First of all, I have been calling it Squid Games for the last week and a half and no one has corrected me. I had just typed up Squid — to look up the pretty actress and realised. I have also been saying “Shiba” out loud all damn week thinking it meant “damn” or “dammit” (thanks Netflix subs) and finally decided to translate it online (facepalm). Anyway…
My first thoughts went straight to Hunger Games but with slightly more gore. Then as the story went on it became more like an extended version of a Black Mirror episode. So I was hooked. Plus the gore… Double hooked.
It took me a while to finish since the episodes were an hour long but after a week, I got there and I loved it all. Episode 8, damn that got me good. Way to take away the physical brutality and screw up everyone psyche! However, the last episode I could’ve gone without.
It was also nice to be forced to sit down and watch the show with my eyes glued to the screen to not miss any of the English subtitles. Usually I am doing about 3 things at once while a show is playing so I can tell myself I’m not wasting time (I know, its strange. Its something I struggle with and am working on… kinda). Sure I could have switched to the English dub but then I would not only be a hypocrite but probably not like it as much as I did. I feel like not watching a show in its original language, is like looking at a painting through a picture taken of it. You’re not getting the full affect of the art form. First of all, I tried the English dub and it didn’t even match the English subtitles so I didn’t know what to believe. Also, yeah okay the voice actors probably do a great job but there’s still no way I am going to be believe that that voice came from that face. Its a little removed for me. When you don’t hear the actual actors scream or cry or breath, you’re not getting their full performance. And if you’re not getting their full performance, how can you connect to their characters or at least appreciate the entirety of their work? Sure if you genuinely can’t listen to the Korean version for whatever reason, I get it. But if you can and are just being lazy then do yourself a favour! Besides, reading it good for you (;
So my mum doesn’t like gore or being scared or people hurting each other. Anything perceived as evil or dark in her eyes. She loves laughter and love and happiness, and I do to! But I would be lying if I didn’t say I like both equally. Whenever she’d pass by me watching Squid Game, she would have a lot to say or at least I would have to turn it off straight away or I wouldn’t get a chance to hear it over her objections.
Something that struck an interest to me was her complete unwillingness to even hear what the show was about because it was too barbaric for her liking. She claimed there was no storyline, that the creators were evil and have no business promoting such cruelty, without even watching or even looking it up. Completely ignorant to it. And I just find that fascinating because I realised there must be millions of people that think this way not only about SG but any form of art that makes you uncomfortable (arguable the best kind). I defended that if just because its not your preferred show/art, doesn’t mean it not good. Its just someone else’s cup of tea and visa versa with whatever your thing is. There’s a difference between something not being good and something that you refuse to like. I think you can dislike anything you want but you can’t claim something isn’t good without even seeing it, ya know? Art is art. Entertainment is entertainment. It may be a little dark but reality is dark. What is art if not a reflection of reality?
Side note – I totally get why people get hooked on Korean drama now. SO much drama and Korean actors are so expressive and captivating, I’m impressed.
So if you can handle the storyline, if you’re a fan of Black Mirror, gore, Korean drama, etc; I say watch it. They nailed the set designs and costumes (honestly the main reason why I wanted to watch it in the first place), and the physical acting is on point. Koreans aren’t just dramatic with their voice and facial expressions, but man watch those actors take a fake gun shot to the chest. Thats acting!
Peace