Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Squid Game" Season 2 Summary
Episode Title: Squid Game
Release Date: January 1, 2025
Hosts: Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, Aisha Harris
Guests: Jaeha Kim (Chicago Tribune Columnist), Janet Wujong Lee (NPR’s Education Desk Producer)
Podcast: NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour
Introduction
In this episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, Stephen Thompson delves into the highly anticipated second season of the global phenomenon, "Squid Game." Joining him are Jaeha Kim, a syndicated columnist from the Chicago Tribune, and Janet Wujong Lee, a producer on NPR's Education Desk. The discussion centers around the new season's themes, character developments, and the show's commentary on society.
Recap of Season One
Stephen Thompson begins by summarizing the first season:
"In season one, we meet Seung Gi Hu, who's deep in debt and estranged from his family. He's recruited by a mysterious stranger on a subway platform and soon winds up in an undisclosed location, one of 456 participants in a massive competition. They must play children's games against each other, at which point it becomes abundantly clear that those who lose are slaughtered in brutal fashion. At the end of season one, Gi Hun wins the game and with it, a massive cash prize. But he's haunted by what he's seen, and he pledges to get revenge on behalf of the people who've lost their lives."
[02:26]
Gi Hun's return to the games in season two introduces new challenges as he aims to dismantle the oppressive system from within, complicated by the presence of the enigmatic frontman, portrayed by Lee Byung Hun.
Guest Impressions of Season Two
Jaeha Kim shares her perspective:
"I thought the season was very good. I know that some people are saying, oh, we didn't need a season two and actually that's what I said when I was last on talking about Squid Game. I thought the ending was pretty perfect three years ago. But with that said, the director, Mr. Hwang, does bring about a lot of new aspects to the show that I think viewers will find intriguing. And it's not just boom, boom, everyone's going to die. There's a lot going on there that we can unpack."
[03:55]
In contrast, Janet Wujong Lee expresses mixed feelings:
"I feel bad now because that was very generous of you. I'm gonna be honest, I was a little disappointed. I think I am still working through some mixed feelings... I wasn't as big of a fan as the main plotline of this season, Gi Hun trying to bring down the frontman and shut down the games. I think the pacing was a little off. I think it dragged a little bit."
[04:24]
Stephen Thompson's Take
Stephen positions himself between the guests' opinions:
"I think that in general, I felt like this season doesn't feel superflu... Hwang has said in interviews that he basically did seasons two and three to make the money he should have made on season one, which tells you something about the system that this show is commenting on. I do think it feels like it has a reason to exist... My biggest issues with this season are with the first episode and the last episode... The last episode kind of devolves into fairly repetitious violence that to me is nowhere near as compelling as a lot of the stuff that you're getting in the context of these games."
[05:13]
Character Development and New Introductions
The discussion shifts to the introduction of new characters and their impact:
"I did appreciate how quick this show got me hooked on a bunch of new characters because, you know, Gi Hun goes back into the games and of course he's now one of 456 people and you have to suddenly meet and become invested in a whole bunch of new people..."
[06:14]
Favorites Among New Characters:
Jaeha Kim highlights Hyunjoo, a trans woman, as her favorite:
"I love that she was presented as a full-fledged character instead of a farce or a stereotype... I really enjoyed who she was as well, because she wasn't just like one of the women that didn't know what to do. She turned out to be one of the heroes, in my opinion."
[07:16]
Janet Wujong Lee praises the mother-son duo:
"The moment they showed up on screen, I knew they were going to be the ones to make me cry... What a phenomenal pairing. Their chemistry I thought was incredible... there was a scene when the frontman questions her son's morals and that he might have left her behind or gave up on her in a game... do not think ill of my son... That scene just broke me into pieces."
[08:34]
Thematic Elements and Social Commentary
The hosts and guests explore the deeper themes of the season, particularly its critique of capitalism, democracy, and gambling:
"You are introducing opportunities for interpersonal conflict... It's a very powerful metaphor. And you really get a sense of how, you know, these people are just under a boot heel, and the system is set up in such a way that getting out from under that boot heel is so difficult and also disincentivized."
[17:13]
Voting Mechanism and Democracy:
"At the end of every round of games, the participants vote on whether to continue and whether to basically split what is there in the pot of money... This season has a lot of really chewy and interesting things to say about inherent flaws in the way democracy has carried out."
[15:39]
Game Design and Production
The conversation delves into the design and execution of the new games introduced in season two:
Favorite Games:
Jaeha Kim praises the "Merry Go Round" game for its shock value and complexity:
"It was the most shocking and compelling for me... When I realized, oh my gosh, it has to be a certain number to get into a certain room. And the losers, I mean, they lose with their life."
[19:36]
Janet Wujong Lee compares the visual storytelling to other dystopian series:
"There are moments where they... really looked like these weren't people, and they were just kind of little chess pieces... It reminded me of when I watched the second Hunger Games movie for the first time."
[19:57]
Production Quality and Authenticity
The hosts commend the show's production quality and authenticity in portraying interpersonal dynamics:
"It's worth acknowledging how much they get it right. One thing that I really appreciated... they get the reality television aspect extremely well."
[22:25]
Advertising and Cultural References
A lighthearted moment arises when Stephen Thompson discusses a parody advertisement:
"There is an ad in the rotation of commercials that air during Squid Game for Domino's Pizza... It has been a deep, deep misunderstanding of what Squid Game is trying to say."
[24:06]
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
As the episode wraps up, the hosts encourage listeners to share their thoughts and wrap up with acknowledgments:
"Find us @facebook.com PCHH that brings us to the end of our show. Janet Ujung Lee, Jaeha Kim, thanks so much for being here."
[25:31]
The discussion highlights the complexity and depth of "Squid Game" Season 2, balancing praise for character development and thematic exploration with critiques of pacing and narrative closure. The episode serves as a comprehensive guide for fans and newcomers alike, offering insightful analysis into one of Netflix's most talked-about series.