Squid Game is a South Korean survival thriller series that has achieved great heights in the entertainment industry. Both domestically and internationally. It was written and directed by Hwang Song Hyuk and the series was distributed by Netflix. Although the director wrote the story of Squid Game in 2009, he could not find a production company to fund his vision and around 2019 Netflix which is a global streaming platform showed interest in making his visionary come to life and in 2021, the first season of Squid Game was released and soon after its release it took the entertainment industry by storm. Squid Game became Netflix’s most-watched series and was loved by viewers from all around the world. The series received many awards including the Six Prime Time award and one Global Globe. After the success of Squid Game season 1, the production for season 2 began around 2023 and the second season was released in 2024 which also broke many records and became a global sensation.
The Director’s Vision:
Director Hwang Dong-Hyuk did a fantastic job in making his vision come alive. The concept he put forward for the viewers is unique and thrilling. The story of the show revolves around individuals who are drowning in debt competing in a deadly children’s game for a chance to win a life-changing sum of money. The children’s game that he created might look fun at first glance but the players who play the game had to face a life-and-death situation. Every player has to navigate through challenging obstacles in order to survive. The show also explores themes like desperation, sacrifice, friendship, love, loyalty and human nature which resonated with the audience making it relatable on many levels. The director also drew his vision from the days when he was struggling to make ends meet. With his past experiences like debt and financial insecurities, he developed the concept for the squid game which now has become the most-watched show on Netflix.
A quick recap of the characters and storyline of Squid Game season 1:
Netflix released season one of Squid Game in 2021. The show displays a striking contrast between how a player survives a life-and-death situation. Each and every player has their own story to tell. They were in debt and were compelled to play a deadly game of survival in order to win the prize money.
In season 1 the story revolves around Seo–Gihun and other players, who meets a recruiter and he asks them to play a game of Ddakji with him. After the game, the recruiter handed them a mysterious invitation to participate in a secret game. The players were then transported to a remote location, where they were forced to compete in a series of children’s games with deadly consequences. The series includes players like Gihun, Cho Sang Woo, Kang Sae-Byeok, Abdul Ali, Oh-Il Nam and other players who were compelled to play the game of survival. Apart from the players, the frontman was the most mysterious figure in the series. He was ruthless and was responsible for overseeing the players and the game rules. Along with the frontman, there are guards in the show known as the pink soldiers who were responsible for undertaking the task given by the frontman and monitoring the players. They were also responsible for eliminating the players by using fatal methods. The series also has a police detective named Hwang Jun-Ho who infiltrates the game to find his missing brother.
As the game progresses, the players are eliminated one by one, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The remaining survivors form alliances, and make decisions and sacrifices in the fatal game of life and death.
The final episode of the series shows a deathly battle between the two players where only one of them survives. The brotherhood between the players was deeply highlighted in this episode, breaking the hearts of the viewers. Thus, Squid Game season 1 was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, suspense and thrill which captivated the hearts of the viewers from all around the world.
A quick recap of the characters and storyline of Squid Game season 2:
Squid Game Season 2 introduced fresh characters like No-eul, Jung-bae, Myung-gi, Jun-Hee, Dae-Ho, Hyun-ju, Thanos, Geum-ja, Yong-sik, Semi, Minsu and other players as well. There were also returning characters like Seo-Gihun who survived and won the prize money in season one, the front man and Jun-Ho.
Like the first season, all the players have to play a fatal game of survival. They had to navigate their way through deadly games, obstacles, and mind games in order to survive.
There is a big twist in season 2, the front man who was a mysterious figure in season 1 undertakes the role of a player which creates more suspense and chaos. He is sharp and intelligent and no player knew his true identity. He played games along with the players and created a strong bond. This twist was thrilling to watch.
In this season Seo Gihun the player who survived in season one, also underwent a significant change and personal growth. Even though he had won the prize money he was determined to play the game for the second time to bring a change in it. His main goal was to stop the deadly game, cause in the past season he had lost many of his loved ones during the game and that haunted him, so this time, he played the game again not for the prize money, but it was to save the players and to stop the deadly game of survival.
