7 similarities between Squid Game Season 2 and Season 1, details explored

Squid Game Season 2 is on its way to reaching the pinnacles of popularity as much as the first season of the Netflix show did. There are certain distinguishing differences between Squid Game season two and season one, with the latter consisting of ten long-drawn-out episodes. However, despite these similarities, there's a lot that the two seasons of Squid Game have in common.

There are comparatively apparent similarities such as the elusive identities of Player 001 in both seasons and the murder of Gi-hun's childhood friends leading up to the finale. There are also a few similarities that aren't so readily apparent. Here's everything we know about the seven ways in which Squid Game season 2 mirrors the first season.

Similarities between Squid Game season 1 and 2 explored in detail

Keep reading to learn more about the similarities between the two seasons of Squid Game on Netflix.

1) The game of Red Light, Green Light

Audiences all over the world have now accustomed themselves to the terrifyingly lethal game of Red Light, Green Light on the Netflix show. The first season opened with this game, which is particularly telling because until the game began, the contestants were shown taking little heed. Once the game began showering bullets upon the losers, Gi-hun and the others realized that their situation was dire.

Similarly, the first official game of the second season too was Red Light, Green Light. Armed with the gift of hindsight this time, Gi-hun tried his best to save as many fellow contestants as he could.

2) The clandestine organ-harvesting business

With so many dead bodies of contestants piling up as a result of their losing in the games, a clandestine organ-harvesting business seems like a lucrative idea. The first season saw a group of guards dipping their hands into this trade until it was shut down by the Front Man.

The second season saw the officer responsible once again harping on the organ harvesting trade. This time, however, they are more careful and discreet. Mention must be made here about the character of No-eul or Guard 011, who attempts to foil the organ harvester's plans by making sure that the organs from dead contestants can't be harvested.

3) Mass violence between the contestants

Both seasons of Squid Game feature an elaborate instance of mass violence between the contestants themselves, outside of the games. In the first season, the anti-social and criminal elements among the contestants hurt the other players in the night. In the second season too, those who had voted in favor of continuing the games ended up harming those who had voted for the games to stop.

4) Two of Gi-hun's childhood friends in the games

Season 1 of the show presented the character of Cho Sang-woo, a childhood friend of Gi-hun who was otherwise thought to be very bright and successful but ha some ran into heavy debt. The second season brought this idea back by bringing to the screen another of Gi-hun's childhood friends named Jung-bae. Unfortunately, both of these friends met their end before the finale of each season.

5) The identities of Player 001

The identity of Player 001 remains a pivotal plot twist throughout both seasons. In the first season, Player 001, or Oh Nam-il was initially thought to be a helpless old man but later turned out to be the very founder of the games. The second season, however, let the audiences know right at the beginning that this time Player 001 was Young-il or In-ho, i.e. The Front Man himself. Towards the end of the season, he reveals his true identity while crushing Gi-hun's rebellion.

6) Jun-ho's quest to expose Squid Game

The police detective Jun-ho is present in both seasons of Squid Game. The first season saw him sneaking into the island, then taking up the disguise of a guard and working his way upwards, only to be shot at by the Front Man who turned out to be his long-estranged brother. In the second season, Jun-ho continued his quest of exposing the island and the games. However, this time he could not reach the island as the boatman turned out to be working in consort with the organizers of the games.

7) Both Squid Game seasons 1 and 2 end with major cliffhangers

Both the installments have cliffhanger endings. The first season ended with Gi-hun as the winner of the games, vowing to take revenge for his loss. The second season two ends with the failed rebellion led by Gi-hun to break the game from within.