A child’s play, you say. After watching this series, you will refrain from using this phrase. This recent Netflix series is gory, violent and tragic and nothing like a child’s play. It’s ironic how elements of children’s games are used to show the horrific nature of humankind. With money on the line, people change, show their worst sides and can do the unthinkable. If you are yet to see the nine-episode series, minor spoilers are ahead. It’s worth its money and very much binge-watchable. So gear up with your best blue light glasses and watch the series.
The Story
The series starts with typical characters you meet every day or someone who brushed past you while travelling. The leading characters are a gambling addict, a North Korean defector, a disgraced businessman, a gangster, an old man, an immigrant and a manipulative woman. They all get themselves into this game to earn money to get out of their impoverished life. The money at stake was 45 billion, and the cost was the lives 455 lives. To win that (blood) money, they have to stomp over the lives of the others.
The characters are relatable. They are dogged by their life struggles. All of them are destitute, barely getting by. In midst of this, they get an opportunity to turn their life around from an invitation from a salesman who handed them a card bearing geometric symbols; round, triangle and square, similar to a Nintendo switch. After getting into the game, they realised the game was not what they assumed. People were killed for losing the game. And thus ensues the violent game. The main characters refused to play the game and returned to their respective lives only to meet their sad reality. After deliberating over their need for money to bring back their lives to track, they decide to go back to the game a second time.
The story is well told with relatable backstories filled with desperation. You cannot truly hate a character for their twisted nature. Their lives are at stake. Winning the game can change their life and losing it will end their lives. The story is inspired by books like Battle Royale and Liar game. There is similar extreme competition, desperation to win and even plentiful reasons to invoke empathy. There are enough twists and turn to keep you seated throughout the series.
The actors have done a phenomenal job in bringing the characters to life. The series is dubbed in more than 30 languages, making it easier for the international audience to focus on the scene rather than scramble through the subtitles.
More Details
The intriguing aspect of this series is the depiction of the children’s games. The first game is red light, green light. This seemingly harmless game was the highlight of the first episode with killing nearly half of the participants. This was the most gruesome game of all. It showed perfectly the violence that will continue for the later part of the series. The inhuman nature of the overseers of the game donning a mask and the desperation of the players.
The second game is the Dalgona candy game. You have to cut shapes like round, triangle, star and umbrella out of sugar candy. This was a game of luck where choosing the toughest shape would make you lose your life.
The third game is tug of war, a game of strength but actually strategic. Having the strongest player in the team could make you win, but with a better strategy, even lacking could get through.
Other games were marbles, stepping stones and finally, the squid game. All had the similar rule – either you win or die. Check out the series to know who won the big amount at the end and whether it was worth all that. And don’t forget to take care of your eyes as you start binge-watching. To make your viewing experience comfortable, get on your comfy couch, darken the room, get popcorns and other snacks plus, your blue light glasses. Believe me, it’s worth spending your weekend.
