Why everyone is talking about Squid Game on Netflix

Every now and then, Netflix really surprises me, you know. Or better said: the viewing behavior of Netflix users. I was shocked when it was announced that the Dutch film Just Say Yes was in the top ten. Worldwide. World-wide. The worst film of the past decade, but apparently people loved it. And shortly after, we were all crying over a friendship between an octopus and a human, and I had to scratch my head for a moment. To be honest, I actually thought this new hype was a sequel to that, because of the name. But no, Squid Game has absolutely nothing to do with a special bond between octopus and human, and it’s not really a tearjerker either.

What it is, is a massive hit worldwide. Suddenly, I hear everyone talking about it. The first season of this South Korean series has been online for almost two weeks now, and I must honestly admit: I haven’t finished that first season yet. I still don’t quite know what I think of it.

I love suspense, but I don’t know how they do it over there in South Korea – I seriously found this one a case of I-need-to-turn-it-off-or-I-can’t-sleep. The concept seems so simple: hundreds of people are invited to participate in a tournament where they can win about 40 million dollars. How? Well, ‘just’ by playing children’s games. Sounds all fine, until those children’s games turn into a Hunger Games slash Battle Royale slash what-the-heck-is-happening-here.

Now I have already given myself some spoilers, because I looked up the ending. I thought: then I dare to watch it further. I dare to do that now too, in the daylight, with enough time to watch a Disney movie afterwards. Because that ending: hooooly guacamole, how grim. Are you not at the end yet? Then I would say: don’t do what I did, don’t read spoilers, just watch it. A bizarre and honestly quite sick series, but I’m totally on board with this hype. A thousand times rather a series like this than Just Say Yes.