[TV show] Squid Game - Season 1 (2021)

 

[Key Info]

• Creator / Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk

• Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-jun, Jung Ho-yeon, Heo Sung-tae, Kim Joo-ryoung

• Genre: Drama, Thriller, Survival

• Parental rating: TV-MA

• Country: South Korea

• Runtime: 9 episodes (~50 mins each)

• Streaming: Netflix

[Quick Summary]

456 financially desperate individuals compete in deadly childhood games for a ₩45.6 billion prize, under the watch of a mysterious masked organization.

[One-Line Review]

A brutal yet brilliant allegory on capitalism wrapped in edge-of-your-seat survival drama.

[Why You Should Watch It]

• Gripping concept that mixes childhood nostalgia with deadly consequences.

• Strong performances, especially Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon.

• Social commentary on class, debt, and desperation that resonates globally.

• Beautifully stylized sets and costumes, instantly iconic (hello, pink jumpsuits and guards!).