Squid Game (2021)

Hold onto your pants, it's going to be a wild ride...

This drama is probably the biggest shocker I’ve got this year. Since I’ve finished Devil Judge I thought that nothing good will happen to me this year in terms of kdramas and I’m so happy that I was wrong. I didn’t have high hopes, since I didn’t really know what to expect from it. And boy, was it a wild ride.

So the idea is pretty familiar and I think that’s what put me to sleep at first. Over four hundred most desperate people stand to a fight for life and death to win a ridiculous amount of money. They need to compete in a games that resemble child play but the slightest slip may result in a gruesome death.

The whole drama looks very innocent, with those live pastel colours everywhere. Contrasted with violence and blood that basically everywhere it all adds up to a very weird detached from reality feeling. And the tasks also seem pretty innocent. Just until machine guns fire up to kill anyone that break the rules of the game.

Let’s talk about acting. From the beginning till the end everything is absolutely perfect (I’ll quickly ignore English speaking actors, since we know not to expect anything from them. Let’s just say, I’ve seen much worse). We have fantastic Lee Jung Jae in the main role and Park Hae Soo that I’ve doubted before (loved him in Prison Playbook but still wasn’t sure about his acting skills) but no more. The rest is equally amazing, but I'd have to list the whole cast here. Let's just say there's no weak link here. And cameos are pure gold. I’ll refrain myself from spoiling who shows up here, but just wait for it.

And the whole premise of it. At first I thought we’ll see something similar to teen dystopian stories that were so popular past couple of years. You know, Hunger Games and the rest that emerged on the wave of it’s popularity. But this drama focuses more on the true human nature. What people can do when they have no other option but to fight. How far they’ll reach just to survive. And we see truly heartbreaking choices that our heroes must make. We quickly discover that they’re not so pure of heart that we thought at first. But who would be with a gun pointed to their face.

Overall this drama shook me to the core. I was glued to the screen for whole nine hours of it and honestly it doesn’t happen often. It kept me at the end of the seat with barely any rest, as the characters that had no time to relax I’ve also felt continuous pressure. I’m writing it shortly after finishing the last episode and I think that those emotions will stay with me for quite a while. This drama is a gem and I hope to see more like that.

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SQUID GAME IS OVERHYPED !!!

okay listen, I watched it as my Bus Drama when I was on my way to work and home and really can't say that I understand the big hype around this Drama. I just watched it only to understand why everyone was like " THE BEST DRAMA EVER" around me and I couldn't find the Reason at all. It had a few good Scenes like the Doll Game or the Cliff Scene but the rest was just unnecessary slaughter. I love Thriller and Psychodrama but this one was without any point. There are way better Drama out there like maybe " Devil Judge" or "Rugal" and for me, it really doesn't need a Second Season 😅

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Hype that will not stand up with time

Hype that will not stand up with time. This series does not measure up to the standards of good, much less great, Korean Drama. The cast is excellent, of course (except for the VIPs, though the inside joke on American actors is rich), but the plot is predictable from the beginning through to the end. From the moment 001 (a heavy-handed clue) showed up, the repetition mixed in with violence and gore was evident, and the outcome was predictable.

However. Blessings on Netflix for bringing international film to the world, especially during the pandemic. But don't try to own it, guys: just stream it.

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its so exiting!!!!!!!

so i just finished binging it with my husband and we loved it!!! it was so intense i was barely peeking out of my finger and it just almost scared the baby right out of me, and woah the twists in this one! i was not expecting a lot of that to happed, and i thought for sure so of the character were gonna live through it all but no no no how wrong was, my favorite character died i was so saddd and my husbands favorite lived though he was happy but sad for me and cried with me.

The games- yoooo who though of a plot where you play children's games? correction- children's games of death! the person who thought of that really should be praised!
So overall i loved it not much to complain about really haha

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Rough draft

There's been thousands of death games since 1970s and the fact that done in Asia. I expected typical romance overtop melodrama stories. I was completely wrong and show caught me off by suprise, so I'll have to watch it again to fully analyze the show. It is clear the show has a lot subtext and hidden meaning. Children games, Colors, Shapes, and Numbers was used through the entire show. What I have so far:

blue group = underclass/minority
#= most are in extreme debt, immigrants, elderly, etc.

red group = working class
Circle = Cooks, Drivers, etc
Triangle = The Police
square = The Managers /Supervisers

Blue and red colors are constantly used throughtout the show. Which is part of South Korean flag known as the Taegeuk. The blue represents the negative cosmic forces and the red represents positive cosmic forces as the yin and yang. You have the blue group labeled as numbers and red group as shapes.

black= govt
frontman = enforces the rules

The rules so far:
Player consent form
1. player is not allowed to stop playing
2. player who refuses to play will be eliminated
3. Games maybe terminated if the majority agrees.

