Squid Game season three was a disappointment for fans, bringing the smash hit series to an end that was neither satisfying nor cathartic… but did feature a slap-happy Cate Blanchett cameo. Still, the show remains one of Netflix’s biggest all-time successes, meaning there are plenty of eyeballs willing to check out season two of Squid Game: The Challenge.
When the show first appeared, cynics chuckled at the idea of a reality competition based on a drama about people literally dying to get rich; Squid Game may have cautioned against capitalism and greed, but Squid Game: The Challenge encourages and enables it. But thematic confusion (and those allegations of harsh conditions behind the scenes) took a back seat when the spin-off proved to be a big hit; it was even nominated for an Emmy and won a BAFTA.
Now we’ve got a new cast of money-hungry competitors gunning for those millions. Here’s the official trailer, stuffed with familiar-looking games, pink guards not wielding assault rifles, and one guy in particular who thinks lying about having a baby on the way gives him an advantage. (Considering who won the fictional Squid Game at the end of season three—he might be on to something?)
“This time, 456 brand-new contestants will enter the ultimate test of strategy, alliances, and endurance as they compete for a life-changing $4.56 million prize,” Netflix’s press site tells us. “Inspired by the iconic original series—with shocking new twists and never-before-seen games—season two raises the stakes higher than ever. As players face elimination at every turn, only one can emerge victorious. New players. New games. New rules.”
Of course, “elimination” in this context means “you go home as poor as you were when you got here,” rather than “you go home in a gift-wrapped coffin, probably with a few organs ripped out of your still-warm corpse.”
Squid Game: The Challenge season two arrives November 4 on Netflix. A third season is already in the works.