Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Squid Game, which has taken the world by storm with its brutal examination of desperation, survival, and the dark side of human nature.
Released on Netflix on September 17, 2021, this groundbreaking series consists of 9 episodes in its first season, each running approximately 1 hour. Created and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, starring Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, O Yeong-su, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Ho-yeon, and Heo Sung-tae, this survival thriller has redefined what global television can achieve.
Set in South Korea, this dystopian thriller follows 456 debt-ridden individuals who accept a mysterious invitation to compete in children’s games for a massive cash prize. What starts as seemingly innocent playground games quickly transforms into a deadly competition where the stakes couldn’t be higher. The series masterfully uses the contrast between childlike innocence and brutal violence to create an unforgettable viewing experience that stays with you long after the credits roll.
The show’s genius lies in its ability to transform familiar childhood games into instruments of terror, while simultaneously delivering sharp social commentary about economic inequality and the lengths people will go to survive. Each episode builds tension methodically, creating a psychological thriller that’s as much about human nature as it is about survival.
The story begins
The story begins when Seong Gi-hun, a divorced father struggling with gambling debts, encounters a mysterious businessman who invites him to participate in a series of games. Along with 455 other financially desperate individuals, Gi-hun finds himself trapped in a facility where childhood games like “Red Light, Green Light” and “Tug of War” become matters of life and death.
The games are overseen by masked guards and supervised by the enigmatic Front Man, creating an atmosphere of dread and paranoia. As players are eliminated in increasingly brutal ways, alliances form and break, revealing the depths of human desperation and the moral compromises people make when survival is at stake. The series excels at showing how extreme circumstances can bring out both the best and worst in humanity.
Main Character Journey: Seong Gi-hun’s Transformation
Lee Jung-jae delivers a powerhouse performance as Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), transforming from a naive, good-hearted gambler into a hardened survivor. His portrayal captures the internal struggle of a man forced to make impossible choices while trying to maintain his humanity. The character’s evolution throughout the series is both heartbreaking and compelling, as we watch him grapple with the moral implications of his actions.
Gi-hun’s journey is particularly powerful because he represents the everyman caught in extraordinary circumstances. His relationships with other players, especially his childhood friend Cho Sang-woo and the elderly Player 001, reveal different facets of his character and force him to confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty, trust, and survival.
The Complex Antagonist: Front Man and the System
While the series has multiple antagonists, the true enemy is the system itself, represented by the mysterious Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). The masked organizers create a chilling atmosphere of surveillance and control, where hope and despair are manipulated with calculated precision. The Front Man’s reveal and backstory add layers of complexity to the narrative, showing how the system corrupts even those who initially sought to fight it.
The real horror isn’t just the games themselves, but the psychological manipulation and the way the organizers strip away the players’ dignity and humanity. The series brilliantly explores how institutional power can corrupt and how desperation can drive people to abandon their moral compass.
The Final Game
The climax of the series focuses on the ultimate confrontation between Gi-hun and his childhood friend Sang-woo in the final game. This emotionally devastating sequence forces viewers to confront the true cost of survival and the price of victory. The marble game episode, in particular, stands out as a masterpiece of tension and emotional manipulation, where friendships are tested and broken in the most heartbreaking ways.
The final episodes don’t just provide resolution to the games but also explore the psychological aftermath of survival. Gi-hun’s victory comes at such a tremendous cost that it raises questions about whether winning was truly worth it, creating a haunting meditation on the nature of success and survival.
Success on Netflix
Squid Game became a global phenomenon, breaking numerous Netflix records and becoming the platform’s most-watched series. The show’s success transcended cultural boundaries, sparking conversations about inequality, capitalism, and social justice worldwide. With its innovative approach to storytelling and unflinching examination of human nature, Squid Game has proven that Korean content can achieve unprecedented international success while maintaining its cultural authenticity and social relevance.
If you love psychological thrillers that challenge your perceptions and force you to question human nature, Squid Game is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This isn’t just entertainment; it’s a cultural phenomenon that demands to be experienced and discussed.
A masterful blend of childhood nostalgia and adult horror that exposes the darkest corners of human desperation while delivering one of the most compelling television experiences of the decade.
Series Details:
Number of Episodes: 9 (Season 1), with Season 2 and 3 completed
Platform: Netflix
Rating: 8.0/10 (IMDb)
Genre: Survival Thriller, Psychological Drama, Social Commentary
Main Characters: Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun, Park Hae-soo as Cho Sang-woo, O Yeong-su as Player 001
Antagonist: The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and the systematic oppression of the games