4/5
Game Of Squids.
9 Episodes. Starring: Lee Jung-jae, HoYeon Jung, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, Kim Joo-ryeong, Anupam Tripathi, Lee Yoo-Mi, Heo Sung-tae, O Yeong-su & Gong Yoo. Created By: Hwang Dong-hyuk.
Red light. Welcome to the world's most delayed review of 'Squid Game' (oh hey, Sis!). Netflix's most successful and streamed show. And the PlayStation fencing mask, pink boiler and numbered turquoise Tenenbaum tracksuit to everyone's costume of choice last Halloween. Especially in Tokyo, Japan's world famous Shibuya. So what if NBA great LeBron James didn't like the way Season One ended. We Laker fans aren't going to like the way HIS season ends. Game changing creator Hwang Dong-hyuk didn't shop his script for years to hear this, creating his 'New Legacy'. He had some choice words for the King's 'Space Jam' sequel too. All as we await the sequel of this 'Squid' dish. One game that will have everyone losing their lunch. Even if your stomach is 'Oldboy' octopus strong. Looking away like a toy doll turned around. This is a cultural cornerstone as South Korea takes over Hollywood as the entertainment capital of the world. A multi-award winning juggernaut like the worldwide spreading 'Parasite'. A revolution like K-Pop group BTS all in black and pink. And as of past night a multiple SAG award winner. So now is about the apt time for this writer to get his tentacles stuck in. Especially as I was hovering on four episodes for a long time like waiting for a Godzilla sized doll to turn back around. Can you blame me? I've already talked about wanting to savour shows in this age of first come, binge culture (see; 'True Detective' Season 3) and I may not be scared of subtitles like Trump. But when I finish work at 9 at night, take an hours Tokyo train back to Yokohama and fall asleep at some point midway through my dinner or shower (whichever comes first) I can't exactly stay in story with it playing in the background when my Korean learning stopped at 21 around the same time I had to say goodbye to a special someone. So when my Korean friend this weekend sat me down to watch two episodes in a row (a first) I know I had to finish strong with a big-three. Especially as fittingly he serves me squid, no less, as we play the game. Oh, and like everything, it tastes just like chicken.
Ignorant foreign press is another reason it's high time we stopped what we were doing and wrote this review. And we're not talking about the magazine interview feature which actually gave us a major spoiler a few weeks back. Don't worry! If you're the only other person in the world aside from me who hasn't seen this show, rest assured. This ain't 'Spider-Man'. We don't give the game away. And we write more copy too. No, we're talking about ANOTHER journalist who asked star of the show Lee Jung-jae if it was hard adjusting to notoriety. I wouldn't worry. He's had about 20 or so years to adjust to it being one of South Korea's most legendary actors. And if you didn't know, now you know just why he's as B.I.G. as he is. The bruised heart and aggravated anxiety of this show that makes a combined 'Battle Royale', 'Lord Of The Flies' and 'The Hunger Games' look like a cakewalk in the park. Now in a deserving night that featured Will Smith being anointed for 'King Richard' (and not even making any of his speech about him) and 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' Jessica Chastain finally getting her just deserves (I'm still reeling after the year she added 'The Zookeepers Wife', 'Miss Sloane' and 'Molly's Game' to her filmography and didn't even get to a put nomination in her trophy cabinet), fellow SAG award winner, HoYeon Jung is a newcomer. But an acting one only, as the former famous red head now back in black has been and remains a major model in the industry. But now she's a best actress too. If Jung-jae is this Squids heart, then Jung is the soul of these games. A stirring and compelling performer who really punctuates the emotion her mistrust is masking after one game of marbles were you'll lose all yours. Stealing the show that is now hers. And Netflix's Korean zombie drama 'All Of Us Are Dead' star Lee Yoo-Mi winning our heartstrings down the thread of this tug of war.
Sending Netflix Japan's similar survival game of 'Alice In Borderland' back down the rabbit hole. Or Netflix's previous most famous K-Drama, 'Crash Landing On You' back across the border, 'Squad Game' is crashing everything. 'Ozark' and 'Stranger' what?! Operatically in its doll house of games that are anything but child's play. Wrapped in a gift box like coffin with a pretty big bow. And taking a bite out your biscuit, there's no confliction to that, even if there is to forthcoming Netflix 'Money Heist: Korea Joint Economic Area' star Park Hae-soo's classically complex character. Add Kim Joo-ryeong, the enthusiasm of this show (just check her reaction to her teammates awards), the mob hit of Heo Sung-tae, the barrier breaking talent of Anupam Tripathi and Wi Ha-joon's courageous cop on the case and all these famous faces, masked or not in these times, really go for broke. Not to mention a cameoing 'Train To Busan' leading man Gong Yoo (who leads his own Netflix Korean drama out of this world right now with 'The Silent Sea'), setting this whole thing off in double or nothing motion at Seoul station with a slap. Hitting like another classic cameo we simply won't spoil. But for all the players here. If you want to talk about old boys, then legend and now a meme icon, O Yeong-su really is number one. As fun as that infectious, boyish smile that could never age like this old soul. With no enthusiasm curbed, he reminds me of Larry David. Oh and in coincidental, related news that classic theme (that even Snoop Dogg has amazingly sampled for 'Crip Your Enthusiasm') fits perfectly over the 'Red Light, Green Light' reveal. Hash-tag, 'Squid Your Enthusiasm'. Yet for all the games played here. Whether in torture chamber format, or the mind ones the other contestants play on each other as more heads roll than a 'Game Of Thrones' body count. It's the 'Hell' of episode two that really plays with you. Triangle. Square. Just when they thought they were out, they get Pacino pulled back in to this Godfather of the games. But against their will? You be the judge for this get out of jail free card in this monopoly of murder. Just when they had the chance to pass go. Green light. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Alice In Borderland', 'Parasite', 'Snowpiercer'.
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