Deadly Games It so happened that I watched all the hype around "Squid Game" from the sidelines. I only got around to watching this South Korean production about a year later. And from the very first episode, I understood why people who had seen it earlier praised it so highly. The series is truly worth attention. Although the plot itself isn’t particularly original — we’ve seen similar survival stories built around deadly games before — the atmosphere here feels very different from comparable projects. Perhaps that’s precisely because the show comes from South Korea. Much of what is presented — the setting, the characters, their development — felt fresh and was easy to binge-watch. The story remains unpredictable, which makes each new episode especially engaging. The series follows a group of people who take part in an unusual game where they must complete various challenges to win a huge cash prize. However, each player soon realizes that the game is far from simple and that leaving it is not an option. Shocking, right? It’s almost amusing that the players believed such enormous money would come without a price. A massive reward demands massive stakes. The series is full of unexpected twists and tense moments that often make you watch with bated breath. The lead actors deliver outstanding performances. You believe them, empathize with them, despise some of them, and even come to hate others. But one of the project’s greatest strengths is its unique presentation. