[DreadBringer]

Yeah, would say this isn't as good as episode 1 overall, it does reduce some of this series' mysterious nature, but it's better in certain part. Other than that, this is really the definitive Kamen Rider Squid Game, as the game's seemingly not about killing off your competitors but instead various stages and missions.

It's rather quick that, now both Tsumuri and DGP have clear portrayal/explanation here. Tsumuri's someone that can contest Ace for the most mysterious character, but now she's clearly shown as someone who gathered Riders to fight against Jamatos, other than it being DGP's purpose, she's less fishy than what she's implied before, and seems that she's not a villainous scout like previous battle royale Rider series like Shiro and Sid (and thus one of the lead heroines, dunno if she or Neon is the primary), other than how she can put the Riders on danger as the game is a real war against Jamatos (with added difficulty of treasure hunting game, the players starting weak).

She also seems to be no-nonsense, with her attitude against Ace's date, and among Poppy and Izu, other Takahashi's lead females, she seems to be the balance between the 2, she had some enthusiasm (and Ichigo's pose), but is still rather grounded in explaining DGP to the contestants. Outside of that, the DGP also has countermeasure like strictly prohibiting fightings in Lounge, so it had some effort to keep the well-beings of the contestants. Tsumuri and DGP still has uncovered mysteries though, like their overall origin.

A contest that is about getting any of your wish granted would be bound to attract some morally dubious individuals (but no outright villains yet at this point like Asakura or Ryoma) regardless of if DGP staff has noble intentions (dunno what'd they do if the winner has dangerous wish), and Kanato Sumida/Da-Paan is a "don't judge books by its cover" scenario, but in a negative way. As a young student, Kanato has quite the "innocent" baby-faced look (with panda motif as his Rider too), but he's a cold-hearted man who brushes off anyone.

But the DGP contestants are still varied though, there are those who are at least decent person, like Morio Koganeya/Mary, who accepted Neon's offer to teamup, and later... like Neon, got brushed off by Kanato too. So it seems possible that Shirowe was genuinely selfless too before, and his wish probably can be about for others' sake or such.

Neon is relegated into another contestant here, but she seems to pick up the game quicker compared to Keiwa despite being another newcomer. Keiwa unwittingly gave Neon false hope though in baiting her when talking about Sara being her fan. Michinaga is also someone cocky, but as he's a meanie overall, he's the type who actually puts down others for that like Keiwa and Neon (it'd be mean regardless if they're deserving or not), while Ace is full of himself but defended them from said remark.

Outside of the general episode quality, the lead characters are established well here though. Ace takes up more focus than before although Keiwa stays the POV.

Keiwa's naivety shines here with him struggling to process what happened, being confused of what he should do regarding the game, or doesn't understand people enough like their desires and why would they risk their life to get what they want. Previously, Keiwa talked about people only getting married and be happy as ideal world, so here, he doesn't realize how living is more than just surviving, people can have more in their lives, something to live or work for, what they do to reach happiness. In a more morally questionable individuals, it can be those whose action save others' lives, but doesn't care if they're doing well or not (a type of anti-hero if they're good), but if Keiwa turned heel like some predictions, it can be probably him forcing others to their shell, practicallly reducing their free will as long they 'survive'.

If not in a job interview, Keiwa gets along better with Takahito Taira/Ginpen, the job interviewer before. As DGP isn't a job where he had full authority there, Taira appreciates Keiwa's wish better, and due to already knowing him before, he becomes the closest to Keiwa's 'tag' partner. For Keiwa it's no question in him being the selfless one to look after other's well-beings. Despite getting along with Keiwa, he's the one that I'm a bit more suspicious of though, instead of Shirowe, as he seems to be pragmatic and business oriented in his talk about seeing the world as battlefield, just that he had soft spot for his family. Like, he can potentially act like Ren in Ryuki, regarding his desires and his worldview.

Albeit, he didn't live long enough onscreen to properly get to know him. Likely due to him being a non-action businessman who can't fight well, and probably his death shows what'd happen if people like them didn't get broken Rider, unlike Masamune or Gai (at Thouser's early appearences for him) who also can't fight but can throw overwhelming power around. But yeah, he's portrayed as the character who died for other character's development, Keiwa in this case, so while his wish didn't change (for the well-being of others), he can understand the resolve to work towards that wish.

Ace is a good example of how to write a mysterious character, he's still mysterious enough, but not to the point that the story gave him little to do so he remains "unknown". At the beginning, he seemingly had an utterly narcissistic wish to have him worshipped by others, though it's more of trying to test the upper limits of God of Desire's power. Dunno how intensive Ace had been testing various things in DGP. And it's kinda expected, but Ace turns out to be a douche type here like Tendou or Tsukasa.

Of course the jerk with good heart type (inherent in characters that aren't meant to be made bad), but to fit his fox motives (his Rider name is, after all, "kits" from "kitsune" but replaced with "g"), he's someone manipulative and would trick other Riders to gain upper hand, worsening Keiwa's trauma, taking advantage of Keiwa's naivety that Boost only worked once too. Him donating for Taira's son's surgery shows that he's not a bad person and his story to Keiwa isn't a total lie, but if he keeps his stunt regularly, he'd be an anti-heroic type too. He seemingly can in his declaration to Keiwa that his wish doesn't matter before his victory, it may indicate he's cutthroat too (and probably it gave Keiwa false hope to think that he can try changing the world before). I have a problem though in this part, if Ace secretly fulfilled Keiwa's wish, Keiwa should've talked about Taira's son, especially after hearing Ace talk about helping children.

The fights here are better too compared to previous episode, IMO. There are some neat moves pulled in the fights, like Buffa pinning a Jamato under his foot, because his Zombie Buckle pour poison downwards, or Ace using his Raise Water to whack Jamatos instead if it can't shoot water. For all his hypercompetence, seems that not everything is going on Ace's favor (especially flirting), like Raise Water not working at first. And when he uses Boost, there's sick combo too of pummeling the Jamato using Boost while also using Raise Water as surprise weapon by embedding it in tree. It feels better to watch for me than just going stylish while using a long-ranged weapon.