Early on with this drama, I learned that it is necessary to detach yourself from GO GO SQUID 1 completely. For avid fans of GGS1, the casting change can be hard to digest, but I think the good casting makes up for the initial discomfort. The timeline can be confusing, and the switch from CTF to robot fighting doesn't help. But as the story progresses and the original characters start being mentioned, the timeline becomes more sketched out and coherent. But for the sake of everyone's sanity, it's easier to think of this as completely independent from GGS1 but in the same universe. It is a spinoff, not a second season.

However, since it calls itself GGS2, it's hard not to draw a comparison to the original. Unlike GGS1, GGS2 is more story-centric rather than theme centric, in the sense that the story focuses more on the characters and their stories rather than robot fighting. There is also more emphasis on the camaraderie between K&K and SP. GGS1 treated K&K as a large organization with insane brotherhood and teamwork, while in this drama, K&K and SP feel more like a squad. They're simply a group of people who are extremely close friends and colleagues. GGS1 felt more fluffy and cutesy, and while this one is just as sweet, feels more mature, which could owe to the higher production quality and the main couple's relationship being more mature.

There is minimal conflict, and the story flows smoothly, perhaps a little too smoothly. The lack of plot twists could be boring to some, but I watch dramas of this genre for an escape, so I found it manageable. The overall recasting is excellent. Some of the characters were so exceptional in their roles that it's difficult to picture their previous actors in the same role (which will probably give me a hard time when I try to rewatch GGS1). Li Yi Tong was so fantastic as Ai Jing, Wang An Yu as Shen Ze( who is again an entirely different person from GGS1). However, one of my favourite characters from GGS1 was Xiao Mi, and I truly missed seeing him in Lee Hong Chi. He performed so well as Xiao Mi that I have difficulty seeing anyone else portray him. There was also a lack of depth to his character, and the genuineness and emotional connection as seen in GGS1's Xiao Mi were missing. Demo's presence was also thoroughly missed. Wang Hao here felt like a completely different person from GGS1. That is another caution; some characters can feel completely different from their GGS1 counterparts, so it is important to separate the two shows.

The dynamic between the families, especially towards the latter part of the drama, is adorable. I also really enjoyed how the relationships between characters are intertwined, for instance, how most of them marry or date within a circle. The cameos were enjoyable, and even the mentions of GGS1 characters gave me joy. The last couple of episodes were so fulfilling. The proposal, the preparations for the wedding, the family/friend gatherings all made me feel like I'm living vicariously and made me miss wedding season (I'm Indian, nuff said). Everything was so perfectly wrapped up, with a pretty bow to boot. This drama has the best, most concrete and detailed ending I've seen in a C-drama. The double wedding was such a good addition; revisiting Tong Nian and Han Shang Yan's romance was something I didn't realise I needed so desperately. Shen Ze and Ai Jing are so cute that I wished we had more scenes of them together. I've lamented about the often unnecessary focus on secondary characters' screen time in almost every drama I've seen, but this show had the perfect secondary couple and chose not to give them enough screen time. The last couple of episodes are also insanely funny, especially Wu Bai's reactions, the failed proposals, the wedding talks and the post and pre-wedding ceremony chaos.

While it was a little difficult to get into initially, the drama's progress was good and made it easier to understand towards the middle. It isn't perfect, however. Their couple fight made me feel uneasy; the way Wu Bai was manhandling Ai Qing was borderline abusive, no matter what his reasons. Similarly, in episode 27, he tells her that (it) is his right as a husband, and that does not sit right with me. You do not owe anyone anything, even your husband. Your husband is not automatically entitled to your body. There is also a fair share of Chinese nationalism, but that is expected of a sports/competition drama.

That being said, this is a good drama (for the most part) that should be treated as its own story. The characters are well written, lovable, and easy to get attached to.

Now wish me luck in my valiant efforts to rewatch GGS1 without frying my brains.