Netflix’s “Squid Game” season 2 premiered on December 26. Unlike season 1, which aired with nine episodes, season 2 consists of seven episodes. With fans having eagerly awaited more than 3 years, the second season had a lot of hype built up around it. Red Light! Green Light! Hurry and check out my recap for “Squid Game” Season 2!
WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!!
- Gi-hun and Jun-ho team up
- Gi-hun returns to the games and discovers his best friend, Jung-bae
- Front Man plays undercover as “Player 001”
- Three games; Red Light, Green Light, The Six-Legged Pentathlon, and Mingle
- Gi-hun’s Rebellion leads to a shocking cliffhanger
Netflix gifted fans of Squid Game a highly-anticipated season 2 this holiday season after waiting over three years since the release of season one back in 2020. If you’re like me, you binged the entirety of the season in one night unable to take your eyes off the screen.
The creator, director writer, and executive producer of Squid Game, Hwang, Dong-hyuk, stated that he originally wrote seasons 2 and season 3 to be one long story arc, but after finishing the writing, it came out to be over 10 episodes. Believing there was too many episodes to fit into season 2, he decided instead on closing season 2 after an adequate moment in Seong Gi-hun’s arc and starting season 3 after the events of season 2.
The events of Squid Game season 1 left Gi-hun the ultimate winner. He was on his way to fly to the United States to be with his daughter but decided against last minute. Gi-hun hardens his resolve and hatches a plan to end the Squid Game once and for all.
A three year in-universe time skip happens, during which Gi-hun hires men to help search for the “Salesman” in an attempt to locate the Front Man and put an end to the brutal games. Meanwhile, we learn that Jun-ho survived being shot after being rescued by a fisherman, and with his help has been searching for the island that hosts the Squid Game.
Here’s the episode list of Squid Game Season 2:
- Bread and Lottery
- Halloween Party
- 001
- Six Legs
- One More Game
- O X
- Friend or Foe
Gi-hun’s Partnership with Jun-ho
Jun-ho was the detective who had infiltrated the Squid Game during season one in hopes of finding his missing brother. While he was sneaking around, Jun-ho uncovered that his brother, Hwang In-ho, had once been a player in an older Squid Game, but his current whereabouts were still unknown.
The ending twist of Squid Game season one revealed to both the audience and a suprised Jun-ho that the Front Man was actually his brother all along. In-ho, the Front Man, proceeds to shoot Jun-ho and he falls into the water below.
In season 2 it’s revealed that Jun-ho survived being shot and falling into the water. Unfornately, the water rendered the evidence he gathered on his phone useless, but that doesn’t stop Jun-ho from proceeding to search for the Squid Game island with the help of a fisherman. This fisherman is the same one who had originally rescued Jun-ho after being shot and falling into the water during season one. Although, it’ll later be revealed that the fisherman is acting suspicious, perhaps working for the Front Man.
As luck would have it, Jun-ho learns that Gi-hun is alive and connected with the Squid Game. The two of them would partner up and hatch a plan to put an end to the Squid Game once and for all.
The original plan, was for Gi-hun to locate the “Salesman” and get a Squid Game invitation card. From here he would get into the car (that’s meant to knock out and transport participants to the Squid Game) and hope to somehow encounter the Front Man and demand that he puts an end to the Squid Game.
However, the Front Man becomes aware that Jun-ho and a crew of men are following the car with Gi-hun. They shoot the tires of the vans, stopping Jun-ho and his men from following Gi-hun. Knowing there’s no other option, Gi-hun demands to join the Squid Game competition for this year.
Agreeing to his demand, the car begins to fill with knock out gas. Gi-hun initaties Plan B: he enters the games and puts a stop to them from within as Player 456.
In the meantime, Jun-ho and his men try locating the Squid Game island.
Who is Player 001?
It seems that Squid Game likes to throw a twist with the Player 001’s role. In this season the Front Man takes on the role under the guise of Oh Young-il. It doesn’t take long for Player 001, Young-il (the Front Man), to befriend and gain the trust of our protagonist Player 456, Gi-hun.
The Front Man, also known as Hwang In-ho, made his appearance as Player 001 during episode 3. The Front Man is the overseer of the Squid Game and the leader among the Masked Men. He was the winner of the 28th Squid Game, participating as Player 132.
During the voting process, to decide whether the remaining players will stay to play more games or leave and go home, the vote comes down to a tie with one vote to decide it all. The last person to vote is revealed to be Player 001, the Front Man. It’s no shocker that he votes to stay, subjugating everyone to continue playing the games.
Watching Gi-hun lead and guide the players during the Red Light, Green Light game, the Front Man had to stop him from sabotaging the games any farther. This is likely why he poses as Player 001, Oh Young-il, and befriends Gi-hun. All in an attempt to sabtoge Gi-hun from stopping the Squid Game.
Throughout season 2, Player 001 befriends Gi-hun, and gains his trust, despite it all being pretend. Gi-hun trusts Player 001 so much that he depends on him during the Rebellion and gives him extra ammunition. Unknowingly to Gi-hun, Player 001 is the Front Man and the reason why the Rebellion failed.
