AceShowbiz - After much anticipation, the second season of "Squid Game" is finally streaming on Netflix. However, reactions are mixed as critics and fans voice their disappointment in the show's latest installment.

When the first season of "Squid Game" hit Netflix back in 2021, it broke records and garnered over 2 billion hours of views, becoming the platform's most-watched show. The brutal survival thriller captivated audiences with its shocking violence and high stakes. Years later, season two has finally dropped, but it seems to have lost some of its allure.

The Hollywood Reporter's critic described the season as "a thorough letdown," stating bluntly that it "simply doesn't work." Collider echoed this sentiment, pointing out predictable plot twists and criticized the show for spoon-feeding its audience, "You can see the plot twists coming a mile away even when a new game is introduced - and if you don't, the show flashes lights in your face to make sure you're prepared for the incoming twist."

One major change that fans have noticed is the significant reduction in on-screen violence. Where the first episode of season one featured 255 kills during the infamous Red Light, Green Light game, the debut episode of season two has merely two. This decision has left many viewers feeling underwhelmed. A TV source told The Sun, "Instead of hooking fans with the same kind of horror in series two, makers have done the exact opposite."

Critics from various outlets were also divided. Rebecca Nicholson from The Guardian lamented the show's pacing and stated that "for the first three of these seven new episodes, it struggles to find its purpose." However, she acknowledged a decent twist that works, albeit one that isn't distinct enough from the first season. Ed Power of The Telegraph drew comparisons to a "difficult second album from an overnight pop star," noting that while the essence of "Squid Game" is intact, it falls short of surpassing its predecessor.

On a more positive note, Tim Glanfield from The Times praised the series, describing it as "more complex and nuanced" with careful and thoughtful pacing. Meanwhile, Annabel Nugent of The Independent acknowledged that capturing lightning in a bottle twice is a monumental task, but recognized the efforts of creator Hwang Dong Hyuk not to replicate the shock of the first outing.

Overall, while season two of "Squid Game" has managed to climb to the top spot on Netflix's daily TV rankings, it has struggled to meet the high expectations set by its groundbreaking first season. The criticisms range from its reduction in violence and predictable twists to its slow pacing and lack of new thrilling elements. Yet, with a potential third season hinted at, fans can only hope the series will regain its lost edge.