The Twisted Games of Squid Game Season 1:
- Red Light Green Light: Red Light Green Light is a classic Korean game where the players have to cross a field without getting caught by a deadly doll.
- Honeycomb Dalgona: In honeycomb Dalgona the players have to carefully extract different shapes from honeycomb-like structures, without breaking it in order to survive in the deadly game.
- Tug of War: It is a team-based game that tests the player's strategy and teamwork showing the importance of cooperation and trust.
- Marble: Marble was one of the cruel and heart-wrenching games of the season, where the players compete against each other and if they lose one of them gets eliminated on the spot.
- Glass Bridge: In this game, the players have to navigate through the glass panels. Some of the glass panels are fragile and will shatter under weight leading the player to death and elimination.
- Squid Game: This is the final game of the season, where the two players who had survived have to play a deadly version of the classic Korean game, symbolizing the ultimate struggle for survival.
The Twisted Games of Squid Game Season 2:
- Russian Roulette: Russian Roulette was played between Gi-hun the survivor of the first season and the recruiter also known as the salesman. The game usually features two players and requires a revolver with six bullets. In this game the player takes turns, they hold the revolver to their head and pull the trigger. If there is no bullet in the chamber the player survives and if there is a bullet the player gets shot on the spot.
- Red Light Green Light: This season also features the same deadly gameplay of season one that is, Red Light Green Light, where the players are required to cross the field in order to survive the wrath of the deadly doll.
- Flying Stone, Gonggi Spinning Top and Jegi: All these games are played during a six-legged Pentathlon, which requires five players to stay tied together as they move on to the next mini-game.
In order to play the flying stone the player has to knock over one vertical stone on the ground with another stone in their hand in order to survive.
Gonggi is a traditional Korean game that requires a player to throw stones in the air and grab those stones successfully in their hand.
Spinning Top requires a player to throw the top and properly get it to spin on the ground.
Jegi is the final game of the six-legged Pentathlon which requires a player to kick the toy five times in the air in order to survive. - Mingle: The mingle is a deadly game of survival in which the players are placed on a merry-go-round. While playing this game music is played and is eventually stopped and the players have to navigate their way to one of the fifty rooms in the area. Players who are unsuccessful in finding a team and a room for themselves get shot and are eliminated on the spot.
Symbolism and Themes:
Squid game is not just about a deadly game of survival but it also highlights on various themes like struggles, trust, love, friendships, deception, human nature and morality.
Throughout both seasons several themes and survival strategies were highlighted:
- Class struggle and economic inequality: One of the most prominent themes in the squid game is the class struggle and economic inequality. The show displays a contrast between the wealthy upper class and the impoverished underclass showing a system of inequality and exploitation.
- Human Nature and Morality: The series also explores the complexities and depths of human nature, cruelty and kindness. It also reveals to what extent a person can endure difficult situations. The show deeply highlighted the cruelness and kindness of human nature. The portrayal of friendship and sacrifices deeply captivated the hearts of the viewers. The cruel nature of the soldiers who showed no mercy to the players also displayed the nature of cruelty.
- Trauma and Mental health issues: The show also tackled sensitive topics of trauma, PTSD and mental health. The character's backstories and the experiences of the players in the game serve as a catalyst for exploring these things, highlighting the importance for addressing mental health issues.
- Human Connection: Forming a bond with the people was greatly highlighted in this series. The sacrifices they made for each other and the hardships they endured together with their fellow players proved crucial in building trust and sharing resources.
Conclusion:
Squid Game season one and two is a well-written masterpiece. The suspenseful storytelling and exploring themes like inequality, social class and survival is truly spectacular. We also got to explore the symbolism and themes behind each game. We also gained a deeper understanding of the player's struggle and the show’s thought-provoking messages which left a lasting impact in the hearts of the viewers.
The unique storytelling and the game of survival is a testament to the power of the show.
As both seasons of Squid Game have captured the hearts of the viewers, we are thrilled and excited to see what the next season holds for the survivors of the previous season. Will they continue to play the deadly game of survival? or, will the game come to an end? we are left with all sorts of questions. As per some statements, Netflix has highlighted that season three which is the final season of Squid Game is scheduled to be released this year, so let’s wait and see what the future holds for the remaining players of Squid Game.