Squid Game has become the biggest show ever: Reasons behind its popularity

The audiences have gathered great interest in the South Korean drama Squid Game globally. The intense thriller has become one of the most-watched shows, within the few days of its release on the OTT platform named Netflix. This show has been trending at a number one spot in several countries since its premiere and memes based on the show have flooded the internet.

The Squid Game was released on 17th September. In the last month, the co-CEO of Ted Sarandos of Netflix has said that “It’s only been out for nine days, and it’s a very good chance it’s going to be our biggest show ever.” Jeff Bezos has also praised and said, “@ReedHastings and Ted Sarandos and the team at @Netflix
get it right so often. Their internationalization strategy isn’t easy, and they’re making it work. Impressive and inspiring. (And I can’t wait to watch the show.)”

Storyline

Squid Game is a fictional survival series that required people to participate in a game that children would like to play. This is a game either they win at life in Squid Game or they would die trying. While speaking to Variety, he said that “I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life. But I wanted it to use the kind of characters we’ve all met in real life.”

Reasons behind its popularity

Initially, the show has developed as a film but later it has converted into a series in order to better suit its purpose. This series has become people’s addiction and also find it relatable despite being set in a different country.

Kim Pyeong-gang, a global cultural content professor at Sangmyung University, thinks that there is a solid reason behind the connection viewers have found with Squid Game. While talking to BBC Kim has said, “People, especially the younger generation, who regularly suffer from alienation and resentment in real life, seem to sympathize with the characters.”

Problems regarding Subtitles

Although the show has become popular, there still lies one strong issue which has come from a section of the audience. Apparently, people have been complaining about the English subtitles. It has come to know that the interpretation is lousy and the entire show has changed the meaning of the show due to the differences in translation.

But still Squid Game is ruling the roost as far as Netflix’s viewership is concerned. So, after its massive success, Did the writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk has thought of another sequel?

The filmmaker has told to Variety that “I don’t have well-developed plans for ‘Squid Game 2’. It is quite tiring just thinking about it”.