If somebody says children’s games are not stressful, they have obviously never watchedSquid Game. Ever since the series started streaming on Netflix a little over two years ago, the South Korean show has easily caught the attention of audiences all across the United States, amassing an astounding 14 Emmy nominations and six wins. Defining the story’s characters on a surface level, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has gone on record humbly describing the show as “a story about losers''.
After witnessing what goes on in the sadistic underground tournament, though, viewers come to deeply understand the motivations behind the characters of this nine-episode first season. While the more pure hearted like Lee Jung-jae’s Seong Gi-hun and Jung Ho-yeon’s Kang Sae-byeok need to play in hopes of making a better life for their families with the prize money, on the other hand, Yeong-su’s Oh Il-nam, seemingly wants to watch the world burn because he is bored with the lavish lifestyle. It could be concluded that as much asSquid Gamewas focused on survival tactics in the most desperate of times, studies on character analysis were not far behind.
Because of the overnight success of the Netflix exclusive, a spinoff reality show calledSquid Game: The Challengepremiered Nov. 22 on the same streaming platform. Reintroducing the featureless guards, the humongous dome-shaped dorm room, and the social cliques that come with being in such a massive competition, 456 players vied for a $4.56 million cash prize.
Unlike other reality shows, the eliminations here come heavy, with each episode cutting out a significant number from the original roster through games and tests. Circle of Trust is an original creation ofSquid Game:The Challenge. Some were replicated from the show, like Red Light, Green Light, Marbles, and Sugar Honeycombs. Others were tweaked, like Tug of War (now Warship) and Squid Game (now Rock, Paper, Scissors). With memorable moments abound, let’s look into which game stood out as being the most remarkable.
Squid Game: The Challenge Evolved From the Original Show
Squid Game
In Squid Game, a mysterious invitation to join a competition is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games to win 45.6 billion won. Games are selected from traditional Korean children’s games, such as Red Light and Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. To survive, competitors must choose their alliances carefully - but the further they go in the competition, the more likely betrayal will rear its ugly head.
Marbles unsuspectingly pitted best friends and family members against one another. Red Light, Green Light does an excellent job of duplicating the eeriness of the 2021 release. The strategy needed in Warship showed who the true leaders could be. One event stood out as an edge-of-your-seat, excruciating experience, though, which had to be Glass Bridge.
Squid Game: The Challenge - How It’s Faithful to the Original Series
Is Squid Game: The Challenge, dangerously faithful to the horror show? Let’s take a look and see what the fuss is all about.
This game occurred in episodes seven through eight and revolved around the remaining twenty players traversing over glass tiles suspended in the air. Some platforms would stay in place when stepped on, while others instantly gave out, and the contestant would fall through, seemingly to their demise. While such a fall inThe Challengewill not be as violent as in the originalSquid Game, the fact that the end comes so unforgivingly quick for contestants ironically makes this game the most memorable event for horrifying reasons.
To make matters worse, the eliminated don’t even have post-game interviews when it comes to Glass Bridge. This is rather stark in comparison to the other games because they feature something conclusive from those who become ousted from the competition, like an interview-style goodbye or a narrative voiceover marking their end.
Glass Bridge Was the Best Game in the Reality Show
On one hand, Glass Bridge does nothing but traumatize viewers when dealing with eliminations. But this event also brings about some emotionally charged moments for certain players. Being a captain in the last game and proving that his motivational words help inspire, TJ is the first to be chosen to walk onto a tile. With the viewers and the other contestants ofSquid Game: The Challengerooting him on, he instantly falls through the floor, and morale is shattered. Another contestant, Ashley, disagrees with the initial plan and doesn’t step up to lead when she is considered to do so. This causes tension from everybody behind her.
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Most importantly, this game holds a very defining sequence for Mai (the futurewinner of the $4.56 million). When another player, Chad, asks her to choose which tile he should step on, she guesses correctly, and all is well. But this doesn’t turn out the same for nerve-stricken James, who decided to also take her word. He falls, and she is instantly shattered.
The suspense, mixed with the sudden eliminations, already brings viewers to a high level of anxiety. Seeing emotions swing from relief to guilt in just a matter of minutes only helps to cement Glass Bridge as the best game in this series. With just a simple design, viewers quickly witness contestants in their most raw state once they fully realize the danger in front of them. Let’s hope that thesecond season ofSquid Game: The Challengeholds even more unforgettable moments when it eventually returns for a second season at some point in the future.
