Squid Game Season 1 vs Season 2
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Nick Spake
Get ready for an epic showdown between the first and second seasons of "Squid Game"! We're breaking down which season reigns supreme across five intense rounds, comparing everything from deadly games to jaw-dropping twists. Our analysis covers the most memorable moments, including the iconic Red Light, Green Light game, heart-pounding action sequences, and shocking character revelations. Join us as we determine which season truly deserves the ultimate prize! Which season did you like better, 1 or 2? Share why in the comments!
Squid Game Season 1 vs. Season 2
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re pitting the first and second seasons of “Squid Game” against each other to see which takes the giant piggy bank of cash. Major spoilers for both seasons will ensue.
Round One: Games
Season One created an instantly iconic image as a group of unsuspecting players lined up for the world’s deadliest game of Red Light, Green Light. It set a precedent for an anxiety-riddled show where childhood games become a deadly survival competition. Whether the players were tasked with meticulously carving an umbrella shape from honeycomb candy, collecting enough marbles to live, or walking across an elevated glass bridge, Season One kept finding dementedly inventive ways to raise the stakes. The titular Squid Game might not be as creative as what came before, but it’s every bit as sadistic in what boils down to a bloody brawl to the death (and an internal morality struggle).
While Season Two takes its time returning to the island, there’s still room for fatal games of chance like rock paper scissors meets Russian roulette. When the games officially get started again, Seong Gi-hun and the audience know what awaits as the players step into the Red Light, Green Light arena. That doesn’t make it any less intense as contestants are gunned down, despite Gi-hun’s warnings and guidance. At the risk of reaping too much, Season Two also adds a few new games like six-legged pentathlon and Mingle. The latter two emphasize teamwork, but the longer people play, the more likely somebody will eventually be thrown under the bus.
Season Two only features three official games, one of which we already saw the previous season. The first season not only included more games, but each of them left a greater impact than the ones introduced in Season Two. Round One thus goes to Season One.
Season One 1 / Season Two 0
Round Two: Action
Between Red Light, Green Light and the final game, Season One opens and closes with heart-pounding set pieces. Yet, the season isn’t quite as action-heavy as you might expect. Most of the games, such as Ppopgi[a], put more pressure on the player’s mental state, focusing on slow-building suspense rather than adrenaline. Even the more physically challenging games like Tug of War only offer so many possibilities in terms of action choreography and staging. As over-the-top as Season One might’ve been, it could also be surprisingly intimate with the action taking a backseat to what was going through the characters’ heads.
Although Season Two has fewer games, it compensates in the action department. The six-legged pentathlon and Mingle require the players to be on their toes at all times, but the most action-packed moments aren’t the games themselves. When the remaining contestants are torn on whether or not to keep playing, a heated confrontation turns a bathroom into an all-out warzone. The season saves its most impressive action set piece for last as Gi-hun’s team stages a rebellion against the masked enforcers. The sequence makes impeccable use of its environment as the armed players attempt to take control of this colorful madhouse. Even if they don’t succeed, it feels like the rules have been forever changed.
Ironically, Season One may have more games, but Season Two goes bigger whenever it can, delivering grander action that goes off the rails. This round belongs to the sophomore season.
Season One 1 / Season Two 1
Round Three: Pacing
Season One introduces us to the games through the eyes of Seong Gi-hun, one of the many contestants who doesn’t realize what he’s signed up for until he’s running for his life. Even after getting a taste of the games, Gi-hun struggles to stay away. Each episode keeps us guessing what unspeakable horrors await the players next. Between the games, Season One takes time to touch upon what makes the players tick while gradually revealing what’s happening behind the scenes. This balance of character development, moral quandaries, mystery, and spectacle makes for a riveting season of television without a dull moment. It builds to a killer finale with the games truly just getting started.
Although Season Two hits several familiar beats, it doesn’t rehash the same formula. The first two episodes primarily take place off the island, allowing more time to flesh out Gi-hun and his new allies. Finding the only way to end the games is from the inside, Gi-hun returns to the island. While Gi-hun has played before, the rules have been modified somewhat. Namely, players can vote on whether they should continue playing between games. Desperation and greed repeatedly trump common sense and humanity, stressing the show’s central theme. Yet, watching the characters vote can get redundant as we eagerly await the next game. The ending is also a little abrupt, feeling more like a mid-season finale than a season finale.
While we wouldn’t call Season Two slow, certain sections can get sluggish. Season One is tighter and fresher with a more satisfying finish, claiming this round.
Season One 2 / Season Two 1
Round Four: Supporting Players
Upon arriving on the island, Gi-hun develops bonds and rivalries with several other players. The standouts include a former childhood classmate named Cho Sang-woo, a streetsmart pickpocket named Kang Sae-byeok, and a mysterious old man who knows more than he’s letting on. As engaging as these characters are, it’s clear from the get-go that most of them won’t survive. That doesn’t make it any less gut-wrenching when Ji-yeong makes the ultimate sacrifice or when Han Mi-nyeo exacts revenge against the villainous Jang Deok-su at the expense of her own life. Although we tell ourselves not to get too attached, we can’t help but become invested even when a player doesn’t get much screen time.
