‘Squid Game 2’: A TV Show of Timely Sociopolitical Chaos
South Korea is known for its K-pop artists like BTS and BLACKPINK, as well as K-dramas like the Academy Award-winning Parasite. However, the country is also being discussed for what’s happening in its sociopolitical landscape, and some of that was addressed in the Netflix series Squid Game. The critically and commercially acclaimed series’ season 2 is set to be released on December 26, 2024.
Squid Game 2 Talks About Sociopolitical Chaos
In an interview with The Korea Herald, director Hwang Dong-Yuk said, “From my perspective, people are drawing lines, becoming hostile toward one another, and such conflicts seem to be deepening globally. I hope it provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our society, our surroundings, and the world we live in once again,” which are central themes of the shows.
Capitalism As the True Villain
Dong-yuk also shared with CBS News his pessimism about human nature and how we are controlled by our greed, much like the players in Squid Game. “I think fundamentally what continues to drive this system is human selfishness and greed. These days I’m becoming more pessimistic about human nature. I almost think that, for homo sapiens, it’s greed that allows them to create a society that they feel most comfortable in.”
He also revealed that Squid Game 2 is darker than the first season. “Yeah, it’s getting darker, episode by episode.”
If Squid Game was a grim commentary, hopefully, Squid Game 2 will serve as a wake-up call.
New Characters, New Faces of Desperation
In Squid Game, we’ve met characters who were desperate enough to join a high-stakes game of life or death. There’s Seong Gi-hun, a divorced chauffeur and gambling addict; Cho Sang-woo, who is wanted by the police because of his massive debt from bad investments; Kang Sae-byeok, who needs to rescue her family from North Korea; Jang Deok-su, a gambler who stole money from his gang; and Ali Abdul, an expat cheated out of his wages.
For season 2, the new characters are also desperate for money, each with their own reasons. Lee Myung-gi and Kim Jun-hee, a boyfriend and girlfriend who lost their savings to a crypto scam; Hyun-ju, a transgender woman in need of funds for her gender-affirming surgery; Gyeong-sok, a father who joined to provide for his daughter’s cancer treatment; and Park Yong-sik, a gambler who later discovers that his mother, Jang Geum-ja, also joined the game to pay off his debt.
Golden Globe Nomination
Netflix’s most-watched show hasn’t even premiered but it’s already been nominated in the Best Television Series – Drama category. Competing with it are The Day of the Jackal, The Diplomat, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Shōgun and Slow Horses, per Deadline.
Critics Review
Critics and press members have already seen Squid Game 2 in order for it to be considered for awards. If these early reactions are any indication of how the show is going to be, we can’t wait for December 26 to get here.
Here’s another positive review.
And another…
Suffice it to say, that Netflix has another blockbuster. Squid Game 2 is a timely exploration of what’s happening in the modern world. It shows us how our society deals with greed and capitalism and how when lured by the prospect of acquiring a large amount of money, we are all ready to slit other people’s throats, literally.
