PLOT: A group of people is given the chance to win an outrageous fortune, so long as they are able to get through a series of games that could get them killed at any moment.
REVIEW: As of this writing, the hit show from Korea — Squid Game — is at the top of the charts on Netflix, seemingly where it has been since it debuted, becoming one of the most-watched things ever on the streaming service. The only way a movie or show can earn that kind of attention without being genuinely great is by having a global box office star at its disposal, or have an insanely attractive cast doing whatever they want to each other across numerous episodes. Squid Game doesn’t have any of that, meaning that it indeed must be great. And it is. In fact thanks to an ingeniously compelling premise, a complex cast of characters, cleverly brutal violence, and plenty of suspense to top it all off, it more than earns its place in the record books and it’s standing as one of the undeniably great pieces of entertainment you’ll see all year.
While many characters worth remembering come and go (often violently), the story centers primarily on Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), a man who in his youth dominated the playground as a champion of “squid game”, but who is now in his 40s living at home with his mom. After protests at his local motor factory, he can’t hold a job, owes too much money to some shady guys, and gambles away what money his mom gives him at the horse track. He’s a bit of a loser, but an endearing one you can root for because he’s such a goofball, and one who deep down wants to be a good dad to his daughter (Cho Ah-in). Soon he gets a chance to play a seemingly simple game with a man (Gong Yoo) who slaps Gi-hun whenever he loses, but when he wins, gets a little bit of prize money and a golden business card, granting him access to an exclusive competition. And it’s where the concept is perhaps universally known at this point, whether or not you’ve decided to click “Play” or not.
As Player 456, the last entrant on the list, Gi-hun is one of the hundreds brought to a mysterious location and told that if they decide to play some games, they could win an unspeakably large fortune. Given that many of the people chosen were so because of their debt records, they all decide this is totally legit, and agree away if it means some big cash. A massive, perhaps now-iconic robotic doll sets the stage for the colorful weirdness and low-key terror that will come to define all the games from here on out. Like the doll, the schoolyard games are as innocent on the surface as they were in grade school, but underneath will bring forth an immediate death if rules are broken. It doesn’t take long for hundreds to die via a shocking hail of gunfire — and even though I just told you what happened — even viewers in the know will likely be taken aback once it all goes down.
The first episode, “Red Light, Green Light,” brought this menacing doll into pop culture, and each of the games throughout episodes is defined by its own brand of intensity to keep you glued to the TV in one long binge session. While some of these games may be more familiar to Korean audiences than those in Western countries (such as the dalgona game), what translates is the apparent simplicity leaving room for incredible suspense, with the slightest slip-ups resulting in a bloody demise. Whether it be the honeycomb game, tug of war, or even marbles, none of these games will have the same innocence attached to them in the real world from now on — forever coming hand-in-hand with the image of contestants dying by the dozens.
But while the games are what give the show that compulsively entertaining and grisly quality — and subtextually represent the desperation of a society crippled by financial turmoil — what makes the series truly compelling is the character work. Along with Gi-hun, we’re introduced to characters, like his childhood friend Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo); the pickpocket Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon); the immigrant Abdul Ali (Anupam Tripathi); the gangster Jang Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae); the manipulative and devious Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryoung); the detective who infiltrates the game, Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) and; perhaps the heart and soul of show, an elderly man with a brain tumor who simply wants to play some games before he dies, believing dying in the normal world would be far lesser a way to go (Kim Joo-ryoung).
After the first episode, it would’ve been easy to pile on the violence and keep the ball rolling, but in a stroke of brilliance from series creator/writer/director Hwang Dong-hyuk, he reverses course to establish this as a tragic show about people realizing they have no better choice than to fight for this one chance, even if it means death. The second episode, “Hell,” takes place outside the Game after several people decide to leave, but focuses on the dire straits that force them to realize the Game is their only path. Gi-hun and Sang-woo both have mothers to take care of; Sae-byeok has a brother she promised to get out of a child care home; Ali has a family he needs to get out of Korea; Doek-su has some big gangster debts to pay, etc. All of them have more or less suffered at the hands of capitalism and greed, proving relatable no matter where they come from, able to make viewers ask if they would do the same if given the chance.
What I found most engaging about the series is in watching how these characters either came together or posed as threats, either succumbing to the brutality of the Game or overcoming its ability to turn people savage. The primary arcs come from Gi-hun and Sang-woo, with the former slowly putting his antics behind him, with his compassion bubbling to the surface. As for Sang-woo, his need to provide for his family and to live up to the grand expectations put upon him by family and friends means he begins to lose himself to the Game, taking an any-means-necessary approach.
Characters like Sae-byeok will also earn herself plenty of fans, her icy demeanor cracking to show the warmth underneath and earning some of the largest pathos of the whole season. However, while others remain watchable and engaging thanks to committed performances, they do tend to fill specific roles rather than have their dimensions explored. Soon, Doek-us becomes a de facto heavy, while Ali is the sweet soul who brings warmth to all his scenes. Mi-nyeo, an eccentric wild card who will do just about anything to forge alliances and survive. They’re there and have their roles to play, but their journeys aren’t as fleshed out as some of the others, meaning things tend to feel predictable after a point. Thankfully, there is Jun-ho’s detective work, which does a great job breaking apart from the Game to show all the seedy elements and figures who work behind the scenes.
The brainchild of this twisted Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dong-hyuk (who wrote and directed all of the nine episodes of the season), brings to the series an unflinching vision, developed over a decade when other developers rejected the series. A terrifying fantasy centered on relatable characters trying to overcome crippling capitalism and society seemingly on the downturn, Dong-hyuk no less is a man with. Emphasized by Gi-hun’s journey, a recurring theme throughout each game and all the way to the end is that teamwork, compassion, and perhaps a little love and hope are what will always win out. In the end, there’s no denying Dong-hyuk cares deeply for all of his characters, and the sixth episode in particular, “Gganbu,” perfectly blending the demented nature of one of the games with character work that leads to heartbreaking results.
Putting every one of Squid Game’s ingredients together — the bonkers, the violent, the nihilistic, and the hopeful — all within a captivating framework that casts a light on society as it is, there should be no surprise why this show is resonating with people at this moment. It’s hilarious and intense and brutal and tough to watch but endlessly watchable — and all starring a fantastic cast bringing absorbing characters to life. Even if you can see the ending coming by the final episode, I have faith you will enjoy the wildly entertaining ride, all while praying to the Netflix overlords that this season is only the beginning.