Although Gi-hun returns in Season Two, the roster is otherwise comprised of new players. Gi-hun recognizes one in Jung-bae, an old friend who becomes a dedicated ally during the games. Other newcomers include a transgender former soldier named Hyun-ju, a pregnant woman named Kim Jun-hee[b], and a mother/son duo. With Gi-hun attempting to save as many lives as possible, a strong comradery forms among the players. Working together, we’re given hope that more than one will survive the games this time. Of course, it wouldn’t be “Squid Game” without a few players only looking out for themselves. Enter Thanos, one of the season’s most unhinged villains.
Both seasons had stellar ensembles, making this a difficult round to call. With Season Two focusing less on the games, though, more time is dedicated to exploring character dynamics. The friendships that grow under savage circumstances give the season an unexpected heart, emerging as this round’s victor.
Season One 2 / Season Two 2
Round Five: Twists
From the second the Red Light, Green Light robot turned her creepy head, we suspected that Season One was about to take a grim turn. We nonetheless jumped out of our seats as guns started blazing, sending the players running (and freezing) in terror. Every game that followed came with an alarming twist that kept us on pins and needles. Meanwhile, an overarching mystery is unraveled as Detective Hwang Jun-ho infiltrates the games under the guise of a guard, discovering what happened to his long-lost brother, In-ho. As shocking as it was learning that In-ho was the Front Man, nothing tops the reveal that the kindly old Oh Il-nam set this all into motion.
Season 2 has a handful of devastating deaths and brutal betrayals that threw us for a loop. The biggest question mark throughout the season is the Front Man, who joins the games as Player 001. Although Player 001 allies with Gi-hun, we know that he’s working another angle. When he’ll show his true colors remains unclear until the season finale. With the uprising underway, Player 001 sabotages everything. Faking his death, he resumes his role as the Front Man. As a cruel final twist, the Front Man makes Gi-hun watch as he eliminates Jung-bae. Although this seemed inevitable in some respects, we still didn’t see this jaw-dropping ending coming.
Making the Front Man a player was an inspired twist for Season Two. That said, it may’ve hit a little too close to Season One’s final reveal, reminding us never to trust anybody assigned the moniker Player 001. “Squid Game 2” admirably maintains momentum, but the OG was a breath of fresh air that’s difficult to replicate. Congratulations, Season One. The 45.6 billion won is yours!
Season One 3 / Season Two 2
Which season of “Squid Game” did you prefer? What do you hope to see in Season Three? Let us know in the comments.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re pitting the first and second seasons of “Squid Game” against each other to see which takes the giant piggy bank of cash. Major spoilers for both seasons will ensue.
Round One: Games
Season One created an instantly iconic image as a group of unsuspecting players lined up for the world’s deadliest game of Red Light, Green Light. It set a precedent for an anxiety-riddled show where childhood games become a deadly survival competition. Whether the players were tasked with meticulously carving an umbrella shape from honeycomb candy, collecting enough marbles to live, or walking across an elevated glass bridge, Season One kept finding dementedly inventive ways to raise the stakes. The titular Squid Game might not be as creative as what came before, but it’s every bit as sadistic in what boils down to a bloody brawl to the death (and an internal morality struggle).
While Season Two takes its time returning to the island, there’s still room for fatal games of chance like rock paper scissors meets Russian roulette. When the games officially get started again, Seong Gi-hun and the audience know what awaits as the players step into the Red Light, Green Light arena. That doesn’t make it any less intense as contestants are gunned down, despite Gi-hun’s warnings and guidance. At the risk of reaping too much, Season Two also adds a few new games like six-legged pentathlon and Mingle. The latter two emphasize teamwork, but the longer people play, the more likely somebody will eventually be thrown under the bus.
Season Two only features three official games, one of which we already saw the previous season. The first season not only included more games, but each of them left a greater impact than the ones introduced in Season Two. Round One thus goes to Season One.
Season One 1 / Season Two 0
Round Two: Action
Between Red Light, Green Light and the final game, Season One opens and closes with heart-pounding set pieces. Yet, the season isn’t quite as action-heavy as you might expect. Most of the games, such as Ppopgi[a], put more pressure on the player’s mental state, focusing on slow-building suspense rather than adrenaline. Even the more physically challenging games like Tug of War only offer so many possibilities in terms of action choreography and staging. As over-the-top as Season One might’ve been, it could also be surprisingly intimate with the action taking a backseat to what was going through the characters’ heads.
Although Season Two has fewer games, it compensates in the action department. The six-legged pentathlon and Mingle require the players to be on their toes at all times, but the most action-packed moments aren’t the games themselves. When the remaining contestants are torn on whether or not to keep playing, a heated confrontation turns a bathroom into an all-out warzone. The season saves its most impressive action set piece for last as Gi-hun’s team stages a rebellion against the masked enforcers. The sequence makes impeccable use of its environment as the armed players attempt to take control of this colorful madhouse. Even if they don’t succeed, it feels like the rules have been forever changed.
