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[Fbh]

First episode was solid, looking forward to the rest of the season.
Also thank god they almost instantly went back on the silly pink hair, I'd really have struggled to take him seriously with that lol

 

[od-chan]

I just watched all of it in one session. It's kind of a mess. I knew this would only be Part1 of Season 2, but I think many people will (kinda rightfully) feel irritated by this stupid netflix choice to split it up. Apart from that though, it's still all over the place.

The first 2 episodes are kinda the best imo. They wasted a lot of potential by rushing some things and then dragging out others after ep2. Also they really failed to make the deaths impactful, I remember actually shedding one or two very manly tears on S1 with the marbles. I wasn't even closely that emotionally invested with this roster. This is by far the biggest miss of the "season", and this decision to split it.

It's still a fun/enjoyable show, but it's miles away from S1. Some (actually, a lot) of the writing choices are really idiotic and so this season imo feels a lot "dumber", which is kinda disappointing, because it really didn't have to be like this. I don't remember the last time I finished a show with such mixed feelings.

I'm honestly not sure what to say about this show, especially since I'd love to be more cheerful about this. Like it was kinda good but then again it really wasn't

 

[DrFigs]

It’s about as good as the first season. But I think they could have focused more on what’s happening on the outside. I was also not a fan of how the last episode turned out. It seemed like padding, when we all know people come to watch the children’s games.

I also think the first two episodes are the best. And the games themselves are always a highlight.

 

[clarky]

I'm about half way. Its alright, same quality as season one. Don't know why this particular show is as hyped as it is. Its fine but there is so much better Korean media out there that is leagues better that gets largely ignored.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

I'm about half way. Its alright, same quality as season one. Don't know why this particular show is as hyped as it is. Its fine but there is so much better Korean media out there that is leagues better that gets largely ignored.

Entry level streaming platform + babies first death game.

I've heard normies say there's nothing like this. lmao.

If it was some mid 2000s torrent only show would we all think it's amazing? Idk

I watched first two episodes, it had something to say with the homeless park scene and I liked the new female character twist otherwise same old shit.

 

[Kurotri]

I just got done watching it.

Maybe it's just me, but there was something about this season that made it feel more aggressive. I really liked how the MC developed overall from the first episode of S1 to now and the chemistry he has with the Front Man was pretty cool. I think both are the coolest characters overall in the show. MC having to do the games all over again had a certain pull to it that I really liked.
Unforunately it's not as tightly written as the original season. Some moments feel like they are dragging a lot, and I was getting pretty tired of the whole voting thing too. The main problem is that it feels too short, especially with the ending. It just ends right in the middle of the story, and now you have to wait another year for the conclusion. Unlike in the first season where it felt a bit more complete, despite the teasing ending it has.
Also, the police investigation part of this is hilariously bad. They spend the entire season from beginning to end trying to locate the island. That's it. They don't even find it. It might be intentional though, because I remember the director making comments about how he wants to portray the police in season 2, mirroring what he feels like is happening in South Korea. He feels they are always late and relatively useless. So good job I guess? For me, it didn't really add to the show, at times I was forgetting that they were there in the first place.

I hope it sticks the landing with Season 3/second part of season 2/whatever, but I don't think the highs of the original will be reached. I think a huge part of the original's success was because of its novelty factor. It didn't invent death games mind you, but its interpreration of it was pretty unique imo. Still, very much looking forward to the final part. I'd recommend this season to anyone that enjoyed the original, but imo it'd be better to wait until the finale comes out and binging it that way.

 

[Kings Field]

Just finished episode 3. Great season so far. I never watched the first season until Christmas eve when we binged watched it to get ready for season 2. I didn't know what I was missing out on!

 

[Werewolf Jones]

Watched Episode 3 and 4 and think it's better than S1 but I thought S1 was so fucking overhyped.

Still got some silly shit in it but it's like the dude learned the tropes of death games and sort of leaned into them more, the character writing is stronger.

 

[Jenov]

First couple of episodes of the season with the hardcore recruiter guy was really great. That actor is awesome It slowly went downhill from there and you can tell the creator was forced to cut it into an extra season. Bleh. Also Netflix DEI nonsense seems out of date and cringe at this point.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Part 1 of a season is fucking stupid. I hate how they partition the shows like this. I feel it's a money grab, everytime I see entertainment pull this bull.
No wonder the creator wants out.

 

[vpance]

Only up to ep 3 but I'm liking it so far. The guards perspectives, and some of the weird contestants stood out well.

 

[bitbydeath]

Part 1 of a season is fucking stupid. I hate how they partition the shows like this. I feel it's a money grab, everytime I see entertainment pull this bull.
No wonder the creator wants out.

I’m fine with it, season 3 is already in the can and releasing next year.

 

[Dazraell]

I watched entire season and honestly, I was disappointed. It had a few highlights, but overall it was mid, predictable and definitely a step down from season 1

 

[apocaliptic]

I am not sure why this show is so hyped. For me is just average, way better Korean shows out there.

 

[sankt-Antonio]

Netflix just can’t help themselves and crowbars a trans character into a Korean show. lol.

 

[March Climber]

Oh, this is the official thread. I’ll copy and paste my take here:

Personally I felt this season was really good and better in some ways to season 1. The only weak points for me, to be as non-spoilery as possible, were the parts outside of the location of the game(after episode 3), and the sudden ending of this season, to the point where a part of me recommends watching both this season and the next back to back, because this felt like a Netflix-style mid-season cut that they sometimes do for popular shows.

