Squid Game: The Challenge Reviews Out: Gripping or Exploitative?

Yellow Star Yellow Star Image: Netflix

Squid Game: The Challenge, a reality show spin-off of the Emmy Award-winning K-drama, is set to premiere on Netflix.

[{"selector":"#anim-dd11a356-3d39-4b46-8583-38d03161ed96","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.24333%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dee549cb-d6df-459f-870f-944a3271bdad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-748323a8-adc4-4a03-adf8-55ee069f712d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d9ba42d-1443-4f0e-9c6b-fb2e84dbbb43 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-53.55781225271979%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Image: Netflix

Reviews suggest a paradox in the show's nature, with some calling it 'gripping reality TV' while others acknowledge its exploitative side.

[{"selector":"#anim-d4ba14cb-d88f-475c-b3dd-1447106a4334","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.4629%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6855a6e-3004-460b-ae4f-4cd1faf9ab2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-164d4831-f800-4415-80ad-31463d811c26","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84a0aca3-6ea1-4290-ad84-0b43aca9daef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image: Netflix

The game show uses the language of modern reality television to explore themes of capitalism from the original Squid Game.

[{"selector":"#anim-be433456-83ca-47d3-9ea1-fff35258ab55","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.24333%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d25157c-176a-4626-b2af-9d76a7f60e1e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc6a83b1-da3d-49cc-aedf-b9990bdd7107","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e108c1ba-49a6-4d54-8aea-906e601e0c29 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-9.999999958282778%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image: Netflix

The Guardian notes that Squid Game: The Challenge is irresistible as a spectacle, even if it may miss the point of the original.

[{"selector":"#anim-01d15f21-eee6-40d8-884a-618b560e777a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.24333%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2fd7931-6024-4c8b-acd4-7c6885214656","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1da0faa-e79b-4843-9cf0-2ea74b35ff70","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95f1fa46-8955-4fc6-8a0d-7061dfae971c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image: Netflix

IGN highlights the potential dismissal of criticism with the "it's all just fun and games" excuse.

[{"selector":"#anim-d784170d-0c4d-4a4b-bea1-475a70fef915","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.4629%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-114eac06-7706-4341-88d9-56ab75d4ecf1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ff98c25-95a2-44bd-9170-e2524e711c50","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecd9ff4e-9c4e-492c-9376-9b97b7530445 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image: Netflix

Reviews debate whether "Squid Game: The Challenge" is a one-off curiosity or a brand extension that might misunderstand the brand's original representation.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a4b75d7-58f8-483e-8fef-eb8718bf58eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.38462%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f492dfbe-69a5-4226-b20c-323ec805faaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2db9cb1b-4682-42d5-84f2-96969dda7d08","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c184c749-d41f-4ae7-848c-43a22eff2465 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-6.017521729046212%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image: Netflix