Why Squid Game is an Amazing Show: A Deep Dive into Squid Game

 Warning: This article contains spoilers for Squid Game: You have been warned!

After watching the hit Netflix show “Squid Game” which came out September 17th, 2021, I have to recommend this show to people. “Squid Game” is a nine-episode show, each episode being about an hour long. It is a show about tons of unsuspecting people who are struggling financially, and they get scouted out to participate in this game in which the prize is $38.6 million. As the games begin, the participants quickly find out this isn’t just an easy money-making game; it’s a series of death games based on children’s games in Korea.

 There are lots of intriguing plot twists throughout the show, alongside many betrayals that keep you interested. Some things I really enjoyed in “Squid Game” was how the creators made you get very attached to characters, then suddenly you’d lose them due to their loss in a game, or they’d betray each other by lying, and making them think they sacrificed themselves when they didn’t, and they took advantage of the more gullible, kind characters. Unfortunately, this happens a few times in the show: a character will be helpful, and follow a group like a lost puppy, putting their trust into some of the group members, who will take advantage of this, using it to allow them to win the game. This results in the person who put their trust in them to die, simply because someone was greedy and couldn’t play fair.

Although it is painful, it makes for a great show because you don’t know what’s coming next. After watching “Squid Game”, two things I think the show is lacking would be the character Ji-yeong and Saebyeok’s bond together, as it should’ve been stronger before the game they participated in together occurred. For context, during the marble game, contestants had to partner up with someone, not knowing one of them had to die. Characters Ji-yeong and Saebyeok partnered up together, and they spent the whole time talking and getting to know each other a bit. Finally once the time limit was almost up they decided whoever threw the marble furthest won. Jiyeong let Saebyeok go first and when Ji-yeong’s turn came, she sabotaged herself by just dropping her marble at her feet. Before her death, she explained that felt she had nothing to live for and get back home too, while Saebyeok had to get home to her brother. While this was a powerful scene, this was one of their first real interactions, so it felt like there wasn’t enough to establish the bond between the two characters. This scene could’ve been much better if it went further into detail about their bond and similarities before the marble game had happened.

As for the end of “Squid Game”, it wasn’t very good; we were left with very little closure, it was a huge cliffhanger and the ending overall just wasn’t that good. After player 456, Gi-hun won the game and got to leave. He finally proceeded to go to the airport to fly to see his daughter, after a ton of unnecessary events in between that made this episode into a handful. Unfortunately, he saw someone being recruited into the game and this put a stop to his journey to his daughter. I am not a fan of how this ending played out because so much happened at once, it was too much, and yes there’s a cliffhanger leaving room for another season, but what are they even going to do? As much as I enjoyed “Squid Game”, I don’t think season 2 will get as much hype because it just won’t be the same. Not to mention in the show it mentions this isn’t the first game, there have been previous games, so what Korean children games might be used in the next season, we don’t know. This leaves us wondering what will happen next and whether it’ll be a good or bad second season, if we get one. 

Overall I think “Squid Game” is an amazing show and was very well done, the effects, the actors, everything seemed so realistic, and the English dub was very well-made. Personally, I give Squid Game a solid 8/10.