Squid Games, a game that is purely on trick, luck, determination and never gonna give up attitude, and whatnot. Once I finished this show, it has genuinely filled into my mind forever for sure. I went into this series thinking I would mostly enjoy it, however I did not expect it to impact me as much as it did. It is emotional, dramatic, comedic at times, and has enough scenes From engrossing plot to twisted characters and deadly games for suspense/thrill lovers to enjoy. If you aren’t the fan of violent/bloody shows, I believe to give this one a chance, you won’t be disappointed. This show has something for everyone;

The master explained that as his life became null of joy, he called back the games that thrilled him so much as a boy despite of the fact that, his cherishing show is the slaughter house for hundreds of youth.

SQUID GAME : Meaning

It’s a show in which there are some people who are experiencing financial issues or some are abandoned, they all are hopeless. Life doesn’t give them a choice. An alien gives them a card with a phone number to participate in a Game to win tons of money.

There are several rounds in the Game and whoever loses is killed on the spot. This series is like proving humanity and do people put life above money or money above life. When you look at the prize money from a calm and rational mind, you could see the futility of joining the Squid Game.

Regarding Squid Game, a quick quote goes like

In my town, we had a game called the “Squid Game.” We called it that because it’s played in a court shaped like a squid. The rules are simple. Children are divided into two groups, the offense and the defense. Once the game starts, the defense can run around on two feet in bounds, while the offense outside the lines are only allowed to hop on one foot. But if an attacker cuts through the waist of the squid past the defense, they are given the freedom to use both feet. We called that ‘inspector royale.’ When we were ready for the final battle, the attackers gathered at the entrance to the squid. In order to win, the attackers must tap the small closed off space on the squid’s head with their foot. But if someone on the defense manages to push you outside the squid’s boundary, you die. Once you tap the squid’s head, you win and yell out, ‘Victory.’

The central theme of the show is a very simple question: how far will you go for 45.6 Billion Won? 

The ending of Squid Game is a dark. How you would be tricked to kill your loved ones for the sake of money and this endless greed have no limit.

In the end, it just put a question on all of our minds, “Are you worth doing things for today, as life is just a play of few weeks.”

SQUID GAME: The Show as it goes

Scene 1: I Am Begging Please
Player 212 begging to leave after the first game using all sorts of excuses to show herself as a victim. When the votes were cast & the players were allowed to exit the “slaughter house”.

Dark contrast to humans in relationships, going back to their abusive/toxic/unfaithful partners even after being allowed to leave. It can also exemplify people with unethical jobs, working for tyrants in toxic environments even when there’s plenty of “better” options out there. It shouldn’t come to a “surprise” that most of the players, including 212, rejoined the game because they weren’t forced to enter the game.

Scene 2: Greed vs Compassion
Final squid game where 456 wants to vote to end the game so that both he & 218 can get out. Shortly afterwards, 218 apologizes with a few words before stabbing his neck with the knife.

Realizing how pointless the game is, the raw compassion of 456 overcomes his greed. But 218 knows that they’ve come so “far” to just quit and return to the normal. He weighs the decision by knowing that his sacrifice was going to be “paid” as he trust that 456 will donate a portion of the prize money to provide for his mother. 456 can’t bear to kill 218 for greed as he knows that the price of living with the guilt can never be bought with any sum of money.

Scene 3: Take Your Time
456 goes to the ATM and withdraws $10000 which makes a tiny dent to his net worth

With all that money in the bank, he doesn’t need to rush as the money isn’t going anywhere. It’s easy to remain calm during comfortable times. The winner of a lottery is most likely to be someone who isn’t wealthy. In most cases, these winners will spend it all on their desires and will return to a state of hedonism. In 456 perspective, it will be an act of betrayal to “forget” how he earned that money & just live his life “normally” like a lottery winner. 

Scene 4: I Care About You
Bank Teller persuading 456 with “extreme” politeness to invest his money into other portfolios as it has been accumulating a tiny amount of interest in the savings account for a year.

