I know so many people that refuse to watch foreign films purely because they have subtitles. There are countless amazing films that don’t get the publicity they deserve due to the fact that people don’t like subtitles or don’t like the look of it dubbed. Pan’s Labyrinth and Parasite are two that immediately come to mind as some of my favorite foreign films to date. However, when I heard that Squid Game was gaining popularity, it gave me some hope that it might introduce people to the idea of watching a foreign film with English subtitles. Sure enough, as the series quickly approaches becoming the most popular show in Netflix history, I think it might have accomplished just that.
Much as I’m slightly ashamed to admit it, I actually first heard about Squid Game through TikTok. All I knew about it was that there was a competition where people who were severely in debt competed in games that seemed simple, but if they lost, had deadly consequences. It sounded kind of like a Korean Hunger Games. But after finishing the series, I can confirm it was so much more than that. Not only was the cinematography stunning and the story riveting, but it also provided some very interesting insight on the human psyche and ended up being truly thought-provoking.
Even from just watching a short trailer for the series, the large role that color plays in Squid Game quickly becomes apparent. All of the sets for the “games” (which were actually built in real life, mind you) are colorful and bright—a stark contrast to the things that will be occurring there. Additionally, the second to last game takes place in a circus-style theater, symbolizing the fact that the people who run the competition view this all purely as a twisted form of entertainment. There are also several references to The Matrix throughout the series, specifically the red and blue pill. In the first few episodes, our main character Seong Gi-Hun is shown wearing almost exclusively blue. This is referencing the fact that he’s accepting the game and choosing to shield himself from the truth. In the very last episode, where it’s implied that he’s going to return to the game to try to shut it down, he dyes his hair bright red. This is an indirect reference to the red pill in The Matrix when the person who takes it chooses to accept the truth. Although there hasn’t been another season confirmed quite yet, the open-ended ending has left the door open for the story to continue if the director chooses to.
Easily my favorite episode in the entire series is episode two, titled “Hell.” In it, the remaining survivors decide by majority to stop the games after game one. They all end up going back to their normal lives for a few days. During that time, we get to see the horrible conditions these people are living in. We slowly see them all come to the realization that they would rather be dead than continue living that way. This means that their only way out is through the Game: either they win the money and are liberated from their debts or they die. Either way, they’re freed.
Honestly, I could go on and on about this series. Even though I finished it last week, I cannot stop thinking about it and I definitely want to rewatch it. I’m so happy that Squid Game is truly making its mark on the Netflix community and, hopefully, paving the way for many foreign films/series in the future. Squid Game has taught me one thing for sure, though: if a strange man in a suit comes up to you and invites you to play ddakji, just say no.
Spoiler Alert is an Opinion culture column used to give reviews for movies, television shows, or other related media.
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