As the buzz for ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 intensifies, director Hwang Dong-hyuk gives fans insight into his personal connection with the show’s thrilling challenges.
Within a mere month of its debut, ‘Squid Game’ shattered records, securing its position as Netflix’s most-viewed series. Its success was monumental, marking a breakthrough for Korean and foreign-language productions by achieving a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nomination. The phenomenon didn’t stop there. Netflix, riding the crest of this success, unveiled a reality competition series inspired by the drama in November 2023, further expanding the franchise.
With the series gearing up for the release of its second season on December 26, fans are eager to see the return of Gi-hun. According to recent teasers, Gi-hun is set to re-enter the deadly competition, this time with a pivotal role. He appears to be guiding contestants towards survival, possibly encouraging them to challenge the game’s ruthless organizers. However, success will hinge on overcoming their innate greed, setting the stage for a gripping conflict that promises to persist into a third season.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Hwang Dong-hyuk shared details about the show’s overwhelming success. He confessed that out of all the challenges depicted in the first season, he would most likely ace the honeycomb challenge. Hwang fondly recalled his childhood experiences, when he employed the same trick as Seong Gi-hun did in Season 1—licking the honeycomb to soften its outline and carefully carve out the required shape—illustrating a personal connection to this intense moment in the series.
The Honeycomb Challenge, featuring prominently in ‘Squid Game’s’ third episode titled ‘The Man with the Umbrella’, requires participants to carve specific shapes from fragile honeycomb candy using a small needle. This task, based on the South Korean game ‘ppopgi’ or ‘dalgona candy’, is simple in premise yet demandingly intricate, with success ensuring continued survival in the series. The many shapes, ranging from easy circles and triangles to the near-impossible umbrella, test the players’ nerves and precision. Seong Gi-hun’s quick thinking to lick the candy, thus easing the task, symbolizes the ingenuity required to survive in the deadly games.
The cultural resonance of dalgona candy in South Korea adds another layer to this game. Many remember it fondly as a nostalgic street snack from their childhoods, where success meant not only bragging rights but often winning an extra treat. The global audience found this cultural nugget fascinating, with the Honeycomb Challenge going viral on platforms like TikTok, where fans tried their hand at recreating this nerve-wracking game.
As the second season unfolds, Hwang Dong-hyuk acknowledges the ‘immense pressure’ he felt in crafting a storyline that would rival the first season’s success. Initially skeptical about surpassing the original, Hwang soon found his stride. As he dove into Gi-hun’s new journey, the narrative evolved into something unexpectedly compelling, introducing more nuanced characters and original, intriguing games.
Netflix’s decision to continue the series with a third season, announced in June 2022, confirms ‘Squid Game’s’ status as a flagship series for the platform. What started as an insurmountable challenge for Hwang gradually transformed into a joyous endeavor, fueled by confidence in the sequel’s potential to meet fan expectations. With this renewed vigor, Hwang took on the daunting task of expanding the series’ universe with innovative stories and challenges.
As ‘Squid Game 2’ prepares for its much-anticipated premiere on December 26, fans can look forward to more thrilling narratives and challenges that promise to captivate viewers worldwide, all while echoing the cultural richness that made the series a global sensation.
Source: Yahoo
