Netflix's Squid Game Is A Is A Furious Prophetic Show That’s Taking The World By Storm

There’s a scene near the start of the first episode of Korean Netflix phenomenon Squid Game where main character, Seong Gi-hun, is repeatedly trying and failing to get a prize from a claw machine. He’s just been beaten up, lost gambling winnings he’d only possessed for a few minutes, and he’s trying to win a last-ditch birthday present for his daughter. It is a moment that’s emblematic of everything Squid Game wants to say.

It’s a joy to see a subtitled Korean horror TV program be the number one show on Netflix in the U.S. As anyone who’s watched will tell you, Squid Game is an extraordinary creation, far more than the “Battle Royale-lite” its trailers implied. It’s one of the most bitingly satirical commentaries on 21st century urban poverty as you’re likely to see, presented as if Wes Anderson remade Audition. It also closes the loop on a circle that began with the 2000 movie Battle Royale then somehow reached Fortnite.

For the avoidance of doubt, spoilers for Squid Game lie ahead. While I won’t discuss anything specific that happens after the first episode, a great deal of what the show’s about will be a spoiled surprise for anyone coming in fresh from the trailer. This is an incredibly good program, and if you’re good with excessively bloody violence, go watch it now.

Read the full article on Kotaku