Death's Game Part 2 (2024)

Not happy with assumptions around suicide

March 2024. Watched Parts 1 & 2 together on Prime

I thought the casting for this was incredible. So many actors I love, in one drama, was frankly too good to be true and the acting was, predictably, great.

I really enjoyed the ways in which events began to expose a troubling connection. It wasn't obvious what that was to be, however, and even when revealed, was still far from final.

There are shocks, tragedies, grief, unfairness, manipulation and the old favourite, money and power.

The struggles are real and I don't think anyone could blame Choi Yi-jae. Having said that, there were numerous times his character didn't speak up, or did some truly stupid things; where his mother was concerned, especially. It numbed my mind.

There were also moments of brilliance in the plot though, but it did vere sharply between that and "What?!", at times.

Apart from Seo In-guk, I absolutely loved Kim Jae-wook, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Do-hyun and Kim Mi-kyung in this. None of them overacted and given LJW's part, he could have. His scenes were the most visceral for me.
Nice seeing LJW and Yoo In-soo acting together again, although in vastly different roles to Alchemy of Souls.

I do wish the story had focussed less on Yi-jae as being cruelly punished and more on his realisations, growing determination and self-worth, through the trials, as being healing. Those are positive lessons to drive home.

However, I found myself getting incredibly angry at times, because instead, to me, it really felt like they were saying suicide is a selfish choice, made with no regard for those left behind and should be a punishable act.

Selfish? Perhaps that is true, but only to a point. The reason being, it is a decision very, very rarely made by someone in a normal state of mind. Suicide isn't something a happy, mentally stable, rational person, would commit.
If life has become painful, terrifying, utterly hopeless, everything else becomes irrelevant in that person's mind. Death is, indeed, no longer frightening, but an escape.
So why portray it as though it was (is) done as a normal, conscious decision, with no care for loved ones? In that frame of mind, rationality has long departed, together with being concerned about the impact on others.
Were they trying to send a message, due to the frighteningly high number of suicide cases in S.Korea? I sincerely hope not, because it's cruel (especially to those left behind) and it's wrong.

The ending was totally perplexing, to me, for one huge reason... for time to have been reversed so Yi-jae is back on the ledge before jumping, means everything that happened originally, to that point, still happened.
Therefore, without his influence and knowledge as the soul in all those bodies, the crimes committed by Park Tae-woo and Jeong Gyu-cheol would go unsolved and continue happening.

Whilst I enjoyed the many actors, characters and their stories, the plot, therefore, fell a little short and I wasn't happy, at all, with the unkind assumptions made around suicide.
I haven't seen the webtoon of the same name that this is based on and, therefore, don't know how close to it this drama is.

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JUST GO AND WATCH IT ALREADY!!!

Deaths game was a thrilling drama about a man who commits suicide and so death punishes him by making him live twelve more different lives and dying in each one of them.

But this drama was more than a fantasy about reincarnation..it was a thrilling and exciting yet emotional journey filled with lots of heartwrenching and heart warming moments.

The cast was the reason why I anticipated this drama and I don't regret doing so because they all devoured in their specific characters...the characterisation was spot on and even those with the least screen time managed to live an impact regardless...

The acting was insane the rage each one of the characters had was an absolute delight and it was a strong factor that added to the beauty of the series.

The story was exciting intense but emotional and also a bit funny ( but not so funny) it was mostly an emotional roller coaster but I loved the dialogue and the life lessons the drama was trying to put across.

What more have I not said, I highly recommend this if you are looking for a short yet satisfying drama to watch!!!

You should go in with a box of tissues though because you'll need it other than that I ABSOLUTELY LOVED EVERY BIT OF THIS DRAMA.

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Everyone should watch this

"Death's Game Part 2" carries forward the remarkable journey established in the first part, solidifying its well-deserved 10/10 rating. Once again, the series delivers a series of electrifying and shocking episodes that keep you hooked and craving for more. The narrative mastery in maintaining suspense and unpredictability is a testament to the show's brilliance. It's a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations, leaving you at the edge of your seat as you navigate the intricate web of the plot alongside the characters.

