Squid Game has undoubtedly proven its worth in creating tension, introducing complex characters, and producing hauntingly immersive playroom sets. These elements have been its strength throughout both seasons, making the show a gripping experience. The stakes of adult players forced to navigate childhood games in high-stakes environments have kept viewers hooked. However, as the highly anticipated second season of the show comes to a close, the finale feels like a missed opportunity in the action department.
The finale episode, titled “Friend or Foe,” tried to wrap up its intricate plotlines with an action-heavy climax that strayed from the show’s core strengths. What had been a captivating narrative about human survival, political allegiances, and social commentary gave way to an overly long and lackluster gunfight that felt more like a video-game sequence than a seamless continuation of the Squid Game brand. The tension felt authentic, but the drawn-out action—complete with endless bullet-dodging and fire-fights—seemed out of place for a show known for its psychological intensity and human drama. This action sequence, though potentially intended to be satirical, left viewers frustrated and distanced from the characters they had grown invested in.
At its best, Squid Game excels when it focuses on the human drama unfolding against the backdrop of its deadly games. Characters like Seong Gi-hun, In-ho, and others are far more compelling when grappling with the cruelty and deceit that powers the Games, not when they are caught up in endless shootouts. In contrast, the finale’s action felt like a distraction, interrupting the more gripping and thought-provoking narrative elements. Yet, the moments where Gi-hun wrestles with his moral choices or when characters make split-second decisions that could cost them their lives still carried the emotional weight the series is known for.
The season had a strong start, reintroducing audiences to the chaotic world of Squid Game and setting the stage for thrilling games and intense rivalries. However, as the season progressed, the narrative meandered with side plots that failed to add meaningful depth or resolution. The boat storylines involving Woo-seok and Hwang Jun-ho, though intriguing in theory, were often drawn out and left too many threads unresolved. This lack of cohesion in pacing made the season feel disjointed at times, especially given the limited number of episodes.
Despite these issues, there were moments of brilliance. The political undertones explored in the show’s depiction of alliances and betrayals remain one of its strongest features. The way characters align themselves visually with their political factions by wearing distinct patches cleverly reflects the broader commentary on identity and power. The show’s ability to capture the feeling of political shifts—when the moment you thought you could trust everyone slips away—is still as potent as ever. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator, clearly has ambitions to do more than simply deliver death games; he wants to reflect the anxieties and dynamics of the world outside the Games. This satirical edge is present, though its execution feels uneven at times.
The show’s decision to end on a cliffhanger left viewers both excited for what’s to come and frustrated with the lack of closure. Gi-hun’s tragic arc, highlighted by his final moments in the game, was overshadowed by the show’s messy attempt to balance action and deeper social themes. While Squid Game is undoubtedly capable of telling powerful, human-centered stories, its push for a broader, action-packed spectacle might not be the right approach for every narrative beat.
With season 2 wrapped up, Squid Game continues to be a captivating experience when it focuses on what works best: the tension between human vulnerability and the brutal system that drives the Games. The season’s finale may have stumbled in execution, but the series as a whole remains one of the most thought-provoking and exhilarating shows on television. Audiences will likely remain invested in the eventual resolution of Gi-hun’s story, but questions about how Squid Game will balance its critiques of capitalism and its penchant for action-heavy spectacle will linger.
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