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 world phenomenon.

Whereas the collection 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 Recreation” Season 2 introduces a various solid 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 Recreation” has already confirmed to be a hit for creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, receiving early important acclaim and securing a 2025 Golden Globe nomination for Greatest Drama Collection 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.

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

Collider gave a brutally sincere evaluate, which learn, “You may see the plot twists coming a mile away even when a brand new sport is launched — and if you happen to don’t, the present flashes lights in your face to ensure 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 little thing needs to be spelled out.”

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

The Guardian mentioned, “It struggles to search out its objective … 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 generally known as Twitter. “The entire 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 everywhere,” one other mentioned.

“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 “greatest collection launch ever,” Lee Jung-jae shared his gratitude for the immense fan assist and enthusiasm surrounding the release of “Squid Game” Season 2.

“I wish to say that I do know that plenty of followers are rooting for us,” he informed People Magazine. “They love us, and what I actually really feel particular about ‘Squid Recreation’ is that I not solely have Korean followers now, however individuals all throughout the globe seen me and so they love me. So I actually like that.”

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

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

“Alongside the best way, I feel that sense of burden or stress truly turned into a supply of pleasure, and I steadily gained the boldness that we have been creating one thing that the followers of the primary season wouldn’t be upset with,” Hwang added. “Having mentioned that, it was clearly no simple feat. Nevertheless, I feel with that confidence, I used to be in a position to enter it with a greater strategy.”

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