Although it solely has one season and a actuality present spin-off underneath its belt, Netflix’s “Squid Recreation” has develop into a world phenomenon that was all the time going to develop into an extended sequence. With solely 4 returning characters in “Squid Recreation” season 2 and the present ending after season 3, it is going to be fascinating to see the place Netflix and sequence creator Hwang Dong-hyuk plan to take issues earlier than the curtain falls … or, at the least, earlier than David Fincher’s upcoming “Squid Recreation” present begins the cycle anew.
The premise of doomed poor souls who compete in deadly video games for the amusement of the super-rich makes for a powerful allegory in season 1, however can the magic carry over to the sophomore season? Will we study something new concerning the Entrance Man (Lee Byung-hun) and the opposite folks behind the sport? Will the brand new contestants be as fascinating because the characters from season 1? How does Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) find yourself taking part in the sport once more? What occurred to his pink hair from the ending of “Squid Recreation” season 1? The questions are countless. As such, it is good to refresh our collective reminiscence about crucial occasions and ideas of the primary season earlier than “Squid Recreation” season 2 premieres on December 26.
The Salesman recruits determined folks for the Squid Recreation
The Salesman (Gong Yoo) may not be the primary “Squid Recreation” character that springs to thoughts, however in his personal smirking approach, he is probably the most essential folks within the present. A well-dressed businessman who recruits Seong Gi-hun and who is aware of what number of others to the sport, he appears to be an knowledgeable at focusing on broke and determined people. His methodology of taking part in the Ddakji envelope-throwing sport with the goal and substituting cash bets for nasty face slaps is an efficient solution to assess suitably downtrodden gamers. It is also an early indicator of the Squid Recreation’s true nature; the participant will get both wanton violence or a monetary profit, and the chances are closely stacked towards the previous.
The character’s core perform is to behave because the gatekeeper between the drab atypical world and the terrible pastel nether realm of the video games. He might be interpreted as a Charon-style ferryman determine or a demonic deceiver archetype who’s out to ship his victims to the flames. Yoo’s merciless, but oddly charming portrayal definitely performs with the latter, though the second episode — the appropriately titled “Hell” — questions whether or not it is truly worse for the gamers to just accept or deny his proposal.
The Salesman is the primary Squid Recreation group member to indicate up on display screen in season 1, continues to be at it through the season finale, and can return for season 2. As such, anticipate the character to proceed his position as the sport’s key recruiter, lurking within the liminal area between utter hopelessness and nearly assured dying. We could or could not study extra about him as an individual, however frankly? We do not really want to. He is obtained loads of depth because it stands.
The Squid Recreation playground is filled with lethal video games
A big a part of the attract of “Squid Recreation” is the video games themselves. The overwhelming majority of season 1 takes place in roomy, elaborately designed indoor places with vibrant, cutesy colours that intentionally conflict with the inevitable blood. Even when the viewer is not acquainted with conventional South Korean playground video games, they’re invariably straightforward to observe, and the lethal twists they conceal by no means fail to pack a punch.
This is a fast recap of the Season 1 video games. Issues kick off with the “Pink Gentle, Inexperienced Gentle” sneaking problem in opposition to an eerie movement-detecting robotic doll, then transfer on to a anxious Dalgona honeycomb-carving sport. Subsequent, the present introduces the concept that collaboration is essential in a high-stakes Tug of Struggle, solely to vary gears by forcing survivors right into a life-or-death marble sport in opposition to an in depth ally. After a hair-raising, contestant-dropping sport of Glass Stepping Stones plunges almost all remaining gamers to their doom, it is lastly time for the titular Squid Recreation, a dying battle constructed across the eponymous attack-and-defense sport.
Although the gamers are successfully handled like cattle, they don’t seem to be truly required to play during and are entitled to a vote on whether or not they need to proceed. Due to this selection, they fairly understandably abandon the sport after the “Pink Gentle, Inexperienced Gentle” bloodbath in episode 2 … however the truth that there are nonetheless seven extra episodes to go is a reasonably good indication of how issues play out for almost all of the quitters. “Squid Recreation” is not shy of displaying simply how determined the gamers are, and relentlessly rubs this data into the viewer’s face as contestants voluntarily return. Presumably, season 2 intends to proceed the grim custom with an up to date set of video games.