Beyond the thrills, "Death's Game Part 2" offers profound life lessons. It challenges you to ponder the meaning of life itself, exploring themes of morality, purpose, and the consequences of one's actions. The show's ability to engage viewers intellectually and emotionally is a testament to its depth and complexity. It's a rare gem in the world of television, delivering both shocking entertainment and a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience. "Death's Game Part 2" is a must-watch continuation that cements its status as a remarkable and unforgettable drama.

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There is only one you in this world

Death's Game is a drama that talks about living, that people become comfortable with the pain that exists in their lives and throw themselves into suffering, they don't live, they just exist. Only one thing can make someone give up on everything they haven't experienced yet, even if the future is good or not, they will never know, because they didn't have the opportunity to allow themselves to live.
And Yijae learned this the hard way. Living in different age groups with a clearer mind, learning about life is important in all of them. That we should give everything an opportunity before giving up. This may seem like toxic positivity, but it's what you can believe about life.
I loved Deaths Game, because I was able to see the vision about life that already existed in me, and now I know that this is a beautiful way of seeing the world. There will always be pain, but you can live with a positive mind and everything will work out in the end.

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"Story about us" or is it just life?

Just Resonated so damn hard with yourself, living in this present world, struck with anxiety depression, hopelessness about life, the drama puts in perspective the value of life. what matters in life, what we might be chasing, what we might be carrying around a baggage, what we might be feeling and every fear, anxiety and things that is stopping you, none of them matters. things will pass. things will move on.

whoever is reading this, i hope you can find hope, peace and happiness in this life, and find and never forget what matters the most to you. i hope the world finds peace and lets everyone live loved and pass by happily during their short time here. i just hope world will stop being greedy and evil. but in the end world will fail. world has already failed. . .

Ps: even though i had doubts watching it first, but now, really thankyou for making such a series. you may have saved me for all i know. i hope this emotion last long within me

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one of the best dramas ever.

I’m still in shock about the whole story after it ended, each episode was either exciting or heart wrenching and I could never get enough of it. This is the type of drama where even if it is painful to watch it is also an awakening and exciting drama where I could watch again and again because of how unique it is. The story from start to finish was simply captivating and reached out to the audience. Giving the perspective of the different lives and how precious life is was also awakening. My only critique, however, is that on the topic of su*cide in the beginning I thought that the reason he was punished was not only because he hurt his loved ones, but that he actually killed someone else in the process of his su*cide. I expected the show to touch on that scenario but I guess it might not have been the case which is my only critique because it might accidentally convey the message that su*cide is actually a sin and should be punished which should not be the case as it is a symptom of many mental illnesses such as depression and can often not be controlled in the moment of it. I’m sure the writers wrote it not to deflect the struggles of mental health but to shed light on the subject of how precious life is and the importance of those around us. I must say without this issue in the story everything else was perfect and I think everyone can receive a message from it.

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Death is not an end its just the beginning

Death is not an end it's just the beginning. Death is a thing that all humans end up experiencing, but that doesn't make it any less painful when it happens and this show perfectly encapsulates that. Because one thing that all humans have in common is death, from the highest in power to the homeless you pass in the street no one is above it.

I am still processing everything that went on in the last part. But one thing I know for sure is that everyone needs to see this show. The message of this show is so important and I hope more people realize. That they are important and that even if it doesn't feel like there is anyone there for you I promise you there is. I promise that someone will miss you when you're gone and that your life matters. It may not feel like it today or the next day but some day you will look back on your days and thank yourself for living to see what you could become. Living to see that there are people who love you and that there are people out there who will cry with you and make you feel so loved. Because one day you will feel so much joy that you couldn't even believe it was possible to.

