Welcome to my review of season 2 of Netflix’s “Squid Game.” I had the opportunity to watch this season in its entirety before its release. If you are reading this now, you are now able to binge watch the entire season on Netflix now.

Season 1 of “Squid Game” was a true game-changer, not only for Netflix, but just in general. It incorporated heavy themes with a unique concept that left me exhausted (in a good way). It was so close to perfect, had what I believe the ending concluded without insinuating that a second season would be inevitable. Three years later, I am happy to report that the show continues on in phenomenal fashion.

I have been asked to refrain from any spoilers, which is going to be difficult to do considering so many shocking things occur. It’s harder to talk about a season in broad scope when there is so much added to it. I initially wrote this review reviewing each episode. I have decided not to as it has been even harder to refrain from any spoilers as more and more occurs throughout the season. Luckily, I think my thoughts in general for each episode will help guide the viewer of what to expect out of this season, or if you are reading this after, dive a little bit deeper into the overall season.

The first episode establishes a fantastic and unpredictable continuation. Just as you think it’s going in one direction post-season 1, the show ends up taking a different direction that makes this all the better for it. Picking up after the events of season 1, the show finds a way to bring the important characters back together. I won’t say how much time has passed in the show, but taking place a certain amount of time after the first is the right move to help us relate to how much time has passed in real time between both seasons. Lee Jung-jae returns as Seong Gi-hun, the main character from the first season. Tormented from the prior season’s events, he is determined more than ever to end the game once and for all. As much as you want him to stop what he’s doing and live a normal life, you also know he has the right mentality to follow through with this. He has the right hero mentality that makes him relatable. Given what happens to him this season, I almost wish he would have left on that plane.

Wi Ha-joon returns as police officer Hwang Jun-ho who went undercover in the previous season. He successfully lives after what happened to him in the prior season and sees him trying to live a quieter life. Destiny, and timing, eventually sets these two characters on the path that they are set out on, making it clear that a possible team-up, or partnership, might be in their future.

The writing in the first episode is perfect. It’s great to be thrown into this world again that doesn’t try to just redo what the first season did. From the score to the cinematography, the show manages to upkeep amazing quality that makes this top-tier television. You can already tell with the camera work that this show is trying to do something different. It looks off at first, but it ends up helping you bring you back into this insane world. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk effectively makes this season stand out from the first episode that is as unpredictable as it is engaging.

We get to spend more time developing the story and the characters in the next episode. This episode takes its time to explore more of the situation and a few other supporting characters that appear to be important. Picking up right from the end of the first episode, the show finds its momentum to bring things together and keep things moving organically. Once things start to come together, that’s when things get exciting, making you believe this won’t be anything like the first season. Instead of rushing the plot to give what viewers will expect, the show instead spends more time on the characters. It looks like it will help set up what’s to come. There’s a particular side plot involving a child that is sure to pull on the heartstrings. If the first season taught me anything though, don’t get too attached to anything.

The second episode establishes a new comedic tone that appears to be consistent. Given what Jeon Seok’ho’s character went through in the previous episode, he also brings a sensible charm that the show needs. For a show that is already bleak, his presence helps keep the show light-hearted. Jung-jae continues to establish his hero mentality as Gi-hun. Ha-joon as Jun-ho also has some rich development that deepens his conflict with the show’s antagonist.

The ending shouldn’t surprise me, but it still does. Viewers may be frustrated by how Gi-hun doesn’t get killed, but it’s realistic for him to still be alive, because the bad guys are fascinated by him and believe they can still win. There is another twist in the side plot that actually deepens what we know about some of the villains.

The pacing may not be for everyone, especially with how fast-paced the first episode was. While the side plots serve a purpose, it can lose a bit of momentum at times.

From here on out, the show kicks everything into high gear. As much as we don’t want to go back to the games, the show still does. It’s hard not to think of Joker: Folie à Deux when the show goes back to its roots. Where Todd Phillips wanted his movie to be an “F you” to the fans of the first movie, the show actually does it successfully here. Want more of the things that emotionally damaged you? Well, here you go.

It’s actually incredible to see how the show is able to replicate its original production design. It does not look easy to make, and I’m sure it was torn down after the first season. Everything still looks as real and as detailed as ever before.

While the show tries to make you believe this will be anything different, this falls back into the show’s old self. You hope for the best, but the twists are inevitable. Viewers might be turned off by how predictable it can be, but I think it speaks true to the obsessions of the main characters.

Even though some of it may seem redundant, this is where the show knows it succeeds. The editing allows you to see things from all different points of view. The writing also gives the characters a new challenge in a familiar setting.

The middle portion of the show is also perhaps its weakest element. The humor doesn’t always land, and it can come off goofy at times with some of the music choices, but you can still see where the show is trying something different. We begin to spend more time with the side characters, losing that conflict that the show started off with. Although, I’d say for what’s to come, it’s actually great to learn more about these side characters. I just believe that the tone and tension can be lost, but then again, I also believe this is a statement that the show’s creator is trying to establish.

What continues to make this great television is how each episode ends on a cliffhanger, but it’s also on the right note. If you wanted to take your time with this season, you could, but it also works seamlessly if you binge watch it in one setting. Given specific plot points, I was always interested in what happened next.

Viewers might be frustrated that this only has 7 episodes, but I think it’s the perfect amount, especially since the next season will be its last. It’s difficult to predict how many episodes the next season will have since both seasons were shot back-to-back. The first and final episode are both perfect. In the final episode, my jaw was consistently on the floor. It is unpredictable and shocking to say the least. It’s so difficult to not get into spoilers here, so I will leave you with this: I am not surprised and surprised at the same time as to how this season ends. It’s phenomenal television.

Overall, I didn’t think the show could continue at the same level of quality, but they did the impossible. The show consistently subverted my expectations and had me desperate as to what happens next. The twists work in the nature of what know about this world. The middle portion can get a little silly with its offbeat music and humor. Then again, the show is all the better for it for giving us something that we loved about the first season, while creating something new that will also stand out. I can’t wait to see what others think about this season. I might dive deeper into spoilers once some time has passed. I might even do it as a recap before season 3 releases. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this season as much as I did.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)