'Squid Game 2' receives terrible reviews.

It took three years to write the script for "Squid Game" sequel, but it was ultimately criticized by audiences for being terrible and rambling. Many regretted that the film wasted the collaboration of so many talented actors.

Too drawn-out, repetitive, lacking any element of surprise.

Two episodes out of the seven episodes in season 2 dragged on endlessly. Squid Game To get the story to the main plot, the film, while waiting, gets bogged down in repeating the criticisms of the male lead, Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae). (closed) for the ruthless one Squid Game It's like a form of entertainment, a waste of time on unimportant characters.

When Gi Hun returns in his familiar green tracksuit , the audience meets new players, but unfortunately, the plot is too similar to the first season: playing, killing, rage, and then repeating.

The terrifying giant doll Young Hee returns with the "Red Light, Green Light" game, simply to please fans. Despite the addition of new games, the candy-colored setting, and the haunting childlike melodies, it doesn't offer a different experience compared to what viewers witnessed in the previous season.

When the games begin, Detective Hwang Jun Ho's quest to find the location of the survival game is pushed aside. The ending of the final episode is too rushed, making an already disjointed season even more incomplete.

"An overhyped film, flashy on the outside but empty on the inside," "Terrible, frustrating to watch. The main character's plans are incredibly stupid," "The film should have ended at part 1"... Viewers gave harsh reviews.

Gong Yoo and Hwang Dong Hyuk (right) are praised as highlights in the second season of Squid Game.

The abrupt ending, which allowed the film to continue into a new season airing in the latter half of 2025, only further bored viewers due to the lack of surprises. Compared to the survival film genre, which has become a trademark of Japan, Squid Game It is clearly far inferior in terms of logical content and character development.

The highlight of this season lies in the appearance of more female characters. build With greater depth, the story evolves from a pregnant player to a self-proclaimed sorceress. The male character (played by Yang Dong Geun) unexpectedly discovers his mother (played by Kang Ae Sim) has joined the game to help him pay off his debts. The female guard (played by Park Gyu Young) is the subject of much exploration, but unfortunately, her storyline doesn't develop as initially expected. Additionally, the portrayal of a transgender woman, a former soldier, with empathy, delivers a powerful message of support for the LGBTQ community within the military.

Was this a case of "milking the company dry" because the director wasn't satisfied with the fee?

Despite featuring a star-studded cast in the second season, including Lee Byung Hyun (playing Front Man/Hwang In Ho), Gong Yoo, Lee Jung Jae, and others, the overly predictable and forced plot clearly ruined everything.

Hwang Dong Hyuk, the screenwriter and director, spent three years developing the project, only to leave viewers feeling that the actors who agreed to participate were wasting their time.

The catalyst for the sequel lies with the director himself. The first part was a global sensation, generating high revenue, but due to contract terms, Hwang Dong Hyuk didn't earn much from it.

"I had no intention of making a second season," Hwang shared with Variety . But ironically, he explained that he only agreed to continue the series because he felt he wasn't being fairly compensated for the first season. "I'm so tired of Squid Game. I'm fed up with having to create something and then promote it," Hwang lamented in the same interview. This exhaustion is evident throughout season 2.

Many viewers believe the director's motivation was money, that he was not satisfied with the remuneration he received, which is why he developed a sequel, essentially just "milking" the film. The best aspects of the film were probably left in the first part.

The whirlwind of copycat products. Squid Game It has been everywhere for the past three years. From Mattel, Crocs, Johnnie Walker, and many other brands, everyone quickly jumped in to collaborate for season 2. “Netflix even organized its own versions. Squid Game In real life, from The Challenge show to the Squid Game: The Experience events across three continents, it's as if the series' message is simply that deadly children's games are fun to watch.” – The newspaper Date comment.

Popular YouTuber MrBeast caused a sensation with his video "Real-life Squid Game Worth $456,000!" and went on to turn it into the Beast Games show on Prime Video, which launched just a week before Squid Game 2 premieres. Sadly, some contestants in this parody competition complained about lack of sleep and food, and some even had to be hospitalized during filming.

"The original message of Squid Game It serves as a wake-up call about the commercialized and glorified violence that exists within a system that enriches only a select few, pushing the poor into a desperate struggle for meager resources. The brand's exceptional commercial success is precisely what sets it apart. Squid Game This again shows that we have failed to understand and absorb that lesson. That is what Squid Game Their actions have drowned out what they wanted to say. What was once a sharp satire on greed, exploitation, and economic inequality has now become a brand of money-making, no different from that of "commercial machines" – the newspaper. Date write.