Netflix’s survival show ‘Squid Game The Challenge’ has begun premiering amid clouds of criticism. Many believe that the show defeats the anti-capitalist narrative of the 2021 Emmy Award-winning K-drama. In addition to it, the contestants have threatened the creators with a lawsuit for alleged poor filming conditions. Read ahead to find out more about the show, its controversies, and audience reception.
Why is ‘Squid Game The Challenge’ controversial?
Fans of the original series have remained critical of its spin-off survival show calling it tone-deaf. The ‘Squid Game’ K-drama highlighted the human greed arising from harsh circumstances that pushed them to bet their life on money. While rich billionaires enjoyed this human circus of life and death for personal pleasure.
Squid Game: The Challenge is 🚮
— PH PRØTØTYPE (@Talk2_lowell) November 23, 2023
The featured games were nostalgic but in the setting of the K-drama, they appeared grotesque. Therefore, the spin-off that recreates the same games, sets, and ambition of winning the monetary prize has disgusted many fans.
The survival show has even gone to lengths to recreate the death sequences of the K-drama with a black squib and continued to emphasize the numbers of the contestants, which was a dehumanizing factor in the original series.
However, the producers of the show have a different perspective on their creative projects.
Producers defend the survival show
Studio Lambert‘s Tim Harcourt, the co-producer of ‘Squid Game The Challenge,’ has defended the survival show by saying that he doesn’t believe the K-drama had only one dimension to it. Anti-capitalism narrative was part of it but the series also included other human elements.
Y’all should watch Squid Game: The Challenge.
Human behavior is such a fascinating thing, add money to the mix & it becomes a fight to the death.— Wine (@RedWhinee) November 22, 2023
He shares that the Korean series included a criticism of the engrained competitive nature of childhood games along with camaraderie, and desperation to win the grand prize. These elements are also present in a survival show that highlights how people behave under pressure.
Tim further states that the Netflix survival show flips the narrative of ‘people in need’ to ‘people given an opportunity.’ So, as per him ‘Squid Game The Challenge’ delivers all the major elements of the K-drama, and that makes it entertaining.
The harsh filming condition
There is one more thing allegedly continuing in the spin-off: the harsh conditions of filming. In February, we reported that the filming of the show faced safety concerns after medical incidents on set. Following this, the creators assured fans that they were taking the utmost care of the 456 participants and the crew.
Wow, who would have thought something this would happen in a gameshow based on a show about a deadly gameshow where people are murdered https://t.co/2ZVW0kOx1E pic.twitter.com/GtH38FPonu
— Sterek Trash🍁🍂Heartstopper S3 Spoilers🍂🍁 (@haletostilinski) November 23, 2023
However, a British personal injuries law firm, Express Solicitors, has come forward to represent two anonymous contestants who claim to suffer from hypothermia and nerve damage while filming the ‘Red Light, Green Light’ game.
Solicitors have confirmed to the press that they have sent the letters of claim to Studio Lambert, while a spokesperson for the show has refuted receiving any such letters. They have further reassured that they are taking necessary precautions and providing care to everyone on the set.
Audiences response
The rating of Netflix’s ‘Squid Game The Challenge’ has been record-breaking but audience response to it has remained diverse. While the majority are enjoying the show as a piece of entertainment, many are continuing to hate-watch it. Read some of the reactions below.
https://twitter.com/tvemilychan/status/1727819582134419597?t=S9-e6ilZFgFmWcBNEm4eNQ&s=19
nah lol the squid game challenge show is real cinema
— z (@heyzeusxx) November 22, 2023
Watching Squid game the challenge and honestly not feeling it pic.twitter.com/cEyOz2LcO2
— Nadine | (@hxghesortiz) November 23, 2023
‘Squid Game reality show’ premieres on Netflix on Thursday. It currently features five episodes (following the same patterns of games as the K-drama), 456 players, and $4.56 million as the prize.
