While Korean dramas have a huge fan following, and many are available on Netflix, Squid Game seems to have crossed generations.
Every few weeks, it seems like another Netflix movie or show is released. Some of the most popular releases get even more traction by appearing not just in Netflix’s Top 10 lists but also in memes, viral videos, and others in-jokes.
It’s Squid Game this time, an original series created and produced by Hwang Dong-hyuk in which over 450 individuals compete in a series of dangerous children’s games to win a huge cash reward at the end of it all.
The shock brought by ‘Squid Game’
Squid Game‘s success is surprising (even to Netflix) since although Korean dramas have an extensive fan base and a lot of the ones accessible on Netflix have done well, this one seems to have broken through to multi-generational pop culture at large.
Even the most anticipated programs and movies on Netflix have difficulty breaking through, so why is this one such a surprising hit? It’s all because of that fantastic first episode. A decent pilot can draw anybody into a series, but a fantastic one spreads like wildfire.
Squid Game came out of nowhere to become Netflix's "biggest show ever" according to its own CEO. How did it get here and why should you watch it? https://t.co/cbuvSDOT6o
— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) October 1, 2021
In current difficult economic times, Squid Game offers a concept that many may connect to. Seong Gi-Hun, a father who has been divorced by his wife and has lost custody of his daughter due to his history of joblessness and gambling problems, is introduced in the first episode of the series (though as the series continues, we learn how nuanced his situation truly is).
Because it seems that no matter what he does, he and his mother would not fully escape their financial issues, Gi-Hun chooses to continue living his life as is rather than confront his problems straight on.
That is until he is asked to play an odd game in which he may either earn a lot of money or be smacked across the face. This technique intrigues the audience and demonstrates how far Gi-Hun is prepared to go for the opportunity to earn some cash.
This shows the kind of guy he is, and things become even more intriguing when the game starts, and we learn more about him.
Viewers’ deep connection to the storyline
The game is interesting, with an elaborate setup that reveals that each participant has gone through the same recruitment procedure as Gi-Hun and has piles of debt.
The central idea then begins to emerge. It’s a phony kind of equality. It is said that by playing this game, everyone has the opportunity to live a better life than they could in the real world.
But it soon becomes clear that this is simply another difficult aspect of how unfortunate life is since each game comes at a hefty price. The contrast of a cartoonishly childlike game and package hides the harsh cost.
This combination of high intensity, economic hardship, and lightheartedness that masks the terrible reality makes for a fantastic debut episode.
And that’s before you meet the rest of the cast! There are a few brief introductions to get you interested in this first game. Still, the actual trick of the series is to use the first episode to catch you in anticipation of the slower-paced character introductions to come in the second.
That’s why Netflix’s Squid Game has become such a success. It has the ideal sort of debut that makes you want to watch the remainder of the series right now. Whether it lands on its feet or not isn’t the goal, particularly for Netflix.
Image courtesy of GoonyGooglesTV/YouTube