Shows Watched in 2025 with Reviews

Completed January 02, 2025

SPOILER ALERT

I had never watched Squid Game before, but with the release of Season 2, I finally gave it a go. Despite the countless spoilers circulating online, the drama remains a captivating experience.

Watching it all at once, the story truly focuses on Seong Gi Hun’s journey as Player 456. In such a short time, you grow attached to the various characters, only to witness them tragically die at the hands of the pink-suited soldiers. While the outcome is somewhat predictable from the beginning, the discovery of each game and the participants' ingenious strategies are incredibly engaging, pulling you deep into the Squid Game universe.

This twisted "game" that sorts South Korean citizens annually is as cruel as it is fascinating.

I particularly loved the parallel story of Hwang Jun Ho, which offers a glimpse into the dark backstage of Squid Game beyond its colorful sets. The tragic fates of Kang Sae Byeok (067), Ali (199), and Ji Yeong (240) left a strong impression.

Hats off to everyone behind this drama for their phenomenal work! From the cast to the set design, costumes, special effects, and the soundtrack by Jung Jaeil—it was all absolutely stunning.

Completed January 03, 2025

SPOILER ALERT

First of all, despite the negative opinions I’ve seen here and there, I really enjoyed this season—even more than the first.

The first two episodes focus on Seong Gi Hun’s hunt for the Recruiter. I particularly liked these episodes because they clearly show Seong Gi Hun's determination and the massive resources he uses to track him down. The three-year time jump was necessary for the drama's coherence, especially considering the actor’s visible aging, which ties perfectly to the trauma of Squid Game that still haunts him. Gong Yoo is phenomenal as the Recruiter, playing the villain to perfection by showing no emotion whatsoever. The game has consumed him so much that it makes you question if he’s even human.

The two new games are well-designed, adding tension and focusing much more on teamwork and the mental aspects of survival. The new voting rule after each game is brilliant, introducing an additional layer of strategy and tension among the players.

This season introduces characters reminiscent of Season 1, even Player 001’s counterpart appears, a worker in the Squid Game system—it’s surprising Seong Gi doesn’t make the connection at all....

Meanwhile, we follow Kang No Eul working behind the scenes of Squid Game as one of the triangles. It’s always fascinating to see the game from an outsider’s perspective, though his role hasn’t been fully explored yet, much like Hwang Jun Ho, who’s been aimlessly circling the same plotline since the games began. To make matters worse, there’s a traitor in the team… Things might have gone differently if Jun Ho had just told Seong Gi the Front Man’s identity at the start of the season!
Also, the rebellion against the pink-suited soldiers is honestly badass.
On top of that, the production quality remains outstanding, with great actors, beautifully detailed sets, an impactful soundtrack, and top-notch special effects.

Completed January 04, 2025

SPOILER ALERT

I devoured the first 10 episodes. Very good episodes that are easy to watch. The two main actors perform excellently, and the story is engaging. However, it seems that with each episode, unnecessary details are added, making one wonder why... The characters are in constant danger, without respite; they practically have a subscription to the hospital...
What happened to Ji Sang U and Na Yu Ri's show (by the way, in the end, these two characters served NO PURPOSE AT ALL)?

But what was the point of the entire last episode, seriously?? They just needed to have the villain die, END OF STORY.
Why make the male lead disappear? Sure, you feel sorry for the female lead, but you've known her since childhood, been married for 3 YEARS, and you know she knows the story, so WHY???? What he didn't want to experience—living in uncertainty, not knowing if his wife is alive—he ends up imposing on HIS OWN WIFE! The entire last episode is filled with confusion, shifting from dream to reality, past to present, without any transition, making it incomprehensible. It was just ridiculous; throughout the episode, I wondered where it was heading, and then the part in Africa, seriously??

Everything was going well; why half-ruin the drama at the end? Might as well have stopped at episode 11 or skipped directly to the end of the last episode...