Squid Game Season 1 Review: Thrilling Ride Through Deadly Games

Title: Squid Game Season 1

Episodes: 9

Genre: Thriller, Survival, Horror

Main Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Lee Byung-hun, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon

Streaming Platform: Netflix 

Image Credit: Netflix

What would you do for a chance at 45.6 billion won? Netflix's 'Squid Game' delves into this question with a deadly twist.

“Squid game” is a South Korean series whose season 1  was released on Netflix on September 17, 2021. The season 2 was released on December 26, 2024 and the season 3 is set to be released on June 27, 2025. This thrilling survival series is both written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. After the release of season 1 with 9 episodes, it soon became Netflix’s most- watched series and won many awards globally.

Plot summary

Seong Gi-hun is an indebted gambling addict who lives with his old mother. He desperately wants to earn money to get the custody of his daughter, who is going abroad with her mother and stepfather. One day, he gets invited to a strange game where you win money for playing a series of children's games. After accepting the invitation, he finds himself at the game location with 455 other players who came there for a huge money prize. Soon after, the first game “Red Light Green Light” starts, but shockingly, losing a game means you won't be just eliminated, but you will be shot dead. After witnessing such terrifying deaths, all the players decide to stop the game and escape this hell. But going back to their daily life was more painful than the game, and they again received the invitation to the game. Despite knowing the deadly nature of the game, the players come back driven by the desire to earn money, and once again, the thrilling game starts. Meanwhile, Hwang Jun-ho, a police officer who is set to find his missing brother, sneaks into the game location and disguises himself as a guard to find the truth behind this game and the disappearance of his brother. 

My Thoughts

 

Hwang Dong-hyuk has created a masterpiece in terms of both writing and direction. The actors did a commendable job, and Lee Jung-jae's performance was praiseworthy. The set of games was unique and suitable for children's games with colorful walls. The green tracksuit for players, the pink jumpsuit for guards, and the black outfit for the front man with a mask, the shapes on the masks of guards depicting their hierarchy, all this detailing added a unique charm to the series. Although this deadly game seems unrealistic, the greed and desire shown by the players are highly relatable to the current world. It reflected the true emotions and nature of human beings driven by the circumstances in this competitive world. I binge-watched all the episodes of the series as it was different from typical Korean dramas and their plot. The story keeps you hooked till the end as if you are watching a game or competition and rooting for the survival of the players. 

Overall, "Squid Game" is a perfect survival thriller with a unique theme and plot, proving its worldwide popularity and recognition. If you're looking for an engaging and fast-paced storyline that captivates from start to finish, I wholeheartedly recommend watching this drama. You won’t be disappointed!

Have you watched "Squid Game Season 1"? Share your favorite moments below!

My rating: 9/10