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Sometimes a show or film is so popular when it first drops that a sequel is inevitable. But not everyone is in agreement that it's the right thing to do, creatively.
It's a situation that Netflix's Squid Game now finds itself in with discussion taking over internet forums after a sneak peek of season two was released.
The argument over whether a film or TV show that attracted huge audiences should get a follow up can be about potential commercial success as much as brand and the actual product.
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Just look at the Home Alone franchise, which is still going strong despite Macaulay Culkin not appearing in any of the films since Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
There's been four - yes, four - films since the 1992 sequel. You'd forgive some for thinking there's eyes on the festive gravy train that the then-youngster helped to establish.
Back in 2021, everyone went crazy for Squid Game when it first dropped on Netflix.
It very much got the Stranger Things treatment, where a subculture and fandom was almost instantaneously created.
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The success of Squid Game marked a continued culture shift with Western audiences, given it was in South Korean and not the English language. Like Parasite, people will watch if the end product is top notch.
Squid Game has a pretty basic yet twisted plot. It follows 456 strangers who are in major financial ruin as they compete against one other in a selection of deadly children's games.
What does. the winner get? 45.6 billion South Korean won, which is around £23.2 million.
The only catch for those who lost in the competition is that you're brutally murdered by those running the show. High risk, high reward, you could say.
The show follows Lee Jung-jae as gambling addict Seong Gi-hun, one of the 456 players having a pretty tough time outside of the gameshow.
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Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk previously spoke about the overwhelming reception that season one had across the world, as well as desire among fans to see another instalment.
Well here we are, season two is very much on the way later this year.
Netflix even dropped a first look trailer for the second coming of the thriller, which shows Gi-hun's plot to take on the shadow organisation behind the Squid Game.
Some can't wait, taking to social media to say it's 'gonna be wild'.
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But others are a little confused as to exactly why it's made a comeback.
Over on Reddit, one user wrote: "Most pointless season imaginable. Nobody wants to see an incredibly generic 'man vs well connected shadow organisation'."
They added: "What people liked about Squid Game was The Squid Games."
Another posted: "They should’ve just left it as a limited series. Too many of these studios never know when to quit."
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A third agreed, saying: "Yeah I honestly don’t know what else they could do to make it better. They’re gonna make it weird and ruin it. The hype is already over just leave it as a classic."
Another took a unique take, adding: "I hate how if something gets popular it will inevitably get a sequel, it's like saying 'people are loving the Mona Lisa, we gotta make another one!'"
Though some fans are looking forward to the release, with one X user writing: "I can’t wait!"
Another commented: "I’m here for Squid Game," as a third added: "Squid Game is gonna be wild."
Season two of Squid Game will air on Netflix later this year.
Topics: Netflix, TV and Film
Tom Earnshaw