A strong impact on audience
** Note : I've already watched them 2 or 3 weeks back . But , I'm just writing the review because I was pretty free and suprisingly not having house chores . **As I finished Squid Game last weekend I saw that it was # 1 on Netflix. On my tiny little island of all places. Just a couple of years ago people scoffed at me when they found out I was watching kdramas. Squid Game is basically just a korean movie that has been extended to 9 episodes and in many ways I think it is a very typical gory and violent story that you often find in Korean movies. Something that has been slowly finding its way into Korean television in recent years, especially with shows produced by Netflix. And it is clear that a lot was put into this series from what it’s visuals, to the choice of actors and the budget etc.
As I said Squid Game was a bit of a typical story from this type of entertainment that you often find in movies from countries like Japan and Korea (like Battle Royal) and for me it was not that original with them and neither did they do something new with this type of narrative. Which may be why there was very little to the story that actually surprised me. even if I really enjoyed watching it. I found it a bit typical and it mainly just reminded me of other such stories that have come before it.
The violence is not for everyone. I can stomach quite a bit of it without it bothering me. I often think the violence in this type of stories goes a little too far but there is a purpose to it in some ways and the story puts a lot of pressure on your endurance as a spectator, because that is the purpose of it. It’s hard for the characters, it should be hard on you. You can hardly look away even if you want to and that is one of the traits of these types of stories. And in that Squid Game is very successful.
The story starts off with a bang, but after that is does take it’s time to find it’s footing but when it manages it toward the middle part the show becomes really binge-able, before taking a slight dip towards the end. The theme of the effects of late stage capitalism and it’s grip on our society and the situation that has created among us is very interesting and the story does a good job underlining that.
Really good amount of suspense going on there and some good character moments in between them, although I thought the story never really took full advantage of it’s characters as it spent more time on other aspects of the story. It was also a little too noticeable to me that this was written by a man based on how some of the characters were written and it bothered me a bit. I think the choice of actors, who are all great, made the character more interesting than they might be.
I felt the ending was a little too empty which slightly made the ride on this roller-coaster of a story slightly less thrilling. It didn’t leave that much behind. I felt I was missing some emotional payoff from the story. I felt like the personal journey was a bit lacking in the end so it didn’t stick the landing. And I didn’t feel like enough questions were answered in the narrative. It was as if the story was relaying little too much getting another series. And I appreciate kdrams for giving me complete stories in one season.
This is a nine-part gory Korean film. It really felt like it was made with that sort of target audience in mind; those who really enjoy this genre of Korean and Japanese films (as this is one of the most popular genres of Asian films in the west, which I sometimes find a bit sad but I also understand the appeal). It’s good gory entertainment and I can see why it is as popular as it is. It’s thrilling, violent and addictive while it’s going on but it didn’t leave me with much in the end except maybe blood and gore.
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This review may contain spoilers
Great start and mediocre ending
The ending of the kdrama kind of felt meh compared to the rest of the episodes. Rushed explanations that were unsatisfying (regarding the old man) and the delayed help that GiHun should've given to the family members. There are a lot of plot lines to still develop, the police story line and GiHun trying to take down the operation. It's clear that they wanted to make a season 2 with this show. But that may have affected the quality of the ending for this season.Nevertheless, it's an interesting dive into the morality and extremes that humans are willing to go for their own survival and desires. At what point do crossing those lines become too much? It had compelling side characters as well, SaeByeok was my absolute favorite with her backstory and characterization. I'm sad about what happened to her. The subplot with the police story line was most intriguing and I look forward to that development in the next season the most.
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A Recommended Watch - Especially for the Acting
This series has a little bit of everything - good and less-than.I think the premise is relatively standard. It's a survival horror/death game type deal, however, with the participants being there of their own free will. Yes, even after the killing starts. The team does a very good job of building the tension during the first half, but as the number of participants decreases, so does the coherency of the plot. I think this drama could have used a couple of more episodes, maybe 2-3 more, to progress and conclude the plot better. There are a lot of the participants who have interesting backstories and possibilities for torture. What about the married couple who had decided to join? There could have been plenty more scenes showing the pain characters like them would have felt. The husband is forced to kill his wife in one of the games, and we see nothing of it? How can you leave something like that out? What about Mi Nyeo who has a baby? It's mentioned twice and never addressed again. The doctor harvesting organs? What was that about?
The story gives a lot of focus on the main three characters, but even that isn't a lot. But how can you give any more depth when you have so little time to do it? Gi Hoon and Sae Byeok definitely get the most development. Sang Woo is rather quickly made out to be a manipulative villain, and it never goes beyond that. Gi Hoon and Sang Woo's past seems so dishonest when you know how SW is. SW's betrayal feels genuinely weak, because the viewer already knew what kind of person he was.
