Squid Game

Korean games for kids mixed with murder and economical critique. Sounds odd?

There's no way you haven't heard of Squid Game. A visually bright and childish rooms contrasted with blood and tears. That series is INSANELY addictive and stands out from a lot of asian dramas.

+ The actors played so well, I forgot that it's just a show and cried so many times :')
+ The storyline is good written - we see many perspectives of the players, we get to know different personalities and can identify with some of them
+ Economical issues, gambling addiction, loneliness and feeling of guilt - those hard topics combined with heartbreaking relationships, made during the game
+ great looking visuals

- main character's daughter was forgotten during the series
- some characters appeared to be useless at the end cause their actions didn't have any consequences *when you know you know*

9/10

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For a Korean offering in this genre Not Bad

My rating is 8/10

Review

For me this is a pretty good rating as I am not generally a fan of this genre. For a Korean offering, in this genre, it is good. To me what made it a bit less compelling was what I will call the Netlix effect. They end it a certain way because it may or may not have another season. And it is all about profit. They also drag in a lot of unnecessary social aspects. That just become a distraction and actually turn a lot of people off the show. Minimal in the first season though.

I approached Squid Game with trepidation, wary of an Americanized spin on a Korean series. I also wasn't thrilled about this encroachment on a genre the Japanese do often and well. A Korean kill game type drama? Not one of Korea's typical—they usually leave it to Japanese movies and dramas. So that was one strike against watching it. But there were other things that didn't put it in the neat box I had for Korean drama content. What stood out especially were its multiple short seasons, which is a departure from the traditional single, 16-episode K-drama format. And that is the Netflix effect. They like to make them more like pilots. And determine if they will continue the story based on profit. As someone who avoids the blood-and-gore kill game genre, I was reluctant but curious, driven by the show’s inescapable presence in Asian content circles and pop culture. I wanted to grasp its significance to keep up with references. Squid Game delivered both what I expected—a brutal, high-stakes survival drama akin to The Hunger Games—and far more, with a level of gore and psychological intensity that was profoundly unsettling. The show’s ability to transform nostalgic childhood games into deadly trials is both ingenious and horrifying, pulling viewers into a world where desperation overrides morality. The production is visually striking, with iconic imagery like the triangle-masked enforcers and the eerie “Red Light, Green Light” doll now etched into global consciousness. The emotional weight is heavy, making it a challenging watch for empaths or those sensitive to graphic violence and moral decay. Yet, its exploration of human desperation and strategic cunning is undeniably compelling.

I recommend Squid Game to those who can handle the gore and don’t mind a cast of deeply flawed characters. It’s not a feel-good story, but it’s a cultural juggernaut that’s worth experiencing to understand its impact, even if it left me slightly rattled.

Spoilers

This is the ugly side of humanity on full display where even the "good" people operate more in a gray area. It plunges into the levels of human desperation, strategic brilliance, and moral depravity, all of which are amplified by its unrelenting brutality. The opening “Red Light, Green Light” game, where hundreds of contestants are gunned down in a spray of blood by an automated doll, was far gorier than I anticipated. I expected mass casualties, but the immediate, visceral slaughter—players falling mid-game, surrounded by their peers—was a level of cruelty I wasn’t prepared for. They did not go into it knowing what would happen, not for that first game, so that made it all the more a psychological horror for the players.

The psychological torment was intricately woven into the physical gore and violence and was equally jarring. The decision by Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and others to return after the first game, despite witnessing such horror, underscored the bleakness of their lives outside. Their choice to risk death for a chance at financial redemption was both shocking and a haunting commentary on societal desperation. But, to their credit that first game was a mere taste of what was to come. In that first game there was a complete reliance on yourself and your own abilities. As the games required teaming up and even making life or death choices for others, the layers of moral ineptitude were revealed and continued to compound.

The characters’ moral failings were staggering. Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo), Gi-hun’s childhood friend, revealed a ruthless edge, deceiving his ally in the marble game and later killing Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon), the North Korean defector whose cautious yet principled nature I admired. Sae-byeok’s death, after Player 067 (Lee Yoo-mi) sacrificed herself for her, felt like a cruel twist, especially when Sang-woo delivered the final blow. Jang Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae), the gangster, was a vile force, and his manipulative dynamic with Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryoung), who played every side with chilling amorality, epitomized the show’s cutthroat ethos. Mi-nyeo’s willingness to ally with Deok-su, including their disturbing sexual encounter, highlighted her lack of conscience. You think a psychotic player is bad then they get worse. Same with the game you think it is bad enough then it gets worse.

