Squid Game

As I write this, Squid Game is Netflix’s most successful show of all time, and honestly, I'm not surprised. Audiences are drawn to violence — the more intense, the better. And this show definitely pushes those limits in some episodes. But what makes it stand out are the fantastic characters, especially the main one, who's such a lovable fool that you can't help but wonder what will happen to him. From a filmmaking perspective, it's also top-notch, with stunning shots and chilling moments, all backed by a great soundtrack. Squid Game isn’t just a well-executed concept that hooks you in; it also mixes in some dark, absurd humor that works surprisingly well with the show’s intense themes. Overall, it’s a brilliant series that fully deserves the attention it’s getting right now. (14/10/2021)

Excellently written... How to quit gambling easily and fast with the help of kids’ games. In addition to having a great screenplay which grabs you and doesn’t let go, despite the slow opening and superfluous epilog, Squid Game can rely on precise directing and perfectly chosen actors. Hae-soo Park clearly rules the screen. Each game points at a different aspect of what it is to be human, and lots of people won’t like what they see. I sincerely don’t know if we need another season. As it is, it’s great, if you forget about that epilog. So leave it be. (11/10/2021)

If anything makes this series special, it's the games. They are visually, musically, choreographically, and in terms of tension absolutely – I know, it's a stupid word to use given the content – fascinating. But unfortunately, behind that is a shallow story that is sub-par compared to what Koreans are capable of coming up with. The denouement, unfortunately, turned out exactly as I thought it would (I've read a similar book). There was no shock waiting for me at the end either, because I had already figured out the character in the first half (there are too many hints), and when the person under the mask spoke in English, I knew immediately who was hiding underneath. But a nice cameo, and not a pointless one. I feel like the viewer could have used more clarification. Unfortunately, I'm afraid the creators have yet to come up with it and will introduce it to us in the next season, which I’m doubting will be of any quality. So yeah, I think the next Korean wave should have been kicked off by a different series. But on the other hand, I can understand that a viewer not familiar with Korean filmography might enjoy it completely differently. And the games are really, really good. (17/10/2021)

A crossover of the motifs of Battle Royal and Saw themes, brilliantly transformed into an eight-hour collective trip through hell, all in an appealing colorful form with impressive sets and costumes, well-constructed characters and a sociological examination of their behaviour, imaginative games with more than one clever surprise and a sizable portion of blood and brutality. Dong-hyeok Hwang boldly combines all kinds of pop culture and genre trends in a commercial work for the masses and comes out on top. Episode 6 is an emotional knockout that I really didn’t expect here. The only stumble in the likelihood of the characters’ behavior comes in the final episode. It's also capped off with a slapdash would-be surprising point that contradicts certain previous events. (18/11/2021)

1st season – 70% – The concept is enticing, the plot is uncompromising, and the characters are concrete and honest to the point that it is impossible not to give in and continue watching, getting caught up in the madness where even viewers who a week ago wouldn't have given Korean cinematography a second thought are wearing geometric patterns on their faces. However, the best moment is the initial shock at what is happening to the protagonists. At that moment, anticipation, tension, and the feeling that I have been waiting for a spectacle like this for years all come together. But that moment can't be surpassed, and I quickly become frustrated that the audience constantly stays one step ahead of the main characters, without realizing what will happen next. The naivety of what awaits the poor souls in the next game and their surprised reaction that it's a matter of life and death becomes more and more irritating, as well as their way of thinking and their desire to ally with those who clearly have ulterior motives and only play for themselves. By the end, many questions have been pushed hurriedly aside, and even the non-game storyline gleefully mocks me, saying that the answers may come someday next time. The impact is gone, but the curiosity still remains, albeit to a lesser extent. (18/01/2022)