“The Rose of Sharon has bloomed ‘again’.”

Netflix‘s globally anticipated ‘Squid Game Season 2’ (Season 2) finally unveiled its veil on the 26th. Season 2, which was simultaneously released worldwide in the afternoon of the same day, had a huge production cost of over 100 billion won, so it was even more packed with things to see, and captured the attention of viewers with its provocative game setting, represented by ‘Spicy Taste’.

Now, the world’s attention is focused on one thing: whether Season 2 can reproduce the syndrome-level popularity of its predecessor.

○“A masterpiece that delves into human psychology”
Season 2 tells the story of Ki-hoon (Lee Jung-jae), who returns after three years to win the ‘Squid Game’ and challenges the game again.

In order to end the brutal killing game, Ki-hoon seeks revenge on the game‘s organizer, the Frontman (Lee Byung-hun). To do so, he uses the 45.6 billion won prize money he won in Season 1 to find the subway station tag man (Gong Yoo) who can reach the Frontman and engages in a life-threatening ‘real’ game.

Season 2 is a fast-paced action game that doesn’t give you a moment to breathe from the first episode. Starting with ‘The Rose of Sharon Has Blossomed’, five people form a team and play games such as ‘Ttakjichi’, ‘Biseokchichi’, ‘Airplay’, ‘Top-spinner’, ‘Kick the Carp’, and ‘Round and Round’ to vividly portray the fear of death and the people who are crazy about making a fortune overnight.

There is also an ‘OX’ vote to choose whether to continue the game, showing the ‘true face’ that human desire can never be controlled.

Just as the Golden Globes praised it before its release, saying it was a “masterpiece that delves into the human psyche,” it persistently illuminates the dark side of humans where “the person next to me must die for me to live.”

○‘Villain’ TOP ‘Transgender’ Park Sung-hoon draws attention
The character changes also draw attention. Ki-hoon, who was innocent and naive in Season 1, has changed even in his gaze. His bright smile that matched his moderately disheveled hairstyle is nowhere to be found, and he has become dark and sharp as he has survived the line of death.

It is a twist within a twist that the frontman hides his identity and participates as number 001 in order to stop Ki-hoon. While playing the game with Ki-hoon, they build a bond, but when they let their guard down, he reveals his cruelty.

Big Bang‘s TOP (Choi Seung-hyun), who has been controversial since the casting stage, is an unexpected ‘dark horse’.

He plays Thanos, a rapper who came in second place on a survival show, and he bullies and threatens the weak. He is a similar character to Heo Sung-tae, who was criticized by viewers as the ‘villain’ in Season 1.

He seemed like a minor character before the release, but his screen time was considerable. However, his acting skills are considered a ‘spot on a rock’.

Park Sung-hoon, who plays Hyun-joo, a transgender special forces soldier, stands out. He gives a passionate performance as a ‘max-level’ character who is good at everything. He is a member of a sexual minority who is discriminated against in society, but he takes care of those around him and values teamwork, drawing attention.


Reporter Lee Jeong-yeon annjoy@donga.com