The games were diabolical in their design. The tug-of-war, where Gi-hun’s team, guided by Oh Il-nam’s (O Yeong-su) leaning-back strategy, barely survived, was a pulse-pounding highlight. Sang-woo’s tactic to rush forward during the game was a stroke of ruthless genius I hadn’t considered. The marble game, forcing players to betray trusted allies, was pure psychological evil, tearing at bonds formed in the barracks. The night of murder, when lights went out and players like Deok-su’s crew turned on each other, was terrifying, compounded by the horrific organ-harvesting scheme run by corrupt staff. The VIPs, watching the carnage like voyeurs, were as depraved as the game’s orchestrator, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), if not more so. I half-expected the final dinner to reveal cannibalism—thankfully, it didn’t, but I wouldn’t have trusted the meal. The glass bridge game, where players like Abdul Ali (Anupam Tripathi) were pushed to their deaths while distinguishing tempered from regular glass, was another layer of cruelty. Sae-byeok’s arc was a standout; her cautious strength made her tragic end all the more devastating. Gi-hun, despite lying in the marble game and harboring murderous thoughts, emerged as the least corrupt in a den of vipers. He wasn’t pure—far from it—but compared to the psychopathy of Sang-woo, Deok-su, or even the calculating Oh Il-nam, he was the closest to redeemable. The strategic reimagination of childhood games was mesmerizing, yet the depravity—from the triangle-masked enforcers to the doll’s chilling presence—was overwhelming.

Squid Game is a must-watch for those who can stomach its gore and emotional intensity, offering a raw look at human nature under pressure. I’m torn—partly regretting the emotional toll but glad to understand the cultural touchstones, from the masked enforcers to that haunting doll. It’s a brutal, unforgettable ride that leaves you questioning humanity’s limits.

Am I glad I watched it? I'm not sure. I certainly don't want any of the t-shirts or any other merchandise reminding me of some of the horrible scenes. I thought, innocently, before I watched it, that the 'soldiers" were kind of cute little figures with a triangle, circle or square mask? Cute? No more. I see those and think of the organ harvesting or any number of other cruel activities they perpetrated.

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Stunning Television

Where to even begin with this? Squid Game Season 1 truly is a work of art and is one of the best shows of our time. From the moment you click play, you’re immersed into the story of Seong Gi-hun, a father and a gambling addict who is down on his luck, until he’s invited to a game. The games are deadly, and along the way, we see decisions unfold and alliances crack as the characters are faced with moral dilemmas. The acting is superb, the story is compelling, the production is rich, and the OST is stellar. You don’t have to watch seasons 2/3, but season 1 is a must.

Favorite Episode: Gganbu (S1E6)
Standout Performances: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon, Lee You-mi, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi

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So good..but so many questions!

Having watched one episode of Alice in Borderland and not watching that again, Squid Game hooked me in with the interesting plot of debt, desperateness, and weird masked people in suits.

The more you watch, the more hooked you will get. Each episode has different games, in addition to new discoveries. I never had a drama that had me cry this hard before, but this one did it. You also really need to analyze every scene as the director/writer/whoever planted a lot of tiny details in this, which is amazing.

The big letdown for me was definitely the last episode. Ending an amazing show is tough. I didn't expect a happy ending, but I expected a better last episode that answered some questions. So much is still left unanswered, and the ending didn't really hook me in like "Hey, watch season 2 to find out!"

Still a good show, and worth the hype. Every actor did an amazing job.

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it was heart clenching and gut wrenching and simply devastating. it's devastating how on point it is. how the rich controll everything. how it has always been like that and always will be.

it was devastating to see someone lose their friend. it wasdevastating to see someone lose their spouse. it was devastating to see someone lose their new-found gganbu. it was devastating to see someone lose their sister. it was devastating to see someone kill their brother. it was devastating to see how much someone has to do in order to survive.

I'm sickened and saddened and just out of words. and it's not only because I witnessed so much acted suffering, it's because it's real. because it's my, your, our reality. and there's no way of changing it.

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My thoughts on Squid Game

This drama started out really strong. I was definitely gripped by the first episode but then it kind of got boring.

