The first season of Netflix’s Squid Game, which premiered in 2021, became a cultural phenomenon and set a high bar for K-dramas on the international stage. As anticipation for Season 2 builds, fans were surprised to learn it has already earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, even though it hasn’t been released yet. Here’s how it happened.
How Did “Squid Game” Season 2 Get Nominated for a Golden Globe Before Its Release?
The nomination of Squid Game Season 2 ahead of its December 26 release has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions among fans and industry insiders. According to Forbes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which oversees the Golden Globes, requires shows to submit episodes for consideration by a specific cutoff date—November 4 this year. Netflix reportedly provided early access to all seven episodes of the upcoming season to HFPA voters, ensuring the series’ eligibility.
Netflix’s strict anti-piracy measures include watermarking episodes and enforcing embargoes on reviews and interviews to prevent leaks. These precautions ensure that the series remains shrouded in mystery, maintaining its appeal for the broader audience while satisfying awards season requirements.
While it’s common for movies to receive nominations before their wide release, such early recognition is rare for TV shows. Streaming platforms like Netflix, however, have increasingly adopted this practice during awards season. The first season of Squid Game received three nominations in the 79th Golden Globe Awards in 2022, including a win for Best Supporting Actor O Yeong Su, marking the first time a Korean-born actor won the award. Additionally, Squid Game Season 1 was nominated for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Actor for Lee Jung Jae.
However, Squid Game isn’t the only Netflix project earning attention before its premiere. Jamie Foxx’s Netflix special What Had Happened Was… was also nominated, even if it only debuted a day after the nominees were announced.
The Golden Globe nomination places Squid Game Season 2 in competition with acclaimed series like The Diplomat, Shogun, The Day of the Jackal, Slow Horses, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
What Is “Squid Game” Season 2 About?
Despite the buzz surrounding its nomination, Netflix has revealed little about the plot of the second season of Squid Game. The official synopsis hints that three years after winning the Squid Game, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung Jae) abandons plans to move abroad and returns with a renewed resolve, entering another life-or-death competition with new participants vying for the massive prize. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 456 billion won.
Deadline adds further context, noting that the second season begins with Gi-hun using his 45.6 billion won prize to fund a search for the people behind the deadly game. Operating from a disused motel turned into a fortress, Gi-hun is joined by a group of underworld figures and ne’er-do-wells in his pursuit of justice. The return of Gi-hun suggests a continuation of the high-stakes psychological drama that drew viewers in the first season.
Squid Game season 2 premieres on Netflix on December 26, while the 82nd Golden Globe Awards will be held on Jan 6, 2025.
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