Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk delves into the themes and challenges of Squid Game's second season. Through a translator, he shares his thoughts on the storyline, character development, and the evolution of the games. This article explores the creative process and the timely issues raised by the show. Uncover the Secrets of Squid Game Season 2 with Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk
When Did Hwang Feel Ready to Write Season 2?
After signing the contract with Netflix, Hwang was ready to start writing season 2. He initially considered different ideas for Gi-hun's story after turning away from the flight. He thought Gi-hun could try to stop the games from the outside or track down the hosts one by one. However, he concluded that Gi-hun had to return to the games to have a more engaging story. He believed this could be an even better story than the first season.The game has changed in season 2 with the addition of a voting element. In-ho, the Front Man, allowed the players to vote to leave and split the money if it was a majority. This was to prove to Gi-hun the true nature of human greed. Hwang wanted to explore the question of whether the public or the majority can make the right decision in a free, democratic society.
Creating New Characters for Season 2
For season 2, Hwang added more younger players. Initially, he thought the participants in Squid Game had to be older due to debt. But after observing the world, he realized that young people were also willing to participate in such a brutal game. They believed they could hit the jackpot quickly through cryptocurrency or online gambling and found themselves in debt at a young age. This led to the inclusion of characters with relationships like a mother and son.In season 1, there was a married couple in the games, and their story sparked interest. Hwang saw the potential for greater drama when characters with existing relationships were brought into the games. This time, he brought in many characters with pre-existing relationships.
Centering on the Game Runners
In season 1, the viewers only got a glimpse of the masked people running the games through Jun-ho's eyes. After that, there was a lot of curiosity about this world. In seasons 2 and 3, with more time available, Hwang wanted to introduce the viewers to the other side of the story and give them more information about the organization and the people running the games.
Protecting Himself During Production
Writing, directing, and postproduction took over two years from May 2022. Hwang had to endure it all by himself. He made sure to eat well, sleep well, and go for dental checkups occasionally. He took it day by day and did his best. He didn't lose any teeth this time, but he did have an ache and needed to go to the dentist.
