I watched the second season of “The Squid Game” and already want more

With the return of The Squid Game, the world is once again in a state of anticipation. After the phenomenal success of the first season, which not only blew up all imaginable ratings, but also became a cultural phenomenon, a sequel seemed like a risky move. The creators were convinced that they had something to surprise, but promises are one thing, reality is another.

Season 2 makes it clear right away that it’s not going to be just a continuation. The series unfolds a new plastic plot, draining the mechanisms of the game and those who stand behind it. At the same time, the atmosphere of hopelessness and tension remains, although with some changes.

The way the second season handled the weight of expectations is, regardless of the individual conversation. He doesn’t catch the eye with loud moves, but he knows exactly how to hold the viewer. The question is no longer who will survive, but what is behind the game itself and its influence. This turn of the season becomes especially interesting – it is both frightening and fascinating, not allowing you to relax for a minute.

We have already watched the entire season with Russian dubbing indicated (by the way, lousy) and we hasten to share our impressions.

There’s more drama, and it doesn’t just revolve around games

What is the series about?: The plot of the second season revolves around Song Gi Hoon (Lee Jung Jae), who, despite winning the previous game, cannot shake off traumatic memories.

Obsessed with the desire to destroy the system from the inside, he suddenly plunges into the dangerous world of games, seeking revenge on the organizers. His path crosses with police officer Hwang Joon Ho, who also has personal motives for participating in the investigation.

From the very first frames of the second season, it is clear that the budget has increased significantly. The scale of the construction scenery is well thought out. For example, one of the key scenes takes place in a giant arena that resembles something between an ancient Roman Colosseum and a futuristic dystopia. I don’t want to spoil the experience, so I will try to avoid any spoilers in the article.

This spectacle suppresses its scope, reinforcing the atmosphere of total control, where human life becomes just a small part of a gigantic mechanism.

Visually, the series remains true to its signature style: bright, almost toxic-acidic colors that contrast with the dark nature of what is happening. I would especially like to note this light and shadows – thanks to the competent work of the operator, the shadows become an important element of the narrative, as if emphasizing their inner demons. At the same time, the series began to look much more “combed” – on the one hand, this provides scale, but on the other, it increases the realism of the feeling.

While the first season, with its stark minimalism, evokes associations with The Cube (1997) or Saw (2004), the second is more reminiscent of something in the spirit of The Hunger Games, where the glitz sometimes overshadows the drama.

The camera in the second season is used heavily to enhance the claustrophobia and fear. It often follows characters as if stalking them or is positioned at angles that create a sense of atmosphere. The scenes in the corridors between games were especially memorable: cold, sterile spaces, illuminated by artificial light, become a metaphor for a trap from which it is impossible to escape.

Separately, the cameraman was able to amazingly show the first game, which took place even before the main character indicated the “official” part. The audience will understand.

From the perspective of the overall setup, the dynamic between the close-ups of the participants’ faces and the wide shots of the crowd scenes works perfectly. This allows you to maintain a balance between entertainment and personal stories. However, there are moments where the scale zooms in excessively, creating a feeling of overcrowding in the visuals. I personally didn’t see anything like that in the first season.

The visuals are great, but this is not the first season

While watching, I couldn’t help but think that the second season of The Squid Game seemed too “thought out.” If the first season shocked with its immediacy and brutal truth, the second looks set to be corrected, both in terms of technical execution and structure. This creates a distance effect: instead of feeling like I was part of what was happening, I became more of a spectator at a theatrical performance.

It’s as if the very thread you were clinging to is missing. Without the circumstance that he observed throughout the first season.

The Hunger Games and even Westworld immediately come to mind. Like those projects, the second season of The Squid Game is a deep universe with plenty of intrigue and subtext. However, as with Westworld Part Two, the season begins to overload itself with its own “mythology,” which sometimes gets in the way of the main narrative.

At the same time, the series remains popular due to its Korean identity. Motifs related to traditional Korean culture, especially in game design, attract him among Westerners. One of the scenes, based on a traditional Korean puzzle, is impressive in its multi-layered nature: on the one hand, it is a game of survival, on the other, an open critique of collectivism.

A few words about dubbing

The series is immediately available on Netflix with a description of the Russian voice acting. This is strange for the platform. Probably, with such a hype project, a decision was made to reach the audience.

The problem lies in the actual dubbing. He terrible. Actors often do not pay attention to their lips, overact, and grimace too much, although this is not required of them. There are also problems with the sound itself – it may not follow the rules. It was as if all the actors at home were recording their voices on their microphones, the sound engineer just didn’t call. They put it on as it happened.

In general, I don’t recommend watching it with Russian dubbing. Even third-party studios have done a better job with this accessory.

But it’s still worth a look

After watching it, I was left wondering what makes the series truly significant.

The visuals of Season 2 of The Squid Game are undeniably stellar, but I found the power and vulnerability of the characters lacking. The places that were previously occupied by emotions were filled with a bright picture. This doesn’t make the second season bad, but it makes it look different.

If the first season was a powerful blow to the heart, the second is a skillful but cold game of chess. And her observations are interesting to watch.

Before, the grass was greener and the squid tasted better. But this does not negate the merits of the second season. I recommend viewing.