The scene depicts the “genuine” interests of society to wealthy individuals regardless of their outward appearance, in this case, the bank teller is concerned about 456 making the “wrong” decision but in reality wants a cut of the profit if the money were to be invested. People will be kind to you when you have something to offer them.

SQUID Game: Answers to many current problems

What poverty makes people do? 

As the series begins, it showcases that how people are dealing with their everyday struggles. Some of them could hardly even manage their household, while some of them were in huge debt, some were homeless, orphan kids who were literally struggling for a better life. We have got to accept the fact that poverty is just not a choice but it’s the circumstances that make them poor.

What does it takes to have a good plan and a leader? 

Everyone in life has got to realize the importance of rules and discipline in life. A good plan backed with confident is enough to fight any circumstances. And a good leader is one of those persons who will always be there for their teammates in all their good and bad times.

How we have got to remain patient in life? 

This is quite evident from the creator himself, Hwang Dong-hyuk wrote this show in the year 2009 but was rejected by studios for 10 years. He once had to stop writing the script and sell his laptop because of a cash crunch. And today, his series is No.#1 on Netflix. Sometimes, we have got to remain calm because this is what helps us win our life struggles.

Take the other people’s experiences as your inspiration instead! 

Being left behind at the end doesn’t mean you are the weakest or the dumbest among the group. Standing in the last and learning from other’s experience helped 456 to win the Glass game.

SQUID GAME: Lesson

The show is delivering life lessons packaged in a survival thriller. The realism, relatability with characters and its unique premise make the show an interesting and involving experience.

“Life is like a game, there are many players. If you don’t play with them, they’ll play with you.” 

1. Money is nothing: Gi-hun was struggling in his pity life and he won the game, but in the end, it meant nothing. He was living the same life even when he had billions in his bank account.
2. Life is not possible without money: When the participants terminated the game once after knowing the reality, they should have never returned. But they were living a torturous life. Sometimes money creates situations where you have no choices left but to take the risk (no matter how big of a risk it is.
3. Even the ones closest to you are willing to stab you in the back for money. 
4. Money will never be as important as a person’s life: The winner regrets every moment of his decision. He does not enjoy his life the slightest bit and keeps thinking of those who lost their lives. He also tries to stop a guy from playing the game later.

Character-building among players that don’t know each other. When death is on the brink and survival is all that matters, it really brings out the ugliest of a person’s nature and that’s the central theme of the show – money corrupts.

The shows contain many elements that are real, that many of us have experienced before, have been a victim of, have the unfortunate luck of doing them. We could relate to a lot of them. The show made us think, for some people, it could be a slap at their face. That is Squid Game’s power that keeps audiences glued.

Review: Paatal Lok

Quotes from the show

“These days, even women go to war. I mean, when you finally get older, there’s not gonna be that kind of discrimination like we got now.” – Seong Gi-hun

“I’m good at everything except the things that I can’t do.” – Han Mi-nyeo

“You don’t trust people because they are trustworthy. You do it because you have nothing else to rely on.” – Kang Sae-Byeok

“The star sounds great. Good with me. Besides, nobody really sees many stars these days.” – Oh Il-nam

“Animal instinct. When faced with danger, seek refuge in the herd.” 

“There’s this saying in investing, “Try not to keep your eggs in the same basket.” – Cho Sang-woo

“Don’t do it. That isn’t you. You’re a good person at heart.” – Kang Sae-Byeok

“I’m alive right now because I tried damn hard to stay alive.” – Cho Sang-woo

“Good rain knows the best time to fall.” – VIP

“I wanted to just feel something, just one last time before I die.” – Oh Il-Nam

“Do you know what people with no money have in common with people with too much money? That living isn’t fun.” – Oh Il-Nam

“Doing something is always more fun than just watching.” – Oh Il-Nam

Other Review:

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