Player 001 shoots three of the rebellion members in the back and then radios to the Masked Men, telling them to put an end to the Rebellion. He then rids himself of his Player 001 persona and dons his black “Front Man” mask once again. Confronting Gi-hun and Jung-bae, the Front Man tells Gi-hun:
Player 456. Did you have fun playing the hero? Look closely at the consquences of your little hero game.
Front Man to Gi-hun
The Front Man proceeds to shoot Jung-bae, killing him right in front of Gi-hun. Season 2 ends on this heartbreaking note; Gi-hun’s rebellion failed and he witnessed his best friend be killed before his eyes.
Three Games
Game One: Red Light, Green Light
Squid Game season 2 started off the series of 6 games with a returning favorite:
Red Light, Green Light.
Young-hee is the name of the large motion-sensing animatronic doll that first appeared in season one of Squid Game and caused a bloody, chaotic mess. She plays the game, “Red Light, Green Light” with all players of Squid Game.
When “Green Light” is called out, she turns around facing the players, scanning for motion with her eyes; therefore alerting the Masks who to shoot as a result of them moving and breaking the rules of the game. When “Red Light” is called, she turns around, allowing players to run across the field towards the finish line.
The same rules are applied in season two’s third episode; however, the players have Gi-hun’s guidance to help finish the game.
Game Two: Six-Legged Pentathlon
Believing they were playing Dalgona for their second game, the players (and viewers) were surprised when they learned the next game would consist of five mini games conducted in a six-legged pentathlon.
The Six-Legged Pentathlon consists of 5 minigames:
- Ddakji
- Flying Stone
- Gong-gi
- Spinning Top
- Jegi
Players were given 10 minutes to divide amongst themselves into groups consisting of five members. As a team, they would all have to run a six-legged race with each member of the team competing in a minigame.
In order to beat the entire pentathlon, each member must successfully complete their minigame and the entire team must cross the finish line within a timespan of five minutes or be shot on sight for failing the pentathlon.
That’s a tall order for Squid Games. Although some teams struggle to finish in time and as a result are eliminated, other teams find success and live through the brutal pentathlon.
Game Three: “Mingle”
Another brand new game appears in season 2 during episode 5, called Mingle. In this game, all players step onto a circular platform, with a carousel at it’s center and colorful doors surrounding it’s perimeter.
The game begins, and the platform begins to spin, shortly after a number is called out. Players then must form a group that matches the called out number and enter one of the surrounding rooms within 30 seconds or risk being eliminated.
This game is utter chaos, with people running around in a fret of panic quickly trying to form groups and find an empty room before time runs out.
Special Game
Just like last season, a “special game” was played among players attacking one another during the night while flashing lights lit up the sleeping area. In this season, Gi-hun and his allies hide and don’t get involved as the assault takes place.
Squid Game Season 3 News
With season 2 finished, fans (me including) are already eagerly awaiting season 3 to air. Thankfully for us we won’t have to wait three years in-between seasons again. Series creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, revealed that seasons 2 and 3 were filmed simultaneously (due to them originally being combined into one full season) and revealed that we can expect season 3 to air sometime in summer or fall of 2025.
It’s been confirmed by Netflix that season 3 of Squid Game will be released in 2025, although the exact date has yet to be officially announced.
On season 2’s last episode there was a mid-credits scene showing two giant mechanical dolls and a mysterious railroad crossing light that blinks red and green. The first doll is Young-hee from the Red Light, Green Light game and the second doll is Chul-su who hasn’t appeared before. There is speculation this could be a deadlier version of the Red Light, Green Light game, or this could be a whole brand new game entirely.
Game creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed to Entertainment Weekly a hint regarding the mid-credit scene:
That’s actually a [sneak peek] of Cheol-su, who, like Young-hee, is a new giant doll that we’re going to be showcasing in season 3. And that’s also a hint at the most exciting game in season 3 as well. So, while it hasn’t been shared yet, I hope everyone will be excited to meet Cheol-su and the new game.
-Hwang Dong-hyuk to Entertainment Weekly
In season 3 we’ll see how Gi-hun carries himself following the failed rebellion and the death of his best friend, Jung-bae, at the hands of Front Man (who acted as Player 001 unbeknownst to Gi-hun).
Season 2 ended on such a shocking cliffhanger! Gi-hun’s rebellion ended in complete failure leading to the deaths of many players including Jung-bae who is shot by the Front Man. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds in season 3, which is confirmed to be the show’s last season.
What will Gi-hun do now that his rebellion has failed and Jung-bae is dead? Will he continue rebelling against the Front Man or will he comply and play the games?
Season 3, Squid Game’s last season, will reveal the answers to these questions.
Closing Thoughts…
With Squid Game Season 2 leaving fans with a shocking cliffhanger, we’re all left eagerly awaiting season 3 to release in 2025! I’m both excited and terrified to see how Gi-hun’s story concludes as well as the fates of the remaining players, not to mention Jun-ho and his crew. The mid-credit scene involving Young-hee and Chul-su hints at season 3’s most deadliest game and gives me high anticipation!
For now all we can do is eagerly wait!
Squid Game season 3 releases in 2025.
Thanks as always for reading my blog,
Jessica Mohan
Works Cited
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/squid-game-season-2-ending-explained
https://squid-game.fandom.com/wiki/Young-hee
https://screenrant.com/squid-game-season-3-story-theories-what-happens-list/
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a63284413/squid-game-season-2-games/
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