I looked through my blog posts. I’ve never posted about Squid Game. Yes, I’ve mentioned it in other reviews. I haven’t written specifically about the Korean series. Unless wandering in the Sahara, most would’ve heard of Squid. The series is one of Netflix’s (NF) most successful, being an Emmy darling. It likewise secured one Golden Globe, flying the Asian flag in Hollywood.
With a fresh format, the first series (2021) was overwhelmingly popular. Children’s games democratised the show to all age groups. Humans are drawn to the unknown. A bankrupt small timer competing in kids’ games on an undisclosed island is pure genius. Becoming an instant billionaire lights our fire. We are drawn to the hero, his empathy and quick thinking.
Opening Week
Initially a standalone, NF appended two more seasons. Seasons 1 and 2 had a three year gap. My Achi said that they shouldn’t have returned. The ending of season 1 was enough. By last year, all viewers would’ve forgotten about the plot. The third and final season premiered on 27 June. The main guy, Player 456, returned. Ditto many participants from the previous season.
While topping the NF charts, Squid is not the latest hit. Wednesday and Untamed are more recent number one releases. Regardless, this represented the biggest first week for a Netflix series. Sixty million viewers watched it, equating to 360 million hours in its opening week. Quick aside: the second and third seasons were shot consecutively. However, the director thought that there were too many plot lines. Hence, the two instalments.
Brilliant, but eerie
Like its predecessors, this felt eerie. The uncertain outcome. Yes or no buzzers at the end of each game. The jaunty music. Masked guards with rifles. Of course the blood and gore will perturb you. So will corrupt law enforcement. Plus, the lavish lifestyle of gamblers betting on their horses. The ‘private detective’ returns with gusto. His life’s mission is to out these scumbags who toy with human lives. The island and sadists must be revealed. He’ll stop at nothing for the truth to prevail. Even facing injustice and roadblocks, he won’t succumb.
As expected, the final season is a slayings galore. A mother killing her son. A father terminating a tranny. He likewise sends said mother to kingdom come. He stages it as a suicide. Player 456 murdering the latter. A Lara Croft wannabe pulverising an entire team of misogynists. She did this to save a guy, as she empathised with his child. The other detective is on a boat searching for the hideous island. The boat’s captain is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He regrets not taking the private detective seriously, though he kills the captain.
Lord of the Games
Initially superficial, the show is allegorical. It explores themes such as family, love, and relationships. Even temporality and existentialism. Though foregrounding children’s games, deeper messages and lessons lie within. It contrasts money and cultural capital with intellect and integrity. Squid shows how greed changes people, with billions of won up for grabs. Most contestants would murder and betray for a few millions.
The show is a modern day Lord of the Flies. The characters play kids’ games and are sequestered from the world. Like Flies, they separate into factions. It’s survival of the fittest (and most cunning). Unlike Lord, they’re not kids. However, in their quest for money and notoriety, they stop at nothing. As per above, they’ll throw family members off the bus. They’ve no qualms with slaying an infant. In their eyes, she’s undeserving of prize money. Sprains and bruises won’t deter them. They compete in mortal peril. See also: The Goblet of Fire
A Determined Hombre
The first season had better character growth. The mainstays were more likeable. An oldie acted as 456’s mentor. Player 456 wasn’t the smartest or strongest. Yet he made it to the end. He had a bit of luck. Most importantly, he was determined. You won’t get what you want as a patsy. To paraphrase an old ad, you can’t buy a medal; ‘it must be earned.’
A Farewell to Harms
The final series was underwhelming. Not as flashy or philosophical as the first two. Less action sequences and more dialogue. At the movies, it was like The Maze Runner. By the third instalment, it lost the element of surprise. This isn’t breaking news. Dramas and, in general, TV shows taper off after the first salvo. The last season had six episodes. There is a cameo by an Oscar winner in the end. She acts as a recruiter.
Squid Game probably won’t win more Emmy’s or Golden Globes. They’ve rode this horse as far as they could. Altogether, it’s still engrossing. Currently, the final series has an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have given two thumbs up. Meanwhile, it received a mixed reception from audiences. Most disliked the ending. Squid sets the bar for future Korean releases. Well worth my NF subscription. Vale! Squid Game.
Rating: 4.5/5
