NETFLIX’s survival thriller Squid Game has gone soft for series two.
There are just two murders in the first episode of the dystopian saga’s return – compared to a whopping 255 in series one’s opener.
The monstrous Red Light, Green Light game was so shocking it immediately sent the show viral and made it one of the streaming platform’s most-watched programmes ever – despite it being a dubbed, subtitled indie project from South Korea.
It’s much-anticipated return today (Dec 26), though, will leave fans’ lust for blood unsatisfied.
A TV source said: “Squid Game introduced the world to Korean drama and became a phenomenon.
“Most of that was down to the eye-popping murder games, the likes of which had never been seen beyond Hunger Games and Battle Royale.
“Instead of hooking fans with the same kind of horror in series two, makers have done the exact opposite.
“You’ll find more than two murders in an average episode of a British soap.”
To date, Squid Game series one has been watched by 300 million, with more than 2.8billion hours viewed since its release on September 17, 2021.
It follows 456 cash-strapped players who accepted a strange invitation to compete in children’s games.
A 45.6 billion WON prize (£28million) awaits for the winner, with a death sentence for the 455 losers.
Challenges included Red Light, Green Light – a game akin to our British Bulldog – tug of war and marbles.
It was won by Player 456 aka Seong Gi-hun.
Series two finds Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-Jae, determined to find the people behind the game using his fortune and put an end to the vicious sport.
The format spawned a real life game show version, Squid Game: The Challenge, where no blood was shed.
Mai Whelan, 56, was the surprise winner and took home $4.56 million (£3.57m)
