The success of squid game

The Korean series Squid Game is in the Top 1 worldwide on Netflix.

It’s an amazing success that Squid Game has kwon. Broadcasted since September 17, this dramatic thriller has already reached the first place in the Netflix world ranking. The American platform estimates that the show directed by Hwang Dong-Hyuk could become its biggest non-English speaking success, ahead of Casa de Papel.

What's the story?

A group of men propose at over-indebted people to participate in a series of six games. At the key : a jackpot of 45,600,000,000 won. The candidates are gonna be disillusioned during the first test. They discover that the games take the form of children's games, like red light green light, in a deadly version. The word "eliminated" then takes all its meaning.

What is its particularity?

First, let's talk about the visual universe of Squid Game. This series mixes gore with the world of childhood. A particularly effective mix, which seduces by its contrast. And this also goes through the settings. Let's take the case of the stairs that the players take to reach each game. It is inspired by a Dutch artwork and it’s entirely pink. A color that normally symbolizes sweetness and childhood that the candidates will now associate to the fear of death.

Through the lives of the characters, Squid Game criticizes the South Korean society. It depicts an unequal world, where it is impossible to live decently when you have debts. So much so that most of the characters prefer to kill each other than to return to their normal lives. It shows us how difficult it is to continue studies after the equivalent of high school when you come from a working class.

This series also highlights the cruelty of humans. Low blows and manipulations are done in the deadly tournament as well as in real life.

To conclude, the popularity of Squid Game is well deserved. The series is carried by a particularly well worked universe and a very good acting. Its scenario is thoughtful, goes further than a simple bloody tournament. I find it refreshing to see the growing success of non-English speaking series.

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