‘Awful’: Netflix hit show ravaged by viewers as Squid Game returns for season 2

Squid Game returned for season two over the festive season, but after a three year wait many are wishing the show had stayed gone.

Squid Game viewers have been left less than impressed after the new season of the smash hit Netflix show made its debut over Christmas.

Three years after the Korean drama first arrived on the streamer and became a global sensation, it’s finally returned.

However, while season one became a cultural phenomenon, it seems it had a lot to live up to … and not everyone is convinced the creators managed to pull it off.

Fans took to Rotten Tomatoes to share their reviews of season two, and many expressed their dismay at what they labelled a “terrible” and “disappointing” comeback.

Squid Game's new season has left fans divided. Picture: Netflix.

“Season 2, was cheesy, cringe. Terrible acting. Felt like watching a day time soap opera. Surely it can’t be same writers and directors?? What happened? So disappointing!” commented on viewer.

Another agreed, writing: “Very repetitive, characters are boring, and ending leads to absolutely nothing.”

“Season Two started off boring, but then got more boring. NOTHING NEW. It drags on by repeating itself, and then using the same plot, and then doing the same thing, and then going on and on endlessly with dull dialogue and boring endless trite repetitive actions … just like my review … to make my point,” complained a third.

While another added: “Despite starting out strong, season 2 has been disappointing, whether it be from underdeveloped characters, subplots that go nowhere, bad pacing, or the underwhelming, abrupt season finale. It is clear the creators never intended for there for be more than one season of Squid Game, which was already perfect.”

Season two follows Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he returns to the deadly competition he won in Season one.

His mission is to confront the shadowy cabal of VIPs and managers who run the game with the goal of ending them once and for all.

However, despite the complaints from many viewers, some still insisted the new season was enjoyable.

Jo Yu-ri, Lee Seo-hwan, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Lee Jung-jae, Yang Dong-geun and Kang Ae-shim attend the Los Angeles Premiere & Fan Event for Netflix's Squid Game Season 2 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images.

Very good,” wrote one fan. “However, really disappointed how they left the season on such a cliff hanger and potentially have to wait another year to watch the continuation of this season.”

Another added: “Very solid season. Had a similar downfall to the first season in that the first 2-3 episodes were the strongest.”

Meanwhile, the show’s creator sparked controversy after including a transgender character in the new season but failing to cast a transgender actor in the role.

However, he’s insisted it was simply done out of necessity.

“In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor,” Hwang Dong-hyuk told TV Guide. “When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately in the Korean society currently the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalised and more neglected, which is heartbreaking.”

“Compared to before, it has gotten better. But still, in Korea, when you are a gender minority, it is not as widely accepted yet. Unfortunately, you are still seen to be very much out of the norm.”

Originally published as ‘Awful’: Netflix hit show ravaged by viewers as Squid Game returns for season 2