10 Ways Squid Game Season 2 Mirrors Season 1

Notice! This article contains spoilers for Squid Game Season 2.

squid game Season 2 features many unique story and character developments, but still shares many narrative parallels with Season 1. squid game The first season arrived on Netflix and became a viral sensation, captivating audiences around the world. The show soon climbed the ranks and became one of Netflix's most-watched shows, which encouraged the streamer to renew it for not just one, but two seasons. The streaming giant also took advantage of the show's fame by expanding the franchise with a reality show and a video game.

Although squid game season 1 had already established a recipe for season 2's success, the second installment couldn't just imitate its predecessor. To keep viewers invested in the series, squid game season two had to introduce some of its own new elements. Fortunately, it achieves this by introducing new characters as well as a new set of games. However, at the same time, season two also subtly recreates many elements from its predecessor to ensure it retains what it did. squid game the first season is so popular in the first place.

10

Gi-hun and Yong-sik's stories are very similar

Their gambling addictions led them to gambling

Gi-hun finds himself at the games in squid game Season 1 because his gambling addiction and the losses he suffered eventually drowned him in debt. The Salesman exploits your gambling addiction to lure you into gambling. squid game Season 2's Yong-sik finds himself in a similar situation after his gaming addiction initially blinds him to the exploitative nature of gaming.

Just like Gi-hun, Park Yong-sik also has a loving mother who is willing to do anything for him. She even follows him to the games, hoping to stop him from falling further into his downward spiral. Fortunately for Yong-sik, he learns his lessons when he almost loses his mother during squid game Season 2 Mingle game. Gi-hun, on the other hand, loses his mother in the first season before realizing he took her for granted when she was still around.

9

Jun-ho goes on a quest to find the island in both seasons

He only succeeds in the 1st season

In squid game In the first season, Jun-ho tries to track down the Squid Game island to fulfill his responsibility as a police detective. He realizes that the island is potentially the site of many illegal activities, which encourages him to travel there and discover the truth. In squid game in season 2, however, he is driven by a deeper purpose. After the events of the first season, he discovers that his missing brother, Hwang In-ho, is among the favorites in the games and is willing to do anything to keep the games going.

Determined to uncover the truth about how his brother became the games' frontman, Jun-ho attempts to search the islands again in squid game season 2. However, to his dismay, his quest in season 2 leads him nowhere. How the squid game The final arc of Season 2 reveals that the boat captain, who pretends to help Jun-ho find the island, appears to be working for the game's organizers and tries to stop Jun-ho from getting there.

8

Guards carry out a secret organ harvesting operation in both

A guard tries to disrupt the operation in season 2

squid game Season 2 reveals that, after learning about the guards' secret organ harvesting operation in Season 1, Front Man shut it down. However, in season 2, the Officer secretly restarts the operation by recruiting some guards and a doctor. This time, he makes sure that only people he trusts work with him in the organ trading business. However, Guard 011, No-eul (played by Park Gyu-young in squid game season 2), attempts to stop the operation by killing all the losers in the games and ensuring their organs cannot be harvested.

7

The villains launch a murderous attack against the heroes

The Chaos From The Rampage gives Gi-hun the opportunity to execute his plan

When the villains in squid game The first season realized that only one survivor would end up winning the grand prize of 45.6 billion won, they began a murderous attack on the innocent to eliminate their competition. Gi-hun predicts something similar will happen in Season 2. His prediction comes true when those who voted for the games to continue begin killing those who voted for them to end.

Gi-hun encourages his allies to stay away from the battle and instead asks them to hide under the lowest beds and wait for the guards to arrive to lessen the violence. He asks them to play dead after the guards enter the common room and grab their weapons when they are close enough to make a move. Although Gi-hun's plan initially works wonders, Front Man stays one step ahead of him and puts an end to his rebellion for good. squid game final moments of season 2.

6

The first official game in both seasons is “Red Light, Green Light”

Gi-hun saves many lives in season 2

Although squid game Season 2 features some other games such as Russian Roulette and Bread or Lottery, outside of the game's setting, the first official game in its narrative is "Red Light, Green Light". In Season 2, however, Gi-hun understands how the game works and uses his previous gaming experience to guide other players. Near the end of the game "Red Light, Green Light" in squid game season 1, Abdul Ali saved Gi-hun from being eliminated. In season 2, Gi-hun and Hyun-ju play a similar role when they try to save a man in the last seconds of the game.

5

Both seasons end with major cliffhangers

Gi-hun fights a losing battle in the final moments of both seasons

Gi-hun tries to save Cho Sang-woo in squid game the final game of season 1, but your friend ends up dying by suicide. With this, he wins the prize of 45.6 billion won, but at a terrible cost. His journey in the first season ends with him deciding to end the games and seeking revenge on the game's organizers. Even in Season 2, Gi-hun seems to be on the verge of collapsing the structures upon which the games rest. However, his plan falls apart and he ultimately fails to take down the game. His story ends with extreme tragedy in both seasonss, forcing him to gradually lose pieces of his humanity.

4

Squid Game Season 2 also follows the “Game of the Episode” format

The overarching story's main appeal comes from the games

Both squid game the seasons featured commendable character beats and cast performances. Even the stories involving characters like Jun-ho, who don't actively participate in the central games, are exciting. However, the main appeal of both seasons is in the starting games. Although squid game The first official "Red Light, Green Light" of Season 2 doesn't air until the third episode, and it keeps viewers invested by introducing some new minigames that take place outside of the games' setting.

From Russian roulette to bread or the lottery, squid game Season 2 perfectly combines intense side games with some of its most engaging stories. squid game season three will likely do the same as it faces a new set of dangerous challenges that Gi-hun and other surviving contestants will have to face.

3

Gi-hun meets an old friend at the games

Gi-hun had a history with Jung-Bae and Sang-woo

When Gi-hun first arrives at the games in squid game In the first season, he believes he is surrounded by a bunch of strangers. However, he soon spots his childhood best friend, Cho Sang-woo, and is surprised to see him there because Sang-woo was known to be extremely intelligent and successful. Something similar happens in season 2, when Gi-hun bumps into Jung-bae at games. To ensure that Jung-bae doesn't meet the same fate as Sang-woo, Gi-hun asks him to follow his command during the game "Red Light, Green Light".

2

Gi-hun loses his friend in the end

Gi-hun's efforts to save Sang-woo and Jung-bae are in vain

Gi-hun makes the ultimate sacrifice at the end of squid game season 1, requesting to end games and losing the 45.6 billion winnings reward. Even the game's organizers and VIPs are shocked by his decision. However, even though he makes this decision to ensure Cho Sang-woo comes out alive, his childhood friend dies before his eyes.

squid game The second season gives Gi-hun the opportunity to overcome the regret he feels for not being able to save Sang-woo. After finding Jung-bae, he takes it upon himself to protect him to ensure history doesn't repeat itself. Unfortunately, Jung-bae also met the same fate as Sang-woo after Front Man outsmarted Gi-hun and killed Jung-bae to show him the consequences of his actions.

1

Player 001 in the games is one of the antagonists

Oh Il-nam and Hwang In-ho join the games as player 001

squid game The season 1 finale reveals that Oh Il-nam, player 001, faked his death in the games. When Gi-hun meets him at the end, he also discovers that Oh Il-nam was the one who created and hosted the games so he could relive his childhood memories before he died of cancer. The second season introduces a similar twist where Front Man Hwang In-ho joins the games as Player 001 to keep an eye on Gi-hun. Just like Oh Il-nam, he also fakes his death in squid game final moments of season 2 to trick Gi-hun.