Squid Game

오징어 게임 ‧ Drama ‧ 2021
Completed
NabeelaIssa
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 22, 2023
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 3.0
Rewatch Value 3.0

deceiving

After a failed business venture, the debt-ridden chauffeur Seong Gi Hun lives his life gambling away the money he mooches off his elderly mother while failing to provide for her and his estranged daughter. When his life finally hits rock bottom, he receives an irresistible offer promising him a ₩45.6 billion prize in exchange for winning traditional Korean children's games against 455 other players, among them his childhood friend Cho Sang Woo. Commencing the games, the participants soon learn of the deadly consequences that come with losing.
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Completed
nisha
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 24, 2024
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 3.5
Rewatch Value 4.0
This review may contain spoilers

HOOKING BUT SAD.

This drama hooks you every episode but it's just so tear-jerking. Squid Game tells the story of a broke gambler who has loansharks coming after him and so he desperately needs money. It tells the story of how rich people will KILL for fun. This drama also has a few good plot twists, so if that's your thing, you might like it.

Gi-hun, the main character, I honestly hated him at first. Rude to his mum, irresponsible and a liar, but atleast he has a soft spot for his daughter. He's a bit stupid but he has a moral compass, definitely. If you're into deep character development and backstories, Squid Game has that. All of the main characters and support characters, have their motivations for playing revealed. All of the motivations are realistic. It makes sense why they all want to play the game and what they need the money for. Sang-woo pissed me off even more than Gi-hun. Like a lot more. The way he betrayed everyone got on my nerves. Ali, I genuinely felt bad for him.

The people I felt the worst for were Gi-hun's mom and Sang-woo's mom. My weakness is definitely elderly people... I just felt so bad, Gi-hun's mum probably thought her son was off drinking in her last moments. He'd vanished for days and she died. All alone. Sang-woo's mom was so proud of his achievements, going to SNU Business, but then she found out he was in debt and police were searching for him? She also never got to know that he died, Gi-hun never revealed that to her. She might have sensed something happened when she got the money that Gi-hun 'owes Sang-woo', but it was never actually revealed. Well atleast she has sae-byeok's little brother to accompany her now but the thought of never knowing what happened to my son, would haunt me forever. Gi-hun's mom, I literally cannot stop talking abotu her, I FEEL SO BAD???

For me, episode 6 was the SADDEST episode. I could not handle the multiple deaths that occurred at the end of the ep. Ji-yeong sacrificing herself for sae-byeok OH MY DAYS.. It made me cry so much cause it was so sad. Ji-yeong's a poor soul, she never got to experience life fully. Her family backstory is so sad and as soon as she got out of prison, she was invited to the game. Ali's death was heartbreaking. All I could think about was his family. And, the old man 'dying' made me cry too cause like i said, elderly people suffering is my weakness.

I feel bad for jun-ho, the police officer. bro literally came looking for his brother only to find out his brother's the front man.

Also han mi-nyeo was so FUCKING annoying. i could not stand her a second she was on that screen, (love goes to the actress).

idk why i put myself through this, cause i literally hate gore and they would put it in slo-mo so you could literally see the blood splatter everywhere. yuck. and the bridge game, i could literally see the brains.

i found the vips really weird and disgusting. i mean, who wouldnt?

i don't have any major dislikes, it's just the plot about the elderly people in the show that made me upset. but i guess if it's relevant, they can't really change that. it's just not my perfect cup of tea, i suppose.

the casting was pretty good, all the acting was solid and believable, but i just have to mention how fine wi ha-joon is.

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING:
- honestly, red hair is giving on him
- why didn't he get on the fucking plane to see his daughter, why turn back, (this pissed me off and was not relevant imo)

THOUGHTS ON SEASON 2:
- based on the cast, i can see wi ha-joon is apart of it which means JUNHO DIDNT DIE. unless, flashbacks or something but probably not cause he was given a main role. park sung-hoon is apart of this too. overall, the cast looks pretty good
- idk what they'd do for a season 2 though, im thinkinh and him taking down the whole game just doesn't sound realistic. him playing again, also doesn't sound very interesting or realistic? idk, if you have any ideas, i'd like to hear them.

OVERALL:
im rating this an 8/10 . it was pretty good but i was pissed off by some minor things and death-games aren't really my cup of tea. i think if you like the 8 show or other death-game thrillers, squid game is something you'd probably enjoy. i don't think i'd rewatch this, personally because i can't really rewatch thrillers if i know the plot, romcoms are different because i just want to experience fluffyness again by rewatching even if i know the plot. also this is purely all just my opinion, and you can have your own. you may think this is a 1, or a 10, it's completely up to you!

if you do watch this, i hope you enjoy watching it! :)

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Completed
Jinxxa_Wolf
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 2, 2025
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

…Let the Games Begin!!

