Squid Game is Netflix's Most Watched Series Ever: Here's Why

By now, you’ve probably heard of Squid Game. The Korean drama series made its debut on Netflix on September 17, 2021 and has exploded in popularity since. But what exactly made the show so successful?

An obvious contributor is the show’s quality. It is well-written and intriguing, has amazing set design and cinematography, a memorable soundtrack, and great acting performances. Lee Jung-jae particularly stands out as protagonist Gi-hun, delivering extreme but never unbelievable reactions to the character’s circumstances.

But Squid Game also comes at a time where South Korean pop culture as a whole is more relevant than ever. Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, is a term that refers to the increasing popularity of Korean media (particularly K-pop and K-dramas) on a global scale. The Korean Wave has been occurring since the 1990s, but has grown exponentially in recent years—proven by the worldwide popularity of K-pop group BTS, Parasite’s Best Picture win at the Oscars, and now Squid Game. Korean media as a whole is bigger than ever, and it provides the perfect environment for the show to become a massive hit.

The “death game” genre has also captivated us for what seems like forever—before we became invested in series like The Hunger Games, Danganronpa, and, of course, Squid Game, the Romans watched gladiators fight to the death in the Coliseum, Richard Connell captivated readers with “The Most Dangerous Game”, and Shirley Jackson wrote “The Lottery”. There is something intensely human about the genre, and stories of this type often explore relevant elements of society from an escapist lens. The genre’s popularity has been continually proven, so the show’s prevalence really isn’t surprising.

So, why is Squid Game so popular? The answer involves a lot of societal factors and some perfect timing. But even discounting its worldwide acclaim and historical context, the series is an engaging drama that is truly worth the watch.

Squid Game contains gore, violence, sex, torture, surgery, suicide, smoking, PTSD/flashbacks, and racist and sexist comments. Visit doesthedogdie.com for more detailed content warnings, some of which contain spoilers.