At times, I feel like the production team was so obsessed with making this big story, that they sacrificed the plot and characters along the way. Everything just feels rushed and sort of incomplete. There are certain times where an incomplete story works out really well, but here it just seems lacking. Sure, there are some tragic deaths in this, but they just did not have the impact they'd have if you knew the characters a little better. The B-plot, even with it's lacks, was actually a lot more interesting to me than the A-plot.
Of course, I can't leave out the things I liked: The casting and acting is AMAZING. I love how the different characters interact with one another, and how everyone bond over their shared situation. But they were still different from one another. Some are in debt because they're shitty people, and some are just trying to save their loved ones. It makes for an interesting dynamic. The actors go all out, and I love it. Especially Mi Nyeo - I love how unhinged she is. Big kudos to the amazing actress. Everyone is great in this, no matter their role.
I also want to mention the set design. I normally hate the survival game genre for how boringly realistic it can be. However, I adore the visual theme that was used for this drama. The bright colors, and the focus on children's playgrounds really emphasizes the disparity between the basic premise of the games, and what actually goes on in them. I mean, the people betting on the players are supposed to be having fun, so of course the surroundings should be fun looking!
As I said in the beginning, this series has it's good and not-so-good sides, but I definitely feel that they are worth living with. I do recommend watching this series, especially for the characters and acting. If there will be a season 2, I'll be looking forward to see how some of the unanswered questions are dealt with. If there won't be a continuation, I won't be disappointed. I'm content either way.
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Average for it's genre.
Don't get me wrong, this is a pretty decent show. But at the same time the ending didn't satisfied me at all.It ended like this in order to have more seasons ofc but idk... for me it lacked smt.
Survival movies or tv shows are never a concept i find revolutionary, so i think it's pretty funny how of all the kdramas out there, this one is the most watched on Netflix. Not only that but it's the TOP2 most watched shows on Netlix of all time.
I understand everything and all that, but if i ever survived such a crazy hell i would either end up killing myself regardless or just really living and doing everything i've ever wanted. Might as well... what's the worst that can happen?
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yeah. Worth the hype.
I wasn't wowed by the first episode of this drama, nor entirely enchanted by the second. But by the end of the second episode I thought... dang, okay, fine, I guess I want to keep watching. And I'm glad I did.The most thrilling and emotional parts of this show took place within the game itself. The games are simple children's games, but are games that don't necessarily require skill. Most of the time, it's luck; which number you drew, which shape you got, that sort of thing. The game purports to be 'fair', but it's only fair in the way that real life is fair. You're stuck with the cards you've been given. The poor characters take part in the game because the real world is so terrible for them that the game is the best alternative they've got. Sadly, some even think they can win, despite (as we've discussed) the games being largely luck-based.
The characters are mostly pretty decent in this. The main character, Gi Hoon, is initially kind of a piece of trash, but you realize that he's a gambling addict, and this leads to him hurting the people he loves. He's not an inherently bad person who wants to hurt others, and you see that come out in the game, where he's one of the kinder people there. The rest of the cast are also great, not a weak performance in sight. I'd say the cop's plotline and character are mildly confusing and vague and you're just not that emotionally invested in it compared to everyone else. The show continues to get better and better as the games keep going and people die.
People die in very emotionally impacting ways, and I think they did all the character deaths very well. They often feel different too; whether it's because it was accidental, somebody cheated so they lost, or just bad luck. And the deaths can weirdly almost feel like a part of their character arcs. I don't know how the writers pulled it off but they did it well.
tl;dr it's really worth watching because it's not just trashy fun, it has so much to say about the unfairness of the systems in this world that keep poor people down. I'm not sure I'd rewatch it because it's so emotionally overwhelming at times but it is super good.
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Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures or do they?
I really liked how this showed some realities of the lengths that people would go for the allure of money. Yes, even risking their lives despite not knowing much of what would happen with each game.Each game really kept one at the edge of their seat or hugging a pillow as I did for the most part of this show. I think a reason why this is a show that is really trending is not just the story line which is really well-written by the way, it is also because of how the different characters are portrayed. You see their backstories and understand the desperation that fuels their drive to complete each game. Kudos to the actors who really did a good job at making us love or hate their character!
Something I didn't like though was how they made me think differently of the waltz that I used to dance to. Hehe. All in all, it was a good show although I don't think I can handle watching it again unlike with Alice in Borderland for some reason.
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Current rating is spot on
I don't normally trust the rating here in MDL because we all have different preference but this time i do agree that this series is good but not so great.I like the first episode. It left a lasting impression similar to the Titanic movie where the band kept playing while the ship was sinking. It was captivating and sad.
The story is like building a matchstick tower, there's a feeling of fear and excitement as you build up hoping that you'll be able to use your last matchstick without it collapsing. But the storyline were not able to hold its standing. It eventually collapse in the end and did not meet the expectations of a good ending. The main game was ruined by too much talk and less play time. Well, good luck to season 2 where matchstick building will start again.