This show really puts everything into perspective, for its only being 8 episodes it was still able to move me in a way that I don't think any other show has. From the stacked cast which has so many amazing actors and actresses. To the amazing performances that are produced in the span of a single episode. They did so good I couldn't put the show down for a second. Every scene was packed with information leaving the watcher to find out what happened keeping them attached to the very last moment. And let's not forget about the ending I did expect Choi Yi Jae to get a second chance at life But one thing I didn't expect was his mom to be his last life. The performance in the last episode was amazing I think I literally cried through the entire episode. It felt as though I was there to experience Yi jae mom living life without her son. Especially the last scene where she is just sitting in her wheelchair staring out into the vast field.

This drama really makes me thankful for the people I have near me. Because even though right now it doesn't feel as though I have people who will care if I'm gone. I know that my death won't solve my problems it will only leave the people I left behind in pain and misery. Because now I know that I have people in my life who would cry with me during difficult times


Here are some quotes I liked:

“People are happiest when they can truly be themselves. In the end, life would be meaningless if you can never really be yourself.”

“Isn’t that what you humans do? You care more about the thorn in your own finger than the knife inside someone else’s body.”

“The uneventful days when we walked together hand in hand. Those moments alone were more than enough reason to go on. Why hadn’t I realized it sooner?”

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One of its kind, Unbelievable!

In my part one review I said it was the most unique kdrama but now I believe this is one of the most deepest tv shows to ever exist. I have never seen such emotions displayed with such good acting and story.
This show makes you cry, happy, and most importantly makes you grateful for life. I love every interaction of Death character as her each word is extremely meaningful.
This show reminds so much of rezero anime and it is really refreshing to see such ideas getting life. Even though all of this was fictional don't take any of its moment as a simple TV scene it means lot more.
hats off to complete cast and the director. this is must watch ?

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IMPORTANCE OF LIFE AND SELF VALUE amazing portrayal

Death game is not for the weak, it showed me a very different side of the human species that we do not see portrayed in everyday dramas and movies. It has shown how important our life and memories as well as experiences are equally important and how we take for granted our time with our loved ones and everyone around us.

Storyline:
The story line was much deeper than i had expected starting this show without reading any kind of description beforehand, it shows the true meaning of life and death and how we often live life assuming well wake up the next day, Our struggles do not define us and life will never be lived out in a straight line we have to let time and our own actions heal our struggles and difficulties in order to reach the light. That suicide is not harmful to ourselves in a physical way, it was the family members, loved ones, humans around the deceased that were harmed and battling with loneliness and guilt throughout their lives during the aftermath. THEY are the true victims of the crime. Seeking light may not be easy and there are many lessons to be learned in life but as long as we let our bodies and soul continue on this green earth we have to believe and have hope that we WILL end up ok.

Actors:
The cast truly astonished me with the performance of every character, they understood the brief, the story, theme and timeline were very well shown throughout the drama.

Ending/MY THOUGHTS:
Notice how "Death" Gave Choi Yi Jae a second chance at life after he had realized how wronged and ashamed he was to commit and leave his loved ones and life behind, This shows that even in the FACE and "punishment" of "Death" God shows him light and he then gets to truly understand beautiful life is and how much it means to him after trial and error. It was beautifully played out. After living through different bodies of life and going through their experiences he then realized how he himself as a person needs to live on, living as another being even if that meant his own mother, he was not able to truly live as himself. Just as Ji Soo says earlier says in the series, You are not fully living if your not living as your true self. This really, it also makes me think of how hard we human beings try to be happy we can never truly feel full when pretending were ok, we have to genuinely be ok to feel ok. We will never know what will happen in our lives so we must keep riding along if we want to find out. No matter what obstacles we come across we must stay strong with our bodies, with our loved ones anf take pride and be grateful for the light the lord has shown us so far whether that be in the form of health, in the form of accomplishments or in the form of ability and capabilities of our own bodies the lord has made for us. Seeking darkness and being afraid of failure is tiring and will come to haunt us. Self sabotage WILL sabotage us if we LET OURSELVES BELIEVE IT, IF WE LET OURSELVES LIVE IT.

