After leaving us with suspense regarding how Yi-jae’s journey would continue, I must say the wait was truly worth it. By the end of it, I truly had my jaw dropped and eyes filled with tears. The ending, the narrative, the twists; all were uncalled for. And I still stand by what I said at the end of the review of Part I; it would be a loss if you don’t watch this show.
Also Read: Review of Part 1
Here’s all there is to know about ‘Death’s Game Part 2.’
‘Death’s Game Part 2’: Story
As we make our way to Part 2, , Yi-jae finds himself stuck in the same loop as before – but this time, it’s revenge that’s running through his veins. All he sees is vengeance. His goal is to avenge Ji-soo’s death by chasing after Tae-woo in his remaining reincarnations; going against the wishes and rules of Death. But he also realizes that no matter what, he needs to fulfill the deal he made with Death. So now, he embodies a psychopathic painter who kills, a coward-turned-selfless police detective, a homeless beggar, and the man who was involved in a car accident and came across Yi-jae in the very first episode. As narratives unfold, he realizes that all these reincarnations are interconnected with one another, and they all lead to the same person: Tae-woo. Upon strategic planning and thoroughly-thought execution, he finally manages to bring down the flying-high Tae-woo. But his misery doesn’t end there, because one final reincarnation remains. So, who would that be?
While he’s transforming from one body to another, Yi-jae gains a profound understanding of each life. He comes to realize that after one passes away, nothing remains of their existence; it’s all gone, except for pain and grief. Surrounded by grey clouds of guilt for having taken his own life, Yi-jae starts to realize the sufferings of his mother and now-dead girlfriend Ji-soo. In an alternate turn of events, he earnestly pleads for one last chance to start all over again. Death places a single bullet in her gun and hands it over to Yi-jae. And now his fate hinges on whether the gun will fire; if it does, he will be left to be handled by God, but if it doesn’t, he can have his life back. The question now arises: will Yi-jae succeed in beating Death’s wishes or see himself in hell?
‘Death’s Game Part 2’: Performances
I think I have grown to become a fan of the star cast. It wouldn’t be a surprise if I end up binging on each of their filmography. What wonderful performances by each of them! The way I said last time that I wish there was more depth to these reincarnations, they have done exactly that and it’s wonderful to see it being done so beautifully. More than half the charm of the show is guaranteed in its ensemble. What’s even greater is that none of the actors try to steal the spotlight away from the story; instead, they play their parts and do only as much is required from them, which is why they fit so perfectly in the storyline.
You can still feel the spine-chilling sensation when you look at Park So-dam embodying Death. She continues to exude strength and dominance. She portrays the cold persona of Death with so much ease, with just the right amount of humour, which doesn’t let the show get too dark. The way she delivers her dialogues and plays her character is what makes her scary, thrilling as well as intriguing and interesting.
Seo In-guk as Choi Yi-jae still remains the character a viewer can relate to the most. He smoothly transitions between the feelings of each character and handles their personalities with so much care. Despite not being In-guk who plays different characters, when he wakes up in Death’s abode, he looks as though he has experienced it all himself. His expressions and body language are just that good. His character development has also been shown remarkably, with an equal amount of innocence and vulnerability.
Let’s all agree, the star of the last four episodes was definitely Kim Ji-hoon, who played Tae-woo. The way he gave off villainous vibes and embodied wickedness was exuding through the screens. Having delivered a noteworthy performance, the actor added a sinister depth to his character which made viewers feel unsettled. His performance was one of those that you keep on talking about once a show is over.
Lastly, but not the least, all the emotional aspects in the show have been brought forward by Kim Mi-kyung, who plays Yi Jae's mother. Though she maintained a neutral behavior and expression in Part 1, she’s way more expressive in these episodes. She brought with her some heart-crushing emotional scenes, which were much-needed to enhance the narrative. Her innocence, her tears, her guilt; it was like you yourself were embodying her because her acting was so pure.
Apart from them, just like the last time, the cast who played the different reincarnations delivered commendable performances in portraying their characters. They really took the story ahead, and stood out.
‘Death’s Game Part 2’: Script, Direction & Technical Aspects
The writing has been done by the director himself. And he did not disappoint. Like I previously said, within the first few minutes, you're sold on this idea of this fictional world being a reality. The writing has absolutely continued to amaze us and leave jaws dropped. The message revealed at the end, which states, ‘There’s only one you,’ has been shown so uniquely through this show. It touches upon dark, hard-hitting realities of life, while also perfectly balancing it out with heartfelt scenes. So, in a way, the show was heavy to consume but could be taken lightly at times. The whole idea of making the viewer look at their lives has been accomplished.
Kim Jung-won and Lee Eui-yeol's cinematography has also remained at the same level. The smooth camerawork has effortlessly maintained a steady and interesting pace, ensuring that the story is revealed slowly. The way there have been different types of camera setups and shots used is visible in the way you come across each character. There is absolutely no room for dull moments in the show. The camera angles kept the viewer curious about what each character’s next move would be.
The editing? Out of this world! Park Hyun-jung has an artistic vision. This time, there were no stretched out scenes; instead, the cuts were so clean and no scene was too prolonged or too quick. The line between the past and the present time has been treated with more care, giving importance to only those scenes that add depth to the storyline. There are many neat transitions between the exciting, action-fuelled scenes and emotional, hard-hitting scenes. Each character has been shed light on, and no character has been undermined. Additionally, the show has ended up looking visually appealing because of the wonderful use of various special effects.
Also, the music composed by Park Sung-il, which was played only at essential scenes, has ignited the necessary emotions in the viewer.
‘Death’s Game Part 2’: Cast & Crew
Director: Ha Byung-hoon
Cast: Seo In-guk, Park So-dam, Nam Kyung-eup, Go Youn-jung, Kim Mi-kyung, Kim Ji-hoon, Kim Jae-wook, Oh Jung-se
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Premiere Date: January 5 (Part II)
Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, Reincarnation
Language: Korean
Duration: 35-60 minutes
‘Death’s Game Part 2’: Can Kids Watch It?
Absolutely not! This show is highly violent, disturbingly graphic, and discusses mature themes which are not suitable for young children and can leave a significant impact if watched.
Outlook's Verdict
Hands down, one of my favourite shows! In all honesty, there's nothing bad about this show; it's so perfectly well-made. This show began as an exciting plot which dealt with Yi-jae’s survival, but it ended up teaching the viewers a deep lesson in the most unique way. At its core, the plot just tries to tell you that death is never the solution to any of your problems, and that life is worth living. It makes you realize that life has so much to offer you, if you embrace it thoroughly. The essence of the show is that death is like a disease; you bring sadness to the people you leave behind. The whole story keeps you hooked, start to end, not knowing that you will end up reflecting on your life. It stays etched in your brain and heart for a while, making it an impactful show, alongside a must-watch experience.
