply of pleasure, and I steadily gained the arrogance that we have been creating one thing that the followers of the primary season wouldn’t be disenchanted with,” Hwang added. “Having stated that, it was clearly no simple feat. Nonetheless, I feel with that confidence, I used to be in a position to enter it with a greater strategy.”

“Squid Sport” season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.