Netflix Series 'Squid Game' Season 2 Achieves Global Success
Netflix’s series Squid Game has hit number one in the global charts across 93 countries. The ongoing discussions regarding the top acting performances continue to spark debate.
On the 29th, the highly anticipated second season of Squid Game featuring 'Gi-hun' (played by Lee Jung-jae) committing to revenge and rejoining the deadly game for a fierce confrontation with 'The Front Man' (played by Lee Byung-hun) was released. It achieved the number one spot in Netflix's Global TOP 10 for series (including the USA, France, Mexico, the UK, Hong Kong, Turkey, and a total of 93 countries).
The worldwide attention towards Squid Game Season 2 illustrates how the series has transcended simple entertainment to become a significant cultural phenomenon. The narrative explores fundamental human themes such as desire, survival, and morality, which resonate beyond cultures and nationalities while allowing for unique interpretations and understandings in different cultural contexts.
Viewers from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa have praised Squid Game Season 2 for its portrayal of human complexities and social messages, particularly as they relate to its brutal storytelling. French media Le Figaro noted, “Squid Game Season 2 offers more than just thrills. It addresses a variety of social issues such as division and inequality.” Similarly, German media outlet RND DE remarked, “The dark and cruel storytelling coupled with a critical view of capitalism is captivating. It poses questions like ‘How would I act if I were there?’ and ‘Is the world really this bad?’” Spain's LA RAZÓN highlighted that director Hwang Dong-hyuk delves into the psychology of human cruelty towards oneself and others, while Italy's GQITALIA noted that the series magnifies despair and relentless heroism. Lastly, Benelux media Bright described Season 2 as “more shocking and sharply reflecting reality than Season 1,” demonstrating the intense self-reflection the series evokes.
Moreover, UK media Games Radar rated it as one of the “most astonishing shows currently available” for its dark plot and inventive game elements, giving it a full five stars. Polish media GAZETA added, “If Season 1 was extremely brutal and shocking, you’d better buckle up for Season 2, which brings even more bloodshed, action, drama, and heightened suspense. You simply can’t take your eyes off it.” This speaks to the explosive audience reaction towards the genre-defining Squid Game Season 2.
In Latin America, there’s been an influx of praise for characters who add unique charm to the story and evoke emotional resonance. Brazilian media Metrópoles, Argentine media Micropsia, and Chilean media La Cuarta commented on how “the conflicts in Season 2 have expanded while portraying villains in a more humane light” (Metrópoles), displaying “the various stances of the participants and their challenges in facing the strong” (Micropsia), and “deeply depicting the humane aspects and conflicts of each character, generating emotional connection, especially through a new villain’s psychological depth” (La Cuarta), indicating that Season 2 offers a nuanced portrayal of human emotions grappling with capitalism beyond a simple good-versus-evil narrative.
As for the Asia-Pacific audience, particularly in regions like Korea, Squid Game Season 2 resonates deeply with themes of human nature and the struggle of the vulnerable. Taiwanese media Magazine stated, “It critiques human nature and the brutal reality of sacrificing it for high stakes, weaving unbearable pain and sorrow.” Australian media The Nightly emphasized that “people are constantly puppeteered to seek more, hearing the lie that the reason for others’ failures is laziness, weakness, or foolishness. This spirals into repetitiveness, pitting the public against one another without naming the true culprits.” The reviews underscore how the themes of competition and survival resonate universally with the cultural sentiments of the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, audiences from Asia found excitement in discovering traditional games like ‘Gasing,’ similar to spinning tops, and ‘Batu Seremban,’ a stone-throwing game, alongside reactions praising the dramatic storytelling and new character introductions.
North American audiences are enthusiastically responding to the entertaining elements present in Season 2. Particularly, the expanded and deeper storyline of Season 2 helps heighten the allure that the universally relatable themes of survival showcased in Season 1 initially created. “It’s darker, expanded, and utterly immersive,” commented American media Variety, while The Verge called it “a brutal remix of the world of Netflix's all-time most popular series, Squid Game.” VOGUE added that Season 2 introduces new perspectives to the existing survival game, enhancing depth and richness to the narrative. This demonstrates the global viewership’s intense fascination with the return of the intensified and dynamic storyline of Squid Game Season 2. Moreover, Forbes analyzed that “the popularity of Squid Game Season 2 may rival that of Season 1,” drawing attention to the hype surrounding the new season.
Squid Game Season 3 is set to be released in 2025.