Reaction Paper about Squid Game

Ma Louise Angelica C. Dano

Grade 12- HUMSS
Squid Game (Korean: ; RR: Ojing-eo Geim) is a Netflix original survival
drama series from South Korea. Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Jung
Ho-yeon, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, and Kim Joo-ryoung star
in the film, which was written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The Netflix-
distributed series premiered on September 17, 2021, over the world. The show
centers on a game (depicting Korean popular children games) in which 456
contestants, all from different backgrounds but all massively in debt, compete in a
series of children’s games with life-threatening consequences if they lose for the
chance to win a $45.6 billion jackpot. Hwang was inspired by his own early
economic problems as well as the difference in South Korea’s social classes.
Despite the fact that he first wrote it in 2009, he was unable to find a production
firm willing to fund the project until Netflix expressed interest in it in 2019 as part
of their effort to extend their international programming offerings. All nine
episodes were written and directed by Hwang. Squid Game was well-received by
critics and drew official recognition. It became one of Netflix’s most-watched
shows in numerous country areas within a week of its debut, attracting more than
111 million viewers in its first 17 days of release, replacing Bridgerton as the
network’s greatest series to date.
My actual emotion was astounded, similar to how reality hit me after seeing
all of the shows. Debt can be acquired in a variety of ways, such as paying for
unexpected expenses or income inequality, but the majority of the time, debt is the
result of poor spending patterns. To pay for it all desperately, they must do
everything they can to live a comfortable and simple life free of anxiety, stress, and
tiredness. Seong Gi-hun, a divorced and heavily in debt man, is invited to play a
series of children’s activities for a chance to win a significant cash reward in the
first episode. When he accepted the offer, he had no idea what the outcomes would
be if he played it. The horses that the high-class people gambled on to win it all
were among others who also entered that game, including him. In terms of socio –
economic status, we all know that high classes are shown to be extreme in most
dramas, but in Squid Game, you can see just how terrible they are; their intentions
of betting on a specific person in the game and giving them the money (45.6
billion) was useful, but those who lost would also lose their lives; while the high
class is having a good laugh and simply sitting on the sofa comfortably, the lower
class (the people who participate in the games) had been risking death.
Sets, props, and other elements of the production are absolutely stunning, but
they also have a particular meaning. The 456 candidates are dressed in green
tracksuits similar to those worn by children during their school days. The masked
guards, on the other hand, are dressed in pink tracksuits, a color that is usually seen
in fairy tales. Their mask’s shapes also symbolize their levels and seniority, which
range from square to triangle to circle. Pink terrifies green because it controls and
enslaves it, the creepy doll at the first game, the maze-like stairs, the bunk beds, the
masks that rich people wears whenever they’re watching the game, the huge piggy
bank in the top of the of the contestants room, that has a lot of money whenever
they win a game and the gift wrapped coffins that has been used whenever
contestants / players die. It gives a wonderland vibes but had a lot of cruel
challenges.
I’m found it uneasy since the games were simple, but if you lose it, you’ll
cease to exist on the planet (dead). First, in Red Light Green Light, if you move
once the robots is facing you, a machine will fire you. This is not conskdered as a
game but once night fell, the lights were turned off and an all-out conflict broke
out between the players, some of whom had numerous alliances. Chaos, slaughter,
and viciousness. It’s nerve-wracking when you don’t know who’s around you.
Second, The Dalgona Candy was grueling because it had fewer action but
tremendous anticipation as players cautiously poked gently at the shaped cookies
with only a needle. Third, Tug of War, who's pure genius. Il-nam instructs his
squad on the best technique to play tug of war, and it works for a while before the
opposing team makes a breakthrough and Gi-hun is yanked off the platform.
Fourth, the marbles, that brought me to tears because it showed how people grow
fond of one another but must compete against one another. The players had to
choose a partner to play with first, which was a tense enough start but I’m still
angry about Sangwoo as he betrayed Ali who helped them in the early games.
Fifth, the Glass Stepping Stones, where players had to cross a bridge made out of
glass stepping stones. When players tread on the glass, half of it cracks while the
other half remains intact. Lastly, the Squid game. Gi-hun and Sang-woo play the
titular children’s game, Squid Game, in the show’s last game, which is a vicious
showdown. It’s a ferocious and brutal conflict between the two erstwhile pals, with
each side seizing the initiative at different times. As guilt eats Sangwoo because of
what of how idiot he is, he just kills himself by plunging the knife into his own
throat. I know Gi-hun also needs the money, but he lost many people that he
knows, trust, and love in the game that he wins the game he wished to terminate it,
but it’s too late. When he went home, he hugged her mom and told her that he got
the money. Also, the dead of the policeman who disguise as a masked guard but
didn’t know that his brother, the one that he’s been finding, was the right hand of
the mastermind of the game, that makes me realize how much a people can do for
their loved ones.

Finally, I’m left wondering if Gi-hun truly wins, or if he has no choice but to
accept the money he received after winning the game, as well as the sacrifices of
the individuals he cared about while playing.

I recommend you watching this survival drama series, Squid Game, as it

had a lot of plot twists, for me who likes watching violence and emotional drama
series but also have a nice production shown.