Squid Game

The Extreme Measures for Money

Whether you live in a capitalistic environment or not, the universal term money is globally acknowledged as a main trade item for any kind of purchase. The interchangeable item is powerful enough to let anyone gain ownership of any item from miniscule stuffs to gigantic objects. With human’s eagerness of ownership, people could take extreme measures to reach their goals including being massively in debt thanks to their countless loans. Logically, for the boundless pledgees those loans can be hardly repaid. However, by stepping out of reality, if they were offered to earn an insanely huge amount of cash by playing several rounds of childhood games, perhaps they would like to give it a shot.

Welcome to Squid Game, players are welcomed to play six rounds of folk games in a span of six days. The winner is granted cash prize worth 45.6 billion won. Players are recruited unbeknownst of themselves by an anonymous company (that has a circle, triangle, and rectangle logo) at their lowest moments (in terms of debts). But at what cost? No one told them initially until it was revealed that losers of each rounds will be eliminated by literally being shot to death.

Squid Game has 456 players and many other extras. The show centers around Seong Gihun, a divorced man without proper occupation nor custody of his 10 year-old daughter. Additionally, Gihun has a high attraction for bettings. The ironic life Gihun was living depicted a harsh condition that perhaps a lot of people has ever experienced. Despite that, his humanity nature is delightful and brought a realistic touch to the character. His clever and notorious best friend, Cho Sangwoo, also happened to be in the game due to his business activities. From the short narrative alone, it is hardly surprising that Sangwoo turns out to be a sly, opportunistic, and egoist individual. Both characters are executed immensely by the actors.

On the other side, the supporting characters added dynamics within the players and the story in general. Kang Saebyeok, a North Korean defector with cold-yet-alluring persona was excellently performed by Jung Hoyeon (an impressive acting debut). The manipulative Han Minyeo, trustful Ali, thug-like Duseok, and the old man are some of other characters that made Squid Game interesting. Another important character, Hwang Junho, instantly became viewer’s favorite due to his fearless personality. Several other players noticeably added more fascinating elements to the drama.

Onto the story, Squid Game delivered a relatively slow yet thorough buildup from Gihun’s back story, player recruitment process, until the game itself. Some people might not enjoy the slower approach but I do think it gives the viewers a better idea in understanding the game, character’s emotion, and situations in which they were facing. Even though we must note that the main games are brought with rather sudden, thrilling, and sadistic approach. Within the tight span of 9 episodes, the 6 games and plots are generally distributed properly that it could raise many questions by the end of each episodes, leading to a binge-watching experience. Another point worth mentioning is Junho’s subplot. Although his character can be considered as an outlier, his infiltration to the game as a worker provided a nice different point of view of the game’s system in general.

While I do enjoy most of Squid Game, the series couldn’t hold its thrilling journey for the whole 9 episodes. It sort of wore off after the fifth game. Personally, I do think Squid Game was mostly carried by the dynamics and interactions of each characters. As soon as they kill the important roles, the excitement of this series began to let loose. Each episodes automatically have more gaps to be filled in. With a mountain-like structure, the Kdrama reached its climax on the sixth episode (fourth game) as it jumbled a mixture of vulnerability and moral dilemma that generated an emotional chaos for the viewers.

Another standout point of Squid Game is the fine extra attention to the details. Almost every single frame/scenes have its own symbolism or implicit messages. There are many moments worth mentioning but foremost it was in the dynamics of the players. During the team selection processes, the players depict several examples of discriminations—that can be generalized to communities across the globe. Whether it be racism to those who doesn’t look like a majority (in this case Ali for not looking like a Korean), sexism to women for being labeled as weak, or ageism (which only happened to the old man). Additionally, the VIPs being mostly old white man is a nice touch as to the picture of being colonized by white people or even their arguably terrible-yet-great acting in thinking they own “the world”.

The details didn’t stop there. Some people may or may not have noticed but the Squid Game creators actually dropped some hints ever since the very beginning of the drama (hence why I wasn’t really shocked for the twists). Gihun had been inescapably affiliated to the number 456: from his player number, until the amount of money he won from the horse betting (4.56 million won). He also gave his daughter a gun-shaped lighter as a present present inside a black box tied with pink ribbon—pretty similar to the “coffins” in the game. The old man was suspicious for numerous times including being excited on the first game, able to stop the night fight, and not wanting to switch shapes during the second game with Gihun—but he wrapped it perfectly with the dementia excuse.

