New “Squid Game” series has a bad aftertaste

Opinion

In the first 28 days after the release of “Squid Game” in September 2021, 111 million accounts streamed the Korean series on Netflix. Considering that around 233 million profiles are registered on the site, this number seems almost unbelievable. It goes without saying that Netflix is ​​now chasing this value, but there is a problem: Season two of “Squid Game” is in production, but is still a long time coming. Most recently, insiders suspected that a release would only be realistic in 2025.

But Netflix needs hit series, after all, the streaming market is highly competitive – and black numbers are no longer as self-evident for the company when it comes to new registrations as they were just a few years ago.

Now “Squid Game: The Challenge” is supposed to help. This is neither a sequel nor a spin-off to the original. Rather, “Squid Game” becomes a reality show.

Netflix is ​​getting creative with “Squid Game: The Challenge.”

The premise of the predecessor is quickly explained: the heavily indebted protagonist Gi-hun is given the opportunity to gamble for a lot of money and receives a mysterious invitation for this purpose. He and 455 other people are taken to a secret location, where the participants compete against each other in a competition – and it’s tough.

For (almost) everyone except Gi-hun, participation ends in death. The winner pockets the equivalent of 33 million euros after his last competitor kills himself. A triumph with a bad aftertaste.

In particular, the children’s game “Red Light, Green Light” experienced new hype thanks to “Squid Game”. Participants must complete a specific route and are only allowed to move when a robot puppet at the other end of the room turns away while singing “Red light, green light.”

The perfidious event can be understood not least as a criticism of capitalismbecause in “Squid Game” impoverished people who have been abandoned by the state literally walk over corpses.

In “Squid Game: The Challenge” the games from the original are imitated, there’s a lot of money to be won again and the candidates even wear the same outfits – but this time there’s no acting. Netflix is ​​using the concept for a game show.

But of course there is a crucial difference: In “Squid Game: The Challenge” no one dies; in the worst case scenario, the participants are eliminated and “just” miss the chance to win the prize money. 456 people are fighting for a sum of 4.56 million US dollars.

“Squid Game”: New series is less attractive

Although the concept of “Squid Game: The Challenge” sounds quite amusing, the format is unlikely to be a sure-fire success for the streaming service as it lacks key qualities of the original. It may sound macabre, but without a lot of blood the whole thing is suddenly much less drastic.

Many fans of “Squid Game” will quickly have the feeling that – at least in comparison – it isn’t about much anymore. If things go badly for Netflix, “Squid Game: The Challenge” will end up being dismissed as a run-of-the-mill game show that doesn’t particularly stand out from the competition. “Ninja Warrior,” for example, is likely to be far more dangerous.

“Squid Game: The Challenge” differs from the original in key ways.Image: Netflix

On top of that, the approach critical of capitalism will probably be completely watered down by the new series. In fact, it’s even reduced to absurdity, where Netflix tries to milk a successful show to the last drop. In other words, the streaming service seems pretty desperate in its quest to land the “next big thing.” How about more completely new ideas, for example? At least it worked with “Squid Game”.

“Squid Game: The Challenge”: Fans are skeptical in advance

An indication that the project might not be well received everywhere was provided by the reactions of numerous fans under the trailer for “Squid Game: The Challenge” on YouTube. It reads, among other things: “I think we would prefer a second season of ‘Squid Game’ to a reality show.” Well over 13,000 accounts liked the post. Another person notes:

Another user joins in and criticizes the concept behind the new game show. He points out: “The appeal of ‘Squid Game’ lies not in how much you can win, but in what you can lose.”

The fact that Netflix relies on “Squid Game: The Challenge” is not really surprising, because the streaming service is increasingly discovering the reality concept for itself. With “Too Hot to Handle” and “The Circle,” Netflix achieved notable successes and is even more competitive with traditional television. Nevertheless, “Squid Game: The Challenge” first has to do some convincing. And probably not too short.