Is Squid Game Season 2 Better Than Season 1?

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Squid Game season 2.Now that all episodes of Squid Game season 2 have been released, it is already being compared to season 1. After debuting on Netflix in 2021, Squid Game was a massive streaming hit and quickly became one of Netflix's best shows. It broke numerous streaming records, received critical acclaim, and led to viral trends. As a popular culture phenomenon, and Squid Game season 1's ending leaving the story poised to continue, the series was naturally renewed for more seasons.

Seasons 2 and 3 were conceived as one story that would serve as a continuation and an ending for the hit series. With so many characters killed off in season 1, Squid Game season 2 needed new characters to add to the stories of Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), and Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon). While there are inevitable similarities between seasons 1 and 2, there are also significant differences that determine which season is better.

Squid Game Season 2 Has A Different Structure From Season 1

Season 2 Is Intentionally An Incomplete Story

Squid Game season 1 was written as a single-season story that has a clear beginning, middle, and end. While there is a cliffhanger about what Gi-hun will do after vowing to take down the Front Man and the games, there is a resolution to his story and his arc. Season 2, on the other hand, is only half of the story that will not be resolved until Squid Game season 3. The current games have not yet concluded and the fate of Gi-hun and many other players remains unresolved.

As such, Squid Game season 1 inevitably feels like a more complete story, while Squid Game season 2's ending feels somewhat abrupt. Season 2's story will feel incomplete until season 3 is released. Season 1 also has the benefit of nine episodes, while season 2 only has seven. Due to the significant structural differences, the quality of season 2 will be more fairly assessed once all season 3 episodes are released, and the full post-season 1 story is revealed.

Squid Game Season 2 Focuses On Season 1’s Returning Characters

Gi-hun, The Salesman, And The Front Man All Receive More Focus

One benefit of so many characters dying in season 1 is that Squid Game season 2's returning characters receive a significant amount of focus. Beyond Gi-hun, this allows the Salesman (Gong Yoo) to be fleshed out with his full backstory and motivations in episode 1. The Front Man becomes the primary antagonist instead of Oh Il-nam (O Yeong-su) and receives significantly more screen time, as does the Front Man's brother, Jun-ho, who teams up with Gi-hun to find and take down the games.

Even a minor season 1 character like Gi-hun's friend, Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), becomes a major figure in season 2 when he is revealed to be competing in the latest games alongside Gi-hun. Instead of a cast of all new characters as in season 1, season 2 has the benefit of exploring established characters alongside new faces. This specific element does not make season 2 better or worse, but simply gives it a different feel from season 1.

Squid Game Season 2 Has Fewer Games Than The First Season

Season 2 Ends With Only Three Games Being Played

With only three games in Squid Game season 2, it has fewer games than season 1. This is due to the different narrative approach, as the deadly competition remains unfinished when season 2 ends, and a potential winner has yet to be crowned. Season 1 featured all six games, beginning with Red Light, Green Light, and ended with the titular squid game. During this process, 455 players died and Gi-hun emerged as the sole surviving winner of the 4.56 billion won prize.

Squid Game season 2 only gets to Red Light, Green Light, a six-legged pentathlon, and Mingle before the season ends with Gi-hun's ill-fated rebellion. Red Light, Green Light is the only game that is repeated from season 1, while the six-legged pentathlon and Mingle are new. Squid Game season 2's mid-credits scene teases that the games will continue after the failed rebellion, and that one of the upcoming games in season 3 will feature a giant male doll reminiscent of the female one in Red Light, Green Light.

Squid Game Season 2 Is More Action-Packed Than Season 1

The Finale Feels Like An Action Movie

Despite having fewer games, Squid Game season 2 is ultimately more action-packed. This is largely due to the brutal bathroom brawl and because of the rebellion against the guards. The season 2 finale is particularly focused on action, with much of the episode featuring gunfire as Gi-hun and other Squid Game players arm themselves and kill numerous guards, while the guards fire back and kill many of them in response. It feels more like an action movie than a standard episode of Squid Game.

Earlier in season 2 and throughout season 1, most of Squid Game's action is contained in the actual games, where players are killed for breaking the rules or simply losing the competition. Season 2 also adds in more action with the mercenaries that are hired to help find the island where the games are held. Gi-hun and Jun-ho know that they need a small army and significant firepower to take on the games' forces. With Jun-ho and the mercenaries still searching for the island, season 3 is poised to finally have the action-heavy showdown between the mercenaries and the guards.

Squid Game Season 2 Is Great, But Season 1 Is Better

Season 1 Set A High Bar

Between introducing compelling new characters, further fleshing out the established characters, and expanding the critique of capitalism with increasingly twisted spectacle, Squid Game season 2 has plenty to offer. However, the new season is ultimately unable to live up to the heights of season 1. When it debuted in 2021, season 1 felt refreshing and shocking in a way that inevitably could never be recaptured in season 1. The twists in season 2 are far easier to see coming, and the biggest twist, with the Front Man being player 001, feels like a weaker version of season 1's Il-nam's twist.

The structural differences also benefit season 1, as there is a sense of satisfaction in Squid Game season 1's ending that is currently missing from season 2. Once the series ends with season 3, season 2 may feel more satisfying as a part of the whole story, but as of now, the sophomore season is unable to fully stand on its own merits. Considering the impossibly high expectations, Squid Game season 2 is still a solid season of television, but it cannot compare to season 1.