Why do we need season two of Squid Game?
by Ana Walia | Thu, 30 Dec 2021 19:42:37 GMT
A still from 'Squid Game'. Image Source: Business Today 

One of the most popular Netflix shows this year has to be hands down the Korean thriller "Squid Game," created by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The writer-director recently, during an interview with Korean broadcaster KBS, confirmed that he is in talks with Netflix for two more seasons of the internationally acclaimed series.

Squid Game debuted on Netflix on September 17th, 2021, and in no time broke all records to become one of the most popular series in Netflix's history, reaching approximately 142 million households globally and surpassing 100 million views. The nine-episode Korean thriller follows Lee Jung-jae, who plays Seong Gi-Hun, and a hundred others who are deeply indebted and in desperate need of money to compete in violent and often grotesque competition for about $38 million. In the end, only one person can win the prize, and those who lose the series of games have to pay the price with their lives.

Hwang Dong-hyuk said, "I am in talks with Netflix over season two as well as season three. We will come to a conclusion anytime soon." Before, the creator of the show had shared that he had been working on the storyline for the following season, something he felt "a lot of pressure for." "I do have a basic storyline for season two—it's all in my head—and I am currently in the brainstorming stage. It will happen someday, but as for when, I cannot tell you the details," Hwang shared in November with The Hollywood Reporter.

Season one of the show ended with Seong Gi-Hun winning the prize money and a year later discovered that the games are going to happen once again and in the hopes of shutting the game down once and for all, he decides to stay back in Korea rather than flying off to America. The audience is going to expect that season two of the show will start from where it ended and Seong Gi-Hun will team up with others to shut the game down.

Hwang had shared previously, "While I was writing season one, I thought about the stories that could be in season two if I get to do one- one would be the story of Frontman (Lee Byung-hyn)".

The writer-director had also shared with CNN, "Writing, producing, and directing a series alone was such a big task. When I think about doing the same for Season 2, I'm personally kind of worried. There's nothing confirmed at the moment, but so many people are enthusiastic that I'm contemplating it. There are some loose ends I'd like to explore if I were to make a second season. The Frontman's unexplained past, detective Jun-ho's story. Those are things I didn't explain in Season 1. If I were to do Season 2, I'd like to explain those elements. And the man with the Ttakji in his bags…the man who was played by Gong Yoo."

Gong Yoo. Image Source: Reddit 

What makes Squid Game distinctive and leaves the audience asking for more is the fact that the characters of the show are beautifully written with layers and depth, which the audience seems to witness hardly in any series now. The characters' shades of grey are explored throughout the show making the characters of the show interesting. Of course, a lot of credit goes to the actors doing their job brilliantly and with utmost honesty that it's almost believable that they are a part of the game. The backstories of the characters are so very well put on the paper that it makes the audience root for not only the main character but others too almost like wanting the lead to lose the game and die.

One of the reviews read that the series beautifully and impactfully portrays and induces social issues, be it mental health issues, bullying, socio-economic issues, or body-shaming. Keeping today's time in mind, the writer-director has managed to portray every single one of them in the show, making it more relatable for the audience to come back to. Although it took him a decade to make the series. It has also been said that the unique stories or the storylines that are related to the characters on the show also make it one of the most iconic shows in history as it covers all the emotions a human being knows while watching them unfold on-screen.

K-dramas are very popular across the globe because of the relatable emotions, situations, and struggles they offer, and especially because their characters are mostly a portrayal of ordinary people rather than being glorified as idols. The show, 'Squid Game', also had various characters and situations similar to true events, which made it easy for the show to connect with the audience across the globe and leave them asking for more. The show is complicated yet very simple, but the way it has been projected on-screen is commendable and the message that it gives is simply the reflection of the society we live in. There is always a price one has to pay.

The creator of the show had before shared with Variety that Squid Game, which was initially called "Round Six," was supposed to be a movie but later decided to go ahead with the nine-episode series. The popularity of Squid Game has pushed other similar shows that are not in English to get more viewership, like the Japanese thriller series, "Alice in Borderland", and the Korean "Sweet Home."

So, are you waiting for the second round of Squid Games? 

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