SQUID GAME (2021-2025) is a dark, twisted and thrilling kdrama about poor people who find themselves in financially horrible and hopeless circumstances, by means of debt, scams, gambling, and bad life choices etc. and are each invited to a mysterious challenge to participate in children’s games for large ammouts of money. Prepare to be thrilled and disturbed.

This series is visually appealing, and exciting. The concept is a bit twisted but very compelling as well. The sets, costumes and effects were all next level.

A mysterious organization invites the most down and out people to something called The Squid Games, a twisted spin on children's games, where desperate adults can participate to win a huge cash prize and hopefully have a second chance in life, but not everyone can make it out alive.

"Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits with deadly high stakes: a survival game that has a whopping 45.6 billion-won prize at stake."

Overall, "Squid Game" was a violent yet philosophical series, that thrills as much as it makes one contemplate. It ask some very deep questions such as the value of human life, the nature of poverty, the goodness of humanity. This show is exceptional yet extremely violent. Not for the faint of heart or stomachs. A great watch!

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Completed
DramaLoverPlushies
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 16, 2025
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

A Shocking, Suspenseful, and Socially Reflective Thriller We Watched as a Crew

The Plushie Crew jumped into Squid Game with very little context—just the internet memes, cosplay outfits, and Kuromi’s non-stop curiosity. She finally got the chance to watch it with us, and none of us expected to be this emotionally and mentally shaken.

This drama takes a bold concept and turns it into something unforgettable. Winny resonated with the characters’ tough choices, Willow and Mimikyu were fascinated by the psychological elements, and Amy and Tails admired the production value—the lighting, camera work, and score were all top-tier. Meanwhile, Sonic, Sunny, Knuckles, and Shadow couldn’t stop talking about how well the story reflects real-world issues like capitalism, inequality, and human desperation.

We all watched it together, reacting in real-time to the tension, heartbreak, and plot twists. The VIPs' performances were a rare weak spot for us, but everything else was so well done that it barely mattered. Every episode left us talking, thinking, and wanting more.

This show deserves the praise it gets—and watching it with friends made it even more memorable. Highly recommended for those who love intense storytelling with substance. 🌕🩸

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Completed
abethygale
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 12, 2022
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Pretty Good

Squid Game was good, but not as good as other dramas I've seen. I thought the characters were good, great soundtrack. However I feel like, as much as Gihun is likeable, people forget that he's a deadbeat dad who, at the end, was a little too willing to abandon his daughter to go back to the Squid Game. I think it's a very enjoyable show and easily rewatchable. I wish Ali lived, I would have loved to see him make it further in the Game but I understand that he had to die to show Sangwoo's more sinister side. Squid Game was good, not the best, but good.
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Completed
judy
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 20, 2025
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

squid game (all 3 seasons)

unpopular opinion but i think season 2 was the best, maybe a little biased because jo yuri was in it🥹
this show started off so perfectly. season 1 had the suspense that no other kdrama could have. season 2 had the best games, music, and cast and was the most memorable for me. i just found the boat scenes a little boring😭. as for season 3, i was lowkey pretty disappointed because the plot twists were so predictable, especially the ending which made it boring to watch because everybody knew what was gonna happen😭 there were also actions of the characters that just didnt make any sense.

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Completed
XS33
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 25, 2024
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Superb!

LIKE

When Gong Yoo appeared and ended up paying $$ to Gi Hoon when he lost - loved that scene

Breakthrough for Joo Ryoung - her character here impressed me as I often watch her acting as ghost only..

How all the games were crafted - awesome

DISLIKE

So good and waiting for season two - nothing to complain

MUSIC

Not to my liking

REWATCH VALUE

On my top-tier list to re-watch again
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Completed
Valentina
0 people found this review helpful
1 day ago
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
Finally decided to watch it this year (2025) and counting until 2026. it has a lot of violence but if we omit that and emphasize the story/destiny of each contestant and their desire to win, while sacrificing themselves, you have to join this journey too. i like that the main actor is not a typical face; he is handsome though but you also pity him as being a loser in life, whiclh all of us are, sometimes:) and the concept is amazinh. terrifying if it comes true in the future.
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Completed
pinnokino_kai
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 9, 2022
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 3.0
Rewatch Value 3.5

Who would really do this for money?

