Squid Game: A Childhood Relived?
A Squid Game guard keeps the contestants aligned before the start of the game
Photo Taken: Netflix
Squid Game is a South Korean cinema series that is a Netflix Original Series. The idea has been around for many years however, Netflix just now took on the brilliance of writer/director Hwang Dong-Hyuk. Throughout the first 9-episode season, the premise is a large corporation that finds groups of people who are being crushed by their debt. The corporation is manned by many guards and a leader called the “Frontman”.
What the organization offers is to give all contestants the opportunity to repay their debts and then some by participating in a week of children’s games. Sounds innocent enough, however, what is later learned is that these games are far from innocent. While 456 players enter the games, similar to the childhood everyone shared, not every one will be a winner.
Following protagonist Seong Gi-Hun, also known as player 456, the audience is subject to a variety of themes and exterior views that writer Hwang Dong-Hyuk attempted to convey through use of allusion and irony.
Whether it be how Squid Game is actually a satirical view of capitalism looked through with a critical economic lens. Or the irony of the “fairness” that the game creates. Or how each player is numbered to dehumanize them, similar to how large corporations look at those who cannot help themselves in American society. And even small details regarding the race of the characters throughout the show as later introduced in the series is the VIP’s who are the only Caucasian characters presented throughout the season.
In an interview with South Korean News Channel YTN, Hyuk was quoted saying, “I wanted to create a sense of connection between the nostalgic games we played in our childhood and the sense of never-ending competition that modern adults feel,” Hwang added. “There’s an irony in our most beautiful and innocent memories being changed into the most horrifying reality” (Quote translated by Soompi). The goal of the show wasn’t just to entertain the viewers but to convey a message to them about the unrelenting competition that capitalism is.
Protagonist player 456 looks at his honeycomb in hopes of ideas to win the game
Photo Taken: Netflix
Apart from themes and conveyed messages, looking purely cinematically at season one of Squid Game, there are many parts that should be applauded. Supreme acting by Lee Jung-Jae, player 456, Park Hae-soo, player 218, and many other key roles help keep the audience engaged and feel connections to the characters depending on their backstory.
Use of sound throughout the show such as the eerie tone used that has quickly become a famous sound snippet was a modified Gregorian chant that was sang at funerals. Lastly on the cinematic reasons why Squid Game is a magnificent show, the storyline never became dull and dragged out, each episode had a clear and intent purpose whether it be to introduce a new storyline such as the “missing brother” or the “Organ harvesting farm”, or simply to introduce the violence and set the tone for the rest of the series, each episode was well planned and concise.
Squid Game is going to go down as an all-time classic TV show in the modern era because of the breath of fresh air that it brings into the Thriller/Horror Fiction genre. Showcasing modern problems without using cliché tactics that many shows often fall into the trap of. Squid Game and director Hwang Dong-Hyuk have created a memorable show that sent waves across the world for its unique style, themes, and twists.