The Netflix mega-hit Squid Game, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, is another entry in the "death games" subgenre of fiction, pitting debt-ridden people against terrifying odds, and sometimes against each other, in brutal games to score billions of free won to break free of their debt. The antihero, Seong-Gi-hun, is in for the fight of his life.
The first season of Squid Game had plenty of action, thrills, horror, impactful personal drama and more than a few shocking twists and turns, and for some Squid Game fans, that was plenty. Many of them feel that the show should quit while it's ahead. However, a second season has already been confirmed, but it's not yet clear whether a second season is even necessary to cement Squid Game's position as a modern TV classic.
10 COULD WORK: The Societal Themes Are Still Relevant
If a TV show, movie, or anime series has timeless themes, then the story will feel fresh and relevant in any decade, since some themes and concepts can manifest themselves in any society in a decade or century. This can future-proof a story, and Squid Game enjoys this benefit greatly.
Squid Game is rooted in society and economic hardship and inequality, not to mention class struggles, and those themes have weighed heavily on humanity since the days of antiquity. And it's all but certain that Squid Game's theme of class struggle in South Korea will still resonate in coming years.
9 WON'T WORK: Unraveling the Mysteries Could Ruin The Fun
Many TV shows rely on an element of mystery and suspense to keep viewers engaged, even if the show isn't a dedicated mystery series like BBC's Sherlock. Sure enough, Squid Game's central characters are shrouded in mystery, and so is the entire concept of hosting these deaths games annually.
Season 2 may dig deeper into the mysteries of these games, such as how the founder, Oh Il-nam, managed to gather so many resources, including money and manpower, to run the game. Not knowing all this is part of the fun.
8 COULD WORK: Gi-hun, And Some Viewers, Want Answers
Then again, plenty of Squid Game fans probably do want some serious answers to how all this carnage got started, and the star himself, Seong Gi-hun, certainly wants those answers. It could be said that Season 1 is defined by mystery, and Season 2 should be defined by answers and intrigue.
If the element of mystery is lost in Squid Game, it can simply be replaced with a new theme, and that can help make the two seasons feel distinct from one another and give the show a sense of progress. The best shows and book series tend to evolve and refine themselves over time.
7 WON'T WORK: Making It Was Taxing & Stressful
Directing a movie or TV show is always exhaustive and stressful work, since the director has so much to juggle, even if nothing ever goes wrong. Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk had a rough time directing his TV smash-hit.
Reports say that Hwang Dong-hyuk suffered so much stress, he lost a few teeth, and that is a clear sign that he has gone through enough for now. Ultimately, it's up to him what he does next, but for the sake of health, and Squid Game itself, perhaps he should end his TV franchise here.
6 COULD WORK: If An Excellent New Director Can Be Found
If director Hwang Dong-hyuk does not return to direct another season of Squid Game, some fans might argue, then there should be no second season at all, since getting a new director may cause a serious change in the story's tone and style. Changing directors sometimes turns out badly for TV and movie franchises.
It's a risky move, but then again, if fans want Squid Game Season 2 badly enough, the industry can search long and hard to find the perfect director take over for Hwang Dong-hyuk, to make Season 2 a reality. In fact, a skilled enough director might build upon what the original did, rather than sabotage it.
5 WON'T WORK: Oh Il-nam Is Already Dead
The creator of the Squid Game death tournament, the elderly Oh Il-nam, was hiding in plain sight during the first season of Squid Game, being contestant 001 and a loyal but somewhat unreliable ally to Gi-hun. In the end, Oh Il-nam met up with Gi-hun again and revealed the truth.
Oh Il-nam had a lot of blood on his hands, but he never had to answer for what he did, because he died right before Gi-hun's eyes. Now that he's gone, the heart of Squid Game is gone too, or at least, it seems that way. Without him, the story might feel a bit hollow in Season 2.
4 COULD WORK: If Oh Il-nam's Legacy Is Complex Enough
When a central character like Oh Il-nam dies, a story won't feel the same without them, and in many cases, that's a good reason to wrap up the story. Then again, if things are handled just right, the character can play a major role in the story even after their demise, and Oh Il-nam might do the same.
There is still plenty of room to expand upon Oh Il-nam's backstory, influence, and personality in Season 2, even if the man himself is dead. If Gi-hun and other characters can explore more of Oh Il-nam's backstory, and if Oh Il-nam's newest plans are set into motion after his death, he can play a major role in Season 2 after all.
3 WON'T WORK: The Novelty Might Already Be Worn Out
In some regards, Squid Game feels fresh, with its use of colorful children's games in a deadly tournament and its South Korean setting. For the most part, though, Squid Game can't help but join the "battle royale" club, and that club is fairly crowded by now, especially in the world of Japanese anime and live-action anime adaptations.
Game shows and battle royales are quite familiar by now, and while Squid Game was lightning in a bottle, it might not be able to keep this up, and it might go stale way too fast. Season 1 barely avoided feeling stale and tedious, and Season 2 might be one season too many where freshness is concerned.
2 COULD WORK: There Are More Games To Play
The first season of Squid Game featured six games, including Red Light Green Light, variants of marbles, and even tug-of-war. And that's just the start. Countless children's games or other simple contests are available for Season 2, and potentially, Squid Game could have brand-new games for a third or even fourth season, too.
This simple formula can be refreshed again and again, and no doubt fans would love to see a new set of contestants try their hand at deadly versions of games like hopscotch, hangman, or even tag. Any children's game can become bloody and cool in the world of Squid Game.
1 WON'T WORK: Suspending Disbelief Is Becoming Difficult
Suspending disbelief is important for watching or reading most works of fiction, and everyone understands that, to some extent, rules and logic are bent somewhat to make a fictional story work. But suspending disbelief can only go so far, and at times, Squid Game is really pushing it.
Already, it's tough to believe that the South Korean police and government either don't notice or don't care that hundreds of people are vanishing like that, and the recruiter even goes around with his face exposed. Even if police officers are being bribed or some of the contestants lived in obscurity, it's unlikely that the Squid Game hosts can keep getting away with this. In Season 2, this might become even more apparent, and that might sour the experience a little.