Squishy Stuff

Squid Game is the latest K-Pop instalment to take over the world. Following on from the mantle of Rain & BTS; Squid Game continues the Korean dominance that is going as strong as ever.

So what indeed makes it so successful? We can highlight three things. Firstly; the unbelievable and stellar plot. Never before has a plot been as unique as this. By highlighting the parallels between a cut-throat world and people who are so bent on making money they may lose their lives; there are many subtle underlying references that people can relate to.

Also; the brutal realism. With a no-holds barred killing spree and edge-of-the seat games; you just never who is going to live or die. The third thing: the superb cast and acting. The choice of actors for this show is perfectly spot-on; whether the shaggy lead hero Lee Jung-jae; his despicable friend; played by a straight-faced Pak Hae-soo or the model girl Jung Ho-yeon; who exemplifies the cast with a stunning debut performance. Even the ah beng guy Heo Sung-tae; the Pakistani guy Anupam Tripathi; and the old man O Yeong-su are perfect as their characters; with a realism and charisma to match.

The show is now so successful that almost everyone has watched it; powered by Netflix that spreads across the world; regardless of boundaries or language. The actors; even though not as popular before; have seen their popularity skyrocket as the show takes place in people's consciousness. It has also spawned several memorable memes; such as the unforgettable scene of Tripathi pulling up a falling Lee when his life was on the line.