ZOE MARIE ZAPANTA / ASST. A&C EDITOR

In 2021, Netflix released one of their most famous shows: “Squid Game,” a South Korean survival drama television series. Following the series’ worldwide acclaim, Netflix created an actual reality show based on “Squid Game” set to release next month. 

The original “Squid Game” series revolves around a secret contest where 456 players, all of whom are facing deep financial hardship, risk their lives to play a series of deadly children’s games, for the chance to win a 45.6 billion yen prize. The new series, “Squid Game: The Challenge” is a 10-episode series that features over 450 contestants competing in events inspired by the TV show, in addition to some brand-new challenges. Also, there is a $4.56 million prize for the winner, which, according to Engadget Netflix, is the largest reality show payout of all time. 

Part of the original messaging of “Squid Game’’ according to Medium was a critique on capitalism and consumerism, two big issues that cause injustice and inequality in modern society.  The show itself has also been considered disturbing, because of certain visuals and their representation of these themes. Using the format of the games and putting it into a real-life reality show — when reality shows themselves can be controversial — raises questions about that choice. 

USD sophomore Kai Marshall shared his opinion on the choice to have “Squid Game” as a reality show.

“Based on the original series, reality shows create unrealistic expectations on earning money,” Marshall said. “People would go to great lengths just to get more money. A real life version of ‘Squid Game’ would definitely shock people, as it would create a lot of drama and traumatic experiences.” 

The show has not been released yet, but it already has some controversy surrounding it. According to Variety, contestants — some who weren’t paid to participate in the series — say on one of the filming days, they were told the actual game would take roughly two hours to play and shoot, but instead that turned into an almost seven-hour ordeal for some contenders. Variety also reported that a number of contestants collapsed on set due to a combination of cold and fatigue from the eight hours of prep time before the game even started.  Variety got this information from a contestant, but changed their name to protect his identity. 

USD sophomore Logan Kidani also expressed his thoughts regarding the impact on the contestants.

“This [real life] version seems to bring a lot of trauma to the players,” Kidani said. “I expected there to be a lighter connotation to the games in the reality show. There are a lot of hurdles in the games with a lot on the line, but it is uncomfortable to hear about the state that they are [participating in] especially knowing the dark tones of the real show.” 

Though the original show has international appeal, it was originally created for a Korean audience, as  commentary on their society. Original “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk took inspiration from Korean games, and he used those games and issues as a commentary on the Korean nation specifically, because the nation is divided with military tension and the large population in a small area. The reality show is being adapted into an international lens. The new show is being filmed in the U.K, with participants from all over the world. USD junior Evan Espineli reflected on what this could mean for the show.

“The demographic of participants in the reality show may differ from the demographic in the original show, in order to appeal to an international audience,” Espineli said. “The participants will likely take the competition very seriously and may get heavily affected, should they lose. But if the reality show can highlight the desperation people potentially have like the original show, the new adaptation of the show will be very interesting to watch.” 

While the anticipation for the reality show is real, some believe that the ethical and societal implications cannot be ignored due to appeal. As viewers eagerly await the unfolding of the real-life games, the line between entertainment and exploitation may be blurred, challenging audiences to confront the darker realities that could emerge within the confines of “Squid Game: The Challenge.”