Seong Gi-hun’s journey is as essential as the sport itself
“Squid Recreation” is a narrative about hopeless individuals who play a sequence of lethal playground video games for a tiny likelihood of riches and a greater life. This type of story wants an emotional middle to work — and thankfully, it has simply that within the divorced chauffeur Seong Gi-hun, aka Participant 456. Although “Squid Recreation” season 1 options an enormous ensemble forged, it doesn’t try to cover the truth that it is finally the story of Gi-hun. The 9 episodes chronicle his private development from a playing, irresponsible slacker to a surprisingly noble determine — and, finally, a battle-scarred survivor who’s decided to take down the sport group.
Whereas the present usually does job of convincing the viewer that virtually anybody can die, it would not hesitate to position Gi-hun because the central protagonist. “Squid Recreation” provides him a barely unconventional hero’s journey arc by liberally showcasing his quite a few weaknesses and near-falls that he usually survives by sheer luck. However, Gi-hun’s steadily rising optimistic traits and fixed juxtaposition along with his manipulative childhood buddy Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) make it very clear who the viewers is meant to root for.
Because the unlikely and reluctant winner of the 2020 Squid Recreation, Gi-hun is the only surviving participant character from season 1 and appears set to stay entrance and middle in “Squid Recreation” season 2. Because the teaser trailer confirms that he not solely competes within the sport once more however depends closely on his previous experiences, the character’s in depth backstory will probably matter greater than ever.
Squid Recreation Season 1 has a memorable forged that we’ll by no means see once more
Going into “Squid Recreation” season 2, it is essential to do not forget that the present is not simply any outdated game-themed thriller. It actively makes you care concerning the characters it is about to gruesomely kill off.
Season 1 takes its candy time creating lots of the characters. Absolute hate sinks just like the gangster Jang Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae) are uncommon, and even in any other case manipulative characters just like the more and more determined Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryoung) and the back-stabbing Cho Sang-woo have redeeming traits. Despite the fact that the viewer is aware of that the gamers are marching towards their doom, the eye “Squid Recreation” provides to them signifies that essential deaths hit like a brick. The marble sport in Episode 6, “Gganbu,” is probably going the worst offender right here. It is nonetheless exhausting to consider the crestfallen look on Ali Abdul’s (Anupam Tripathi) face when he realizes his supposed buddy Sang-woo has betrayed him, or Kang Sae-byeok’s (HoYeon Jung) desperation when she learns Ji-yeong’s (Lee Yoo-mi) backstory and realizes the tormented younger girl is concerning the throw the sport on objective.
Impressively, “Squid Recreation” season 1 even manages to tug off a twist on the “surprising dying” theme, courtesy of Participant 001. After an emotionally devastating sport of marbles, the aged Oh Il-nam (Oh Yeong-su) permits Gi-hun to win and is seemingly executed. Then, Gi-hun finds out within the season finale that the outdated man not solely survived however truly created the sport again within the day and was merely slumming as a pretend participant for his personal leisure. Suffice it to say, Il-nam’s bedridden dying after a last bitter wager with Gi-hun hits extraordinarily otherwise.
Squid Recreation can also be a narrative of two brothers
Sure, Seong Gi-hun is the central protagonist. Certain, the present focuses closely on the video games, their gamers, and the decadent wealthy of us watching over all of it. Nonetheless, there’s one other essential thread operating all through “Squid Recreation” season 1.
For a very long time, the present’s most clearly heroic determine is not the downtrodden Gi-hun, however the plucky police detective he goes to fulfill after quickly leaving the sport in episode 2. Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) is on the lookout for his long-lost brother who disappeared in the identical circumstances that Gi-hun describes, and decides to infiltrate the Squid Recreation group to seek out out extra. It is via him that we learn how and why the sport is about up, and his stealthy James Bond antics are a welcome respite from the relentless hopelessness of the sport itself. Then, within the penultimate episode, he comes head to head with the sport’s operator, Entrance Man … who reveals himself to be Jun-ho’s brother Hwang In-ho, and shoots the detective, who plummets into the ocean.
This type of abrupt finish would match proper into the exits “Squid Recreation” season 1 usually provides to its characters. Nevertheless, Jun-ho survived the bullet and the autumn and is returning for the sophomore season. What’s extra, Oh Il-nam’s dying on the finish of season 1 signifies that In-ho is now the highest-known authority determine within the sport. “Squid Recreation” clearly is not finished with the Hwang siblings fairly but, and their troublesome dynamic will probably play an essential half in season 2.