Squid Game is Violent and Shocking but It’s Become Netflix Number One Show

Streaming giant Netflix has recently said that its new Korean-language series Squid Game could be its biggest show ever. The popularity of Netflix’s new dystopian game show has spread across the nation in recent weeks and millions of viewers are watching and talking about it all over social media.

The show has become such a hit that it has inspired countless memes and Halloween costume creations are popping up on Etsy and Amazon.
According to Flix Patrol, which tracks streaming statistics for the top platforms in the world, Squid Game is the No. 1 show in dozens of countries, including the U.S., the United Kingdom and South Korea.

Squid Game debuted on the platform on September 17th with nine episodes and fans are already eager to find out if a second season is coming. The show immediately entered the Top 10 on Sept. 19 at No. 8 and then climbed to No. 2 the next day. It was at No. 1 by its fourth day of availability on Sept. 21.

In its home market of South Korea, “Squid Game” debuted in second place and reached the top spot a day later. The show is driving so much internet traffic in the country that a broadband provider is actually suing Netflix over the usage costs.

The description for Squid Game reads, “Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.” Netflix additionally has the tagline: “Survive or die Who will live to see 45.6 billion won?” That’s about $39 million in American dollars.

A game show where people may die sounds something akin to the fictional film The Hunger Games, but it’s a reality for hundreds of South Korean contestants who are risking their lives for cash on Squid Game.

All nine episodes were created and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has said of his thriller creation, “I freely admit that I’ve had great inspiration from Japanese comics and animation over the years. When I started, I was in financial straits myself and spent much time in cafes reading comics including ‘Battle Royale’ and ‘Liar Game.’ I came to wonder how I’d feel if I took part in the games myself. But I found the games too complex, and for my own work focused instead on using kids’ games.”

Throughout Squid Game, contestants battle to survive the twisted variations of games from their childhood. One example includes a game called Red Light, Green Light. Sounds harmless, but anyone caught moving after the robot child yells “red light” is shot and killed.

How could a game like this become the #1 show on Netflix? The Covid-19 pandemic may have supercharged the popularity of Squid Game, as lockdown boredom, home working, and anxiety and stress have mounted in the last year.

Not to mention many Americans have suffered financial hardship. There may be some solace in watching desperate foreigners competing in deadly games to win money from the comfort of their couch.

There is also an attraction to the desperation of socio-economic mobility, and especially for South Koreans. The country looks down on bankruptcy and it can literally destroy a family’s reputation.

This may also explain why South Korea’s Parasite film was such a hit and won an Oscar. The film painted a bleak picture of the realities of Capitalism and America too knows full well what living under Capitalism is like.

It helps that Squid Game has a compelling plot, and each episode gets viewers invested into the players. With over 450 players, there are definitely plenty to root for.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during the annual Code Conference that the Korean-language survival show will “definitely” be the company’s biggest non-English series of all time. He added that there’s “a very good chance it’s going to be our biggest show ever.”

Will there be a second season? Netflix’s global TV chief Bela Bajaria was “upbeat” about the possibility but said it would also depend on the interest and availability of creator Dong-hyuk.

“He has a film and other things he’s working on,” Bajaria said. “We’re trying to figure out the right structure for him.”

Meanwhile, the first season is still being binge-watched by millions and gaining more buzz across social media. So far, the hashtag “#SquidGame” on TikTok has been viewed more than 22.8 billion times.