The awaiting time of more than a year paid off happily when Squid Game was released on September 17, 2021. It didn’t take much time to devour the nine episodes of the Netflix-developed Korean series. Through Squid Game, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk presents the bitter reality of life in such a sweet package.
Short Story Recap
Squid Game in general tells the story of 456 people in debt who are given the opportunity to pay off and have a better life, among them are Seong Gi-hoon (Lee Jung-jae), Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo), and Kang Sae. -byeok (Jung Ho-yeon).
They would earn 45.6 billion won if they completed six rounds of play. However, they have absolutely no idea what is going to play out in the name of fairness and equal opportunity for everyone. The snippet of the Squid Game story might make this series comparable to a number of titles that have a similar premise, such as As the Gods Will, and the Alice in Borderland series.
However, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said the script for Squid Game had been written since 2008 and was completed in 2009. The series that aired this year was said to be the result of the script and preparations since 13 years ago.
Rich Storyline
On the other hand, many factors make the Squid Game more ‘rich’. One of them is the storyline. Squid Game from the beginning explained a lot of situations and conditions that caused Ki-hoon, Sang-woo, and 454 other people to be at the location of the game. The story of the players also looks more real and is very likely to happen in the real world.
Being in debt, chased by debt collectors, domestic conflicts, patriarchy in the family makes this series easier to connect with audiences from many countries. Various original human traits when faced with money or treasure are also shown through the characters of the players: greed, cunning, sacrificing the weak, and saving oneself.
Not to mention the social issues that are often tucked away in Korean series or films. Humanity is one thing that is often questioned in this series. The issue of gambling through animals to money that does not always guarantee someone’s happiness is also discussed in the Squid Game.
Detailed Aspects
Not only that, the types of traditional Korean games featured in the Squid Game are also familiar, such as tug of war, forts, and marbles. In addition to the storyline and gameplay, the level of detail in Squid Game is also commendable. Hwang Dong-hyuk seemed not only to want to make the players return to their childhood, but the audience also had to be able to reminisce.
Starting from a piggy bank or piggy bank with the sound of coins in it, then a lunch box with a general food menu, as well as snacks when they were in the younger age. What’s more, the sets are truly stunning, such as the colorful stairs that are passed before playing the game, the players’ bedrooms, to the beautiful game locations.
Great Cinematography and Angle
Hwang Dong-hyuk uses minimal CGI and maximizes the physical set so that players can really feel the atmosphere of the game. He also wanted to show something different by giving the set a bright color. The set is so real and the cinematography is so good that the audience’s eyes are spoiled throughout the nine episodes of Squid Game.
Despite having many differences, there is one striking similarity between Squid Game and Alice in Borderland. Both of them had one episode that made the audience tear up while watching.
Extraordinary Cast
In addition to production, the ability of the stars of Squid Game really deserves thumbs up. Playing as a very sad Gi-hoon at the beginning of the story, Lee Jung-jae displays extraordinary acting.
Meanwhile, the feeling of warmth when watching Park Hae-soo in Prison Playbook turned 180 degrees when he saw his action as Sang-woo in Squid Game. Not to mention the action of Jung Ho-yeon’s acting debut which turned out to be stunning. So naturally she immediately attracted the attention of many viewers to find out more about herself.
Then a series of supporting actors and cameos who managed to play with the emotions of the audience even though they didn’t have much screen time, Gong Yoo who was so charming even though he only appeared in two episodes. Lee Yoo-mi’s brief presence can also be so memorable. Not to mention the presence of another top actor who can surprise the audience.
Minor Critics
However, there are a number of minor notes for this series. One of them is the appearance of the elites who are made so mysterious. The game and the fantastic set made expectations soar. Unfortunately, their appearance is nothing special. Nothing surprising. The story or the reason they became VIPs were not explained.
There are also some things that look hanging or just taken off. However, I see it as a door to develop Squid Game into a second season. Broadly speaking, Squid Game is a series that the audience can easily enjoy. The darkness of life and human characters, as well as brutal actions in competition are shown through colorful sets and cheerful scores.
The nine episodes of Squid Game can also stir up the audience’s feelings, ranging from annoyed, angry, sorry, sad, when they see the players. Including getting excited when watching the game take place.
This series is devoted to adults because it features scenes of violence, sex, abusive speech, and suicide. Nine episodes of Squid Game is available now on Netflix.
