By Yuval Israel, Year 9
“Games to the death”, Squid Game, a Netflix original by Hwang Dong-Hyuk, revolves around 456 people receiving a mysterious invitation to play in a survival game to win billions of dollars. The games are located on an isolated island and the participants have to win different rounds in order to stay in the game, but if you’re eliminated in the game, you’re eliminated in real life.
- Who are the main characters?
(Answered by an anonymous student)
The main character, Seong Gi-Hun, is an in debt chauffeur who is obsessed with gambling. He receives an invitation to play a series of games in order to win money. Seong Gi-Hun chooses to play in order to pay off his debt. Although he has stolen, lied and was irresponsible throughout the game, he showed kindness to other contestants when others did not. This is what made viewers admire him throughout the series.
As a North Korean survivor, Sae Byeok showed strength and bravery so that her brother could survive. She relied on herself up until the fourth game when she decided to open up to Seong Gi-Hun and Ali about her past and her family. This development in her personality made her one of the most popular characters in Squid Game.
- Do the games symbolize something?
(Answered by Nyla Thommis)
I think it symbolises that even though the games are easy and originally for kids things aren’t always how they seem. I also think there is a lot more behind the games than everybody thinks. Such as in red light, green light the contestants that lose are killed instead of in the original game where you are allowed to start over. So even though everybody assumes they know what the show is about, I don’t think anyone knows the actual facts about Squid Game until they watch it.
- What message/messages are behind Squid Game?
(Answered by Caelan Bezzola)
“How far will people wager their lives over money”
Throughout the series, each childish game becomes more and more intense and harder to play and so each player’s obsession drives deeper and makes them more violent and committed to winning the prize. It shows how the games test and push people to their furthest limit for money.
- Did you enjoy the show?
(Answered by Nyla Thommis)
Yes, I liked it but it wasn’t amazing, you knew what would happen next which made it a little boring but it was addictive to watch. Then again the story was well written and was entertaining when I had nothing else to watch, but I personally have a hard time finding shows that maintain my interest.
From these opinions it is obvious that the show can be both gruesome and violent at times but has an important and meaningful story behind it.
