In 2021, when Netflix Squid game Everything was shockingly new the first time around, with the new season receiving only a fraction of the fanfare. Every new game, every new rule, every new character, and every new revelation about the dystopian games that satirized capitalism with truly deadly stakes left us on edge. After a three-year hiatus, the series is back with its second season and manages to overcome its biggest challenge yet – ensuring the plot is just as exciting, shocking and terrifyingly new.

The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, picks up where he last left us. Seong Gi-hun/Contestant 456 (Lee Jung-jae) decides to abandon his plans to fly abroad to be with his daughter and heads straight back to Seoul, determined to track down those responsible for the deadly games that left him a billionaire winner emerged. Three years later, he puts his money to good use by setting up shop in a seedy motel and scouring train stations with a battalion of thugs in search of the elusive salesman (Gong Yoo in an absolutely stunning and thankfully longer performance this time), who recruits people for the games. Not too far away, former violent crime investigator turned traffic cop Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) is also on a mission of his own: to further investigate and find answers to the deadly games he witnessed on the island to his brother’s questions. Disappear’.

It takes a few episodes to get to the actual games, and this conscious choice of writing style pays off. We spend a few episodes following Gi-hun and Jun-ho as they track down the men behind the games, while also learning about some potential candidates. It doesn’t take long before Gi-hun finds himself on the dreaded island among hundreds of participants in green and white tracksuits. Chase Kyung-sun’s production design is once again outstanding, and we’re back to the eerie pink and yellow stairs (inspired by MC Escher’s Relativity), the ominous dorm room with a glowing piggy bank hanging from the high ceiling, and of course, Der dreaded playground for the red-light-green-light game, complete with the giant, creepy motion-sensing doll.

As Gi-Hun soon realizes, it is not surprising that greed born of desperation is enduring. His valiant efforts to dissuade participants from attending the games remain unsuccessful. The participants themselves are a cleverly assembled group of characters who tell a lot about the time. There’s disgraced rapper Thanos (an over-the-top but entertaining Choi Seung-hyun), a crypto influencer (Im Si-wan), his pregnant ex-girlfriend (Jo Yu-ri), a former marine (Kang Ha- neul), mother-son duo (Kang Ae-shim and Yang Dong-eun), a trans woman who wants to complete her transition (Park Sung-hoon) and Gi-hun’s girlfriend the outside world (Lee Seo-hwan). They are all saddled with debts ranging from the need for life-saving treatments to gambling debts, and desperation has led to extreme measures.

If you thought watching the same game a second time might become repetitive, think again. The red-green-light game is just as nerve-racking this time as a desperate Gi-hun tries to get more people to cross the finish line. As the games progress, the show continues to push boundaries with creative twists on seemingly harmless children’s games. However, none of the remaining games can match the brilliance of Season 1’s tug of war or glass bridge bouncing game. Physical and brute strength aside, the show focuses quite heavily on mind games this time around, right from the start, when Gi-hun confronts the frontman (Lee Byung-hun) about how manipulative and exploitative it all is. There’s an added layer of tension here with a surprise candidate, as well as with all candidates splitting into two factions, adding to the constant feeling of unease; They know it won’t be long before the dorm descends into bloody chaos once the lights go out.

It’s the coming together of a near-perfect ensemble cast, excellent production design, sharp narrative and brilliant music that makes this sequel a binge-worthy experience. Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung-hyun are excellent as the two leads, with one trying to play the hero and the other being a silent, manipulative observer. Just seeing a long line of other K-drama stars is exciting enough, and Kang Ha-neul, Kim Ae-sim, Park Sung-hoon and Netflix favorite Park Gyu-young particularly stand out.

As the pink-clad soldiers march with comic precision to the strains of “Blue Danube” and lullabies ring loud and clear in the dormitory after a bloody and chaotic confrontation between the participants, one can’t help but laugh when Shin Hae Chul’s “To” You” (remember Reply 1988?) plays loudly over the speakers during a particularly challenging game in which the participants behave like they are at a school sports day.

There has been a worldwide advertising boom in recent months leading up to the show’s release Squid game Collaboration is seemingly everywhere. In recent years we’ve seen a video game based on it as well as a reality show spin-off (the irony!).

While sequels rarely leave a mark or bend under the pressure, Squid game For the most part, it manages to live up to the hype. There’s a lot new and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explores not only the psyche of the participants, but also the masked pink soldiers. However, we are left with more questions than answers, a conscious decision likely given that a third season is imminent. While many series and films engage in sequel baiting, drawing the ire of fans, Squid gameDespite the cliffhanger ending, the second season feels satisfying. While the contestants themselves continue to disagree about whether or not to continue, I wanted to see what happens either way – either in the bright pink and yellow dystopia or in the equally scary real world.

Squid Game Season 2 is streaming on Netflix