Squid Game: Why everyone’s talking about it

Everybody has been talking about Squid Game. Even NBA stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis were recently caught on video discussing the show's ending before a press conference. If you haven’t watched this thrilling Korean series yet, you might wonder why everyone’s been talking about it so much. We’ve also compiled five reasons to convince you to check it out.

1. The Plot

Squid Game’s plot is pretty simple, but it raises many questions. In the series, hundreds of people in huge debt are given a chance to win a huge cash prize of 45.6 billion won (around 52.4 million SGD). The catch? They have to participate in mysterious children’s games that could lead to their death. Squid Game has the same feels as movies like Hunger Games and Battle Royale but gives it a relatable twist that will leave you thinking, “If I were given this chance, would I take it, too?” The willingness of the players of the game also makes the show stand out compared to other survival genre films and shows.

2. The Suspense

The plot aside, it is easy to grow to love the characters in the show as you go from episode to episode and to understand where they’re coming from. Knowing that only one player can survive and win the cash prize at the end adds a lot of suspense and excitement to the show, keeping you hooked as you go along. This unpredictability adds to the heart-pounding entertainment as you figure out what will happen next.

3. The Director

If you’re a fan of Korean dramas, then you must be familiar with Director Hwang Dong-hyuk by now. He is known for his award-winning films Silenced, Miss, Granny, and The Fortress, as well as the hit show Extracurricular. Even more interesting is that Director Hwang created Squid Game more than a decade ago when he was in debt, but nobody wanted to make the series. At a recent press con that we attended, he shared that he was inspired by his struggles and dabbled with the thought of something like this existing when he was in need.

4. The Cast

Director Hwang isn’t the only one worth raving about in Squid Game. The show also includes a wide array of talented and well-known actors. Both Lee Jung-Jae and Park Hae-soo are award-winning actors and were the perfect choices for leading roles.

5. The Morals

Squid Game isn’t just entertaining, despite what it may look like on the surface. There are a lot of questions about morality and life to be taken away from the show, as well. It represents modern society and the never-ending competition of capitalism. At the press con, Director Hwang mentioned that he meant to show the irony of how the good intentions of capitalism to help people live well can harm people and result in violence. You’ll get absorbed in the story as you see the darker side of human nature and how different people react to certain situations when their lives are on the line.

The article was written by Soon Koon.