ANN/THE KOREA HERALD – The unveiling of a new Netflix original poster featuring contestants donning iconic green tracksuits may have led some to believe that the highly-anticipated Squid Game Season 2 had arrived earlier than expected.
However, what was misconstrued as the second season of the global sensation is, in fact, Squid Game: The Challenge – a survival reality show produced in the United States (US), drawing inspiration from the South Korean phenomenon, Squid Game.
This American adaptation mirrors the original in various aspects, including the number of participants, distinct game sets, soundtrack, staff attire featuring hooded pink jumpsuits, and a bank tempting contestants with a grand prize of USD4.56 million.
Virtually everything from the world of Squid Game has been brought to life, with the notable exception being the absence of the harrowing elimination of game losers. The first two episodes of Squid Game: The Challenge bring to mind the original series, including the true nature of the players behind their masks, sacrifices, team efforts and greed.
The 10-part reality show has added an element of thrill to the competition with new rules and games, hoping to entertain Squid Game fans.
Kim Hyun-woo, a 58-year-old retail company worker, was surprised and excited to see participants from overseas competing in the same childhood games that he played with his friends many years ago.
“I read a lot of news about how Squid Game became a global phenomenon and how foreigners were mesmerised even by the small details in the drama series. But, watching a TV show like Squid Game: The Challenge was overwhelming,” Kim told The Korea Herald recently.
Kim, who has watched a few Korean-made survival shows featuring mind games and psychological warfare between the competitors with his two sons, felt Squid Game: The Challenge was a bit special.
He said it was especially interesting to see a US TV show based mainly on aspects from Korean culture. “I certainly felt that times have changed,” Kim said, adding excitedly that he is rooting for three contestants.
A graduate student surnamed Park shared that it would have been nice to learn more about the players. The contestants have different ages, jobs, genders, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, but he felt the show spent only a small amount of time delivering their individual stories so that viewers could empathise with them. This made Park feel a little indifferent to some of the participants who were eliminated in the early stages.
Meanwhile, a 28-year-old marketing coordinator based in Busan who wished to remain anonymous, said she enjoyed the show and that it got her to watch the original series once again.
“Squid Game: The Challenge reminded me of Physical: 100, because that show was released when the mega-hit series The Glory was on a break before its part two. I am a big fan of Squid Game, and Squid Game: The Challenge is a great appetiser before the release of Squid Game Season 2,” she said.
The marketer emphasised that she does not mean to dismiss the spin-off series by describing the show as an appetiser.
“The American show has its own charms and ways of getting Squid Game fans excited by adding some new rules,” she said.
“I don’t know if Squid Game: The Challenge will become a global sensation like the original series. But, I personally find the series to be binge-worthy. I am excited for the upcoming stories and the final winner,” she told The Korea Herald.
