squid game Season 2 doesn’t waste any time getting into the fun and games of the story. Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Netflix series continues to comment on capitalism while upping the ante for Sung Ki-hoon (Lee Jung-jae) as he goes on a rampage of revenge.
Ki-hoon barely survived last season and returns to the game with the help of police officer Hwang Joon-ho (Wei Ha-joon). This time, Ki-hoon is playing his own game, trying to lead a revolution that will end these violent games or make him the new frontman.
But how does Huang maintain the momentum from season one in season two? Let’s get started!
Expand the world squid game
squid game Known for its sweet in-game color scheme, which juxtaposes the violence that actually occurs with the brutality of the real world beyond its walls.
The season’s narrative spans three locations: the real world, the game room, and the Pink Guard’s dormitory.
real world
Two years after winning the competition, Ki-hoon holed up in a motel he purchased and turned it into a large compound for his ongoing business. The outside world is squid game Very different from the bright colors in the game. It’s grounded, but the looming darkness or artificial light overhead makes reality feel oppressive and inevitable.
Even in the real world, Ki-hoon can’t escape the trauma caused by the game. From the pink doors to the couches where recruiters sit, the color scheme of the game still bothers Gi-hun.
But games aren’t the motel’s only feature. Production designer Chae Kyoung-sun told IndieWire that the bathroom window was carved with palm trees to express his longing for his family in Los Angeles and his life away from home. In another room, bullet marks and hand-drawn targets highlight his determination, while dead plants, dust and outdated calendars reveal his obsession.
Even as Ki-hoon returns to the game, Joon-ho tries to rediscover the island, reminding viewers what awaits the game’s survivors. The cold rain and limited space create a feeling of isolation and tension as the crew gets closer to finding the truth they seek.
“Squid Game” (2021–)
squid game
When Ki-hoon returns to the Squidward game, the stakes feel higher, and the world reflects that. The colors were brighter, but there were subtle differences in the design of the room that made Ki-hoon lose confidence.
The creators slightly changed the red and green light rooms, added new ones to the sleeping area, and introduced new ones. Kihun isn’t an expert on the game, but has a slight edge over the rest of the competition because of the expectations.
Kihun isn’t the only one troubled in these spaces. All players embrace the nostalgic expectations that make the game feel safe. It’s only when red blood begins to stain these areas that the player begins to feel uneasy about their surroundings.
“Squid Game” (2021–)
Pink Guards Dormitory
Expanding the world in the series isn’t about showing us more of the real world, it’s about seeing how the game operates.
Whether we’re in an orange room, where everything feels depressing and negative, or a purple control room, which represents the frontman’s (Lee Byung-hun) ultimate power over the game, the color theory behind Quarter Zones affects how the game is played. Emotional beats.
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“Squid Game” (2021–)
New player 001
When Player 001 was revealed to be the creator of the first season of Squidward Game, everyone felt Ki-hoon’s shock and betrayal towards his friend who he thought was dead in the game. Receiving this shock, Hwang knew that whoever put on the Player 001 tracksuit would once again become Ki-hoon’s foil.
It’s fitting that this season’s player 001 is forward, also known as Hwang In-ho, Jun-ho’s missing brother and the overseer of the game.
Of course, this decision seems like the obvious choice, but Huang seemed to understand it when he wrote this season. Viewers now know that In-ho is in on the game and watch as the humble Ki-hoon attempts to break the game and save everyone’s lives. In-ho continues to put the team in danger during the pentathlon competition or hesitate during the voting process, which creates tension and suspense.
Creating a foil, or antagonist, to your protagonist creates a strong motivation for them. In an interview with IndieWire, Hwang revealed that In-ho was motivated by jealousy of Ki-hu.
“Seeing Ki-hoon, he still believes in the goodness of people and is still in the light – at the same time, [In-ho] Want to win the battle with him because Ki Hoon still cherishes something deep inside him [Front Man] Having completely lost, I have a feeling he will develop a feeling of jealousy.
While we root for Ki-hoon to succeed in the revolution, In-ho is a three-dimensional foil teetering between good and evil. Will being reunited with his brother and Ki-hoon’s influence help In-ho change, or will he continue to protect the games that continue to trap him?
Why is this unclear? Similar to the first season, squid game Season 2 ends on a cliffhanger that will have you shouting, “That’s it!?”
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“Squid Game” (2021–)
how squid game landing ending
Cliffhangers tend to feel cliche, but squid game Try to create products that work. This type of storytelling is common at the end of each episode of most streaming series, creating a sense of urgency and anticipation for the audience.
squid game Use suspense not only to keep the audience hooked, but also to subvert expectations. It feels inevitable to watch the next episode to see how the previously introduced game unfolds, or to see how Ki-hoon’s plan will succeed or fail. Perhaps that’s why the show racked up a staggering 68 million views in its first four days of release.
Originally written to serve as a midpoint between the extended narrative of seasons two and three, the confrontation between the lead singer and Ki-hoon and the discovery of a mole in Joon-ho’s rescue team put our heroes in a dangerous situation. Ki-hoon is captured and taken off-screen, and then… the credits roll. The audience is satisfied with the conclusion but deeply frustrated by the unresolved tension.
That’s not a bad thing, especially if you plan on writing a trilogy or three-season series.
Some of the most memorable TV series seasons have used this type of ending. Think of the Night King and his army blowing through the Wall game of Thrones season 7 or kids stranger things Reunited to face the nightmare of the Upside Down. These gripping stories foreshadow greater adventures in the chapters to come.
but squid game Go one step further and tease the audience with a glimpse into the future. The appearance of two new red and green light figures hints that the game will continue even if Kihun is absent. What’s the new game? What role will Ki-hoon play in this? Will Junhao return to the island? These are the questions swirling around in viewers’ minds as we wait for Wong and his team to deliver a satisfying resolution in the show’s final season.
Read more: 100 Memorable Movie Ending Tips
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In addition to continuing Ki-hoon’s story, writer/director Hwang has crafted a second season that maintains the legacy of season one by building the world, meeting audience expectations, and ending the season with another cliffhanger that left us wanting. momentum.
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