Squid Game is Netflix's latest offering in the K-Drama segment and it's also one of the strongest entries to grace the horror game show film genre. The show combines the politics of Hunger Games with the gore and tension of Battle Royale. To that end, it's a riveting experience that imparts plenty of lessons as well as thrills.
In short, it's a must-watch. Like plenty of other horror game show films and series, however, it's full of tropes and elements that don't quite add up. If the series' plot, story, and logic are to be represented by a dairy product, it would be Swiss cheese. It has lots of holes there but it's still a delicacy, so that's excused. But to add to one's post-viewing ruminations, it's time to ponder on some of the show's rational missteps.
Updated on October 11, 2021, by Anastasia Maillot: Squid Game has blown up to become bigger than anyone could have anticipated. From fans posting their versions of the dalgona cookie to mini-games on platforms like Roblox featuring the infamous Red Light, Green Light sequence, it seems no part of the Internet has been spared from Squid Game references.
The plot has also seen quite a bit of discussion among fans and critics. Whether it's the references to important and tragic real-life events in South Korea, like the case of Ssangyong Motors, or simply its unique plot itself that preceded the Hunger Games, the conversation has brought about some interesting points that have been updated into this list. Tread carefully, as spoilers will follow for those who have yet to watch the show.
9 The Workers Are (Mostly) Too Obedient
Squid Game is run not just by a mysterious host, but also by several workers in pink outfits and masks that cover their faces. It's revealed the symbols on their masks refer to their ranking among the workers. That said, there are a lot of plot holes and questions about who these workers are, and why they would all be so incredibly obedient. Well, aside from the organ harvesters.
This means there would have been literally hundreds of people perfectly fine with putting players through a sadistic game. It's also never revealed whether they get compensated, other than living in a prison-like room. If anything, they live in equally bleak circumstances: getting rid of bodies, preparing evil games, and torturing the players with a lack of food. Some theories do suggest that these are in fact players as well, but how come they never seem to voice their frustration towards the nature of the game like the regular players do? Surely, at least one or two would blow a fuse in the face of violence.
8 Contestant 001 Really Could Have Died
By the end of the show, it revealed that one of the contestants, Number 001 (the Old Man) was actually a VIP or the main villain. He elected to join the players because he was bored out of his mind. Still, he did have a brain tumor and poor health and this notably affected his ability to play.
He really could have died in some of the games, especially in the tug-of-war; he also could have been stabbed during the riot. His cry of fear during the riot scene comes across as a moment of humanity within the game but gets cheapened later when it's discovered the Host was simply protecting the main villain. His death would have been one less VIP or rich old dude funding the game show. His participation was rather short-sighted and most of the time blatantly unfair.
7 Contestant 456 Had Unfair Advantage
Speaking of unfair, Number 456, or the series' protagonist seemed to get by through luck most of the time. It's often the danger in these types of shows and movies, where most characters are fated to die, but fans can expect the protagonist to just somehow make it through. That is until the fourth game when Number 001 played with him during the marble match. The Old Man somehow feigned dementia and let Number 456 cheat his way into victory.
During the final moments of the game, the Old Man also surrendered his last marble to Number 456, practically letting him win. It's clear that Number 456 is his favorite since he was kind to him and he wanted to return the favor, but that goes against the game show's established principles.
6 How Has No One Discovered The Game By Now?
This part of the plot might be up for debate, but it still deserves to be brought up. During Junho's investigation, it's revealed that the game has been going on for years. How is this possible? How has no one by now wondered why a bunch of people go missing every year and their bodies are never found? Moreover, has no one noticed these vans picking up people off the street or a mysterious ferry with armed people in pink suits?
There are some defenses to these questions. South Korea has a staggeringly high suicide rate, and since many of the players are indebted, families might be tempted to believe they've simply taken their lives. Still, it's unlikely that so many families wouldn't even investigate their missing family member's disappearance or death. Junho comes off as an exception, and perhaps there are others like him, but the show makes it seem as if no other efforts have been made to uncover the game.
5 The Game Killed Its Own Contestant(s) Unfairly
On to the list of other unfair things the game show did, murdering one of its contestants after she won a game is a huge crime based on their rules and principles. That would be Number 067— the escapee from North Korea. She was one of the three winners of the fifth game.
Except, that honor didn't seem to matter to the game facilitators since it was thanks to the fourth game's glass explosion that she bled to near-death. The facilitators not curing her also didn't make sense since they also tried to make sure that the contestants are well fed and in good health for the final game.
4 What Became Of One Of The VIPs?
During the fourth game, one of the old and lecherous VIPs propositioned undercover officer Hwang Junho for coitus. The officer obliged but knocked out and harmed the VIP in order to wiggle out of the situation, revealing his identity and blowing his cover.
Afterward, the VIP was missing in action for the sixth game viewing. Didn't the other VIPs ask questions regarding this security breach? Moreover, what became of the said VIP? Surely someone striking a rich funder for the game show would have brought up a scandal and safety concerns. That event wasn't exactly a minor disturbance.
3 Sangwoo's Mother Just Accepts A North Korean Orphan
After the game, Number 456 did right by his friends' last wishes and took care of their families. Well, "took care" is a generous word since he merely dropped off Number 067's orphaned brother to Number 218's mother as if that's enough as a consolation for her missing and dead son.
Moreover, Sangwoon or Number 218's mother would have asked more questions or will at least interview the bow. Finding out that he's from North Korea probably won't bode well for the kid. It's also implausible to believe that a grieving mother would just accept another responsibility since she's likely still busy worrying about her son's crimes and whereabouts.
2 How Did A Game Winner End Up Becoming A Host?
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Another thing that's hard to digest or wasn't explained believably was the Host. The show revealed him to be officer Hwang Joon Ho's brother which is way too convenient. That's because the Host was also a former contestant in the game show.
That in itself is a security concern. In fact, he even somewhat hesitated in shooting his own brother and also probably didn't kill him out of emotions and presumably so that there's plenty more material for a second season. In any case, that kind of plot convenience is a little difficult to swallow especially since the game's facilitators are still monitoring the winners after they won.
1 The Game's Security Is Too Lax
There's also the topic of the game show site's security. For a huge and highly-funded operation, the security was rather lenient or clumsy. They anticipated returning players, meaning they could have taken more steps in ensuring they didn't bring tools or weapons.
A metal detector should have been standard procedure there seeing as knives and guns are easily smuggled. Moreover, the organ selling underground operation should have turned more heads than what the film implied. Finally, Junho's being able to simply sneak in and follow one of the vans without being noticed in the dead of night seems extremely unlikely, yet no one noticed him sneaking into the car and on the ferry. His presence among the workers is also noticed far too late.