Finally after three long awaited years, squid game is back!!

Before I start the review, I would like to admit that I was one of the many people who were conflicted/against there being a season 2. I thought that by continuing the story, the show would lose it's charms. BUT I am here to explain why I was so wrong.

I still remember the echoing of the facepalms and sighings we all collectively did at the end of season one when Gihun decided to not board that damn plane. I thought to myself 'he better have a good explanation for this'.

So did he? Yes, you could say he did.

Many people probably view Gihun's actions as heroism but I see it as insanity. Or could be both. After all, to be a hero you have to be insane, in a way. You could tell that the previous games have deeply impacted Gihun. Nothing appears to phase him anymore. This was the most notable to me during the Russian Roulette game with GongYoo (Whew that game was so intense. Such a great performance from GongYoo, he was SO scary). It is obvious that Gihun has absolutely nothing to lose at this point. He lost his mother, his wife, his daughter and his friends. Because of this, it makes sense that he would return to the game with no problem or fear. It is almost as if he has made the goal of ending the games the new sole purpose for life since he feels like he has lost every other purpose.

The first and second episode were able to reflect this very well. It showed how Gihun was living soullessly waiting for the grand opportunity and how he did not hesitate for a second to take it. However, despite Gihun's very dramatic character development, I loved the subtle moments they included where we are able to see glances of the old Gihun. For example, his 'I'm fucked'.

I see many complaints regarding the intensity of the games. I agree in some sense that they were not as intense as season one however, I do not agree that they are bad. I personally loved the games especially the Merry Go Round; that game was rather intense and it included some of my favourite scenes from the show. I also loved how they made rock, paper, scissors into a horrifying game. Only squid game could pull such thing.

I also loved the new additions to the show which showed us various of humanly relationships such as mother and child, military comrades, reunited friends and ex lovers. Many of which were not in season one. I also loved how the trans character was able to find people who accepted her and cared for her in the one place she probably least expected to.

Additionally, I LOVED LOVED the rebel movement they started at the end. Like did the game makers and guards seriously not foresee such thing? It made me think to myself wow.. how has no one started some rebel movement against those psychopaths while they're still in the game all this time. It was a great plot advancement, in my opinion. Those guards were finally able to get a taste of their own medicine. I also love how it reflects the human nature in which causes them to always fight back against those who try to hurt them. Which has been seen throughout history. That is how oppressive groups and organisations always fall down and I cannot wait to see how it develops and ends in season 3.

Although I really loved this season, that is not to say it was absolutely perfect as there were a few things that I disliked.

I did not really like how the game creators are so knowing of EVERYTHING. It is almost as if nothing is ever able to slip past them. How they were able to find the tracker is beyond me, how they are able to see and track the boats is also beyond me. It almost makes them seem as supernatural beings. But I suppose the reason they are able to know some things is because of rat spies such as the boat dude. But is there really a need for a spy? Not really. I expected just as much. In fact I probably would have been more shocked had there not been a spy.

I also dislike that there is another North Korean addition to the story and how they focused on her backstory. Not sure how this will contribute to the overall plot but I have a feeling probably not much. I would have rather they focused on another character's background story. Her helping the sick girl's dad in the games was long foreseen from the second they interacted which lost some suspense points for me.

Overall a great season that definitely exceeded my expectations. I cannot wait for June!!!!