O rules
1. always wear mask
2. Do not converse without permission
3. Do not leave the room without permission

yellow = Yellow light shinging on top of the pig = wealth and fortune

The core of the show seems to be social experiment on meritocracy and commentary on social classes.

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Great suspense throughout, but the ending was not worth it.

The show hooks you right away within the first episode, but as the climax comes into play and the cards are laid out, you realize how the show took the cheap and easy route.

The characters don't make sense, especially Gi Eun and Sang Woo. Their character developments change drastically out of nowhere, and it's apparent towards the end.

Since when was Gi Eun so heroic? Ok, let's say he cared about his daughter, and now that he has won the game, he is going to abandon her again? I really don't buy that his character is going to fight for justice, since he has been a weakling and won a lot of the games by sheer luck. He also seem to have forgotten that he got into the game for his daughter. Throughout the series, Gi Eun was portrayed as a coward and has relied on others to win the game, so I don't get what he's thinking to go back. What is he going to do anyway? WHO TOLD HIM TO SIGN UP FOR THEM, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE? Don't blame the game, but the player.

Since when did Sang Woo feel remorseful? It's not within his character to stab himself. He didn't even feel bad when he let Ali die or when he killed Sae Byeok. So what gave him the sudden change of heart?

The reveal of player 1 was really a cop out and is supposed to add shock factor, but it was so cheap and obvious. It has been done a million times already. It felt forced, and I did not buy into his motivations. Also, the game preaches equality, but the old man keeps helping out our main guy on multiple occasions. The rules don't seem to matter.

We also don't get closure from the cop and his supposedly Front Man brother, which shows that they are heavily reliant on a second season.

I had other nitpicks with the other characters, but it was more obvious towards the end where the flaws lie with implausible character development.

In retrospect, the show has a good way of hooking you in and keeping you on your toes since you want to see how the characters will get out, and the games were enjoyable to watch for the most part. The actors did a fine job, and I think it's within the culture to have exaggerated characters. The plot has a weird way of grabbing your attention and makes you want to binge it, but it is a cheap thrill like Money Heist. Ultimately, the ending kind of ruined it for me, since it went against everything that was within its message and having the characters change 180 did not help. If it had ended similarly to Parasite, where Gi Eun is sent back to society, but he is still not happy because money and greed don't buy happiness then it works out. But this ending? CHEAP.

6.5.

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When childhood games becomes deadly!

For me, " Squid Game" is a mixture of Alice in Borderland, Hunger Games, and Battle Royal, wherein you need to do things you thought you're not capable of doing in order to survive. I finished the entire series in a day as it's very engaging and the character's background stories are all very intriguing and will leave you on edge. This series is lined up with some of the big names in SoKor drama land, which is a gift for us, as they didn't disappointment me with their capabilities to deliver their lines, characters, and emotions. If you don't like bloody scenes, violence and suicide, stay away from this series as it may cause triggering effect. Also, the root of evil aside from greed, is money, this series, shows it all. But overall, you'll enjoy the series, so watch it.

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Better than Hollywood...

Korean kdramas and movies are truly a discovery during this time of pandemic and lockdowns. Their stories are so unique and a joy to watch. Oftentimes, there are lessons to be learned no matter the genre.

Squid Games is no different. Dark in theme, enjoyable to watch. This show has kept me on edge during each game. You never know how many will make it through to the next round. The setting for each scene was well though of and you can see that no expense was spared to make it as over the top as possible.

But more than just the games and the action, it shows what lengths some people would go through when in dire need for money. People from all walks of life may show the world a different side of themselves, but deep down, they are undergoing so many struggles just to survive.

If you are not squeamish at the sight of blood and gore, give this a try.

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Killing the innocence, dehumanizing humanity.

Dark portrayals of greed, low self value and distorted view of reality based on the twisted social standards that are rooted in the obsession over money that takes away all the joy of life - all wrapped in a completely unrealistic scenario sprinkled with dark comedy tone, that emphasizes the absurdity of the characters’ choices and behaviors.

The childlike locations and games present a drastic contract to the brutality of the scenarios the characters are facing. The game creators put themselves in the position of innocent keepers of the rules, and any tragic deaths are the fault of the participants for breaking them. No one is forced to participate - you signed your death certificate yourself.

Survival in the game and survival in daily life serve as another good contrast - the physical brutality versus the emotional and existential dread. It’s more than survival games drama, the true horror is the reality of these people outside of the games and what they can do in the given situation to change it.

