The Gripping And Bloody Netflix Drama Series No One Saw Coming
The South Korean survival drama television series Squid Game is streaming on Netflix. Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the story revolves around 456 financially desperate people who play a series of deadly children’s games with the promise of winning a massive cash prize. Hwang also drew inspiration from his own financial struggles, as well as the class disparities in South Korea and the workings of capitalism.
Squid Game on Netflix became a phenom, making it hard to remember that the series seemingly came out of nowhere.
Squid Game features several deadly versions of children’s games, including Red Light, Green Light, Tug of War, and Marbles. The contestants must compete in each game, with life-and-death consequences for the losers. The games become increasingly intense and brutal with each passing episode.
The series’s main protagonist is Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-Jae), a down-and-out man struggling to provide for his young daughter. He is a complex character who faces several moral dilemmas throughout the series. Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) is a tough, resourceful woman who becomes one of Gi-hun’s closest allies in the Squid Game.
Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) is a police officer who infiltrates the Squid Game to uncover its secrets. Frontman (Park Hae-soo) is the enigmatic and mysterious leader of the organization behind the Squid Game. Despite penning the Squid Game storyline in 2009, Dong-hyuk struggled to secure financial backing until Netflix showed interest in 2019 as part of its efforts to broaden foreign content offerings.
Following its release, Squid Game quickly became Netflix’s most-watched series, holding the top spot in 94 countries. It drew the interest of over 142 million households, with viewers collectively devoting 1.65 billion hours to it in the initial four weeks. This achievement outshone Bridgerton as the most-watched show on the platform at the time.
Squid Game received widespread critical acclaim and was praised for its gripping storytelling, complex characters, and thought-provoking social commentary. The series also became a cultural phenomenon, with its distinctive red tracksuits and the game’s iconic doll-like mascot, Player 001, gaining global recognition.
Squid Game was meant to be a one-and-done series, but a second season has been announced by Netflix.
Netflix confirmed a second season of Squid Game in June 2022. The final cast was announced in June 2023 and includes Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong Geun, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-shim, Lee David, Lee Jin-Wook, Choi Seung-Hyun, Roh Jae-won, Won Ji-an, and Park Gyu-young. The upcoming installment has no official release date, but it is expected to hit screens in 2024.
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk teased that the second season of Squid Game will introduce a new killer doll character named Cheol-su and that it will be “bigger in scale” than the first season. Principal photography for the second season was planned for July 2023, with an anticipated duration of 10 months.
However, on July 10, a controversy emerged involving claims of mistreatment of citizens by the production team while filming at Incheon Airport. The production company subsequently released an official apology addressing the issue. By August 2023, it was reported that filming for Squid Game Season 2 had already begun. There are also rumors that a third season is being planned.
The Squid Game Reality Series Arriving This Year
A spinoff called Squid Game: The Challenge was also announced in June 2022, along with an open casting call. In this 10-episode series, 456 participants will vie for a substantial $4.56 million cash prize, facing challenges inspired by those in the original show. The production is a collaborative effort between Studio Lambert and The Garden.
Squid Game: The Challenge began filming in early 2023 at Cardington Studios in Bedfordshire. However, the excitement was marred by reports of ambulances being summoned to attend to real injuries sustained during production. Netflix disputed the severity of these reports, clarifying that the injuries were mild, and emphasized their commitment to the well-being of the cast and crew.
The local ambulance service also confirmed that recent visits to the studios had not been necessary. Following these concerns, Britain’s Health and Safety Executive evaluated the Squid Game set but found no actionable issues. Nevertheless, they issued a warning to the production team, advising them to remain prepared for any potential future risks. The show is set for release in November.
The success of Squid Game is a testament to viewers’ morbid curiosity as those in need do anything to make ends meet. While the concept eerily echoes The Hunger Games, its social commentary makes it a standout show that has left a lasting impact on South Korean and international audiences.
