subplot thoughts/criticisms

The pacing of the Kang No-eul/Player 246 story, Jun-hee and Myung-gi, and the Captain Park story were poorly executed (in my extremely humble opinion!!!!)

1) I didn't grow invested in the relationship between No-eul and the father because we saw them interact for like three moments. I guess we're supposed to understand that she feels bad for him because she also has a child she would do anything for, but we only get a tiny scene where she's with her baby so it's not memorable. Since he got shot in the heart, he's pretty firmly dead and not likely to be an organ candidate. I'm skeptical of whether they'll even show his body in season 3. I don't think it's believable to have No-eul kill the other soldiers over 246's death but it feels like it's leaning that way.

2) Jun-hee and Myung-gi got more a satisfying storyline as the episodes progressed but I would've appreciated a stronger (slightly lengthier) introduction to their lives before the games. I loved the moment between them when Myung-gi talks about his investment proposal to make money for their family, and Jun-hee interrupts saying "Enough money? How much money is that?". The look on his face is priceless. He gets a shock of clarity like "Oh. How much money is that? What's enough for me?" It hasn't ever occurred to him to question why the pursuit of endless money is worthwhile. 

3) Captain Park's two-faced ways should've been revealed a bit earlier. As viewers we get an omniscient view of the pieces in this puzzle, so it's obvious to us that he's a suspicious character, but I wish they didn't wait until the end of the season to have him do something. In my opinion there were way too many pointless boat scenes and like mentioned before, I didn't become invested in these new characters because their relationships and backgrounds were very shallow. Korean police seem inadequate and the mercenaries are blander than bland. Gorgeous...  but plotless :(