1st episode of ‘Squid Game’ season 2: Nice? – Mothership.SG

The wait is finally over.

“Squid Game,” the hit Korean dystopian survival series, is back with its highly anticipated second season, three years after the first season aired.

Directed by Hwang Dong Hyuk, the series continues to follow contestants trapped in a deadly competition where they must play children’s games with potentially deadly consequences, all for the chance to win a huge cash prize.

The first season introduced iconic games like Red Light, Green Light, and Tug of War, leading to the tragic deaths of fan-favorite characters like Sae Byeok (Jung Ho Yeon) and Ali (Anupam Tripathi).

In a shocking twist, the season finale revealed that Cho Sang Woo (Park Hae Soo), Gi Hun’s childhood friend, is complicit in the game’s violence, alongside player 001, Oh Il Nam ( Oh Young Su), the rich mastermind behind the “Squid Game”.

Here are some highlights with spoilers from the first episode of season two:

Returning characters

The second season of “Squid Game” takes place two years after the events of the first season, bringing back key characters, such as Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae), Jun Ho (Wi Ha Jun), the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun). and the recruiter (Gong Yoo).

Having won the previous Squid Game, Gi Hun is deeply traumatized by his experience.

Instead of finding his daughter in the United States, he decides to enter the game, driven by the determination to put an end to this deadly competition once and for all.

Meanwhile, Jun Ho, last seen falling off a cliff at the end of the first season, survived and recovered in a hospital.

Now working as a traffic cop, he remains determined to find his missing brother, the Front Man, and discover the truth behind the game and its origins.

Gi Hun and Jun Ho have spent the last two years tracking down the recruiter and searching for Squid Game’s hidden island, which remains a mystery.

New additions to the cast

New faces have joined the season two cast, including:

Kang Ha Neul

Known for his roles in “When the Camellia Blooms” and “Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure,” Kang plays a key role in this season, although his character’s exact involvement in the deadly competition remains under wraps.

I am Si Wan

Formerly a member of the K-pop group ZE:A, Im rose to prominence performing through projects like “Stranger” and “The King Loves.”

In the second season of “Squid Game”, he makes a brief appearance in the first episode, where his character receives an invitation to join the game.

Jo Yu Ri

Former member of K-pop group IZ*ONE, Jo takes on the role of an enigmatic character with a secret in the second season of “Squid Game.”

In the first episode, viewers will get a glimpse of Jo’s character receiving an invitation to join the Squid Game.

A surprising twist occurs when her character is revealed to be pregnant, adding an unexpected layer to the story.

TOP (Choi Seung Hyun)

TOP, a former member of the iconic K-pop group Big Bang, known for hits like “Bang Bang Bang,” is also recognized for his acting roles in “Tazza: The High Rollers and Commitment.”

His role in the second season of “Squid Game” remains a mystery in the first episode.

Park Sung Hoon

A rising star in Korean dramas, Park has appeared in series like “The Glory” and “Psychopath Diary.”

The fate of the recruiter

In the first episode, the recruiter (Gong Yoo) continues to lure new players with promises of wealth.

When he discovers that Gi Hun has sent people to follow him, the recruiter captures them and forces them to engage in a twisted game of rock-paper-scissors, which results in the death of one participant.

Later, Gi Hun finally confronts the recruiter and plays a deadly gun game with the odds of survival being one in six.

In the end, Gi Hun wins the game and the recruiter dies.

Before his death, the recruiter reveals his dark past of having worked within the Squid Game organization, disposing of the bodies of dead candidates.

It was during this time that he was first given a gun, an experience that made him feel recognized.

The recruiter remembers shooting a man who had lost a game, only to discover that the man was his father.

This moment reinforced his belief that he was “made for the job.”

At the end of the first episode, we wonder: with the recruiter gone, who will take responsibility for attracting new players to this deadly game?

What’s next?

The second season of “Squid Game” continues to explore the brutal, high-stakes world of deadly competition.

The series has already attracted critical attention, with a nomination for Best Drama Series at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards.

The third season, which will be the final season, is expected to premiere in 2025, bringing the story to a close.

All seven episodes of season two are now available to stream on Netflix.

Should you watch it?

If you’ve waited this long for it, you might as well watch it, even if you end up not liking it or expecting more.

Best images via Netflix.