•My favourite game was obviously Red Light, Green Light, although that giant doll was the most creepiest thing for me to witness. I also enjoyed watching the one where they had to step on the correct piece of glass.
•The honeycomb challenge was disgusting - all that sweat and licking was ew!
•The marble game was boring and the tug of war game made me too tense. I didn't like to see them dangling on the rope waiting to fall to their death. It was better in the glass game because it was more instant rather than dragging it out.

I was a bit upset when Sae-byeok died, but we know she had to go as the main guy was obviously going to win. That's the thing I don't like about these shows, is when you know that the main lead has to get through the challenges, needless to say I was never worried about him.

The old man was weird and the ending confused me.

It would be good to know why the 'triangles', 'squares', and 'circles' were all in on it. Which reminds me - I loved the scene where Mi-nyeo really needed the bathroom (aka her cigarette) and she said to the triangle that she wanted to see their superior i.e. the square, and then out popped its head. The only funny part of the show in my opinion.

I can only give the acting a 9.0 because the Americans were so terrible. Their acting really brought down the overall production quality of the show.

The music was creepy which was fitting so I thought that was good.

In the end it just fizzled out into nothing really. A guy won a ton of money because he got through challenges whilst everyone else died. What happened with his daughter? Like we need answers but weren't given any.

If there was a second season I really doubt I'd bother to watch it.

-E

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Extremely High Execution of a Very Used Concept

I watched this on the spur of the moment after having 0 intention of watching it previously, because tbh how many times have manga/anime fans seen this survival game concept? Growing up with Japanese entertainment, NOTHING about this show was new at all, but I still loved it. I suppose for Westerners it might be new, but for me the shock factors or disturbing qualities didn't stand out from originality but from the pure execution. I could say the majority of the plot turns were predictable as well but the pacing and performances were SO good, that it kept me on the edge of my seat. The violence/gore wasn't emotionally or mentally straining and was easy to get to used to after the initial shocks of the first two episodes.
I LOVED the detective. Passionately :D and not just because that man is incredibly fine, but his character addition really added to the quick pacing of the show, mixing in another storyline so as to almost give us a breather from the dirty inhumane warehouse feeling the other characters endured. I believe that the alternations of character/story focuses was what was really done well because it always kept you rolling and focused. A "next, next, next action" experience.
The only reason I'm not giving it a 10 is because I really felt that the ending of some characters was rushed. Episode 8-9 definitely lacked the full emotional appeal of loss for me and I was mildly disappointed but I understand there was a time crunch.
I've never stayed up all night to watch a show before, but I did for Squid Game. I was absolutely groggy the next day but it was worth it. I'm currently rewatching it with my mom, and it is still an incredibly crisp viewing. The camerawork and colors were executed very, very well and I look forward to watching Hwang Dong Hyuk's other works.
The "novelty" of Squid Game that's all over media is 100% Western hype in my opinion, but tbh with how well done this show was, it probably deserves it.

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Interesting concept, though nothing groundbreaking

Was interested in the concept of the game when I decided to watch even though I'm more of a rom-com guy. Definitely an entertaining watch. The cast did a fantastic job portraying their roles. Lee Jung-jae did a great job playing his character, although it took a little getting used to his character given his personality at the beginning of the show. Heo Sung-tae did a great job as the thug guy as I wanted him to die a very gruesome death very early on. Jung Ho-yeon as Kang Sae-byeok was definitely my favorite out of all of them. Her character was intriguing and I found myself rooting for her the most.

The show focuses on the greed of individuals and the power money can have over a person. The motivations behind the creation of the game and the leaders who control it didn't really stick with me, and there really isn't any clear punishment for those running the game by the end of the show (probably setting up for a season two). A lot of gruesome deaths, annoying people making stupid choices, and some heartfelt moments where I actually teared up a few times. The game itself is rather straightforward and isn't anything particularly interesting or thrilling to watch, although it is enough to make you continue watching to see what happens next. The main "game" is really the relationships between the characters and their greed versus morality.

Overall, an fun and exciting show that's worth a watch. You may need to look past the absurdity of the game itself, as it could never happen in real life, but the show still provides entertaining situations and characters who you'll be rooting for.

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Bit of more spoilers so if you dont like to spoil dont read..