A Korean twist to the Japanese action Alice in borderland which I’m a big fan of. It was nice to see the cultural differences in two similar plots.

There seems to be an intentional difference between regular kdramas and international blockbusters like this and Parasite. Certainly made for international buzz. I heard the overhype from family and coworkers and it fits their taste more than it did with me.

However I do enjoy the cast and have watched a few of their other works. I think the ending was well enough if the main character simply went to take care of his daughter I don’t understand the message of seeking revenge/going back for more because unlike in Alice in borderland, the humans have a choice of being there. He was a good guy but unpredictable which could be frustrating at times.

There is no story line to continue in regards to a second season, I think it’s more just for the action of it all. Game playing is an interesting genre to many I suppose however It’s forgettable for me unless the entire world bombards me with anticipation like they did for s1 causing me to not be able to form my own expectations which will result in another disappointment. I however did enjoy those mild moments of reality in between the characters admission/re-admission into the game, which explained why they would ever be so desperate as to return to to this crazy game (and no, none of them were justifiable imo )

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Completed
ennuifeels
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 28, 2021
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Parasite it was not!

I had such high expectations for this drama. I expected it to be a brilliant, sardonic social commentary like Parasite. Well, I think I'm being unfair comparing it to the film.
It was good. Very good. But it could have been better. So much more than what it is. I hope a second season would add more depth and make the story more rich.
I love the acting. The actors have wonderfully portrayed their characters. I found the evil, rich VIPs to be bland, stereotypical and lackluster. The story feels incomplete. I liked O Henry's "the last leaf" inspired death-bed scene albeit it wasn't very satisfying.

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Completed
pankku
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 31, 2021
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

It was Ok, but not upto the Hype

My Conclusion: 🙂 It is good yet Overrated drama. Because i honestly think there are many other good and more best kdramas which can be given more attention and somehow are more suitable and good to watch. There's no doubt this drama wasn't good. And the acting was so good. But the useless murdering & there's nothing to learn from it except not to trust anyone easily or teamwork in tug of war task. Lol, that things can be taught through some simpler and good concepts too. I'm not of the type who watched a series and when it finishes ends it. The series actually goes around all time in my head. And i always assume and think what will happen next, if it would have S2, are there any chances for a season 2, was the ending sufficient & things like that. One of the most funny thing is if it doesn't gets season 2 than the role of the Policeman is a waste because it was of no use actually 😂. But if it gets S2 maybe it'll make a story.

My Conclusion: 🙂 It is good yet Overrated drama. Because i honestly think there are many other good and more best kdramas which can be given more attention and somehow are more suitable and good to watch. There's no doubt this drama wasn't good. And the acting was so good. But the useless murdering & there's nothing to learn from it except not to trust anyone easily or teamwork in tug of war task. Lol, that things can be taught through some simpler and good concepts too. I'm not of the type who watched a series and when it finishes ends it. The series actually goes around all time in my head. And i always assume and think what will happen next, if it would have S2, are there any chances for a season 2, was the ending sufficient & things like that. One of the most funny thing is if it doesn't gets season 2 than the role of the Policeman is a waste because it was of no use actually 😂. But if it gets S2 maybe it'll make a story.

My Conclusion: 🙂 It is good yet Overrated drama. Because i honestly think there are many other good and more best kdramas which can be given more attention and somehow are more suitable and good to watch. There's no doubt this drama wasn't good. And the acting was so good. But the useless murdering & there's nothing to learn from it except not to trust anyone easily or teamwork in tug of war task. Lol, that things can be taught through some simpler and good concepts too. I'm not of the type who watched a series and when it finishes ends it. The series actually goes around all time in my head. And i always assume and think what will happen next, if it would have S2, are there any chances for a season 2, was the ending sufficient & things like that. One of the most funny thing is if it doesn't gets season 2 than the role of the Policeman is a waste because it was of no use actually 😂. But if it gets S2 maybe it'll for a stort.

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Completed
linlinn_nnbts
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 6, 2022
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

ehhh

honestly im late and ik but this drama wasn't rlly for me. i wasn't rlly able to watch the episodes and parts with the doctor and overall it was too graphical and much for me. i wasn't rlly wanting to take this srsly and was outside of the story or the most part. super gory and creepy and hard to get through fir me tbh. would be for ppl who are into suspense and gory stuff ig and also fantasy or unrealistic realistic ish events. i don't rlly have much to say as of rn tbh

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  • Score: 8.4 (scored by 151,379 users)
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