I really liked season 2 so far, so much that I can't keep myself from watching just "one" episode per day. I don't quite understand why many people seem disappointed or dislike it. My friend who binged the show in a few days told me he felt disappointed, but so far, I can't agree.
The way the first game turned out, yeah, I can understand that the Queen didn't feel "threatening". But I think he and others forget how short-sighted and emotional most people behave, especially under stress.
Of course at first it seems like there's no way the players would voluntarily be on the Queen's team if they could easily win by just remaining one group. But once they chip away at that group and a loss seems possible, self preservation kicks in and the Queen does make a good point (although the players don't seem to see why).
We do know that she must have been playing that game for a long time because she's so hellbent on getting Arisu for her team because "he's my type". So through her, we get a good idea how lonely and sad this game actually is: You have to keep playing it with the same people and her team is very small to begin with for a game that she always won so far (that seems like a bit of a plothole, unless this was the first time the game was played).
It's the psychological part and the selfishness of people that makes this a dangerous game.
As to those who complain that the boy just shows up and then is immediately dropped, well...first of all, it does seem highly unrealistic a child could have lived through most of these games. But maybe he was just sent to this world? Also, he does have that lady who took him under her wings, so it does make some sense to leave him to her. They just helped him to extend his visa.
Now as for the second game, it was very tense. I especially liked the flashback and the speech by the King's boss. He does have a point about the law, but the King also has a point about having ideals and standing up for them.
I am not surprised that WESTERN audiences may not understand that concept anymore or think anyone would put so much meaning into it, but I think it makes a lot sense for a country where society functions the way it does because people were brought up this way for centuries.
I also thought Chisiya was betting on the King to make the choices he did, based on reading his character, so I wouldn't say it was unrealistic or dumb luck. I honestly wouldn't have been surprised if both had died or Chisiya had.
Speaking of him though, I do think he has Urbach-Wiethe disease, a very rare (400 recorded cases) condition where a person is incapable of feeling fear. Because tell me what you want, but logic only goes so far and he has shown that he doesn't seem capable of feeling fear before.
I was actually more surprised to see that he was a doctor in the real world. I never quite thought as what I imagined him before, but definitely not a doctor.
The King did win in a way, because Chisiya showed what choice he made in real life. He choose "the greater good" and saved recommended patients who kept the clinic open, understanding that he may help the patients who actually earned the surgery, but that eventually the result would be that all of those patients had to die and not just some. It's a mere logical decision, not a very humane or ethical one.
To me, this made it one of the best episodes of the show so far. I really like the world building that is done on this show and the focus on the value of life and what value we give it. None of the King's or Queen's seemed the least bit phased (not counting the selfish prison King and his game was one that didn't value life in any way) about their imminent death and I'm guessing all of this will bring us some conclusion later on in the show.
So don't watch this show if all you care about is gore or how you would like to see the show. Thinking like that has already ruined shows like Twin Peaks season 2 or Game of Thrones. Just enjoy the ride and be happy that there is thought-provoking tv like this:).
The way the first game turned out, yeah, I can understand that the Queen didn't feel "threatening". But I think he and others forget how short-sighted and emotional most people behave, especially under stress.
Of course at first it seems like there's no way the players would voluntarily be on the Queen's team if they could easily win by just remaining one group. But once they chip away at that group and a loss seems possible, self preservation kicks in and the Queen does make a good point (although the players don't seem to see why).
We do know that she must have been playing that game for a long time because she's so hellbent on getting Arisu for her team because "he's my type". So through her, we get a good idea how lonely and sad this game actually is: You have to keep playing it with the same people and her team is very small to begin with for a game that she always won so far (that seems like a bit of a plothole, unless this was the first time the game was played).
It's the psychological part and the selfishness of people that makes this a dangerous game.
As to those who complain that the boy just shows up and then is immediately dropped, well...first of all, it does seem highly unrealistic a child could have lived through most of these games. But maybe he was just sent to this world? Also, he does have that lady who took him under her wings, so it does make some sense to leave him to her. They just helped him to extend his visa.
Now as for the second game, it was very tense. I especially liked the flashback and the speech by the King's boss. He does have a point about the law, but the King also has a point about having ideals and standing up for them.
I am not surprised that WESTERN audiences may not understand that concept anymore or think anyone would put so much meaning into it, but I think it makes a lot sense for a country where society functions the way it does because people were brought up this way for centuries.
I also thought Chisiya was betting on the King to make the choices he did, based on reading his character, so I wouldn't say it was unrealistic or dumb luck. I honestly wouldn't have been surprised if both had died or Chisiya had.
Speaking of him though, I do think he has Urbach-Wiethe disease, a very rare (400 recorded cases) condition where a person is incapable of feeling fear. Because tell me what you want, but logic only goes so far and he has shown that he doesn't seem capable of feeling fear before.
I was actually more surprised to see that he was a doctor in the real world. I never quite thought as what I imagined him before, but definitely not a doctor.
The King did win in a way, because Chisiya showed what choice he made in real life. He choose "the greater good" and saved recommended patients who kept the clinic open, understanding that he may help the patients who actually earned the surgery, but that eventually the result would be that all of those patients had to die and not just some. It's a mere logical decision, not a very humane or ethical one.
To me, this made it one of the best episodes of the show so far. I really like the world building that is done on this show and the focus on the value of life and what value we give it. None of the King's or Queen's seemed the least bit phased (not counting the selfish prison King and his game was one that didn't value life in any way) about their imminent death and I'm guessing all of this will bring us some conclusion later on in the show.
So don't watch this show if all you care about is gore or how you would like to see the show. Thinking like that has already ruined shows like Twin Peaks season 2 or Game of Thrones. Just enjoy the ride and be happy that there is thought-provoking tv like this:).