People all have different tastes when choosing what to watch on Netflix. While some love true-crime documentaries, and others avoid scary shows like those by Mike Flanagan, there are still a few Netflix series that are universally worth checking out, no matter what you usually enjoy.
Shows like Stranger Things and The Queen’s Gambit have become global hits because they go beyond typical genre expectations and explore themes that appeal to a wide range of viewers. Another Netflix original that absolutely deserves to be on everyone’s ‘must-watch’ list is the incredibly popular Squid Game.
Squid Game Is One Of The Most Relevant Shows Of The Century
Squid Game is unusual because it’s a non-Western TV show that became a huge hit in the US, UK, Europe, and around the world. While Netflix offers many foreign-language shows, they usually only appeal to a small group of English-speaking viewers. Even with the increasing popularity of Korean dramas, or K-dramas, none had become truly mainstream – until now.
The sudden global popularity of Squid Game highlights how well it connects with current issues. Essentially, the show is about financial struggles and the divide between the rich and the poor, portraying everyday people as pawns for those in power. With the rising cost of living and increasing corporate profits, viewers around the world can easily relate to its themes.
As a film buff, I couldn’t help but notice how much Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite resonated with a lot of what’s been happening in other films lately. It wasn’t a surprise to see it blow up internationally, though – it tapped into something universal and really crossed cultural boundaries.
Beyond its insightful look at society, Squid Game explores the full range of human experience thanks to its clever concept. The players themselves represent different parts of society – from fathers struggling with addiction to white-collar criminals, online personalities, and devoted mothers. It’s the way these diverse characters interact that makes Squid Game so compelling and relatable for everyone.
What makes Squid Game so noteworthy isn’t just the show itself, but how it changed streaming. It’s the first time a show’s popularity with viewers truly reshaped the television industry – something that rarely happened when networks and cable channels were in charge. Unlike traditional TV, where networks carefully choose what to air based on perceived potential, Squid Game‘s success proved that audience demand could drive major shifts.
As a film buff, I’ve noticed streaming has really changed things. It gives us access to so much content from all over the world that wouldn’t normally get a big international push. Take Squid Game, for example. It blew up in this amazing, natural way, fueled by people sharing their reactions online. It was a show a lot of us probably wouldn’t have sought out otherwise, but it quickly became a massive hit and forced Netflix to give it all the attention it deserved.
These viewers were clearly showing that foreign-language shows were becoming mainstream and no longer limited to a small audience, proving language wasn’t a hurdle to gaining popularity in Western markets.
Even Squid Game’s Weakest Season Is Excellent Television
No Ju-han / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection
When a TV show becomes a huge hit like Squid Game, there’s a lot of expectation for a satisfying conclusion. Many beloved shows have disappointed fans with their finales – Game of Thrones is a prime example. It’s not surprising, then, that the third and final season of Squid Game isn’t as strong as the previous ones. However, it’s still a well-made show, which proves just how consistently good Squid Game has been.
All three seasons of Squid Game have received positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with approval ratings of 95% for season one, 84% for season two, and 78% for season three. Although the ratings have decreased slightly with each season, a 78% score is still a very good result for a new show on Netflix.
I have to admit, while I’m incredibly excited for more Squid Game, season 3 definitely stumbles a bit. It tries to juggle so many characters, and honestly, it feels stretched thin. Plus, it dives into some really deep, unanswerable questions, and on top of that, it’s clearly laying the groundwork for what’s to come. It’s ambitious, but it doesn’t quite land perfectly.
Season 3 of Squid Game doesn’t feel forced, remains faithful to the show’s core themes, and delivers on the action. While the ending proved controversial, its darkness and intensity were likely the cause. Ultimately, viewers shouldn’t have expected a cheerful conclusion – Squid Game was never about happy endings.
Despite the show’s often bleak nature, the final season of Squid Game generally provides a satisfying ending, even if it’s not flawless.
Will Squid Game Age Well?
Streaming has amazing benefits – shows like Squid Game can become huge successes seemingly overnight. However, the downside is that things move fast, and shows are quickly forgotten. Think about Tiger King – it was a massive hit, but now it feels distant. Even critically acclaimed and well-made series like The Queen’s Gambit and Baby Reindeer now feel like fleeting moments in internet history.
Squid Game is very much a show of its time, 2021. In ten years, it will likely be remembered simply as “the show with ‘Red Light, Green Light.'” This is just because Netflix needs to constantly release new content, but it doesn’t automatically mean the show itself will become outdated or irrelevant.
The compelling characters in Squid Game, its sharp look at the gap between the rich and poor, and the sense that powerful people are manipulating things – these elements will likely stay relevant for a long time, unless the world dramatically improves in the next decade.
One of the reasons Squid Game might remain popular for years to come is its setting. The show largely takes place within the bizarre, artificial world of the games themselves, meaning it doesn’t depend heavily on specific locations, current technology, or events from the early 2020s. While mentions of things like YouTubers or a movie character might feel old-fashioned in the future, the show’s unique environment helps it avoid becoming dated.
Considering how well Squid Game is expected to hold up over time, it seems destined to become a must-watch series for all Netflix subscribers.
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2026-02-14 00:51