SQUID GAME – Season 2

Following on from the success of its first season, which remains the most-watched show in Netflix history, season two of “Squid Game” raised in 68 million views within the first four days of its debut, smashing the previous record set by “Wednesday.” However, the similarities don’t just end with viewer milestones – the initial six of the seven episodes feel like a carbon copy of series one, only the element of surprise has gone second time around. SPOILER ALERT! The winner of the first series, Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-jae) reenters the game and we are introduced to stereotypical players and protagonists similar to those from the original go-around. The sets are the same and the format is the same, though we do get a glimpse into the lives of the staff who run the facility. Some of the games have changed too but the penalty for failing then is still death. Much of the screen time is consumed with players voting to stay or leave and nothing new really happens until episode seven kicks off. Seasons two and three were filmed concurrently, for a total of 20 episodes, with director Hwang Dong-hyuk deciding to split them at the conclusion of Episode Seven. As a result, season two ends with approximately 100 players remaining and concludes on a cliffhanger. Let’s hope the final 13 episodes will bring it home in a way that honours season one.