'Squid Game' Season 2 Misses Out on Golden Globe as 'Shōgun' Wins, but Director Hwang's Words Inspire Hope

Netflix's global hit 'Squid Game' made history again with its second season nominated for Best Drama Series at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. However, the series narrowly missed out on the honor.

The awards ceremony, held on January 5 (local time) at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, saw FOX/Hulu's 'Shōgun' take home the prestigious award. 'Shōgun' dominated the night, sweeping four categories, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. Despite not winning, 'Squid Game 2's nomination itself was remarkable, as the series had not even premiered when the nod was announced.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am truly thankful for having 'Squid Game 2' nominated for such a significant award even before its release. We put our utmost effort into ensuring we wouldn't disappoint fans of Season 1, and I am delighted that the Golden Globes recognized our hard work first."

Squid Game 2' competed against heavyweight contenders, including 'Shōgun,' Peacock's 'The Day of the Jackal,' Netflix's 'The Diplomat,' Prime Video's 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith,' and Apple TV+'s 'Slow Horses.' From the start, 'Shōgun' was considered the frontrunner, partly due to its impressive showing at last year’s Primetime Emmy Awards, where it won 18 awards.

Although it missed out on the Golden Globe win, 'Squid Game 2' has been shattering records since its release. According to FlixPatrol, the series ranked No. 1 in all 93 countries where Netflix operates. In its first week, the show garnered 68 million views, surpassing Netflix’s previous record-holder 'Wednesday' Season 1, which achieved 50.1 million views.

Season 2 of 'Squid Game' follows the intense showdown between Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), with themes of revenge driving the story. Returning cast members Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo are joined by newcomers Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, and Park Gyu-young, adding further depth to the series.

The 'Squid Game' series already made history at the 79th Golden Globe Awards in 2022 when Oh Young-soo won Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, becoming the first Korean actor to receive a Golden Globe. Reflecting on the future, director Hwang hinted at his ambitions for the next installment, saying, "I’m aiming for Season 3 to make its mark."