Hwang Dong-hyuk reportedly wrote the story of Squid Game in 2009 but couldn't find funding from any production company. The idea emerged from his own struggles and his own sufferings, and when Netflix shook hands with Dong-hyuk in 2019, it got its hands on something big. The first season of Squid Game quickly became a global hit. It received acclaim from both the audiences and critics. We all know what this means: More seasons, more spinoffs, more remakes, more productions based on this series. We got a mockumentary, a reality competition, and now David Fincher is producing an English-language adaptation of Dong-hyuk's vision of capitalism and class disparity. This vision yielded thrilling rewards during the first season, whose only flaw (as far as I can remember) was its lame reveal. Those rich men in suits sipping wine were caricatures that belonged in a C-grade movie. But we were willing to overlook everything because Season 1 had a clear emotional line. The character arcs were clean, the deaths were too tragic, and the games were gripping. Season 1, Episode 6, deserves to be placed on the list of "Best TV episodes of all time." It's difficult to recreate this kind of magic in a sequel/second season, and Dong-hyuk, unfortunately, doesn't succeed.
Squid Game Season 2, at times, goes in interesting directions. We know that Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is determined to punish the individuals behind the game. How will he locate them? Does this mean the second season will focus solely on a search operation? And what about the games themselves? Dong-hyuk finds a nice way to put Gi-hun back into danger (I will try to avoid spoilers). Also, through Red Light and Green Light, Dong-hyuk leads us to believe we will watch the same games again. He aligns our perspective with Gi-hun's and then introduces nasty surprises. The main events - the highlights - are stunningly depicted. I was holding my breath during a round of Russian roulette between Gi-hun and the recruiter (Gong Yoo). When the players, as spectators, cheer for other players playing six-legged pentathlon, the show reaches the height of euphoria. The energy emanating from the screen becomes so infectious that you, too, start cheering for the characters. It's all fun and games until the losers are greeted with bullets. But the tone, by that time, becomes so light, so cheerful that the violence doesn't sting; it tickles. Along with this desensitization, Squid Game Season 2 introduces us to thin, generic characters, which is why it feels more interesting to think about than to watch; it is less engaging and less enjoyable as a visual experience.
Everybody is deep in debt and running from loan sharks. A rapper named Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun) has made a bad crypto investment, and the YouTuber who encouraged him to do so has also participated in the games. Almost everybody has a similar story, except for a pregnant lady and a trans character. But even their backstories are generic and predictable - they also lack fascinating dimensions. Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), as Player 001, befriends Gi-hun and other players. When we see him screaming with joy at people playing six-legged pentathlon, we wonder if he will start recognizing the pain and the happiness of the people he exploits for entertainment. Season 2, however, ignores such complications. It's (sadly) pretty straightforward. In-ho, at one point, eavesdrop on Gi-hun and Jung-bae's (Lee Seo-hwan) heart-to-heart conversation, but the show doesn't display any interest in finding out what he thinks about this chat. Doesn't it stir any thought or any feeling within this monster? Dong-hyuk doesn't illuminate his characters; he uses them as puppets to make a statement. In the second season, Dong-hyuk talks about democracy or, rather, its illusion.
The players vote, but their vote is not anonymous, which means more trouble. The soldiers often announce that the participants have the freedom to end the game with their vote. The contestants, however, are bound by greed, which is something the people in power know. This is why a soldier shows the monetary figure before proceeding with the ritual of votes. You can look at all this and say things like, "People make bad choices due to their foolish desires," "No one is really free in a democracy," "There is nothing like democracy," or "Sometimes, to end tyranny, you need to pick up weapons." That last point comes into your head during an act of rebellion. In Dong-hyuk's hands, the subtext becomes the text, and then it's flaunted like a virtue, a great achievement, a deep thought. Dong-hyuk doesn't bother creating memorable characters. He just wants to make some points that are important and relevant (also extremely obvious), but since they are thrown within the boundaries of a conventional narrative, everything reeks of unoriginality and flimsiness. Hwang Jun-ho's (Wi Ha-joon) investigations merely eat the runtime. This thread contains a twist that we detect from miles ahead. The intention might have been to convey that your enemies are always near you, but this doesn't hide the fact that Jun-ho's scenes are devoid of suspense, making them bland and dull.
Squid Game Season 2 features two strange dream sequences. One of them, which involves a couple arguing in a hotel, left me in stitches due to its unintentional humor. The other, which features a triangle, ends up being disappointing; had this scene occurred in the real world, it could have propelled the narrative in an exciting direction. Season 2, however, compensates for this letdown with a new game and expands its narrative by exploring the daily lives of the soldiers - it tries to redeem itself. Unfortunately, even this decision only reveals Dong-hyuk's narrow vision. How much compensation do these guards receive? If it's less than what the players get, wouldn't they feel jealous? Are they afforded the same opportunity to vote for their escape from the game? Do they express gratitude at night for being chosen as soldiers instead of players? Is their position permanent, or are there "replacements?" How is promotion decided? How is it determined which person will be selected as a player and which as a soldier? Is this process random? Dong-hyuk ignores everything that doesn't advance the plot. Why, then, stretch the show over so many episodes? The answer is quite apparent. Netflix is driven by a desire to boost its "viewer hours." Like the players, the people running the streaming service, as well as those behind the camera, are attracted to big numbers.
Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times