Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes Drops to 52 on Premiere Day
With the release of Season 3 of "Squid Game," one of Netflix's biggest hits, international media reviews of the series have been sharply divided.
On June 27 (local time), the New York Times published a review stating, "For a second or third season of a creative work to be worthwhile, there needs to be something that surprises us." The review continued, "While most TV series may have some kind of formula, when the formula being repeated is one the show itself just created, it becomes even harder not to notice." The article criticized the series for its repetitive story structure, saying, "The types of characters derived from the long history of Westerns and war films are one-dimensional and predictable." Regarding director Hwang Donghyuk, who was responsible for both the script and direction, the review commented, "He still orchestrates action skillfully, but his imagination is lacking."
The Hollywood Reporter, a film industry magazine, wrote, "Netflix's once-sensational hit limps to a disappointing conclusion. Season 3 is too long a journey to yield only a few occasional insights, and the experience is mostly unpleasant." The review added, "If the new characters introduced in Season 2 felt disappointingly thin, Season 3 doesn't even attempt to make them more substantial. The common thread among all of them is that they seem less like complex humans with agency and inner lives, and more like pieces being moved around a chessboard."
The Guardian also commented, "If Seasons 2 and 3 had been combined, it would have made for a much stronger season." The review noted, "The brutality has intensified, the violence continues relentlessly like constant torture, and the satire that was present in the early season has gradually faded. While there is certainly spectacle, it does not carry the sharp message of Season 1."
Variety, a U.S. entertainment outlet, stated, "Season 3, with its repetitive game structure and lack of new characters, is not as memorable or grand as the first two seasons." However, the review also noted, "There are still some compelling twists in the final six episodes that make them worthwhile."
In fact, on Rotten Tomatoes, the American film and TV review aggregator, the current critic score (Tomatometer) stands at 86%, while the general audience score (Popcorn Score) is at 52%. Season 1 recorded a Tomatometer of 95% and a Popcorn Score of 83%, while Season 2 had a Tomatometer of 83% and a Popcorn Score of 63%.
Some outlets offered positive reviews. The Times stated after the release of "Squid Game" Season 3, "Netflix's decision to delay the conclusion of Season 2 without much reason was a major misstep. Fortunately, however, the director has regained control of the work and brings back its signature brutal charm in the final season." Collider described it as "an overwhelming finale that maximizes every strength and delivers even more."
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