Squid Game Season 2 made its way on Netflix on December 26, 2024, and it’s garnering impressive responses from both the critics and the general audience. The positive reviews have led to strong Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores.
Critics share positive reviews for Squid Game Season 2
Squid Game Season 2 has garnered soaring ratings from the critics. Michael Ordoña of the San Francisco Chronicle uses adjectives such as “smart,” “provocative,” and “twisted” to describe the sophomore outing of the South Korean thriller series. Ordoña adds, “It deepens characters, steps up the action, and moves the story forward while retaining the first season’s dark absurdity.”
The Wrap’s William Goodman praises Lee Byung-hun’s performance as Front Man in Season 2, calling it “a real standout.” Goodman also states that the second season is “more brutal, haunting, effective — and yes, in its twisted way — entertaining than ever.”
In contrast, Ben Travers of IndieWire is a lot more reserved with his praise. Reflecting on the dichotomy between seasons, Travers notes that while the first season was all about discovery, “Season 2 survives by knowing there’s less to discover. It leans on our anticipation and occasionally plays off of it, deploying a twist here and a turn there, but more often capably caters to our expectations.”
The Guardian’s Rebecca Nicholson claims that the second season is often uneven, especially leading to the “proper action,” but adds that there is a “big twist that really works.” Nicholson continues, “… though whether it is distinct enough from what happens in the first series is unclear.”
Annabel Nugent of The Independent accepts that Season 2 is not as “shocking” as the inaugural chapter but questions: “Isn’t that the point?” Nugent lauds Season 2 for successfully stretching “beyond the confines of the first.”
Squid Game Season 2’s Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes scores start high
Squid Game Season 2 has accumulated an 86% approval rating on the review aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes after 42 reviews. Meanwhile, it has a score of 61 out of 100 on Metacritic, which utilizes a weighted average to rate a movie, after 23 professional reviews, denoting a “generally favorable” response.
Following the release of the first Season, Squid Game became one of the most-watched shows on Netflix. It remains to be seen if the show’s second outing can match that. However, given the response it has been receiving from the critics, there is a considerable chance of its success.
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon.
