‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Review: Netflix’s South Korean Smash Loses Its Edge

Story by Daniel Fienberg

Image from The Hollywood Reporter

scrn logline

With high expectations, the second season of Netflix's hit 'Squid Game' struggles to recapture the magic, as creator Hwang Dong-hyuk stumbles in expanding the show's mythology and characters.

beat sheet

Despite critical acclaim and record viewership, the highly anticipated second season of 'Squid Game' fails to deliver the same level of dark social commentary and thrilling gameplay, as the storyline drags and new characters fall flat.
Unlike the first season's breakout star Lee Jung-jae, who won an Emmy for his nuanced performance, the second season's lead actor's portrayal of the protagonist lacks the depth and dynamism that made the character so compelling in the original.

call sheet

Hwang Dong-hyuk, Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo, Yu-ri, Won Ji-an, Lee Seo-hwan, Gong Yoo, Netflix, 'Squid Game' Season 2

Read the source