Squid Game season 2 excels in some ways and not in others, fattened up with what feels like filler content, which is not great for a season only seven episodes long.

But the hit Korean-language Netflix series is already facing criticism for failing to live up to the promise of its powerful original run. Media experts say it shouldn’t come as any surprise: Call it the curse of round two.

Happily for Hwang, season 2 of the South Korean dystopian drama garnered early critical acclaim, earning a 2025 Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama Series ahead of its release. The show has already hit No. 1 on Netflix, and it has an 85% Certified Fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.