Squid Game: What the Must Watch reviewers think

Thursday 7 October 2021, 10:04

Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.

This week Scott Bryan and Hayley Campbell review Squid Game on Netflix. The Korean-language drama is about an alternative world where people in debt compete in deadly games.

Youngkyu Park

Hayley says: "I absolutely adore how weird this is"

"I love that people are going mad for a show with subtitles. I’m sure many of them are watching the dubbed version which I am spiritually opposed to, but the fact that something with subtitles is becoming huge – this doesn’t usually happen!

"Likewise, the thing that people are going mad for on Netflix doesn’t usually align with being good or unusual – and my tastes very rarely align with what is hugely popular. It feels like when Parasite won Best Film at the Oscars.

"I absolutely adore how weird this is, but if you’re a fan of movies that come out of Korea, it will be no surprise to you that it’s strange and interesting, and talks about problems in society in an unusual way. It touches on the same class divide stuff that Parasite does too."

Youngkyu Park

Scott says: "Don’t watch this just before going to bed"

"When I first heard about this show I assumed it was so popular because it was a gorier version of The Hunger Games. Whilst this show can be extremely violent at times (don’t watch this just before going to bed), it is so much more than that. It is a sensational, thought provoking drama.

"It taps into so many issues so well. From the stark division between the very rich and the very poor, to the consequences of capitalism, to whether we truly care about other people’s suffering, to the desire and consequences of winning at all costs.

"It also manages to have such complex, interesting characters. If your favourite character dies (this isn’t a spoiler when you know the premise), you really do feel it.

"This is a show that plays to Netflix’s strengths. Only Netflix are able to have a show that can generate such a buzz globally in literally a matter of days, even if the show is not in the English language. Make sure that you watch this show the way it was intended: with the subtitles on and without the English dubbing."