When red light green light start i feel thrilling and i like the way ali help to gi hun even other playes paniced and cant think of anything... From the 1st episode i hated mi nyeo she is really irritating woman 'itz good no one choose her in 4th game'. tht is how i thought but she did not killed in that time but it also for good ( you can found why in last 2 episodes)
Sang woo i dont like him becoz when 2nd game honey comb hapenning why he did that to others?? Itz not one to one game.. i felt he is selfish man and he prove it in 4th game he choose ali becoz he thought it was game like 3rd one, that is why he choose ali and he is completely play unfairly, ali won the game but he tric him.. poor ali try to help him even the end i hate sang woo
And when marble game start and gi hun going to loss old man help him when he ask wht did u say.., n he try to help him but wht gi hun did he trick him... but gi hun is actually not bad and selfish guy like sang woo he thought, no one going to choos old man then he will die, so he choose him but game happend to be like that but anyhow Old man going to give winning to gi hun he should have play fair then old man not going to dead in heart break..
I think in 4th game we saw real humanity and new friendship between 2 girls.. ji yeong wants to give winning place for sae byeok without playing fairly.. she choose her as frnd only for gratitude to asking her to come thier group in 3rd game.. and sae byeok also did not want to get winning place without playing fairly.. i want her to win in the end i rute her completely

Whole thing i wrote up thire is things i wrote while watchng it but in the end episode somthings are changed but until the end sae byeok is really good girl with humanity n sang woo is selfish... but about gi hun somthing was changed but i am not going to write it here becoz even who likes to read spoilers , it would be better not known who was behind this 😊 it is somthing and someone you never thought.. itz not too strong drama from first episode but it has bit of strong feeling but i feel it become weak n weak when it closed to end.. i think it has lack of emotions not actors fault i think itz script fault

All the cast members really gave there best for characters

Background is very cool all the places are like candy to my eyes

Overall not best but good drama

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The Extreme Measures for Money

Whether you live in a capitalistic environment or not, the universal term money is globally acknowledged as a main trade item for any kind of purchase. The interchangeable item is powerful enough to let anyone gain ownership of any item from miniscule stuffs to gigantic objects. With human’s eagerness of ownership, people could take extreme measures to reach their goals including being massively in debt thanks to their countless loans. Logically, for the boundless pledgees those loans can be hardly repaid. However, by stepping out of reality, if they were offered to earn an insanely huge amount of cash by playing several rounds of childhood games, perhaps they would like to give it a shot.

Welcome to Squid Game, players are welcomed to play six rounds of folk games in a span of six days. The winner is granted cash prize worth 45.6 billion won. Players are recruited unbeknownst of themselves by an anonymous company (that has a circle, triangle, and rectangle logo) at their lowest moments (in terms of debts). But at what cost? No one told them initially until it was revealed that losers of each rounds will be eliminated by literally being shot to death.

Squid Game has 456 players and many other extras. The show centers around Seong Gihun, a divorced man without proper occupation nor custody of his 10 year-old daughter. Additionally, Gihun has a high attraction for bettings. The ironic life Gihun was living depicted a harsh condition that perhaps a lot of people has ever experienced. Despite that, his humanity nature is delightful and brought a realistic touch to the character. His clever and notorious best friend, Cho Sangwoo, also happened to be in the game due to his business activities. From the short narrative alone, it is hardly surprising that Sangwoo turns out to be a sly, opportunistic, and egoist individual. Both characters are executed immensely by the actors.

On the other side, the supporting characters added dynamics within the players and the story in general. Kang Saebyeok, a North Korean defector with cold-yet-alluring persona was excellently performed by Jung Hoyeon (an impressive acting debut). The manipulative Han Minyeo, trustful Ali, thug-like Duseok, and the old man are some of other characters that made Squid Game interesting. Another important character, Hwang Junho, instantly became viewer’s favorite due to his fearless personality. Several other players noticeably added more fascinating elements to the drama.

Onto the story, Squid Game delivered a relatively slow yet thorough buildup from Gihun’s back story, player recruitment process, until the game itself. Some people might not enjoy the slower approach but I do think it gives the viewers a better idea in understanding the game, character’s emotion, and situations in which they were facing. Even though we must note that the main games are brought with rather sudden, thrilling, and sadistic approach. Within the tight span of 9 episodes, the 6 games and plots are generally distributed properly that it could raise many questions by the end of each episodes, leading to a binge-watching experience. Another point worth mentioning is Junho’s subplot. Although his character can be considered as an outlier, his infiltration to the game as a worker provided a nice different point of view of the game’s system in general.

