"Oh, it's getting exciting!"
"Squid Game" season 1 is without question one of the biggest surprise success stories
of 2021, earning rave reviews from critics on its way to becoming Netflix's most-watched
original series ever.
"Smile!"
The fact that "Squid Game" creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is now reported to be in talks to make not
just one, but two more seasons of the show is more than a little ironic.
After all, the South Korean survival drama is all about the dangers of capitalism and
how corporate overlords will always find a way to exploit the rest of us.
Having said all that, "Squid Game" season 1 did end on a cliffhanger that left the door
open for a potential second season, with game winner Gi-hun choosing to sacrifice his own
happiness and skip out on his flight to L.A. to try and take down the deadly Squid Games
himself.
Hwang seemed to confirm that season 2 had received an official green light back in November,
but Netflix later clarified that's not the case for now.
"Since we're on the subject now, you should join me."
Speaking with KBS in Korea, Hwang explained that his discussions with Netflix are not
just ongoing — they have expanded to include a possible "Squid Game" season 3.
He said:
"I'm in talks with Netflix over season 2 as well as season 3.
We will come to a conclusion [some] time soon."
As such, Hwang finds himself in the position of having created a show that works perfectly
well as a limited series, yet could go on to have three seasons or more.
It's not unlike the position the Duffer Brothers found themselves in when their own Netflix
original, "Stranger Things," became a mega-hit in 2016.
That show has only increased in popularity since then, although its quality has arguably
varied from season to season.
"Stranger Things" season 2 was also clearly influenced by a lot of the feedback and responses
to season 1, and it's not hard to imagine something similar happening with "Squid Game."
"Who knows what games they'll have us play next."
Would that be a bad thing?
Not necessarily.
Given how many people seem to be missing the point of season 1, another chapter or two
of "Squid Game" would offer Hwang a chance to further drive home the series' social commentary
and maybe even include some meta storytelling that meditates on the show's real-world success.
There are also plenty of questions left for Hwang to answer after season 1.
Whether people will like the answers he comes up with, that's a discussion for another day.
"It's okay.
Stay where you are.
We don't even know what we're doing yet."
Hwang, to his credit, already has a rough plan in mind for where "Squid Game" season
2 would go.
In a previous interview, he talked about wanting to focus more on the games' overseers in the
next chapter, stating:
"If I do get to do [more installments of 'Squid Game'] — one would be the story of the Frontman
[a former cop who now oversees the game].
I think the issue with police officers is not just an issue in Korea.
I see it on the global news.
This was an issue that I wanted to raise.
Maybe in season two I can talk about this more."
The issue of the police and the role they play in maintaining corrupt institutions and
social inequality is an all-too timely one.
It's also a matter that would resonate with viewers around the world as much as it would
those in South Korea.
Coming on the heels of 2020's Black Lives Matter protests, this could put season 2 in
a position to better speak to this subject than a lot of well-meaning U.S. shows have
valiantly tried yet struggled to do over the past year — such as "Brooklyn Nine-Nine".
"True, but you know what was rougher?
The hundreds of years of oppression experienced by black people in this country — oppression
they still experience to this day."
Perhaps more than anything, shining more light on the Frontman and South Korea's police would
set "Squid Game" season 2 apart from season 1 in terms of both its story and themes.
As riveting as the show's first season was, in the end, it didn't have that much more
to say about capitalism, class, and the "one percent" than such recent films as "Parasite"
did.
However, thanks to its popularity, the series now has a chance to take things further in
that respect.
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more Slash Film videos about your favorite stuff are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.