Squid Game – the series revolving around the deadly survival battle that was recently released on Netflix on September 17 is currently getting mixed reviews.
Although Squid Game is under suspicion of plagiarism, the series still attracts a large number of viewers not only in Korea but also around the world.
The drama follows Ki Hoon (Lee Jung Jae), a kind middle-aged man who faces a good run of bad luck that he decides to participate in Squid Game to earn money for his mother. During the battle, he gets to know and make friends with strangers such as the North Korean defector Sae Byeok (Jung Ho Yeon), the old man Oh Il Nam (Oh Young Soo) and especially Sang Woo who grows up in the same neighborhood with him.
456 players thought that they would be able to experience a fair-play, easy game and take home a huge amount of money, but instead, they had to bet their lives on a bunch of children’s games. Let’s check out the 6 games that might seem easy at first glance but actually can kill the players in Squid Game!
Red light green light
In the first round, the participants are challenged in a childhood game called “Red light, green light“. This is probably one of the most popular traditional games in Korea as well as all over Asia. Instead of a human, a huge doll acts as the game’s monitor.
The doll stands at a fair distance while turning its back on the players. As soon as it shouts “green light”, the player needs to run towards the finish line and stop when it says “red light”. The only difference is that if anyone is still moving when the doll turns around, they will be gunned down immediately. The players must be terrified when they know that being eliminated does not mean losing or simply leaving but paying with their lives.
The Honeycomb game
In the 3rd episode of Squid Game titled ‘The Man with the Umbrella’, viewers continue to get introduced to another traditional game called “Sugar Honeycomb”. This may sound easy, but once you start playing, you will realize that this game for kids can be extremely difficult for those who are clumsy or impatient.
By the second round, there are only 212 participants left, each player is given a circular-shaped tin can containing a piece of honeycomb candy printed with one of four shapes – triangle, circle, star or an umbrella (considered the highest difficulty). Players must cut out the candy’s shape with a needle, without cracking or breaking the sugar honeycomb. This is difficult because the candy is extremely thin and easily breaks.
Tug of war
Next, the contestants have to play tug of war but at a higher level. The flag needs to cross the centerline for a team to be declared the winner. Unlike normal tug-of-war taking place on the ground to reduce pain when falling, the Squid Game’s version sets up the game on an extremely high bridge that causes the loser to fall to the ground and lose their life right after.
Watching this episode, viewers thought they would have to say goodbye to someone in Ki Hoon‘s team but player No. 001 Oh Il Nam (Oh Young Soo) then comes up with a strategy to help the weaker team defeat the stronger team spectacularly. Cho Sang Woo (Park Hae Soo) is also smart with his tricks that make the opponents slip. This is one of the most gripping parts of the series that make viewers’ hearts race!
Marbles
Who wasn’t attracted to sparkling marbles as a child? But in ‘Squid Game’, marbles playing is one of the most heartbreaking scenes, highlighting the friendship, betrayal, and sacrifice of the players. For this round, the contestant has the task of teaming up with others and doing everything to get all the opponent’s marbles.
Cho Sang Woo chose player 199 with outstanding physical strength – Ali (Anupam Tripathi), leaving Seong Gi Hoon (Lee Jung Jae) with player 001 – old man Oh Il Nam (Oh Young Soo). Teams were given bags with ten marbles inside. They have 30 minutes to take all of their teammates’ marbles to win.
Cho Sang Woo – who is strong in intelligence, was devastated when he lost to Ali – a person who just played marbles for the first time. Knowing that he would “fly in color” if he continued to compete, Sang Woo decided to trick this Indian guy by swapping stones and marbles to make Ali “color” in an angry way.
The glass bridge
For the fifth game, the contestants are required to cross a parallel glass bridge, some steps are made of tempered glass, others are plain glass. If they choose wrong, they will fall to the ground and lose their lives. Honestly, Tanpopo feels this game is too barbaric because who can distinguish these two glasses?
Also in this episode, the conflict between Ki Hoon and Sang Woo increased even more, when he witnessed his brother harming a contestant and Kang Sae Byeok (Jung Ho Yeon) for a better chance of winning. Regarded as one of the most intense rounds of competitions, the glass-stepping game left Sang Woo and Ki Hoon with a brutal personality test.
Squid game
In the final game, the contestant can use all the tricks that they can think of. The attacker must run through the defense and touch the area inside the squid’s head with his foot to win. Meanwhile, the defender must block the opponent by forcing them out of the touchline.
With his virtuosity in childhood, Ki Hoon successfully surpassed Sang Woo. But he could not bear to see his brother go, Ki Hoon decided to stop the game, leading to Sang Woo making a foolish decision and entrusting his mother to Ki Hoon. Who would have thought that a childhood game would have such a heartbreaking ending?
The candy splitting game is probably the most impressive round in ‘Squid Game‘, because it looks easy but is actually very difficult. Seeing the contestants separate slowly, slowly, audiences truly admired their patience. How about you? Which round left the deepest impression on you after watching Squid Game?