The aspect of Squid Game I definitely appreciated was the different perspective we were able to witness - we weren’t only following the players. The behind the scenes gave this unrealistic scenario more down to earth feel - witnessing the pink umpa lumpas with some despicable, but human qualities were for me a good writing choice. The whole mystery of the workers was a small part of the plot, yet so interesting. Sadly, it did not really lead anywhere.

Here’s the thing though - I kind of wanted the majority of the people to die at the beginning. They were really painfully unlikable, and not in the “he annoyed me a bit”, but rather “kind of a trash human being” type of way. Luckily, as the drama progressed and we started to understand their backgrounds, I was able to empathize with some, and even if I disagreed with many of their choices, I still felt bad for what may happen and how they might end.

Blood and murder are this show’s best friends - be aware of that before watching. Realistically speaking, this is not some new higher level of gruesome scenes, but they don’t shy away from showcasing deaths and accidents.

The acting from all the adults was truly amazing. Like in any drama, some roles had more depth and were more demanding than others, but none of the characters felt like an empty placeholder to fill the scene.

But then we had the group of foreign actors with such an exaggerated line delivery, I was thinking I’d rather mute the screen. Not one of them did a good job. All sounded like licence free sound bites.

Any flaws or complaints?

Depends on what you are looking for. Do not expect any elaborate death traps and clever tricks - it’s far more simple. It is pure survival with technically simple rules and games. You won’t wreck your brain trying to understand what is going on, since the plot is rather straightforward with no unexpected plot twists that turn the whole plot upside down.

You might want to sit down and analyze the message of the show and what might be the meaning behind. Depending on the viewer it could be a decent kill count watch with a bit of excitement, or a depressing portrayal of collapsing morals and society, as the money sucks all the joy out of our lives.

EPILEPSY WARNING IN EPISODE 4 - not a complaint, but something viewers for sure should know before starting it. This is the type of filming I cannot enjoy. I lose interest when I can’t really see what is going on. I know, it was done on purpose. I know, the chaotic atmosphere was the point. I still don’t like it.

There has also been a random sex scene, and I don’t think we needed that “final” nail in the coffin - it was clear even without it that people would do anything for survival and money.

Some details make exactly zero sense, and I truly mean zero. If you are lucky, you will not notice them at all, since they are less than minor. Squid Game is not exactly free from plot holes, but none of them have a big impact on the story. Some plot lines do hit the dead end though.

The reasoning behind the games? Kind of weak. I was hoping for them to give some unexpected twist, but in the end, they went with exactly what I expected them to show. The more they explained, the less I liked it. The last few episodes started to take away from the message of the show, which lowered the quality of the watch quite a bit. It was going so well… and then it didn’t.

Overall, it was a brutal drama, yet somehow I found myself laughing at quite a number of scenes. The dark comedy, calling out the hypocrisy - all that was truly amazing. 2/3 of the show was a solid 9.5, and I’m a bit frustrated with where the show went after that. Still, quite an enjoyable watch, with interesting set designs, well written characters and some solid thrills. They were able to get me attached to the characters and feel their desperation and pain. One of the episodes truly broke me, and I was thankful for that.

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Hunger (For Money) Games Deliver Battle Royale

Wow! What an incredible, tense drama! You will be at the edge of your seat all the time, and just when you think you figured out everything, new twists are revealed. I'd say the only tiny drawback is that the ending seems set up for Season 2, but I couldn't dock points for that. It's still a self-contained story that wraps up nicely and answers the main question.

Cast is absolutely fantastic and they play well-defined characters with clear motivations. It's an excellent study of human nature under pressure. There are precious cameos by 2 big name actors but I won't reveal who they are, who they are playing and when they appear. Discover for yourself. You'll go "No way!" I promise.

The plot is a great take on games to the last man or woman standing so fans of Hunger Games, Battle Royale and Alice In Borderland should enjoy this. It's thrilling, but most importantly, emotional beats hit you hard. Episode 6 in particular is a weeper.

Use of The Blue Danube that signals the beginning of the games is a stroke of genius. So familiar and yet so chilling given the context.

Netflix money makes a difference. You will be amazed when you see production design. It's incredible.

I'm shocked that the rating is only 8.2 atm. WTF, MDL? Is it because there's no romance? Only that could explain why drivel like True Beauty is rated higher.

I finished 9 episodes in a day and a half. What are you waiting for? :)

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Don't skip past this show!

This has been the only k-show I've ever seen where I was not bored. Every minute of it kept me interested and on the edge of my seat. The show is ruthless with it's characters and that is something that makes this show so unique. The production is fantastic and these scenes are very cool. The storyline itself is so interesting and makes me think about how many good people are there really in this world.
One thing that I didn't like about it was the weird ending, it felt abrupt other than that throughout the whole thing it never got old or went down in interest level.

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