Squid Game has proven its enduring power yet again. Three weeks after its release, Season 2 has been dominating the global Top 10 series chart across both English and non-English categories. The series surpassed 100 million views within just ten days and secured a spot on the Top 10 list in an incredible 93 countries. While Season 1 followed Gi Hun (played by Lee Jung Jae) as he fought to survive the deadly game, Season 2 shifts focus to his quest for revenge as he returns to the game and meets the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung Hun). Eagerly anticipating Season 3, Cineplay reporters have shared their thoughts and a few constructive critiques on Squid Game Season 2.
“Gi Hun, quit while you’re ahead.”
Season 1 of Squid Game has 9 episodes, and Season 2 has 7. Reports indicate that Seasons 2 and 3 were filmed back-to-back, with a total of 13 episodes produced. This suggests that Season 3 will likely have 6 episodes. It’s still unclear how director Hwang Dong Hyuk will handle the failed rebellion in Season 3, but the uprising in the second half of Season 2—despite Gi Hun’s good intentions—was too reckless, both in execution and the number of people involved. Plus, it went on for too long.
“Waiting for Junhee’s baby.”
This idea is partly a prediction. It started with a small question about why Director Hwang Dong Hyuk had Junhee (Jo Yu Ri), a pregnant woman, participate in the game in Season 2. Junhee was in danger from the very first game, but she survived with help from Geum Ja (Kang Ae Shim). The idea of putting a pregnant woman in such a deadly game seemed forced and got some negative reactions. But Director Hwang might have had a bigger plan in mind.
If Junhee has her baby in Season 3, it could be a major turning point for several characters. It might inspire Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae) to fight back again. It could also push Myung Gi (Yim Si Wan) to change for the sake of the newborn. Or, it could serve as a turning point for No Eul (Park Gyu Young), who left her young daughter behind in the North, to join those trying to stop the game. Junhee’s baby could become a symbol of hope, uniting those feeling lost after the failed revolution. How would people in this hyper-capitalist world act to protect a newborn?
“Focus on Gi Hun and the Front Man.”
The exhausted participants look up at the piggy bank after a brutal game. Their eyes grow cold as they watch bundles of cash fall, clearly disappointed by how little each of them gets. The more survivors there are, the less each person receives. Similar to Season 1, Season 2 introduced a lot of key characters, but there wasn’t enough time to fully explore them, which made the storyline feel fragmented. While Season 2 focused on introducing these characters and their relationships, Season 3 will need to tear down what was built in the second season.
The success of Season 3 will depend on how quickly they focus on the main characters—Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae) and the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun)—by cutting back on secondary characters. The problem with this season isn’t just a “sophomore slump,” but rather the natural fate of the second part in a trilogy. If Season 3 can capture the same momentum as Season 1, Season 2 may be viewed in a more positive light.
“Make use of Hwang Jun Ho.”
If you ask who the main character of Squid Game is, the obvious answer is Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae). But if you ask who the lead character is, the answer isn’t as clear. That’s because there’s one more character who has been given as much attention as Seong Gi Hun throughout both Season 1 and Season 2: Hwang Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon). Hwang Jun Ho is the only main character who’s been disconnected from the game, yet continues to be involved. He infiltrates the game in search of his missing brother, Hwang In Ho, and discovers his brother’s whereabouts. In Season 2, he tracks down the island where the game is taking place and tries to find a way to disrupt the game by contacting Seong Gi Hun, but ultimately fails and spends the rest of the season searching for the island.
Despite being the only one who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Seong Gi Hun, Hwang Jun Ho’s contributions have been limited to revealing who his brother is and explaining the game’s system. Clearly, there’s more to come for Hwang Jun Ho in the story that extends into Season 3. He must have a bigger role. Otherwise, viewers who have closely followed his character may feel their investment hasn’t been fully rewarded.
A black comedy without a clear target is destined to fail. If Seong Gi Hun becomes a hero, it could ruin the series. One reason some viewers didn’t like Season 2 is that Gi Hun suddenly became the leader of a revolution to overthrow the system. Director Hwang Dong Hyuk mentioned in an interview with Cineplay that he wanted to portray Seong Gi Hun as a “Don Quixote”-like figure. This suggests he intended for Gi Hun’s sense of justice to reflect a misguided hero’s journey. However, the show focused more on Gi Hun’s altruism and sense of justice rather than his flaws, leaving viewers uncertain whether to support him or mock him. This confusion contributed to the mixed reaction to Season 2. If the director intended this but the audience didn’t interpret it that way, the problem lies in the character’s presentation. The director needs to address the issue if viewers require an explanation of the black comedy for it to make sense. Moreover, if Seong Gi Hun ultimately succeeds in his rebellion, it could make the story’s purpose even more unclear.
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