The much-anticipated Netflix reality TV adaptation of the hit K-drama Squid Game premiered on November 22, but fan reactions have been overwhelmingly negative. Squid Game: The Challenge, mirroring the original Korean drama’s premise, features 456 contestants competing for a grand prize of $4.56 million.
Despite the excitement leading up to the release, the adaptation faced criticism from the start, with fans expressing their discontent. A common grievance among viewers was the fact that they never requested a game show adaptation in the first place. Many were vocal about their desire for a second season of the original Squid Game, emphasizing that the time and resources dedicated to The Challenge could have been better utilized for continuing the story.
One major point of contention centered around the thematic choices within the games themselves. Fans were disappointed with Netflix’s decision to create a game that seemingly criticized capitalism, forcing participants to make radical choices. Criticism intensified as viewers questioned whether the streaming platform truly understood the essence of the original show’s social commentary.
Expressing frustration, one Twitter user remarked, “How are you so ignorant to the entire point of the show that was on your platform, like did you even watch it?”
Adding fuel to the fire, post-release backlash escalated when some contestants spoke out about mistreatment on the set. The criticism became so prominent that Stephen Lambert, the executive producer of the show, felt compelled to respond. Lambert clarified that while capitalist critique was a part of Squid Game, it was just one aspect of the multifaceted narrative. The response aimed to address concerns and provide context to the discontent surrounding Squid Game: The Challenge.
