Squid Game, The Next Big Thing After Parasite
Over the past month, Squid Game has taken over conversations at LHS. Released on September 17, 2021, the Netflix hit instantly ranked number one in over 90 different countries, from Indonesia to the U.S. The Korean drama was viewed by over 111 million users in the first 28 days, beating out some of Netflix’s highest-grossing shows, such as Bridgerton (82 million), Stranger Things Season 3 (67 million), and The Queens Gambit (62 million). But what was the cause of Squid Game’s unexpected popularity?
Squid Game (오징어 게임) is a survival drama that takes place in South Korea. It follows a group of desperate, in-debt people competing to win 45.6 billion won (38.5 million USD) by playing common Korean children’s games. The only catch is that if you lose, you die. Squid Game is an absorbing thriller that provides in-depth commentary on capitalism and the disparity between social classes.
Over the past 5 years, aspects of East Asian culture have grown in popularity in Western media. As Korean entertainment and anime have become increasingly prominent, stigma against fans of East Asian entertainment has grown as well. Despite this, Squid Game managed to draw fans all around the world. TikTok is now filled with trends featuring the infamous dalgona candy and edits of the actress Jung Hoyeon, who has managed to gain over 20 million Instagram followers since Squid Game’s release. Even people who once ridiculed East Asian entertainment have immersed themselves into the culture and the distinct plot.
Despite enjoying the enticing drama, many would still consider Squid Game an untraditional Korean drama, wanting to distance themselves from being associated with East Asian entertainment. Seeing people who had once ostracized others for enjoying East Asian entertainment now actively conversing about Squid Game has been an unusual and uncomfortable experience. It was always infuriating how fans of American singers and fans of K-pop have been perceived so differently. With the all-school summer reading of Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu and fanbases of East Asian entertainment’s continued growth, I hope the stigma against East Asian culture and backgrounds will subsequently diminish.
Squid Game has by far become one of my favorite Korean dramas to watch, for obvious reasons. The intricate backgrounds of each character, and the fascinating and unexpected plotline compelled me to finish the entire 9 episode drama in one sitting. The characters Ali Abdul (Anupam Tripathi), Kang Saebyeok (Jung Hoyeon), and Hwang Junho (Wi Hajoon) have become my favorites, each having their own mesmerizing and unique storyline. However, after watching 9 episodes of action-filled scenes, the ending was slightly disappointing. The only memorable segment was when Seong Gihun dyes his hair red, which has caused many speculations for season 2.
Many fans of Squid Game have shown desire for a second season, which the writer (Hwang Donghyuk) has yet to confirm. Without many of the original characters, I wonder how Hwang Donghyuk will live up to fans’ anticipation for Squid Game Season 2, who are expecting the same thrill and originality as the first season. I hope that if season 2 is confirmed, the quality of the drama will not be compromised in the making.
Overall, Squid Game is an entertaining drama for those who enjoy intense, fast-paced thrillers that display the horrifics of reality. I found myself watching countless videos analyzing Squid Game, and the hidden messages that I was unable to find by myself. Squid Game’s unexpected popularity was not due to its distinctive plot, but rather its foreign faces who have, until recently, been targets of xenophobia in America.
by VIVIAN LIN