Stranger Things, Umbrella Academy and You are a few of many original series Netflix is known for.  On September 17, 2021, Squid Game was released and continues to give Netflix success. 

Squid Games is based in the year 2020. Citizens in debt are recruited to compete in deadly games. If these members win, they earn 45,600,000,000 won (which is equivalent to 38,460,271.20 USD). However, this cash prize will come at a cost. 

The World has been captivated by this new series. According to Forbes, Squid Game is the number one show in 90 different countries including the United States and Korea. Squid Game’s complex characters, interesting plot twists, and entertaining storyline help create this obsession for watchers. 

“I liked the different relationships between people and how they changed within the episodes,” Yuridia Montalvo said. “The way it was put together was different than most TV shows and that stuck out.” The entire Squid Game story is told in a total of nine episodes. Viewers are interested in the assortment of games plays are required to participate in. Slowly throughout the show, participants are eliminated. Causing panic to spread rapidly as competitors must ponder their choices. 

However, there is no break for contestants, as games seem to get crazier and crazier as the show continues.  “I think the most interesting game would have to be the marble or the glass one because you have to have a strategy and work to communicate with others,” Montalvo says. 

In the marble game, participants get into pairs. Their only instructions are to collect all of their opponent’s marbles. Whoever successfully completes this task, moves on in the competition. Yet, whoever loses becomes eliminated. Players come up with multiple different ways to combat this task- some throw marbles into a made-up target, some play guessing games, and others roll the marble to a certain point. No matter what approach, the one focus was winning.

The games weren’t the only concept that captured viewers’ attention. The characters shone through. “Sae-byeok is my favorite,” says Narya Muniz. “The actor was really good and the character was interesting to watch.”

Sae-byeok is a frontrunner of the show. Competing for the money to get her family out of North Korea, she is willing to risk everything for the top prize. Not only was she intelligent, but Sae-byeok was also talented in several skills such as pickpocketing and strategy. Throughout the show, she never lets any of the drama or fear stop her from achieving her goals. All of these factors combined contributed to the liking of this character for Muniz and others all over the internet. In fact, HoYeon Jung (Sae-byeok’s actress) Instagram account has risen to over 20 million followers since the release and success of Squid Game.

Students agree that Squid Game has lived up to the hype. “I think it’s a pretty good show because it is a unique circumstance,” Andre McKinney says. “From what I saw on social media, I would say it was worth the watch.” 

However, it looks like Eaglecrest may not have a winning student in the future. “To be honest I would probably die in the games,” said Muniz, lacking confidence. 

Montalvo is on the same boat. “I would pass the first level but after that, I would die.”

These games surely are dependent on your athletic ability, intelligence, and thinking outside the box.

If you are bored over your fall break, it seems wise to fill your time seeing what the hype is all about and determining if you would survive the erratic Squid Game.