‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Netflix Series Review - Expect the Unexpected

The kind of buzz Squid Game: The Challenge is receiving is all thanks to the original Korean series that entertained audiences all across the globe. The short recipe to cook a great-selling reality series is adapted from a hit show and this one follows in the footsteps. In terms of creativity, there’s nothing new. It would be apt to say that it lacks creativity and everything has been blindly copied.

I liked Squid Game but, if I’m watching a series based on it then, I would also expect the makers to add something unique that matches the soul of the original Korean series. The madness, the cutthroat competition, and the two-faced contestants are all the same.

Talking about the unexpected twists, they keep you indulged till the second episode. Opening with the popular Red Light, Green Light game was a great idea as who doesn’t know about the doll used in the Korean series? The second episode is about the famous cookie named, titled Dalgona. After the Red Light, the Green Light had the maximum number of eliminations.

After these two games, the game got stale because dirty politics were being played. The reality TV show loses its grip on its audience gradually. The content starts being repetitive, like 432 being the constant target or the talks about the mother-son duo. Though the son was there to participate, he always thought about his mom first. On the other hand, the old mother was there to prove herself.

From the chats shared by the mother-son duo, it was very clear that they were soon going to face each other. In all, Squid Game: The Challenge does a partially good job and might not be liked by everyone.

Those who haven’t watched the original Korean show might need to watch it to understand the hype. I hope that not too much inspiration is taken from the series and audience gets a chance to watch fresh stuff too.

I couldn’t help but notice the lack of desperation in the show for the prize money. Yes, we are shown that people wanted to win, but the reason is lacking. In the Squid Game series, everyone wanted money so badly that they were ready to go to any extent. In the first challenge only, we see people giving up. So, the spirit of the game is another thing that this reality show lacks.

Be it the dorms, the areas in which the game is being played, or the big container of cash hanging from the wall, everything is the same. It varies from person to person how they perceive it, whether they want to see something different or the one with the same location. For me, it would be better if intense competition was included and there were constant twists and turns.

This one is a decent reality show, and as there are just five episodes that have been released, it is still unclear who is the winner of the game. I’m not impressed by the show and it’s an average watch. If the audiences decide to skip it, it’s not something that they’ll be missing out on.

Final Score – [5.5/10]
Reviewed by - Riya Singh
Follow @_riyasinghhh_ on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times