“The Squid Game: The Challenge” achieved more than 224 million viewing hours during the first 21 days of its broadcast, which is the largest number among reality television programs (social networking sites)
In contrast to the events of the South Korean series, the reality TV version of "Squid Game: The Challenge" did not witness any deaths or blood, but rather its competitions were characterized by peace and many of them relied on luck. Despite its peacefulness, the work succeeded in igniting suspense and excitement, whether by arousing attention, psychological horror, or even controversy.
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The largest prize money in the history of reality television
The story began when the first season of the series “Squid Game” achieved great success, so the “Netflix” platform decided to take advantage of the overwhelming popularity of the work and produce a new project that includes transforming it from a fictional drama into a reality TV show consisting of 10 episodes entitled “Squid Game.” “Challenge,” which sparked the curiosity and enthusiasm of work lovers.
Similar to the original series, the challenges included a group of games, some of which were previously seen in the first season and others were completely new. The competition included 456 players from all over the world on the condition that they were fluent in speaking English, while the prize amounted to $4.56 million, which one contestant received at the end, which is the prize. The largest financial gain in the history of reality television.
Between greed and capitalism
The challenges were not as painful as they seemed annoying and stressful, especially with the new possibility of players being excluded and everyone being forced - indirectly - to make alliances, follow opportunistic strategies, and even betray each other whenever necessary, as the majority of new games required having to make decisions. A decisive and cruel battle that requires the elimination of competitors.
While this may seem ideal and helpful to the plot in dramas, in reality TV it's unnerving because you're watching ordinary people like yourself push all the boundaries of decency and humanity for the sake of money.
This is the same detail that made some followers repel the work despite their admiration for the series, believing that transforming the dramatic work into a realistic version contradicts its fundamental message, which mocked the extent of the absurd, dysfunctional, or deadly things that a person might put himself through to pay off his debts, in a clear indication of what he might do. The absolute despair of man in the absence of morals and the inflation of capitalism.
Luck plays its game
However, the work succeeded in achieving some records. On the one hand, it received a total of more than 224 million hours of viewing during the first 21 days of the show, which is the largest number among reality television programs, and on the other hand, it was able to occupy first place among the most watched works in 76 countries. Worldwide.
Unlike the series in which the scenario was prepared in advance, this version relied on the improvisation of the participants, their unexpected reactions, and most importantly, their unique personal behaviors, which made the result completely unpredictable, especially since some games relied on luck, such as throwing the dice or choosing a random key from the box. Dozens of keys, choosing a button to press, or a game of rock, paper, scissors.
This matter, even if it allowed the excitement to remain at its peak throughout 10 episodes, caused resentment from some viewers, who interpreted this as saying that the creators of the work preferred to be easy rather than exert enough effort to present attractive challenges.
Lawsuits against Netflix
Although what appeared on the screen suggested that no one was harmed, this is not what happened in reality, and this is what was revealed after some of the participants broke their silence and announced their intention to file a lawsuit against “Netflix” and sue the production company for exceeding safety limits, which resulted in... Inflicting injuries during competition.
Among the most prominent complaints was exposure to nerve damage as a result of a drop in body temperature during filming due to the cold weather in January 2023, specifically during the “Green Light and Red Light” game, which took about half a day to film in the bitter cold of winter, as the temperature reached -3 degrees. percentage.
According to what was published in the British newspaper “The Sun”, one of the participants likened the matter to a war zone, to the point that the contestants were falling to the ground like flies and being transported by paramedics, and of course no one was able to comment or resent for fear of expulsion or exclusion, which was denied by Netflix. “Total and detailed.
In addition to physical injuries, some anonymous participants decided to talk about other negatives - which contradicts the non-disclosure agreement they signed before filming - stressing that the food they were getting did not taste good or be enough to satisfy.
As for the most serious confession, it stated that Netflix had modified some of the challenges so that the players most prepared to face the camera would win them, which the producing company has not commented on yet.
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A new season is on the way
On the other hand, filming for the second season of “The Squid Game” began in July 2023, and is expected to be shown later in 2024.
This season, the hero, Song Ji Hoon (Lee Jong Jae), the only one who emerged alive from the bloody challenges, returns to play again, take revenge, and stop the deadly game before he is surprised that many people participated again, and he returns to square one in the competition.
The upcoming season is characterized by the fact that the tournament brings together males and females equally, which was not the case for the first time. New challenges will also be added for more excitement.
Among the stars who recently joined the series are Park Sung Hoon, Yang Dong Joon, Kang Ae Sim, Im Se Wan, Kang Ha Neul, and Park Gyu Young.
Source: Al Jazeera