REWATCH VALUE
the only reason i put this point at a 1 star is only because it is a lot to take in and can be hard to process more than once.

CONCLSUIONS
Don't show yourselves only darkness, try to seek light in the face of darkness,
Allows yourselves to feel
To feel free
To feel stressed
To feel happy
To feel loved
To feel brave
To feel relieved
This is what it means to live.
Be there for yourself and for your loved ones
Learn what life is all about and how you want yours to look like.
Don't get caught up in the act of trying to find reasons why you don't deserve to be happy.
Don't get caught up in seeking A THING, you will simply not find it.

Live life with your own PURPOSE
Don't live life looking for one.


You are enough.
You are ALIVE

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a masterpiece fr, trust me.

not one to write reviews but this drama is too good not to. i had not read the webtoon so i had no idea how this was gonna be but it turned out amazing. like genuinely, the plot, the acting, the pacing, the dialogues, everything is perfect. the whole drama is so well written.

it is tough to create such a heartfelt and touching kdrama which actually alters your brain chemistry in a positive way. i've had depression for a while now and this drama hit home in a lot of scenes. despite how hopeless the ML's situation feels in the beginning, it is truly amazing how they managed to somehow ignite hope by the ending. the irony is that i was fully prepared for a sad ending, kind of proving true a lot of the points made in the drama about the ML and the ending (tho somewhat predictable if you're being hopeful) was like a reminder that even in such situations things can turn around for the better.

some may feel i am giving a lot of importance to what is just a drama but for someone who has felt a lot of what the ML did, this show actually means a lot. kdramas have anyway played a major role in my life as a coping mechanism and this one truly touched my heart and just made me feel happy ngl?

the drama itself is a rollercoaster of emotions like you will be angry, you'll feel sad, you'll cry and whatnot but it is so SO worth it. not much for rewatch value maybe cause the suspense and curiosity for what comes next plays a big role in keeping you hooked so after knowing the whole plot you might not wanna watch it again. BUT DO WATCH IT ONCE!

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Amazing in every way imo

Watching this made me bawl. I dont know if its because I can relate to Yi Jae or what but it made me cry.

This drama really was amazing through and through. Showing how rash decisions can be ones greatest regret. While he was justified in wanting to die to end his pain, he was punished for not thinking about the after affects.

As someone who tried the same, this show really made me think about how devastated my own family wouldve been. My parents sacrificed themselves just like Yi Jaes mom. And while my parents are in no way perfect or as nice as Yi Jaes mom, that wouldnt change the fact that my parents wouldve blamed themselves.

A lot of people see an issue with the fact that he was portrayed as selfish and greedy, but in my opinion he wasnt portrayed that way. He got a bunch of shit thrown his way during his life. And because of that he ended up killing himself. But he also blamed other people for his life. Like the man, whose life he wanted, that killed himself on his interview day. Whom in the end, he became him. He died in public, harming those who witnesses his death. Like the girl he accidentally killed when killing himself (my assumption to those sidewalk, covered bodies scenes). He did the same as the man he blamed in ruining his chance at working at Taekang Group.

Life doesnt end up the way we want. But sometimes its still worth living. At some poing we will all end up with some sort of happiness (given one doesnt intervene, like murderers etc).

The whole show is showing the fact that he ignored and took for granted the positives in his life. His mom, his girlfriend and possibly his friends. And solely focused on his wrongs.

While we have the option to do that, it can lead to us harming others. Whether its drastic choices like this or something else.

In the end he learned something from each life. The most notable, the police officer, whom he lived a similar life to. They both lived in fear and were "cowardly". And his mom, as he realized others persevere through all hardships in search of or because of one single happiness source. Each life made him regret his choice.

The ending was a 50/50 for me. Mostly because if its his second life, then wouldnt everyone who he helped end up not happening. The CEO and artist will continue killing. The police officer wont die a hero. The teenager wont stand up for himself, and stop a bully.

But he gets his chance to love what he does have, for however long he has it. Because at the end of the day, he is human and we make choices we regret.

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