Netflix hit the jackpot with Squid Game. The South Korean series recently became the streaming service's most-watched series ever, with over 142 million households tuning in to watch the deadly children's games competition as of October 2021.
Its nine episodes are full of charming, relatable characters, heartbreaking moments, and explicit violence, but most importantly, they're a raw landscape of a worldwide divide between the powerful and the rest. But no series is perfect, and the Internet has taken to IMDb to critique Squid Game from start to finish; from the stylish and shocking "Red Light, Green Light," to the highly contentious last episode.
9 Hell Shows Everyone The Consequences Of Their Choices (7.6)
After putting their permanence in the game up to vote, the 456 players return back home in "Hell". Unlike other Battle Royale-like series, the characters actually get a taste of both outcomes—joining the game and possibly winning or continuing with their hellish existence—before ultimately choosing to bet on their lives. While the choice certainly alienated certain viewers, it does make sense within the context of the story and ultimately furthers the plot.
The episode also goes deeper into the other major characters and their motivations. The glimpses into Saebyeok's relationship with her brother and Ali's struggle as an undocumented foreign worker were particularly touching and compelling, making them instant fan-favorites from then on.
8 One Lucky Day Isn't The Closure Everyone Wanted (7.6)
"One Lucky Day" is without a doubt the most controversial Squid Game episode. After a bloody Squid Game against Sangwoo, Gihun is returned back home only to find his mother dead and his daughter gone. Traumatized by the events on the island, Gihun refuses to use his prize money for an entire year before receiving an invitation from a delirious Ilnam, who reveals himself as the man behind the games.
As if that reveal weren't enough to alienate audiences, Gihun's decision to not visit his daughter and instead pursue the people still running the organization completely ruined the ending for many. "One Lucky Day" may be one of the most-watched finales of the last few years, but it certainly didn't give most viewers the closure they desperately needed.
7 A Fair World Explores The Behind-The-Scenes Of The Games (7.7)
Posing as a pink soldier with a secret agenda, police officer Junho continues his investigation in "A Fair World." The episode dives further into the secret organ harvest and reveals various key details about the game's origins and Junho's older brother. After killing the fraudulent soldiers and player 111, a crooked doctor who had also become part of the illicit operation, the Front Man starts an island-wide search for Junho.
"A Fair World" focuses on the behind-the-scenes of the game, with only a few significant moments including the players interspersed in between action-heavy scenes. Given this contrast in tone, the episode suffers from inconsistent pacing at times, but nevertheless remains one of the most insightful episodes in the series.
6 Front Man Says Goodbye To A Beloved Character (8.0)
"Front Man" sees the death of fan-favorite Saebyeok. After being treated to an elegant dinner, the last three players are given knives to fend for themselves during their last night on the island. Saebyeok, who had lost a lot of blood due to an injury, is killed by Sangwoo while Gihun had been trying to get her some help. Her death gives him the drive to battle Sangwoo once and for all.
The episode also exposes the identity of the Front Man, a reveal that was received with mixed reactions from viewers who saw it coming. Despite learning of his connection to Junho and his status as a past winner, many questions regarding his role in the game are still left unanswered and may have to wait until a second season is produced. In the end, the best thing about the reveal is getting to see Lee Byunghun steal the show for the two minutes he's on-screen.
5 VIPs Introduces Capitalism In Human Form (8.0)
The top players make their first appearance in "VIPs". Disguised as a masked server, Junho infiltrates a lavish room where a group of foreign rich men wearing golden animal masks is betting on the players. The episode is a fascinating exploration of the East's perception of the capitalistic West, showing most of the VIPs as artificial, strange men with American accents and a complete disregard for human life.
During the fifth game—crossing a tricky glass bridge with two types of glass panels—Minyeo finally gets to exact her revenge on Deoksu, giving the audience one of the most satisfying moments of the episode. "VIPS" also narrows the possible winner to Saebyeok, Sangwoo, and Gihun, the lone survivors of the penultimate trial.
4 The Man With The Umbrella Raises The Stakes (8.1)
"The Man With The Umbrella" introduces the second deadly game—cutting small, basic shapes out of the Korean honeycomb candy dalgona in under ten minutes. Time goes by excruciatingly slowly, building tension for the main characters as other players around them lose the game, and with it, their lives.
One of the best scenes of the episode, that of a pink soldier unmasking himself before getting shot by the Front Man, immediately turned the bright-colored workers from simple facilitators into possible victims of the system, just like the players. While not much is explained about their origins, "The Man With The Umbrella" effectively shows that not even those on the side of the powerful can escape repercussions.
3 Red Light, Green Light Is A Brilliant Introduction To The Series (8.4)
As the first episode of the series, "Red Light, Green Light" had the tough task of introducing the main characters, getting the audience interested in their circumstances, and then shocking everyone with the deadly stakes of the first game. Following the eternally unlucky Gihun as he struggles to connect with his daughter and pay off his debts immediately made him a good, relatable protagonist worth watching.
Its striking visuals, including the giant animatronic doll and the pink soldiers, and the astonishing violence in the last third instantly made "Red Light, Green Light" the flagship episode of the show. It might not be the best of the bunch, but it certainly did its job getting viewers hooked and ready for more.
2 Stick To The Team Proves That Teamwork Makes The Dream Work (8.5)
The players join forces for a game of tug-of-war in "Stick to the Team". The "underdogs never losing despite the odds" is one of the most utilized tropes in media, and yet Squid Game still manages to keep the tension high as Gihun and his team face Deoksu and his all-male troupe. The episode's message is clear: teamwork makes the dream work. Or, in this case, teamwork makes sure no one falls to their deaths.
"Stick to the Team" also exposes the clandestine organ harvesting operation being conducted by a group of money-hungry pink soldiers. The twist is particularly clever, not only because it reveals more information on the mysterious workers, but also because it dives headfirst into the human need to find some kind of profit, even in the darkest of places.
1 Gganbu Is The Biggest Turning Point In The Series (9.3)
Celebrated as the best episode in the show, "Gganbu" is a literal game-changer. Despite its slower pace, the episode manages to grab the viewer's attention from start to finish, with the main cast delivering some of the best acting in the series. Faced with having to kill an ally, the characters must forgo the illusion of teamwork they'd built over the past few days and once again prioritize their own survival.
The result of the least violent yet incredibly lethal fourth game is traumatizing for the characters and the audience, who are suddenly reminded that only one can win in the end. After six episodes and countless executions, somehow Ali and Jiyeong's deaths at the end of "Gganbu" feel like the first true losses in Squid Game.