The main lead is too much, his acting is OTT and you can't feel his sincerity. Whereas Park Hae-Soo and Ho Yeon Jung played their role brilliantly.
Cinematography and music are in sync to the storyline. Overall, its a good watch but except for the first episode, i don't think i will watch it again.
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“Winner!”
Synopsis: A story about cash-strapped contestants competing in children’s games with only 2 outcomes - either $38M in cash or death in a flash.If you’re browsing audience reviews to decide whether or not to watch this Netflix exclusive then my quick answer is, “Yes, go for it!” If you want to know the reasons why then read on:
1. Ranked # 1 in the list of Netflix’s most popular shows in 90 countries.
2. Insane plot initially conceptualized in 2008 but rejected several times for more than a decade eventually turning into a worldwide phenomenon, is enough to stir up anybody’s curiosity.
3. Brilliant multitasker Hwang Dong Hyuk was both the writer and director so nothing was “lost in translation”, enabling the storyline to be directly translated into actions and emotions just as it had been intended by the original storyteller.
4. Superb acting all around, from the lead characters to the supporting cast, even the cameo roles. It did not matter whether they are seasoned actors or rookies, superstars or not so well-known. Their acting talents were all at par. Their competencies were same level. And just how impressive were they? Well for one, Ho Yeon Jung, a first-time actress with a following of 400K on Instagram pre-Squid Game era is currently the most followed Korean actress with 23.7M followers, and counting! If her acting was lackluster or lame then these 23 million new fans of hers wouldn’t have clicked “Follow” on social media. *Note: There is an exception to this praiseworthy acting group which is explained below.
5. Captivating set design and enthralling art direction with minimal use of CGI for a more realistic and riveting effect.
6. Gruesome, grotesque and gory scenes are not really my thing but somehow the treatment of these scenes was done in a creatively tricky and insidious way so they did not make me shut my eyes in fear nor give me nightmares at night.
7. Bizarre oxymoron with the most extreme contradictions. How can seemingly harmless children’s games be played with blatantly harmful results? How can an innocent looking doll cause carnage or a whimsical playground transform into a bloodbath? Quite disturbing, nonetheless, impactful.
8. Genius musical score using familiar classical music to tone down the shock factor. Instead of hearing suspenseful tones as a warning that something dreadful is about to happen you hear soothingly nostalgic melodies such as “Fly Me To The Moon”. Weird, but somehow it worked brilliantly.
9. Not annoyingly commercialized with no glaring product placements nor subliminal endorsements. Even the actors’ length of screen time was not exploitative. Those in the superstar level like Gong Yoo and Lee Byung Hun had minimum exposure, while neophytes Ho Yeon Jung and Anupam Tripathi were highly visible. The creators did not have to heavily rely on A-listers to gain widespread popularity.
10. In spite it being a purely Korean presentation there were ironically no communication and cultural barriers which brought about its global appeal. It vividly showcased how human frailties and imperfections bear no nationality.
Now for the constructive criticisms:
1. Illogical instances when the players were demanding the guards to implement fairness and show compassion such as allowing them to use the toilet during bedtime or stopping contestants embroiled in a fist fight. How can they expect civility and morality in a place where wanton killings were casually occurring on a daily basis?
2. VIPs’ contrived dialogues; the fake and forced delivery of their lines made me cringe and wonder if the reason why they were wearing elaborate masks was to hide their identities with all that shameful acting. The otherwise meticulous Korean director should have hired English speaking advisers who could have provided him with feedback as to how unnatural the foreign actors sounded.
3. Unrealistic ending where the protagonist suddenly became pious and honorable after a lifetime of wayward and contemptible behavior. After all the trouble (and near-death experiences) he went through, he decides not to savor his reward. Spending $10 out of a $38M jackpot did not make absolute sense!
Final verdict: 10 positives versus 3 negatives is still a WIN.
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L'art de Netflix d'américaniser les dramas... ^^'
« Squid Game » est un série comme on en voit beaucoup depuis quelques années : un Death Game/Survival. Il s’agit d’une mode qui a touché le continent asiatique comme américain & à laquelle nous ne pouvons réchapper ^^.Me voici donc lancée dans ce nouveau Death Game qui m’annonce du « lourd » de par sa bande annonce. Cependant, très vite, nous nous rendons compte que le schéma ne sera pas différent des autres dramas de ce genre (comme pour « Alice in Borderland » également produit par Netflix). C’est ainsi que nous retrouvons l’éternelle bande de personnages considérés comme « nuisibles » par la société qui finit dans un jeu où la plupart perdra non seulement leur humanité mais également leur vie… (Ba oui, après tout, c’est le principe d’un Death Game x’D !!)
