Don’t know much about Netflix’s New Original Series “Squid Game?” Well, you should. Not because it’s an uplifting drama or even something that is easy to watch. It’s because it will soon become Netflix’s top-grossing Original Series…ever. Let that sink in really quick. The Korean Drama Series hit Netflix streaming site less than a week ago on Friday, September 24th and over the weekend amassed such a large volume of viewers, even Netflix couldn’t help but brag.
Not only did it sit at the #1 Spot on Netflix Top 10 over the weekend, it also earned an announcement from Netflix that it is well on its way to surpass the top Netflix viewed Original “Bridgerton” which was released in December 2020 and was viewed by more than 82 Million Households…let that sink in.
So, what is “Squid Game?” It doesn’t have anything to do with squids, at least not technically. The name of the show originated from childhood games children used to play in Korea, the series, is anything but sweet though. We start off following our main-character Seong Gi-hun (Jung-jae Lee) a 47-year-old single father down on his luck. After losing his job and getting a divorce, he turns towards gambling to fill his pockets. However, the gambling becomes an addiction and he becomes inundated with debt. Seeking relief from relentless and brutal loan sharks, he decides to sign up to play a game, a deadly game.
Given no other information other than the chance to win millions, potentially, billions of dollars, he enters a game that he knows nothing about. Drugged and sedated, he finds out that he is one of 456 contestants that agreed to play the mysterious game and has been taken to an unknown foreign location. Opting to play or not, all 456 contestants sign a waiver that essentially signs away their lives.
The game seems simple, play to win or be eliminated. The only catch? There is a pretty significant outcome of being eliminated…I’m taking about bullet through the head. The other contestants figure out how deadly the game will become after the first task, a simple game of red-light, green-light. Taken very seriously, if you move after red-light, you die. Literally. Each round presents a new game, a new challenge to eliminate players until there is only one winner. And each game gets increasingly more violent – taking what may seem as simple children play games with deadly outcomes.
I am only 6 episodes in to the 9-episode series, so the motive of the game and its controller is still un-clear. I would describe the series as “Black Mirror” meets “Hunger Games” except far more deadly and disturbing.
The series is violent and horrible. To put it simply. “Squid Game” shows us who we are as humans at our most desperate form, riddled with greed. The ONLY reason I am recommending is because it is sure to become one of Netflix’s top-grossing shows and will soon become integrated into our lives. I am already hearing people asking me, less than a week after release, have you seen “Squid Game?”
Due to the massive launch and its success, there is sure to be another season or another spin-off that is probably getting green-lit as we speak.
Watch with caution and enter if you dare.
* literally me the entire time watching this show.
And that’s the sitch.
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