"Was there really a need"- Squid Game 2 plot and character development leaves fans disappointed, drawing comparisons to Season 1

On Thursday, December 26, Squid Game season 2 premiered on Netflix, with all seven episodes released. Given that the show returned after three years since its first season, fans were excited to see what's in store for them with the new season. However, many fans were disappointed with the show due to a lack of proper plot and character development.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Squid Game season 2

Netizens expressed several reasons why they were displeased or not satisfied with the show. Some expressed that the show was trying hard to replicate the aesthetics and thrill of the first season, and it failed to achieve the same. People also pointed out that there were too many characters in the show, which restricted viewers from emotionally connecting with any of them.

Many netizens also stated that the episode was not entertaining and the cast was too male-dominated, with very few female actors being starred in the second season. While many fans still loved the series, Squid Game has also been receiving criticism for not meeting the standards and expectations set by its first season.

Fans took to X to opine about the show, and one user said:

"Was there really a need for a second season?"

"It wasn't supposed to have a 2nd Season they force it and that means the quality will be down, don't give so much hope on it," said a fan on X.

"3 episodes into Squid Game Season 2 and I had enough, what a waste of time , the writing is all over the place. The dialogue is clunky, the pacing is erratic, and it feels like the show is just trying to stretch out the story as much as possible," added another fan.

"i think the second season suffered from too many characters… i didn’t feel as emotionally connected to them as i did with ali, saebyeok, deoksu, minyeo, sangwoo etc," commented a netizen.

More fans and netizens talked about how their expectations for the show's second season were unmet.

"It's not bad, but just like the majority of shows, it's difficult to replicate the vibes of the previous season," stated a fan.

"Remake Of Season 1st with few boring new games," added an X user.

"Also, too many men as main characters. The women didn’t carry last season only for the writer to go a different route. Like what were they even thinking? I hope it flops terribly," said a netizen.

Another user commented:

"there are parts i enjoyed and parts that didn’t seem as of high stakes in comparison to season 1."

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All you need to know about Squid Game, its recent second season release, and its upcoming finale season

Squid Game is a South Korean TV series that was released in 2021. The show revolves around several people who participate in playing children's games for an extremely tempting price. However, these games turn out to be highly risky and end up costing the contestants' lives in many cases.

Some of the games that the contestants participate in are Red Light, Green Light, Hopscotch, Tug of War, Marbles, and more. However, the difference in the show is that the consequences of losing would be deadly. Apart from the plot, the actors who starred in the show also grew popular for their acting.

Gong Yoo, despite being a supporting actor in the show, was highly praised for his performance. Additionally, the actors Jung Ho-yeon, Anupam Tripathi, and Lee Jung-jae, among many others, were also commended for their work. On the other hand, the show's director Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that Squid Game is soon expected to have a follow-up with its third and final season releasing next year.

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Despite the criticism Squid Game 2 received, the actors were appreciated for their acting. Fans couldn't stop talking about Gong Yoo and Im Si-wan's acting in the new season, and many K-pop fans were also happy to see the former BIGBANG member T.O.P re-enter the acting scene.