‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Dropped the Most Disturbing Part of Season 1

by

Warning: Minor spoilers for Squid Game.

In December 2024, Squid Game made its grand comeback for its second season, continuing to captivate audiences worldwide with its exploration of the extreme measures individuals take for financial gain. Set a few years following Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) win in the game, this new installment raises the stakes and doesn’t fail to impress. Instead of focusing solely on the games themselves, the storyline in Season 2 delves deeper into Gi-hun’s mission to dismantle the entire operation and finally bring down the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Despite its darker themes, the series remains sprinkled with blood and violence throughout.

In contrast to the initial season, the latest installment omits a particularly unsettling element, which is not necessarily a drawback. This time, there’s no depiction of VIP members watching the games, placing bets on contestant fates, and essentially endorsing brutality – akin to The Hunger Games. Although these characters are occasionally referenced, their actions are not shown because they don’t contribute significantly to Season 2’s narrative. As the show focuses more on challenging those in power instead of merely surviving the games, the presence of spectators seems unnecessary for this season’s plotline.

Season 2 of ‘Squid Game’ Speaks to a Different Issue Than Season 1

In the initial season of Squid Game, the graphic violence was undeniably startling. The inclusion of VIP spectators wagering on the players’ survival added an extra layer of disturbance. Witnessing individuals pushed to extreme lengths for monetary gain was appalling, a portrayal deliberately intended to shock. This spectator aspect served to emphasize the show’s intentional portrayal of inhumanity.

Although some may find this depiction excessive, it was designed to be repugnant without glorifying such actions. By starkly illustrating the depths people can sink to when treating each other cruelly and justifying the devaluation of human life, the first season served as a moral rebuke for such behavior.

In a shift from its predecessor, the second season takes aim at overturning the status quo, providing a fresh perspective on the series. While the first season exposed the heinous actions of the elite, the second season delves into the reactions and rebellion that can occur in response to such cruelty. By eliminating one of the most abhorrent aspects from the previous season, viewers are able to concentrate on the struggle against the system and the demise of the corrupt practices.

‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Explores the Logistics Behind the Scenes

And Showcases a Different Kind of Gruesome Aspect

In contrast to the first season, the second installment of Squid Game presents a fresh narrative and offers viewers a new angle on the games. Instead of focusing on the reprehensible actions of the VIP members, this time we delve into the inner workings by following characters who don disguises as the masked figures. Essentially, these individuals take over the role previously held by the VIPs, revealing the grim realities of those who execute the games, including pulling the trigger when needed. What’s more, it becomes apparent that they are not fundamentally evil; rather, they perform heinous acts under specific circumstances.

At their core, these games seem to bring out the most unscrupulous behavior in those participating. Despite the compassionate demeanor they might show outside of the games, once involved, people can act cruelly without hesitation. For instance, before we learn that Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young) is one of the guards, she’s portrayed as deeply caring for some individuals and tirelessly working to rescue her son from North Korea following her own defection. In her day-to-day life, she seems sensitive to Park Gyeong-seok’s (Lee Jin-wook) situation, struggling with cancer-stricken daughter, but when he encounters the games and is shot after losing a challenge, it appears as though she remains unfazed.

In Season 2 of Squid Game, it’s unnecessary to have spectators since there’s already plenty to make viewers feel uneasy. The true essence of peeling back the layers and Gi-hun’s attempts to dismantle everything are strong enough reasons to exclude the VIPs from Season 1. With so much brutality already shown, this season aims to highlight the destruction of the games, not their victories. You can catch all episodes of Squid Game on Netflix right now.

Read More

2025-01-06 00:01