That’s a pretty odd title for an article, but if you know about the huge Netfilx hit series, then Squid Game isn’t a new term for you. But, in case you aren’t one of the untold millions of people who have already watched this popular new series, here is some info to help you decide if this show is for you, or if you should give it a pass.
What is Squid Game About?
The setup takes some cues from movies like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, and even The Hunt (The Most Dangerous Game) and merges them into what has become a sudden blockbuster series for Netflix. The show comes from South Korea, so expect subtitles. Early on, we meet one of the main characters, Seong Gi-hun, a very down-on-his-luck man with a gambling problem. He is living with his mother, trying to sort his life out (not very successfully or with much effort), keep a relationship with his young daughter (his ex-wife is remarried to a much more successful man), and generally just go through life.
One day on the subway after a particularly awful day (he steals money from his mother to gamble on the horse races, wins big on one race, is robbed by a pickpocket, accosted by a loan shark he already owes a ton of money, and signs away the rights to his physical body if he can’t pay his debts in the next month (what’s a kidney or an eye when you owe so much money?). A man in a business suit challenges him to a game while waiting for a train. Seong loses over and over, with each loss costing him a slap in the face rather than money (since he has none). It’s humiliating to watch. After he finally wins a round and gets a little money from the man, he receives an offer, to play in a tournament that could help him get out of his financial troubles once and for all. Eventually, Seong accepts, and the Squid Game begins.
What is a Squid Game?
Seong explains to viewers at the beginning of the first episode that a Squid Game was a game kids played in his neighborhood, conducted on a strange squid-shaped court. It’s a bit like Red Rover, tag, or king of the mountain. Every game ended with torn clothes and bloody lips, etc.
The Game
Once Seong accepts the offer, he quickly finds himself knocked out and then awakens with around 450 other people in a room filled with bunk beds. They are all contestants in this game, which will last 6 rounds over 6 days. Those who lose a round are out and those who win all 6 rounds will receive a huge cash prize of some indeterminate amount. We get introductions to a host of other contestants, but the organizers look to remain anonymous, wearing masks.
The games they will play sound innocent enough. It kicks off with a version of Red Light, Green Light, where the group must walk across a field before a timer runs out. But, there is an immediate catch. Players that don’t follow the rules (stop moving entirely when Red Light is called) aren’t just ‘out of the game,’ they are shot and killed. We watch about half the contestants mowed down almost immediately.
The games become progressively more dangerous and more characters die in each of the 9 episodes. It is hyper-violent (think Hostel) and pretty bloody. I’m not going to give away the ending, but just know that at this point, Netflix and the show creators have no definitive plans for a season 2, but based on the popularity of the show, it certainly seems possible.
Watch it or Not?
Hopefully, we’ve set the stage pretty well. The show is extremely violent. Lots of bloody, horrible deaths (hundreds). Some viewers may find it exploitative, while others may see it as making social commentary on violence in our society. Regardless, it is a well-crated series, with a strong cast and numerous twists and turns. Just be aware that this is not a kid’s show. But, if this all sounds like your kind of escapist series, then definitely add it to your Netflix watch list.
