Huge shock for Netflix as Squid Game Season 2 receives 0 Emmy Nominations

Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2 was not nominated once for this year’s Emmy Awards. The news came as a major shock, given the history of awards success for the show and its record-breaking viewer ratings. Released in December 2024, Season 2 became one of Netflix’s highest-rated releases.

But when the 2025 Emmy nominations were announced, Squid Game was left out of all categories. The full shutout applied to all the major fields. It was absent from drama series nominations, acting categories, directing, writing, and all technical categories like stunts, production design, and visual effects.

This was unusual, considering the first season had set several benchmarks at the Emmys and on the international award circuit.

Past awards' success created high expectations

The initial season of Squid Game, which launched in 2021, was a worldwide hit and broke multiple awards records. It was the first non-English language drama series to win major Emmy categories. The show took home awards for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor, and Outstanding Directing.

The show won a total of six Emmy Awards out of 14 nominations. Its lead cast and crew created history as the first Koreans to win in these categories—namely, lead actor Lee Jung-jae and director Hwang Dong-hyuk.

With all this success underpinning it, Season 2 was confidently anticipated to follow suit. The show sustained a robust global profile, was a leading title for Netflix by global viewing, and received huge attention at launch. Viewers’ expectations were high, and the season was eligible during the qualifying period for the 2025 Emmy Awards.

Strong promotion did not result in nominations for Squid Game Season 2

Netflix mounted a massive promotional campaign for Squid Game Season 2. Top performers from the program were entered in the acting categories. Lee Jung-jae was once again submitted for the Lead Actor category. Meanwhile, Lee Byung-hun and several new cast members—including Choi Seung-hyun and Park Sung-hoon—were entered in supporting categories.

The production also went after drama, directing, writing, and technical nominations, such as stunts and production design. These efforts mirrored the same strategy Netflix followed with the first season. Before the Emmy announcements, Squid Game Season 2 had also been acknowledged at other events, including a Golden Globe nomination.

In spite of this, the Emmy result was completely blank.

Fierce competition and critical response contributed

Although Season 2 saw strong viewing figures, its reception from critics was less positive than the first season. Ratings were generally favorable but did not match the universal acclaim that Season 1 received. Critics acknowledged the show’s popularity but cited shifts in story impact and creative direction.

The 2025 Emmy race also included a number of big-name new series and returning favorites that swept the nominations. Shows such as The Studio, Severance, The White Lotus, and The Penguin earned multiple nominations in all major categories. Several of these series even set records for the most nominations received, making the competition tougher.

Experts believe Squid Game was excluded due to a mix of factors, including tougher competition and weaker critical momentum compared to Season 1. Some also point to possible shifts in Emmy voting patterns this year.

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Squid Game Season 2 received no Emmy nominations despite strong viewership and past awards success—a significant turn in its awards history.

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