Squid Game Season 2 Didn’t Top The Show’s Best Episode, But It Came Close

Squid Game season 2 is finally streaming on Netflix, and the new episodes are nearly as thrilling, emotional, and thought-provoking as those in the first outing. That said, Squid Game season 2 fails to top the show’s best episode, which was a standout even during Squid Game‘s popular first season. It’s inevitable that season 2 doesn’t boast the same shock value as the first batch of episodes, as both the viewers and the main character know what to expect upon Seong Gi-hun’s return to the Games.

Squid Game season 2 is also just seven episodes, and it ends on a cliffhanger that makes this outing feel less complete than its predecessor. That said, Squid Game season 2’s best episodes nearly match the quality of their season 1 counterparts. Even with Gi-hun playing the Games again, the Netflix show finds a way to make his second tournament feel fresh and interesting. There’s only one episode the new season doesn’t manage to surpass, though it will have the chance to top it in its third and final outing.

Squid Game Season 2 Was Great, But It Didn’t Top Season 1’s Best Episode

“Gganbu” Remains The Show’s Strongest Installment

Squid Game season 2 has a lot going for it, even if it gets off to a slower start. The first two installments aren’t set during the titular competition, but they offer a level of character work and commentary that makes up for this fact. And once Gi-hun rejoins the Games, things get intense very quickly. Squid Game season 2 actually manages to top the first outing’s Red Light Green Light challenge, and its later games prove just as anxiety-inducing as those from Gi-hun’s first tournament. But sadly, even the later installments never reach the heights of season 1’s “Gganbu.”

Related

10 Ways Squid Game Season 2 Mirrors Season 1

Although Squid Game season 2 introduces many new story and character beats, it is hard not to notice how it mirrors season 1 in more ways than one.

“Gganbu” is the sixth episode of Squid Game season 1, which sees the characters playing Marbles. The twist is that whoever loses will be killed — a revelation worsened by many of the players pairing up with allies or friends for this challenge. Several prominent players perish during this installment, including Ali Abdul and Ji-yeong. This is also the episode that sees Oh Il-nam faking his own death, a development that leaves Gi-hun reeling. It’s easily the most emotional chapter of Squid Game, and it’s the highest-rated on IMDb. Season 2 doesn’t beat it, though it comes close.

Why Season 2 Of The Netflix Series Couldn’t Beat “Gganbu”

None Of The Games Were As Emotional & Many Important Players Lived

The emotional weight of “Gganbu” is what makes it Squid Game‘s best episode, and this is why season 2 couldn’t match it. While the sophomore season has a couple of powerful moments, only one comes close to matching the devastation of this episode. In general, many of the important players in Squid Game season 2 survive through the finale. The saddest death to take place during the Games is Young-mi’s, and the fast-paced nature of Mingle doesn’t leave enough time to dwell on it.

Related

Squid Game Season 2 Surpassed Season 1 In One Area I Didn’t Think Was Possible

Squid Game season 2 proved a worthy addition to the Netflix show, and it surpassed season 1 in one significant area that bodes well for season 3.

The majority of other major deaths occur during Squid Game season 2’s ending, and they’re the result of incidents outside the competition. While Thanos is an entertaining character, he’s very much a villain. His death during season 2’s bathroom brawl fails to hit viewers in the same way that Ali Abdul’s, Ji-yeong’s, or Oh Il-nam’s deaths do in “Gganbu.” The only tragedy that comes close to those featured in “Gganbu” is Jung-bae’s death during the finale, and that’s lacking the shock factor, as it’s obvious that Gi-hun’s rebellion is going poorly.

Of course, Lee Jung-jae gives an equally heartbreaking performance in both episodes, allowing Squid Game‘s season 2 finale to come close to matching season 1’s best episode. However, the circumstances of Oh Il-nam’s supposed death are a bit more tragic, and the quieter nature of the episode leaves more time to digest it. By contrast, Jung-bae’s fate is quickly followed by the credits rolling. Fortunately, that leaves plenty of room to top the emotions of “Gganbu” in Squid Game season 3.

Squid Game Season 3 Has The Chance To Deliver A More Powerful Episode Than “Gganbu”

The Final Season Warrants An Even Stronger Installment

Squid Game season 2 may have failed to deliver an episode as strong as “Gganbu,” but the Netflix show’s third and final outing can rectify this. With Squid Game season 3 being the series’ last hurrah, it kind of needs to. Whether Squid Game concludes on a hopeful note or delivers an ending as bleak as the show’s deadly competition, it needs to go out with a bang. This means ramping up the stakes and heightening the emotions as it approaches its conclusion. With so many great characters still in the Games, this should be easy to accomplish.

Your changes have been saved

My List

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

In Squid Game, a mysterious invitation to join a competition is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games to win 45.6 billion won. Games are selected from traditional Korean children’s games, such as Red Light and Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. To survive, competitors must choose their alliances carefully – but the further they go in the competition, the more likely betrayal will rear its ugly head.

Release Date

September 17, 2021

Cast

Wi Ha-joon
, Anupam Tripathi
, Oh Yeong-su
, Heo Sung-tae
, Park Hae-soo
, Jung Ho-yeon
, Lee Jung-jae
, Kim Joo-ryoung

Seasons

2

Writers

Hwang Dong-hyuk

Directors

Hwang Dong-hyuk

Showrunner

Hwang Dong-hyuk

Expand