On the surface, Squid Game offers a requiem to participants – a chance to forever change their debt-ridden lives which permanently leave them at the bottom of society. And what exactly is that change you say? Simple! An incredible outrageous stash of cash. Each are voluntarily invited to ‘play’ the game of their own volition, lured by a Korean game called (Dadaki).
It’s as much a psychological warfare as it is a physical one, and Squid Game plays this intelligently. Think Hunger games, magnified by players and games that pit human behaviours and instincts for survival. A dog eat dog kind of game, played through various Korean childhood games, many who are fond of as a child. These adults are forced to play through each of the six games to get one step closer, one hand firmer, and be the last one standing for the ultimate prize money. The games cause many trials and tribulations among the diminishing player list – democracy and politics, herd tendencies, discrimination of sorts, stereotypes, betrayal, selfishness and deceit, all cleverly woven into each game and in between. There’s no sleeping here.
It’s not the most original, but it’s definitely creative in tying various thoughts on equality, discrimination, fairness and a motive that manipulates players into believing the game is giving a second chance at life. Just at a great sacrifice and cost of lives to achieve. For these players, that motivation is a very real solution to an otherwise bleak, dark reality outside of the game. There’s really no going back for nearly all of them, psychologically forced to play through the game as a result.
The games at the very core aren’t hard. They are, after all, kids games. But naturally twists and turns, here and there amp up the stakes in difficulty, time and zero margin for error. If the first half of the season sets the rules, and highlights what’s truly at stake, the second half of the season is where things insanely heat up. It manages to stay creative when you think you’ve figured out the pattern, throws spanners into the works to make every decision unpredictable, every action in doubt and most of all, distrust in the players they’re playing with. I’m sure everyone’s heard of the phrase ‘don’t hate the player, hate the game‘, right?
Well, sometimes it’s easier to lay blame on the rules of the game than take responsibility for the actions we take. That’s true in Squid’s Game. A cruel game that puts morals at a crossroads, and the consequences faced in extreme situations.
Squid game is streaming on Netflix, click below to watch the trailer.
