Entertainment”Round 6″ returns with season 2; why?After the success of the first part, the release of a sequel is no surprise; but leaves doubts about the real need for new episodesBy Editorial

Article published on December 26, 2024 in Rolling Stone. To read the original in English, click here.

The story behind the second season of Round 6 It could be a story about the long-delayed return of the South Korean series.

Released in 2021, the first part brought a violent satire about capitalism, where financially desperate people compete in a series of children’s games and the only surviving player wins a fortune in cash. Production was so difficult that the creator Hwang Dong-hyuk stated that he lost “eight or nine” teeth due to stress.

The experience left him doubtful about producing a sequel, although the first season ended with a remarkable cliffhanger.

What motivated the resumption of Round 6?

“Money,” he replied. Hwang emphatically to BBC.

Although the first season was a huge global success, I honestly didn’t earn much. So doing the second part will also help me make up for the success of the first.”

The situation of Hwang reflects a complicated reality in the entertainment industry, where creators often face financial difficulties even after the resounding success of their works.

Ironically, the director’s circumstances are not so far removed from those of the characters in Round 6which returns with seven new episodes.

The chapters are still well-crafted in many ways, even if they have succumbed to streaming bloat, essentially functioning as a half-season whose story will conclude next year.

But they do not justify their own existence strongly enough. Unless you understand that the financial compensation deserved by Hwang be a reason for a sequel.

Round 6: Season 2

In the new season, the protagonist Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), instead of taking advantage of the wealth acquired in the previous competition, he chooses to destroy the game that brought him so much suffering.

Two years after his victory, Gi-hun failed to unravel the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic Seller (Gong Yoo), responsible for recruiting new participants. At the same time, the police Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) continues his search for his missing brother within the game, creating a parallel between the narratives of the two main characters.

The plot develops slowly before taking the protagonists back to the game’s island. The intensity of the disputes seems to have decreased compared to the first season, with a more contemplative approach to player voting and the moral dilemmas involved.

Although social criticism regarding economic inequality is a central theme of the series, this new phase does not present significant innovations in this aspect. The socioeconomic outlook has worsened since the first season premiered, but contemporary references are subtle and limited. One of the characters is a digital influencer ruined by promises of investment in cryptocurrencies, highlighting the modern traps that plague society.

Still, the performance of Lee Jung-jae continues to shine in the new season, as does the production design that impresses with visually striking sets. The essence of the games remains intact, although some elements may have lost some of the visceral intensity of the original.

The combination of suspense and emotional drama still permeates the new competitions; however, three games in seven episodes seem insufficient to sustain the pace expected by eager fans.

While Hwang seeks to delve deeper into the dark operations and motivations behind the game, there appears to be a lack of depth in the new season’s thematic explorations. The emotional climax and social criticism expected by viewers may not materialize as fully as desired.

Like this, Round 6 returns with different nuances — slower and more reflective — but still capturing the disturbing aspects of human nature under pressure. Hwang Dong-hyuk may have found a way to continue his creation while seeking to repair personal harm caused by his previous work.