After nearly five years of anticipation, “Squid Game,” an acclaimed and popular series written and directed by South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk, released a second season, bringing more action-packed scenes and a new humorous approach.

The second season became available on Netflix on Dec. 26.

Though the first season seemed to follow a strict plot, the second season introduced various new characters and new plot lines along with them.

The first season of the show followed the unlucky and miserable protagonist, Seong Gi-Hun. Gi-Hun, drowning in debt and trying to fight through a divorce, a gambling addiction, and an ill mother, is met with the opportunity of a lifetime.

Approached by a salesman in the subway of Seoul, Gi-Hun is challenged to a traditional Korean game of ddjaki. Struggling and desperate for a source of funds, Gi-Hun accepts the proposal and is eventually entered into what is now the infamous “Squid Game.” While the “Squid Game” seems like a culmination of typical childhood games, they are fatal.

Throughout the games, a cash prize is increased after each player is eliminated, or murdered, which the winner of the games will earn all of.

As the games progress through Gi-Hun’s point of view, another storyline is revealed about the “Frontman” of the games.

After broken alliances, rioting and violence, and hundreds of deaths, Seong Gi-Hun is named the victor of the “Squid Game” after he murders the last contestant, his childhood friend.

As a result of the traumatic and horrific experiences he endured at the games, Gi-Hun enters a state of depression and alcoholism, and the season ends with a mysterious call left up for interpretation.

In the second season, the focus remains on Gi-Hun, whose hatred and anger towards the games drove him to begin a manhunt to find the salesman that recruited him into the “Squid Game.”

Later, Gi-Hun is taken to a car belonging to the “Frontman,” where he makes the bold decision to re-enter the games. Though his original plan had been to take down the “Frontman” with the firing squad, he entered the game completely alone, desperate for revenge and righteousness.

His second experience in the games proves to be equally as fatal, with new, higher stakes games having been implemented by the creator. Throughout the games, Gi-Hun meets a variety of people, including another childhood friend Park Jung-Bae, a group of violent and heartless players, and most importantly, the “Frontman” who has disguised himself as a player.

In addition to the games in season 2, the story-line established during season 1 following the investigator unfolds, revealing his plan to discover the island on which the games are being held.

Season 2 also ends on a cliffhanger, while the game is still in progress.

The second season of “Squid Game” not only incorporated humor by including various characters, scenes, and interactions that altered the serious image the show upholds, but also maintained the charm and creativity of the previous season.

The season seemed to get a very positive reaction on social media, with fans immediately creating theories regarding what could continue in the game.

Within the first 11 days of release, “Squid Game” amassed 126.2 million viewers, a remarkable statistic for a Netflix original. It isn’t hard to see why the show got such extreme recognition- the series makes you root for each character, and cling to the edge of your seat as each moment progresses.

An element of the second season that stood out against the first was the cinematography, particularly with certain characters and interactions. New actors Lee Seo-hwan and Lee Byung-hun were able to convey an impressive range of emotions and scenarios for a nearly unimaginable situation and the film crew reached new heights with their usage of effects and coloring, which proved to be abundant in the second season.

Overall, the series and the response it received were undeniably positive and remarkable. Though the season was fairly short, with only 7 episodes averaging about 55 minutes each, the content was extremely heavy and impressive.

The second season was a fantastic addition to the already engaging series and was a successful way to continue to develop “Squid Game.”

Season 3 has already been confirmed by director Hwang Dong-hyuk with a release date promised sometime this year.

Grade: A