‘Squid Game’ — Spoiler-Free Review
A Decade of “No” became the #1 Show on Netflix
Photo Courtesy of Nylon
If you’ve been on social media recently it probably seems like everyone is talking about a certain show called ‘Squid Game’. Released on September 17th, 2021, it’s quickly risen to become the #1 show on Netflix.
For its Koren Filmmaker, Hwang Dong-hyuk, it wasn’t always a predetermined outcome. He first began writing the show in 2009. But every single studio turned him down for years. According to a recent WSJ article, most thought it was “too grotesque and too unrealistic.” They called the idea “unrealistic and strange.” They never could’ve predicted it would eventually skyrocket to #1 on Netflix.
Over a decade ago, the idea came to Hwang while he was living with his mother and grandmother. He worked on the script, while also having money issues. Eventually, he was forced to sell his laptop for $675 cash. But all of his hard work and sacrifices were worth it in the end.
In 2021 the show has subtitles in 31 languages, dubbed in 13 languages, and is trending #1 in 90 countries. It’s quite the success story for someone who probably thought this day would never come.
Premise
‘Squid Game’ is a show centered on a deeply troubled and indebted group of people in South Korea. After they’re lured into a game, they find out the prize might not be worth the tournament featuring children's games. Realizing the games may be their last chance to crawl out of their problems, they do things they never imagined….
Spoiler Free Review — Barry’s Bites Score= 8.7
It’s easy to see why no one predicted this show would reach the upper echelons of ratings. Similar to ‘John Wick’, this show uses violence to break conventionality. We’ve all become content with shows and movies treating us like toddlers. They’ll allude to the violence, without ever attempting to do the audience the discourtesy of making them uncomfortable. We’ve seen some shows and movies take a different, and much more daring path (i.e ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘John Wick’). But it’s safe to say that none have taken it to this level.
Photo Courtesy of NetflixIt never dares to treat its audience with kid gloves. Instead, it threatens their conventional viewing experience. By making the stakes of the game so high, the show creates an elevated amount of palpable tension. If anyone was able to walk away from the games after losing then they wouldn’t try as hard. This is a key element of the show as it glues the audience to their screens. Who will make it? What will the next game be like? Who is cruel enough to run these games? A combination of tension and burning audience curiosity is what keeps every episode firing on all cylinders.
“At its root, the show is really begging the audience to ponder what they would be willing to do for $38 million.”
To be clear, I’m not a fan of real-world violence. But using this fictional universe to explore the psychological motivations and implications of the games is fascinating. At its root, the show is begging the audience to ponder what they would be willing to do for $38 million (USD). If you take into account the personal battles each character is facing, you can begin to see their answers to that question.
Photo Courtesy of NetflixA unique aspect of the show is the dubbing from Korean to English. Inevitably it results in some slip-ups that cause the dialogue to come off skewed. But if Netflix can hone in on the technology, it has the potential to bridge cultural divides and open the door for more creators.
Even though this show displays a rare level of hyper-violence. It’s my opinion that it’s worth the creative risk. It’s been a while since a show like this has graced Netflix. As I’ve said previously, their choices haven’t always been risky enough. However, the path they’re recently taking with ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Clickbate’ is definitely in the right direction.
Check out the trailer and more below!
*This article was originally published in the Film Cut