Ironically, Season One may have more games, but Season Two goes bigger whenever it can, delivering grander action that goes off the rails. This round belongs to the sophomore season.
Season One 1 / Season Two 1
Round Three: Pacing
Season One introduces us to the games through the eyes of Seong Gi-hun, one of the many contestants who doesn’t realize what he’s signed up for until he’s running for his life. Even after getting a taste of the games, Gi-hun struggles to stay away. Each episode keeps us guessing what unspeakable horrors await the players next. Between the games, Season One takes time to touch upon what makes the players tick while gradually revealing what’s happening behind the scenes. This balance of character development, moral quandaries, mystery, and spectacle makes for a riveting season of television without a dull moment. It builds to a killer finale with the games truly just getting started.
Although Season Two hits several familiar beats, it doesn’t rehash the same formula. The first two episodes primarily take place off the island, allowing more time to flesh out Gi-hun and his new allies. Finding the only way to end the games is from the inside, Gi-hun returns to the island. While Gi-hun has played before, the rules have been modified somewhat. Namely, players can vote on whether they should continue playing between games. Desperation and greed repeatedly trump common sense and humanity, stressing the show’s central theme. Yet, watching the characters vote can get redundant as we eagerly await the next game. The ending is also a little abrupt, feeling more like a mid-season finale than a season finale.
While we wouldn’t call Season Two slow, certain sections can get sluggish. Season One is tighter and fresher with a more satisfying finish, claiming this round.
Season One 2 / Season Two 1
Round Four: Supporting Players
Upon arriving on the island, Gi-hun develops bonds and rivalries with several other players. The standouts include a former childhood classmate named Cho Sang-woo, a streetsmart pickpocket named Kang Sae-byeok, and a mysterious old man who knows more than he’s letting on. As engaging as these characters are, it’s clear from the get-go that most of them won’t survive. That doesn’t make it any less gut-wrenching when Ji-yeong makes the ultimate sacrifice or when Han Mi-nyeo exacts revenge against the villainous Jang Deok-su at the expense of her own life. Although we tell ourselves not to get too attached, we can’t help but become invested even when a player doesn’t get much screen time.
Although Gi-hun returns in Season Two, the roster is otherwise comprised of new players. Gi-hun recognizes one in Jung-bae, an old friend who becomes a dedicated ally during the games. Other newcomers include a transgender former soldier named Hyun-ju, a pregnant woman named Kim Jun-hee[b], and a mother/son duo. With Gi-hun attempting to save as many lives as possible, a strong comradery forms among the players. Working together, we’re given hope that more than one will survive the games this time. Of course, it wouldn’t be “Squid Game” without a few players only looking out for themselves. Enter Thanos, one of the season’s most unhinged villains.
Both seasons had stellar ensembles, making this a difficult round to call. With Season Two focusing less on the games, though, more time is dedicated to exploring character dynamics. The friendships that grow under savage circumstances give the season an unexpected heart, emerging as this round’s victor.
Season One 2 / Season Two 2
Round Five: Twists
From the second the Red Light, Green Light robot turned her creepy head, we suspected that Season One was about to take a grim turn. We nonetheless jumped out of our seats as guns started blazing, sending the players running (and freezing) in terror. Every game that followed came with an alarming twist that kept us on pins and needles. Meanwhile, an overarching mystery is unraveled as Detective Hwang Jun-ho infiltrates the games under the guise of a guard, discovering what happened to his long-lost brother, In-ho. As shocking as it was learning that In-ho was the Front Man, nothing tops the reveal that the kindly old Oh Il-nam set this all into motion.
Season 2 has a handful of devastating deaths and brutal betrayals that threw us for a loop. The biggest question mark throughout the season is the Front Man, who joins the games as Player 001. Although Player 001 allies with Gi-hun, we know that he’s working another angle. When he’ll show his true colors remains unclear until the season finale. With the uprising underway, Player 001 sabotages everything. Faking his death, he resumes his role as the Front Man. As a cruel final twist, the Front Man makes Gi-hun watch as he eliminates Jung-bae. Although this seemed inevitable in some respects, we still didn’t see this jaw-dropping ending coming.
Making the Front Man a player was an inspired twist for Season Two. That said, it may’ve hit a little too close to Season One’s final reveal, reminding us never to trust anybody assigned the moniker Player 001. “Squid Game 2” admirably maintains momentum, but the OG was a breath of fresh air that’s difficult to replicate. Congratulations, Season One. The 45.6 billion won is yours!
Season One 3 / Season Two 2
Which season of “Squid Game” did you prefer? What do you hope to see in Season Three? Let us know in the comments.
[a]pop-ghee https://forvo.com/search/%EB%BD%91%EA%B8%B0/
[b]s02e01 ~27:20 kim june-hee
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