Squid Games

Squid Game is a South Korean television series streaming on Netflix. The plot centres on a group of 456 adult debtors, thieves, and gamblers competing against each other in a series of childhood games (with life and death implication) for a grand cash prize.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58729766

At the very end, there was indeed one surviving participant who was not surprising, totally, absolutely, thoroughly traumatised by the experience as he saw with his own eyes how the other participants were gunned down at each game when they failed to win.

Despite his winning the game 45.6billions KRW (USD 39mio) he was unable to use the prize money that was in his bank account and went back to his old life – poor, very poor despite his wealth!     

A year later, he got the same card invitation to a place and there he saw the first participant – the old man where he befriended during the game.  There he realised the old man was real mastermind behind it all – the brutality, the degradation of humanity with the lure  of money, yet none of the participants are forced to join… they are invited and they accepted the invitation to play this death/life games

The old man on his death bed (he has a tumour in his head and does not have long to live), then asked this lead character Seong Gi-hun to bet with him about the beggar by the street whether anyone will come to his aid before midnight or leave to die.

There the old rich man begin his story.

How he made his billions but life became meaningless, when you can have all you want to eat, drink, shelter, all the luxuries in the world, what else would you need or should I say want?

In fact, he realised that there is a common traits between the very poor and the super rich is that they have both “life”.   The very poor is constantly fighting for the very basic survivals while the very rich took it for granted – it is no longer about the food or drink but how it was presented, where it was served. It is the same yet so different! What a ironic I felt when the contrast is placed before our eyes. 

I am not here to promote the drama but cannot help reflect upon the many insights it gave me to ponder upon.

The Rich vs the Poor

Adult vs the Child

Simplicity vs Complexity

Each one has so much insights, in our society there are so many rich people, in fact it was found that there are millionaires created everyday, while we see many people in many parts of the world remain poor.   This is not only seen in third world countries, but very much in developed countries like UK, Singapore, America.. What does this say of our current society?

So, what makes one poor and what makes one rich. Here we are just talking about physical wealth.    In this story, there are 456 stories (people), the lead character is of course Seong Gi-hun who is a chauffeur addicted to gambling and owes money to loan sharks.   Another his former classmate Cho Sang-woo apparently a very intelligent guy who graduated form S.Korean university, worked in the bank – like the 2^nd Nick Neeson who played in the futures and lost it all including his mum’s shop.  The list goes on and I think you get the picture…

I questioned why are people still poor? Laying aside the fact even if you are born in a poor family, when you have received minimum education with no disability.  What does say of one self? Is everything in life circumstance driven or we do have certain choice?

Adult Vs Child 

What is the main differences?

Responsibilities vs Carefree

A child is carefree, curious, innocent, trusting, fun and real.  While an adult has lots of responsibilities, stress, pressure, ambitious and goals. 

When I was a child, I acted like a child

Squid Games was using the children games playing it in a life and death manner.  Because the mastermind felt that there is no more meaning in life and seeking to find that joy and fun like a child (hence he even decide to participate rather than watch as a spectator).

When we are young, we want to be grown up – independent.  When we are older, we wish we are a child once again, no aging, no worries… When we are poor, we want to be rich. And when we are rich, the worries we thought that will go ahead with being poor might have disappeared while other problems surfaced. It seems whoever we are, we want to be someone else other than ourselves. Why? What is wrong with ourselves? Why can’t people simply be happy with who they are.

Simplicity vs Complexity

Sometimes, I wonder have we made our life too complex.    There is a saying, man is a meaning-making machines, we want to make meaning of everything we do or don’t do.   Do you know that everyone has 60 -80 thousand thoughts a day, although the majority of it is repetitive. Have you noticed that ?

This is a very simple storyline drama yet have caught the world attention.   If you lose the game – the childhood game, you lose your life.   And this catches our attention – the complexity of humanity.

As I reflected upon the drama, I wonder what is the lesson each one of us can take away for our life ?

1. Does life really have no choice

2. Have you look deep enough in yourself to see that goodness and beauty within you?

3. What do you want to pursue in this life? 

Love to hear of your feedback especially those who have watched the drama.