Was Netflix’s Squid Game Worth The Hype?
Potential spoilers ahead
Squid Game is a Korean series on Netflix where 456 people enter a game to win a huge cash prize. The players have to win six children’s games to continue. However, failing to succeed has deadly consequences.
I’d been hearing about Squid Game for a few days before I finally caved and decided to watch it. Initially, I considered stopping during the first episode, thinking it would be a Korean rendition of Saw’s gory franchise. However, with the mysterious masked men and good actors, I was too intrigued to stop watching.
After tensely watching the entire series in less than two days, I can confidently say that it is entirely worth the hype it has received. Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of blood, but there were no scenes that made me squeamish. I will warn, however, that I should have bought a pack of tissues for a few scenes.
Admittedly, the series has its fair share of gore, but there are multiple loveable (and very unloveable) characters, each with their own stories and motives for entering the game. Not only that, but Squid Game keeps you guessing with every new episode. My recommendation would be to not search for hints throughout the series but to allow the plot twists to come as a real surprise.
Since Squid Game went viral, I have seen a lot of people claiming it was overrated and saying that ‘Alice in Borderland,’ a Japanese series with the same premise, is far better. Personally, Alice in Borderland has too much of a sci-fi/fantasy theme for me to enjoy it properly, but I can see why people would say it is a great series.
As for Squid Game being overrated, I’d disagree. Admittedly, people often rave about programs and series so much that they do not compare to the high expectations you set when you come around to watching them. I think this could be the case for Squid Game for many people because, other than the very questionable acting from the VIPs in episode 7, there is nothing awful about the series.
Don’t even get me started on the eye-catching cinematography and the addictive soundtrack, which can mainly be accredited to Jung Jae-il. Jae-il is a South Korean composer who was responsible for the score of the award-winning Parasite.
Unfortunately, director Hwang Dong-hyuk is not keen on creating a second season for Squid Game, but fans are still hoping that we will find out the fate of certain characters or see the ‘good guys’ win. Let me know your thoughts on Squid Game if you watched it or if you, like me, also want a second season.
