Squid Game is back on Netflix with its highly anticipated second season, but the reactions have been mixed! Fans are divided, and some are even calling it a "teaser for Season 3". So, what's going on with Squid Game 2?

On December 26, Squid Game Season 2 dropped on Netflix, continuing the intense story of Gi-hun (Lee Jung Jae) as he returns to the game for revenge, facing off against The Front Man (Lee Byung Hun). The stakes are higher, and the game is back in full swing.

Season 1 of Squid Game made a massive splash when it premiered in 2021, earning multiple awards, including Best Actor for Lee Jung Jae and Best Director for Hwang Dong Hyuk at the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. With such huge success, many expected Season 2 to deliver, but it’s already sparking debate.

Some fans have expressed disappointment, saying that it feels more like a teaser for Season 3 rather than a full season. Critics are divided, with some praising it, while others find it lacking in certain areas.

Entertainment journalist Lama shared a positive review, saying, "Squid Game Season 2 is much crazier than the first one. The 'Dear Hunter' moment will make you feel like you're sitting on a bed of nails, and the action is intense, driven by retribution."

Ayush Sharma, a news writer for The Daily List, also praised the season, stating, "Squid Game Season 2 dives deeper into human psychology while raising the stakes. It connects thrilling action with mind games, and Lee Jung Jae’s performance is top-notch. The show has grown and improved."

However, Time magazine had a more critical take, saying, "Two out of the seven episodes are dull", and criticizing the slow pace.

They also mentioned that Squid Game 2 rehashes some of the plot points from Season 1, which made the show feel repetitive. They also pointed out that the new characters didn’t add much emotional depth and that some of the violent scenes seemed similar to what viewers had already seen.

Korean audiences also have mixed opinions, with some praising the drama and others feeling like it didn’t live up to the hype.

The mixed reactions have fans eagerly awaiting more, especially since Season 3 is already in the works! Both Seasons 2 and 3 were filmed simultaneously, and Season 3 is currently in post-production.

While there is no exact release date yet, it’s expected to drop in the first half of 2025. Fans can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

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BLACKPINK's Rosé has topped the December 2024 Idol Personal Brand Reputation rankings, beating out big names like G-Dragon and BTS's members!

The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute analyzed massive amounts of big data from November 28 to December 28, 2024.

They collected 194,169,629 data points from 1,730 idol brands, a 4.60% increase compared to the previous month.

The data tracked consumer participation, media interest, and community engagement to measure the idol brand reputation index.

Rosé’s rise to the top came from a surge in online consumer interest, positive feedback, and her active communication with fans. Her song "Apartment," along with her birthday celebrations, generated buzz in the data analysis, with keywords like "participate, confess, record" and "Apartment, Rosé, birthday" making the list. Her positive-to-negative ratio in the data was an impressive 93.28%, showing how loved she is by fans and media alike.

Other idols who made the top 30 included G-Dragon, Karina of aespa, Jang Wonyoung from IVE, and BTS's Jin, Cha Eun Woo, Jungkook, and Jimin. Despite fierce competition, Rosé’s brand reputation has remained unbeatable, solidifying her place at the top in December.

Director Koo Chang-hwan of the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute commented on the findings, noting a 7.84% increase in brand expansion and an 8.53% rise in brand communication for Rosé. It’s clear that her influence and popularity are only growing stronger!

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