The excessive details are honestly compelling yet some of them fell short and was left unfinished. Saebyeok climing arc was an interesting take with the screw not being attached properly. However, they just left her action the way it was—a wasted subplot there. Some questions were also left unanswered such as: how the workers get there, why Junho’s brother played such an important role and can remain MIA for over 5 years, The VIPs back stories, Junho and the police whereabouts. While those questions might bait the existence of a second season, I honestly pointed those out as Squid Game felt finished in general and it didn’t really have the necessity to continue especially if they are going to keep it centered around Gihun. Instead, if they decided to resume, it would be better to switch it into a spinoff about the workers.

A further point that made Squid Game distinguishable and attractive is the production. Having childhood games as the main theme, the series brought such sadistic and thrilling stories wrapped in colorful sets. The ironic contrast definitely left an eye-catching impression for all the viewers and even those who have only seen the short clips circulating on the internet. The consistency of the costumes also marked a strong point for Squid Game. Though the red jumpsuits of the workers might be similar to the ones in Spanish TV show Money Heist, the other styling still felt original and has its points of being iconic (that perhaps could be recited sometime in the future).

The viral sensation Korean Netflix Series, Squid Game, has an enormous amount of points to be remarkably acclaimed in the contemporary TV Shows landscape. Although, I must admit that the show wasn’t a completely perfect journey. Regardless of the decision whether the creator of Squid Game would like to continue onto the next seasons, the standalone 9 episodes (so far) are worthy to be the talk of the public.

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Life Should be About More than just Surviving

When I first started watching this drama, I wondered if there was a message to it. Only when I got to the end, I realized it had a powerful message about survival and sacrificing for the person next to you. The drama was almost like a warning for people not to lose touch with their humanity, especially in today's world where watching other people's misfortunes has become entertainment. I enjoyed Squid Game, the concept, and everything from how the events unfolded flowed seamlessly, even as grim and bloody as it got. I felt the writer, director, and all the actors did a fantastic job delivering and actualizing the story. I particularly liked Wi Ha Joon in the role of the cop and brother, who does the impossible to find and save his brother, only to find out he was the one who needed saving and from his own brother. It was a grim moment to take, but as they say, sometimes family can be your worst enemy. I was pleasantly surprised to see Lee Byung Hun in the drama. I didn't expect that.

I must say I loved Lee Jung Jae for learning and teaching the remaining survivors Park Hae Soo and Jung Ho Yeon, through such a twisted and blood ordeal, that maybe life should be about more than just surviving alone. But to find out that the journey was nothing but one person's sick attempt to have fun with their bored life, and to think nothing of the many lives lost was appalling. So in that sense, I completely understood why, despite getting what he so desperately wanted, and especially after working as fiercely as he did to not want it anymore. It's like they say, be careful what you wish for, you might get it only to find it wasn't something you needed after all, because the loss far outweighed the gain. Money isn't everything after all. I cannot wait for a second season. There has to be one.

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Gripping and Bingeable show but doesn’t need a second season

Like the headline says, Squid Game is pretty gripping and held my attention very well. It was a nice change to the 16 hour long episode dramas that I’m used to watching and I will highly recommend to kdrama vets and newbies. However, after watching, I’m ready to get back what I know. As usual, the Korean actors were amazing but the Americans really messed it up for me. As an American, I cringed every time they were in a scene. This drama was obviously created to appeal to Western audiences because there were a lot of things going on that other kdramas wouldn’t dare touch. I get wanting to appeal to larger audiences but ugh, the Americans really irked me. They were so stereotypical “rich white American guys” who “American-ed” around to get their way. Maybe their roles were to be the comic relief from so much gore but they were all just super corny and cringey and their acting was a bit rough. Anywho, overall, the drama was entertaining but the end kind of alludes to another season that I hope does not happen. First season was good, let’s not ruin it with another and even more bad American actors.

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Stressful and intense

Squid Game (2021)

Likes
1. Loved the six games and how each game levelled up the intensity and danger. Esp the tug of war and the glass bridge. I didnt like the honeycomb. I probably would have died in the first game! 😅
2. The killings were brutal and i was stressed every single game, but knowing that the leads wont die til the very end made the game less fun.
3. At one point i thought the lesson of the show was to learn to share and not be too greedy. Or find a way to work together and get out alive not kill each other and they will all get the money. But i was wrong both times.

Dislikes
1. The main lead mostly passed the levels because of luck or someone else. Same with Saebyeok, she also didnt fo anything but sulk. Sangwoo was strategic but in the end he lost against the morally nice guy. Is that the message the writer eants to tell us?
2. But then the reveal of the main guy and his explanation didnt make sense. Why go through all of that and kill hundreds of people every time just for the fun of it?
3. After all the blood sweat and tears, Gihun sat on the money for a year and didnt use them! At least pay off Sangwoo's debts and get Saebyeok's brother out. But dumping the money and the brother with Sangwoo's mom was also terrible. I was hoping Gihun will be more responsible after this but he's still dumb.
4. Felt like Junho had a separate story that didnt feel connected with the rest. And why Inho became the host was not explained.

