Squid Game: How a Korean Drama Became Netflix’s Most-Watched Series

Never in my life did I think that an Asian drama would top Netflix’s most-watched lists in at least 90 countries around the world. Although I have been watching Korean dramas for only around five years, K-dramas have retained their popularity in predominantly Asian countries, and they are watched mostly by Asian audiences. I knew that K-dramas were picking up steam globally, but not to this extent. I was shocked when I found out how much popularity Squid Game gained within a week and decided to jump on the bandwagon. I was definitely not disappointed and just like millions around the world, I binge-watched it in just a few days. A lot of people think that Squid Game is overhyped and overrated, but there are a variety of factors that can be attributed to its popularity. 

The plot of Squid Game is one that has been done many times by film studios around the world, but never to such a high level of popularity. It is a survival drama series about the extreme lengths people will go to just to earn a few bucks. In the show, hundreds of people in debt are rounded up to play nostalgic, childhood games for huge amounts of money. However, if they lose, they must pay with their life. Fighting to the death under game-like conditions is a common trope – think of the Hunger Games franchise or the Japanese franchise Battle Royale, just to name a few. Nevertheless, Squid Game stands out because there are so many plot twists and its metaphor about society is conveyed in such a subtle yet thought-provoking manner. 

In a nutshell, beyond fighting for their death, Squid Game is about capitalism and the massive wealth gap between the rich and the poor. Just like other aspects in life, money is at the root of the characters’ problems. They are driven by desperation to participate in life-threatening games all for the sake of paying back their debts. As exemplified through the various games and scenarios the characters find themselves in, greed and inequality always triumph over humanity, leading to untimely and gruesome deaths. Squid Game highlights how humans actually value individualism over anything else and sheds light on how people aren’t inherently altruistic or heroic. Everyone is fighting for themselves in a dog-eat-dog world. 

Squid Game is a metaphor for the capitalist society that the majority of the world lives in. It is a fact that only a few people hold most of the world’s wealth, while hundreds of millions of others struggle to make ends meet. Some people have so much money that they don’t know what to do with it. In the show, the game masters and viewers hide behind masks and facades while watching the participants die. Furthermore, the show’s fixation on childhood games points to the nostalgia that many of us take comfort in. Being a kid means having no worries about money or ‘adulting’. Squid Game also highlights many of South Korea’s pressing social issues through its characters – the participants of the games. Being drowned in debt is a reality for many and among the main participants are conniving businessmen, North Korean defectors, migrant workers, single parents and ordinary people who are just trying to make a living. Through their stories, we learn of the real horrors people go through.

One reason why Squid Game became so popular is because of the impeccable timing of its release. It premiered on Netflix in the middle of a global pandemic with just 8 episodes, enough episodes to digest the full story without getting bored. Even though some countries have adopted a new kind of “normal,” where people can get on with their lives without being worried about COVID-19, many parts of the world are still stuck under lockdowns or restrictions. This means that they have more time and energy to watch thought-provoking TV series on easily accessible streaming platforms. 

Squid Game’s cast is made up of a talented group of people and not necessarily what you would call an ensemble cast. While the main stars are relatively established actors who have already had starring roles in other popular dramas and movies, there are a few up and coming rookie actors and a totally fresh newcomer. Jung Hoyeon, who plays the North Korean defector, Kang Sae-byeok is actually considered South Korea’s top model. She has modelled for all the big brands already and has graced the covers of tons of magazines. In a new venture, she wanted to try her hand at acting, and she definitely proves she has talent. Wi Hajoon, who plays the cop that infiltrates the games, Hwang Jun-ho has primarily appeared in romantic dramas, so Squid Game was a new avenue for him to explore. Squid Game helped to establish other actors like Anupam Tripathi, Heo Sungtae and Kim Jooryoung.

Squid Game has become so popular that many companies and businesses have started incorporating references and memes related to it into their own marketing. The childhood games featured in the show are being played across the world as viewers want to try it out for themselves. The pandemic has also shed light on the massive wealth disparity that exists in many societies, so the main theme of Squid Game is even more relatable. And while there may be other K-dramas that steal the spotlight, it is unlikely that we will come across anything as explosive as Squid Game for a while.