Donc finalement, en quoi ce drama se démarque-t-il ?
• Les jeux utilisés pour ce « Death Game » sont des jeux d’enfants… (Et oui, cela devient quelque peu traumatique d’imaginer que des jeux pratiqués en toute innocente deviennent la cause de nombreux morts… Les coréens ne reculent vraiment devant rien ! x’D)
• Des hommes masqués qui surveillent le bon déroulement des jeux. Ces derniers portent des symboles sur le faciès afin de définir leur place dans la hiérarchie. (Dans l’ordre de hiérarchie : le rond, le triangle, le carré, le sans symbole & finalement les masques d’animaux)
o Cerise sur le gâteau… Un des membres imminents du jeu s’est glissé parmi les candidats afin de participer aux différents jeux… (Il y a vraiment des malades partout =D)
• Les décors sont étonnamment bien réalisés. Je retiendrai particulièrement les nombreux escaliers avec des portes sans fin =D !
Finalement me voici à la fin du drama mais de nombreuses questions sont restées sans réponses… En voici quelques-unes :
• Qui est réellement derrière tout ça ? Car les VIP (qui sont des américains) font la remarque que les parties en Corée sont les meilleures… (Ce qui sous-entend que le groupe de personnes réalisant ces Death Game est bien plus large que ce que l’on nous montre…)
o On nous dit que le jeu a été créé par ennui des gens qui ont trop d’argent… Et puis ? On ne nous donne aucune réelle justification x).
• Pourquoi faire rentrer un policier dans l’infrastructure du jeu… Le laisser évoluer & graviter autour du jeu si c’est pour le faire tuer à l’avant dernier épisode ? (En prime, par son frère ? Encore une fois, on ne nous donne aucune réelle explication…)
• …
Et parlons de cette fin s’il-vous-plaît !!! Netflix a vraiment l’art de nous laisser sur des fins qui ne n’en sont pas réellement… Je finis donc encore une fois, frustrée en finissant cette histoire… (Comme souvent hein ! Puisque Netflix aime ce genre de fin x’D)
En somme, « Squid Game » est un Death Game des plus classique produit par Netflix… (On ne peut d’ailleurs pas douter que cela soit l’une de leur production… Pourquoi ? Car nous retrouvons le genre de scènes que je fuis dans les séries américaines… En gros… Principalement du sexe & des hommes plus misogynes les uns que les autres… x’D !)
Vous l’aurez compris, ce drama n’apporte rien de nouveau au genre & se campe même dans les fondamentaux…
Néanmoins, il reste plaisant à voir & découvrir pour les non-initiés comme les initiés !
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Roteiro nada original e sem surpresas
Uma série coreana chegando no topo do Netflix é uma raridade, então muitos estão assistindo Squid Game mais por curiosidade do que pelo interesse em si. Como eu acho que cada um precisa tirar suas próprias conclusões vou listar alguns pontos que podem ajudá-lo a decidir se essa série é para você ou não.Produção/ fotografia: logo de início dá para perceber que o alto investimento financeiro da série valeu a pena em termos de produção, os cenários, o figurino e a fotografia são impecáveis, na minha opinião o ponto alto da série.
Storyline: não é nada original, já vimos essa receita de um monte de gente presa em um lugar, onde são obrigados a competir em jogos mortais, não é mesmo? A trama é previsível, não tem plot twists e para aqueles que gostam, e estão acostumados a assistir séries de suspense, dá para desvendar quase tudo na metade da série e assistir só para confirmar.
Personagens: a série não tem nenhum personagem cativante o suficiente para fazer com que o espectador sofra e se compadeça de seus problemas (e sua morte). A construção de personagens é importante para manter o interesse, para despertar sentimentos, para torcer por ele ou contra ele.
Trilha sonora: nos primeiros episódios é interessante como eles colocam alguns clássicos, porém não há uma trilha sonora que embale a série e ajude a construir aquela sensação de antecipação, tipo um hino como em psicose.
Minha opinião: essa é uma série para puro entretenimento, com um ritmo mais americano, onde você assiste para passar o tempo, mas ela não agrega nada e não desperta fortes emoções. Eu gosto muito de séries de ação e suspense, então essa parte deixou bastante a desejar, confesso que quase dormi nos 2 primeiros episódios e esperava que meu coração acelerasse mais nos jogos, mas a previsibilidade me deixou quase que sem expressão. Como eu sou uma dorameira me senti na obrigação de assistir, mas acredito que nesse ano fomos abençoados com thrillers maravilhosos que merecem muito mais reconhecimento do que Squid Game (assistam Taxi Driver, Beyond Evil e Mouse). Agora se você gosta desse tipo de temática e só está buscando uma série para passar o tempo, pode ser que adore esse drama. Cada pessoa tem uma preferência.
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