Squid Game Season 2 is now available for streaming on Netflix! However, some fans were let down by the reduced number of episodes compared to the first season.
Squid Game Season 1 made its debut on Netflix on September 17, 2021, featuring nine gripping episodes. This South Korean survival drama quickly became a sensation, holding the top position on Netflix for several weeks. Given its immense popularity, it was no shock that the show was renewed for two additional seasons. After a three-year wait, Netflix released the highly anticipated second season on December 26, 2024. However, fans quickly realized that this season consisted of only seven episodes, making it shorter than the first.
Many Squid Games enthusiasts were shocked to find out that Season 2 features fewer episodes than its predecessor, Season 1. They were also caught off guard by the somewhat abrupt ending of the series. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk later clarified that this was intentional, as he was working on both the second and third seasons together, and the point where he wrapped up Season 2 was designed to be “a big turning point.”
I worked on seasons two and three together, and we were producing both at the same time. Right now, we’re in the post-production phase for Season 3.
He shared with ScreenRant, “While I was crafting the script for both seasons, I sensed a significant turning point at the conclusion of episode seven. I believed it deserved its own season to fully explore that moment. That’s why I decided to make the first seven episodes Season 2 and the remaining episodes Season 3.”
It seems that the narrative from Season 2 will carry on into Squid Game Season 3. In the second season, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-Jae) was determined to put an end to the deadly tournament and led a rebellion that resulted in many casualties, including both players and the masked enforcers working for the game’s masterminds. The emotional climax came when the Front Man shot Gi-hun’s close friend, Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), right before his eyes. “Did you enjoy playing the hero?” the Front Man taunted Gi-hun as they surrendered, before adding, “Now, see the fallout from your little game,” and then he shot Jung-bae, leaving Gi-hun devastated and in tears over his friend’s loss.
Although Squid Game Season 2 has a reduced number of episodes, Dong-hyuk highlights an important aspect: the ending served as “a big turning point.” This pivotal moment affected all the characters – the players, especially those who rallied behind Gi-hun, the masterminds of the deadly game, and Gi-hun himself. He ignited the rebellion that led to countless fatalities, including his beloved friend. Now, he faces the need to reflect on his actions and deal with the heavy burdens of regret, grief, and loss, even though his original goal was to protect everyone.
The director mentioned that they are already in post-production for Season 3, so we can hope that the wait for the new season won’t be too long! Everyone is eager to find out what unfolds after the dramatic events of Season 2. Plus, the Rotten Tomatoes score for Squid Game Season 2 is now available, so be sure to check it out to see the critics’ and audience’s opinions!
Squid Game Season 2 is now available for streaming on Netflix, with the highly anticipated third and final season set to premiere in 2025.