Otherwise it was really well executed. I really liked:

Spoiler

The constant battle of ideals and morality between Gi-hun(456) and the Front Man as it felt like they were playing a verbal chess game with human lives, where Gi-hun is attempting to save all of the pieces to escape the game itself and Front Man is mentally in the chess game as if he is a VIP piece on the board.

There are conversations and moments between the two that felt like a fleshed out argument between Joker and Batman in The Dark Knight, when Joker used his bombs in two separate places to prove a point in how people will always choose themselves first regardless of the situation, except this show arguably tackles it in a more grounded way instead of that feelgood comic-book style.

Gi-hun trying so hard to control the situation and realizing he lacks control over human nature itself and it’s repeating cycles(especially when it comes to addicts/gamblers) is quite something to witness, as I feel like anyone else would just slowly break and descend into madness at a certain point.

Now, personally I feel like they can only pull a Season 2 like this, once. If the creator decides to reel back again, I will consider that a grave mistake in attempting to do yet another one-upping season of games. Whatever Season 3 is, it has to be slightly shorter, and it has to wrap things up well enough to feel satisfactory but leave room for mystery.

Whatever that may be, it will be extremely difficult to pull off.

 

[March Climber]

Netflix just can’t help themselves and crowbars a trans character into a Korean show. lol.

It was actually the show creator’s own idea, here is what he said:

"I did anticipate such discussions to arise from the first moment I began creating the character Hyun-ju," Hwang told the outlet. "In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor... When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately in the Korean society currently, the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking."

"I saw the people who come to join the games in Squid Game as people who are usually marginalized or neglected from society, and not just financially speaking," Hwang said "In season 1, the representative character for that was Ali, who was a foreigner working in Korea, which is one of the most representative minority groups in Korea... Today, unfortunately, in Korean society, the gender minority is a group that is not as accepted widely within society, which is why I created the character Hyun-ju as a male to female transgender woman."

Source

 

[DragoonKain]

I finished episode 3 and am enjoying it so far. Not as much as season 1 so far, but I'll see how I feel when it's over.

Also Mr. Beast's Squid Game video has almost 700 million views, which is probably more views than the show itself has ever gotten.

 

[Nickolaidas]

It was actually the show creator’s own idea, here is what he said:

"I did anticipate such discussions to arise from the first moment I began creating the character Hyun-ju," Hwang told the outlet. "In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor... When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately in the Korean society currently, the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking."

"I saw the people who come to join the games in Squid Game as people who are usually marginalized or neglected from society, and not just financially speaking," Hwang said "In season 1, the representative character for that was Ali, who was a foreigner working in Korea, which is one of the most representative minority groups in Korea... Today, unfortunately, in Korean society, the gender minority is a group that is not as accepted widely within society, which is why I created the character Hyun-ju as a male to female transgender woman."

Source

All I will say is this:

The trans character was one of my top five favorite characters in this season, and just goes to prove that having LGBTQ characters is perfectly fine as long as they are written like characters and not like propaganda pieces.

There are no bad characters who are bad because they are trans - there are only badly written trans characters.

 

[March Climber]

All I will say is this:

The trans character was one of my top five favorite characters in this season, and just goes to prove that having LGBTQ characters is perfectly fine as long as they are written like characters and not like propaganda pieces.

There are no bad characters who are bad because they are trans - there are only badly written trans characters.

I have long agreed with this statement and I feel like I'm not the one you should be quoting here lol.

 

[sankt-Antonio]

It was actually the show creator’s own idea, here is what he said:

"I did anticipate such discussions to arise from the first moment I began creating the character Hyun-ju," Hwang told the outlet. "In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor... When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately in the Korean society currently, the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking."

"I saw the people who come to join the games in Squid Game as people who are usually marginalized or neglected from society, and not just financially speaking," Hwang said "In season 1, the representative character for that was Ali, who was a foreigner working in Korea, which is one of the most representative minority groups in Korea... Today, unfortunately, in Korean society, the gender minority is a group that is not as accepted widely within society, which is why I created the character Hyun-ju as a male to female transgender woman."

Source

It’s not like he would say otherwise.
It is 100% a Netflix mandate.
Glad that the character is at least interestingly written.

 

[March Climber]

It’s not like he would say otherwise.
It is 100% a Netflix mandate.

This is why I have bothered less and less with posting evidence and sources on this forum and honestly anywhere else online. There's no point anymore when I am simply told 'Well ____ did it anyway"

I'm glad you like the character.

 

[HoodWinked]

Season 2 to reminds so much of Portal 2. Season 1 was very focused on the games and confined mostly to within the walls of the game like the original Portal.

And like Portal 2, season 2 is about breaking the game and also reveals more about what is outside the walls of the game.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

I thought it was okay. wasn't as good as season 1, and season 1 was just good.

I thought that the last episode was the end of the season. didn't realize they're breaking it up into two parts until I read this thread.

funny enough I think they could just end it where it's at and it would work.

 

[vpance]

I liked it, but these forced half seasons are dumb.

I think they did as good a job as they could without copying S1 too much, which is probably what a lot of people wanted out of it. Another full season focused on new games.

 

[YCoCg]

That was great but for fuck sake Netflix is way too comfortable splitting seasons, that didn't even feel like a complete arc.

 

[Nickolaidas]

Yeah, they could have released the whole season weekly if building hype was what they were going for.

 

[fran.fernandez]

I like it, some dumb acting and decisions. But overall pretty enjoyable