While I do enjoy most of Squid Game, the series couldn’t hold its thrilling journey for the whole 9 episodes. It sort of wore off after the fifth game. Personally, I do think Squid Game was mostly carried by the dynamics and interactions of each characters. As soon as they kill the important roles, the excitement of this series began to let loose. Each episodes automatically have more gaps to be filled in. With a mountain-like structure, the Kdrama reached its climax on the sixth episode (fourth game) as it jumbled a mixture of vulnerability and moral dilemma that generated an emotional chaos for the viewers.

Another standout point of Squid Game is the fine extra attention to the details. Almost every single frame/scenes have its own symbolism or implicit messages. There are many moments worth mentioning but foremost it was in the dynamics of the players. During the team selection processes, the players depict several examples of discriminations—that can be generalized to communities across the globe. Whether it be racism to those who doesn’t look like a majority (in this case Ali for not looking like a Korean), sexism to women for being labeled as weak, or ageism (which only happened to the old man). Additionally, the VIPs being mostly old white man is a nice touch as to the picture of being colonized by white people or even their arguably terrible-yet-great acting in thinking they own “the world”.

The details didn’t stop there. Some people may or may not have noticed but the Squid Game creators actually dropped some hints ever since the very beginning of the drama (hence why I wasn’t really shocked for the twists). Gihun had been inescapably affiliated to the number 456: from his player number, until the amount of money he won from the horse betting (4.56 million won). He also gave his daughter a gun-shaped lighter as a present present inside a black box tied with pink ribbon—pretty similar to the “coffins” in the game. The old man was suspicious for numerous times including being excited on the first game, able to stop the night fight, and not wanting to switch shapes during the second game with Gihun—but he wrapped it perfectly with the dementia excuse.

The excessive details are honestly compelling yet some of them fell short and was left unfinished. Saebyeok climing arc was an interesting take with the screw not being attached properly. However, they just left her action the way it was—a wasted subplot there. Some questions were also left unanswered such as: how the workers get there, why Junho’s brother played such an important role and can remain MIA for over 5 years, The VIPs back stories, Junho and the police whereabouts. While those questions might bait the existence of a second season, I honestly pointed those out as Squid Game felt finished in general and it didn’t really have the necessity to continue especially if they are going to keep it centered around Gihun. Instead, if they decided to resume, it would be better to switch it into a spinoff about the workers.

A further point that made Squid Game distinguishable and attractive is the production. Having childhood games as the main theme, the series brought such sadistic and thrilling stories wrapped in colorful sets. The ironic contrast definitely left an eye-catching impression for all the viewers and even those who have only seen the short clips circulating on the internet. The consistency of the costumes also marked a strong point for Squid Game. Though the red jumpsuits of the workers might be similar to the ones in Spanish TV show Money Heist, the other styling still felt original and has its points of being iconic (that perhaps could be recited sometime in the future).

The viral sensation Korean Netflix Series, Squid Game, has an enormous amount of points to be remarkably acclaimed in the contemporary TV Shows landscape. Although, I must admit that the show wasn’t a completely perfect journey. Regardless of the decision whether the creator of Squid Game would like to continue onto the next seasons, the standalone 9 episodes (so far) are worthy to be the talk of the public.

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Life Should be About More than just Surviving

When I first started watching this drama, I wondered if there was a message to it. Only when I got to the end, I realized it had a powerful message about survival and sacrificing for the person next to you. The drama was almost like a warning for people not to lose touch with their humanity, especially in today's world where watching other people's misfortunes has become entertainment. I enjoyed Squid Game, the concept, and everything from how the events unfolded flowed seamlessly, even as grim and bloody as it got. I felt the writer, director, and all the actors did a fantastic job delivering and actualizing the story. I particularly liked Wi Ha Joon in the role of the cop and brother, who does the impossible to find and save his brother, only to find out he was the one who needed saving and from his own brother. It was a grim moment to take, but as they say, sometimes family can be your worst enemy. I was pleasantly surprised to see Lee Byung Hun in the drama. I didn't expect that.

I must say I loved Lee Jung Jae for learning and teaching the remaining survivors Park Hae Soo and Jung Ho Yeon, through such a twisted and blood ordeal, that maybe life should be about more than just surviving alone. But to find out that the journey was nothing but one person's sick attempt to have fun with their bored life, and to think nothing of the many lives lost was appalling. So in that sense, I completely understood why, despite getting what he so desperately wanted, and especially after working as fiercely as he did to not want it anymore. It's like they say, be careful what you wish for, you might get it only to find it wasn't something you needed after all, because the loss far outweighed the gain. Money isn't everything after all. I cannot wait for a second season. There has to be one.

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