Rating: 8/10

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great cast, eerie story

As someone who's a big fan of Alice in Borderland, this genre suite my taste perfectly. It's so eerie in a nonchalant way, how each individual factor of the cinematography contributes to the unsettling mood. The music fit in so perfectly, I'm honestly such a big fan.
As mentioned in some other reviews, it started off strong and caught my attention however the ending and last few games felt too fast. The ending becomes more and more expected after the halfway mark--which makes it less climatic as it could be. (which doesn't really do some of the characters justice)
On the bright side, the casting is absolutely amazing; I was highkey cringing at the VIPs' acting,,,that english and the things they said were so cringey I would rather have them be Asian people or just Korean. The main casting was really great, I'm glad they didn't decide to cast anyone who was super well known or the go-to norm popular actors/actresses. Seeing new faces (some of them were, at least) was really refreshing :) Also i love how we're seeing more of Wi Hajun these days;; he's very eye candy and gives such manly vibes; i support LOL
This series really makes you question your morals and how you would react if you placed yourself in their shoes... the human instinct and selfishness is very complicated; so I couldn't exactly say I hated any of the characters for acting the way they did (ahem sangwoo smh).
All in all, Squid Game was incredibly good, I'd certainly like to see more of it. The cinematography is beautiful (they understood the assignment alright), the music was such a great contribution, and the casting was the icing on the cake. Great film overall, I highly recommend watching!

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Willie Wonka Run Amok

Oh that beloved Willie Wonka, inviting kids on a great adventure in a colorful, magical playland with the promise of a wonderful lifetime prize! And if terrible things happen to the other kids, does that stop the fun? Does everyone insist they be allowed to leave immediately? Do the parents resort to violence to save their children from a possibly terrible fate? Why no! There's a prize to be won and the terrible fate is only possible, not certain. Besides it's the other guy who's most likely to lose.

And thus, Hwang Dong Hyuk pays homage to a treasured children's tale and turns it into a gory story about beleaguered, debt-ridden adults in Nightmare Joseon who receive a golden ticket (actually a business card, because, you know, adults) to play in a game that could forever change their lives. Like the kids at the Chocolate Factory, the Squid Game contestants sign a contract with murky fine print and the fun begins. It doesn't take long, however, for the players to stop playing against the house and start playing against (and preying on) each other. After all, the rich and powerful can never be rich and powerful enough to allow the unwashed masses play against them indefinitely. By sheer numbers alone, the unwashed would eventually become the conquerors. In order for the rich to continue to win, they have to ensure that the masses turn on each other. And the masses do. They always do. Even in children's games.

Seong Gi Hoon is a ne'er-do-well chaffeur from a small town who has had a hard time at life. A failed marriage and failed business ventures have left him a middle-aged, debt-ridden, deadbeat dad who has no qualms about stealing money from his hardworking and sick, elderly mother for a day of betting on the horses. When his luck at the racetrack goes pear-shaped and he learns that his mother needs surgery, it is only with the most minimal modicum of shame that he demands that his remarried ex-wife give him the money he needs. His ex-wife's new husband acquiesces with one small caveat: Gi Hoon can have the money only if he agrees to stay away from his family (including Gi Hoon's 10-year old daughter). Drawing the line at losing access to his child, Gi Hoon refuses the money then meets a mysterious stranger in the subway who invites him to join the Squid Game.

The other contestants (both friends and foes) in the Squid Game have sad and sorry stories similar to Gi Hoon: an old man dying of a brain tumor, small-time loser gangsters, embezzlers, fraudsters, desperate immigrants and pickpocket defectors from North Korea. Whenever one of the contestants dies from the rigors of the game, they are placed in beribboned coffins that look oddly reminiscent of the last-minute gift from an arcade claw machine that Gi Hoon gets for his daughter's tenth birthday (the present inside the gift box is a nice little foreshadowing touch as well). Although the brutality of these games hearken to the Hunger Games and Stephen King's The Long Walk, these contestants are here totally of their own free will (as are the contestants in another dystopian/art-imitates-life classic, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?") and all of them can stop the games and leave at any time if the majority of the contestants vote to do so.

