I found this disappointing.

Too many of the plot threads didn't go anywhere - in particular the story of cop Hwang Jun-ho and his boat full of mercenaries.

I didn't understand the motivations of player 001, and it didn't seem there was any attempt to develop his character further.

It felt like mostly a replay of season one - the same show done over again, with little attempt to say anything new or subvert the original formula.

I did enjoy some of the other glimpses of life outside the games - behind the scenes at the amusement park in particular.
posted by simonw at 3:27 PM on December 29

Recap from The Ringer. Spoilers in that recap and in this comment.

I think part of the issue with the couple plot lines that don't go anywhere is that this is basically part 1 of season 2, "season 3" is being filmed back-to-back with it and should come out next year and that'll be it.

I thought player 001 (AKA Front Man) served to point out when Gi-Hun's methods are getting close to those of the game creators - like when they're planning their revolution but recognize that a lot of people on their team are going to have to die before they can act and he asks "so you're saying it's necessary to sacrifice some people for the greater good?" There are a lot of pointed looks towards Gi-Hun when he's planning things with his comrades throughout the season.

As noted by the Ringer, the whole show is an indictment of capitalism, but season 2 turns it back on the participants a bit, especially with the vote to continue after each game. Even after seeing hundreds of fellow players killed, a large portion of the group gleefully votes to continue just to get the extra bit of money that a few more (just a few!) deaths would bring.
posted by LionIndex at 6:36 PM on December 29

I found this quote from Time sort of grimly funny:

“I had no intention of doing a second season,” creator Hwang recently told Variety. But in another bitter irony, he'd previously explained that he'd only signed on to continue the series because he felt he'd been inadequately compensated for the debut season.“I’m so sick of Squid Game,” Hwang complained in the same Variety.

The idea that the creator feels trapped by his anti-capitalist parable, doing something he doesn’t want to do to succeed, theoretically able to walk away but feeling practically unable to as the possibility of reward is tempting is - well, it’s certainly a thing. Honestly I would sort of hope the 2nd/3rd seasons are at least partially inspired by that.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 10:47 PM on December 29 [7 favorites]

Wow that's so on the nose. The amount of money both Netflix and Mr Beast have made out of their reality recreations of games from Squid Game fits that too.
posted by simonw at 4:10 AM on December 30 [2 favorites]

In the game where they were tied together and hobbling around the track, I think it was the Front Man who remarked that people seemed to have an easier time walking backward, much like how player 456 turned his back on the doll in Red Light / Green Light game. Judging by the quick glimpse of it at the end, a second doll could be part of the next Red Light / Green Light game. Maybe that one would be positioned directly opposite the first, making it impossible to turn your back on the motion sensors.

The purple-haired rapper and the witchy woman were given way too much screen time.
posted by emelenjr at 11:02 AM on December 30

Watched this out of a sense of "well I don't want to be left out of the conversation" rather than "I am excited to see what happens next". I appreciated that 120 used the bathroom that matched their chosen gender and nobody gave a shit.
posted by Molesome at 5:31 AM on January 3

The purple haired rap dude - when he throws in english words/phrases, is it assumed that everyone he is talking to knows what he is saying? Or is he being a dick (in addition to all the other dick things he does)
posted by lizjohn at 3:13 PM on January 4

I looooved Thanos. He was completely ridiculous and his facial expressions were hilarious. Very disappointed to see him go.

Disappointed in the ending in general, as well. It didn't go anywhere and left too many things unanswered, but that quote from Hwang in Variety definitely explains it. I hope season 3 wraps things up a little better.
posted by It Was Capitalism All Along at 9:34 AM on January 6

I'm loving this new series. It took a while for the setup, but once we were there the critique of Capitalism deepened, with the lessons that there is power in a union, diversity is strength, Capitalism's handmaidens are no less its victims, etc. The failings of populist politics become obvious, as does the violence inherent in Capitalism.

On its face, this is a silly, violent series, but there is so much depth here once one starts looking. The social critiques are one thing, but the micro-politics of personal relationships really bring this all to life.

We're not done yet, but my expectations are high.
posted by Capt. Renault at 3:10 PM on January 6