A reality competition series is coming to Netflix based on its highly popular series Squid Game according to Variety. And honestly, why? Squid Game: The Challenge, the name of the show, will see 456 players compete for the biggest TV cash prize in history: $4.56 million dollars. This will be won through various challenges, across 10 episodes, that will pay homage to the original series because what’s the point if not to bring a little bit of terrifying nostalgia to the masses.
Of course, no one is set to die in this Squid Game. And it’s important to note that for those wondering what the hell is going on and how they’re going to eliminate people. This isn’t the real Squid Game after all. But it will test contestants in the same way that the show did but in a more controlled environment meant to breed drama because what’s a good reality TV series without a healthy dose of drama? That’s where we have to take pause and wonder what the hell is happening?
Because Squid Game, well, it was social commentary. It showed how the powerful take the weak and use them for entertainment. It was about shifting the needle for those that are less fortunate because an old man was bored with his life and wanted to relive his past when things were infinitely simpler but that much harder because poverty does that to you. And seeing Netflix take this social commentary and turn it into a reality series ignores what the OG show was about and kind of makes it a joke.
And I’m not the only one who thinks this.
Some were reminding Netflix that…you know…people died in this game.
But don’t worry, Netflix made sure to reassure contestants will leave unscathed.
Some were reminding people of the true nature of this series.
Others just hated everything about this.
And some remembered Mr. Beast and his Squid Game reality show that got the same kind of criticism the Netflix show is getting right now.
And others remembered when Netflix pulled a similar tactic with Orange is the New Black.
Ultimately, this comes down to ignorance of people’s plight. And instead of investing so much money in a reality TV that ignores the lessons of Squid Game, they should have taken the time to sustainably try and change the status quo in favor of those who would compete in the games because they had no other choice in this world. Now that would’ve been revolutionary.
Squid Game season one is available on Netflix.