One of the flaws of this story is that the contestants have nothing more than the masked host's word that the winner will actually receive the cash prize. Unlike with Willie Wonka (and other dystopian tales)--where the media and the public were aware that a major prize was involved so that there would be some accountability--the contestants of the Squid Game are whisked away to a private and secret location and don't even know who their host is. Even the gun-toting Oompa Loompas at the funhouse are masked. The contestants don't even know if the money they are shown in a giant piggy bank is real money, or if the stacks of cash are only blank sheets of paper with real legal tender only on the outside. They are willing to put their lives on the line simply on the Squid Game's host's word that they could win a life-changing prize.

Another flaw is the incredible stupidity of some of the players, even in a game where they have bet their lives. In real life, people can make some incredibly poor choices, but some of the choices the contestants of Squid Game make are beyond the pale. Trusting your opponent when it is clear it's his life against yours, annoucing your game strategy to all and sundry, being fine with killing a whole bunch of people one day, hesitant to kill a solitary person the next. Some of the players obviously have a code, it's just really difficult from game to game to ascertain what that code is. There are no heroes in this extended voluntary death match, which is why it is so strange that the screenwriter is so determined to make it appear that there is one.

The imagery in this series is impressive: the bright, primary colors, the children's playground, the baggy costumes of the guards that evoke blindly obedient Oompah Loompas, the maze of staircases the contestants tread to each new game. Behind the colorful and child-like facade the brutality of the games is revealed and the hardships began. The contestants are given adequate food at the start of the games, but with each subsequent game the food becomes less substantial. The area where they take their rest literally shifts beneath their feet and becomes dangerous and hostile. Bit by bit, the contestants are stripped of provision for their basic needs, peace and security and eventually their humanity.

There are traces of Snow Piercer and Battle Royale in Squid Game as well. Westerners, rich Americans in particular, are portrayed as effeminate, obnoxious, sex-obsessed VIPs who bet on the games and desire to make Asian men their bitches. The acting abilites of the men who portray these VIPs is terrible (as is the stilting dialogue) and I am not sure if they couldn't secure better casting for these roles or if they wanted to portray Westerners as incapable of competent acting as well. Nevertheless, the message of contempt for the West is not subtle.

The eventual winner of the Squid Game becomes disillusioned with money and the workings of the world after his victory and in possible foreshadowing, adopts a hairstyle and hair color strongly reminiscent of Batman's violent counter-cultural revolutionist, The Joker. He learns more about the game as he prepares to take an important journey and once again, the Squid Game changes his life. In subsequent sequels, will the victor find out that like Willie Wonka, the master of the Squid Game was manipulating his life all along? Or, as in Snowpiercer, will he outsmart, outplay and outlast long enough to view the Squid Game as a lesser evil for the good of society and be chosen as the new master of the game? Will elements of another dystopian tale, The Watchmen, factor into future sequels? After all, as today's billionaires show us daily with their ability to circumvent laws and achieve what only the gross natural product of whole countries could heretofore do, money is the new superpower and without it, the rest of us are just desparate contestants in a never-ending, Everlasting Gob-stopper of a Squid Game.

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Utter madness....

Holy hell this bgame show was really madness!

Gambling with your life, killing friends, taking lives, all just for a dollars?

The games were utterly wild and there a couple of games i remembered playing but after watching this makes me see the games we played in a whole new light.

The show it self was really good and different, was enjoyable, the players and games were well set up.

A couple of surprises towards as too who the people were behind the masks.

The ending a bit of a disappointment, in the sense he played the game came out the winner and yet he lived his life unchanged, i get going through all of that will take it toll and you would probably need counselling after it, but i do feel he could have been a better person or helped the people he knew.

Overall not something i would re watch in a hurry. But definitely a good show

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Worth the hype :)

I wasn't sure at first that this would be for me, I'm usually more of a romance based story lover, but this really surprised me. Squid game has no romance, and I wasn't bothered in the least about it. I was just an interesting story with morally grey compelling characters.

I'm a bit confused about the ending. I'm not sure if they did it that way so that there could possibly be another season or just to make the viewer think? But overall, this kept me very engaged and I really liked it a lot!

If the creators were to do another show set in this world, I would LOVE to see more about how it started, how the workers are chosen and just more about the frontman. The frontman had the potential to be a really interesting character, the story just wasn't focusing on him. I just want to know why he chose to join the game maybe even (SPOILERS) see what his original game was like and ultimately led him to abandon his family and become a major part of the game.

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Again I was very excited for this drama because it reminds me of the j-drama Alice in Borderland which I really liked. I binged this in 2 days as well.

It was interesting to see how the games were inspired by children's ones although some of them were better than others and two of the games seemed really boring to me as for a viewer.

The characters were realistic and I was really happy to see the Indian actor there who scored quite a major role in the drama!

I rate Squid Game 8/10. It left me with some unanswered questions and the latter games weren't that interesting but it was still a wild ride to watch in a good way.

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