If you haven't watched it yet,
then you have at least seen the memes or heard of it...
Squid Game
Everybody's talking about it.
In fact, it's on its way of becoming
Netflix biggest non-English language show in the world.
Fans describe it as a violent combination of
Hunger Games,
Black Mirror
and Parasite.
Netflix global TV chief says the “show did get a substantial
promotional push in Korea and other Asian countries.
There was hardly any marketing in the US outside
of a trailer tailored to an American audience.
So I got curious!
How did The Squid Game
became so popular and is it really that good?
Well, here are 4 reasons why Squid Game became so popular.
Spoiler alert!
#1 THE GAMES
There are other shows and movies that feature
death matches and survival games.
But the difference with all these shows and movies
and The Squid Game
is that in this show, all these games
are kids' games
which means they're very easy to understand.
The first game in the show is called Red Light, Green Light.
There is a giant doll that says “green light”,
when, as a player, you can advance forward.
There is a line next to that giant doll that you need to reach.
But you can only move when the light is green.
One of the dolls says “red light”
You must not move it.
You move...
You are dead...
Literally
This game is easy to understand.
Make it easier to follow the movie and easy to replicate on social media
and you will see later on that social media
is playing a big part in making this show popular.
Although the games in the show originated in Korea
since they’re kids’ games
the whole world has no trouble understanding them.
Nostalgia also plays a role for making this show popular in Korea. Why?
Because imagine tomorrow
a show comes out that features all the games you played as a child.
What do you do? You watch it.
And what do you do after that?
You go to talk to your childhood friends about it.
They, of course, watch it and the cycle repeats itself.
#2 SOCAIL MEDIA
people can stop talking about the show and the games.
On TikTok #squidgame has been viewed more than 38 billion times.
TikTok, together with Twitter, are the main promoters of the show.
The games played in the show have been replicated numerous times,
particularly one: The Honeycomb, where the players need to cut
a specific shape out of a candy without breaking it.
Once again, you lose, you die.
The voice of that giant doll from the previous game.
Red light. Green light.
Has been used for more than
420,000 videos on TikTok
#3 NON ENGLISH LANGUAGE SHOWS ARE ON THE RISE
The fact that non-English-language
shows are on the rise is also a factor
Lupin, originally in French,
and Money Heist, originally
in Spanish, have been top streamers for Netflix.
Now, there is a Korean one as well!
Although the main language is not English,
The reason why squid game is becoming a worldwide phenomenon is its accessibility.
The show is filmed in Korean
but Netflix offers subtitles in 37 languages
and dubs in 34 languages,
allowing those who would rather not read subtitles to enjoy it, too.
#4 THE SOUTH KOREAN INFLUENCE
Korean entertainment has been thriving in US and in the world for years.
K-pop or Korean pop music is getting more and more popular.
People around me keep on mentioning it.
Groups like BTS and Blackpink have a massive fan base.
Movies like Parasite have dominated Hollywood.
It went on to win the Academy Award for best picture in 2020.
Korean dancers, Korean actors, Korean filmmakers, Korean athletes.
Apparently it's a very talented generation.
And companies in the US are starting to think how to bring that talent over.
It is not just the talent, but often the price as well.
Often being lower than other places.
With that said, don't be surprised if you start seeing more content
like Squid Game.
In conclusion,
what made Squid Game popular was not just one thing.
It was a combination of things.
But that's generally the case with everything in life.
You want to be in a good shape?
It's just not enough just to visit the gym.
You also need some good sleep and healthy food.
You want to be happy.
It's not only about having a positive attitude.
You need to find what you love doing,
surrounding yourself with good people
and take care of your health
In life, usually every good is a combination of things.
Hmmm...
Would you agree?
Well, let me know in the comments, because I'm curious.
And you...
also stay curious.