Out of nowhere, a non-English TV show took first place on the Netflix platform and it even is the biggest show in history. Just like the Korean movie “Parasite”, people are attracted to a thriller in a dystopian-tic setting. It was one of the first times where people used subtitles or even a dubbed version of a movie.
The previous TV show on Netflix that was holding the record was Bridgerton, directed by Tom Verica. Squid game was released on September 17, 2021, and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. Squid game quickly overthrew Bridgerton’s record. It earned a 100% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes and became the number one most-watched Netflix show in ninety countries. Why and how did this TV show become so popular?
Squid game is a Korean drama formed of 456 people at the bottom of the social class, barely surviving with an overwhelming amount of debt in their record. They are put into six traditional Korean games and whoever completes the mission survives the round. However, whoever doesn’t is killed. People who desperately need money decide to participate in the game without being aware that it is a life-or-death situation. The first round traumatizes people by eliminating more than half of them. The games and the desperate situation corrupt people and make them perform inhumane actions without guilt. The people with money and power are using the people as the “horse (in horse racing type of gambling)” and betting money on who is going to win, basically using them as entertainment. The definition of capitalism and how your wealth determines how other people treat you either well or poorly.
There are countless applications of Korean culture. The word Gganbu, which is the name of one of the episodes, comes from the original Korean where there are no Chinese characters applied to the words. By the dictionary, gganbu means (neighborhood) best friend. Also, there are reputations of the regions shown in the series. Seoul university where Sangwoo graduated from is the best university in the country, and it is revealed that the director of the show has graduated from the university in real life. Moreover, Sae-byeok Kang, who is set to be a North Korean has a part where she says she is “liberated” from the abusive man she used to stay with. He replies, “What are u, Yoo Gwan-soon?” Yoo Gwan-soon is considered one of the people that played a huge role in liberating Korea from being colonized. She is extremely respected in South Korea and educated young children. In addition, the music is played while the players are moved to different places for the next game to be played in Korean elementary schools. Even the soundtrack tries to remind the people of their childhood environment.
This show became a positive influence on spreading awareness about Korean culture, but there was also a downside since it was reflected on a neglected social group of the country.
As shown in the dark and hopeless situations the characters are put in, the show reflects very in-depth and serious problems in our society. Squid games include the following common antagonists in the world: inequality, “dissect class anxiety, ”capitalism, and inhumane sides of people when provoked by life-threatening incidents. These issues seem like a cliche that everyone is aware of, but it is often neglected. Squid Game is especially getting spotlighted because of the unique method they used to convey the message by turning the darkness into a colorful and nostalgic world of squid game.
Even though he has completed all the games and become a winner of all the money, Gihoon became a shell without any humanity left in him. When his mom passed away he lay down and put his hand on her heart, instead of sobbing or showing an emotional reaction. He witnessed countless death and inhumane deeds that he reached the point where all his teardrops had dried away.
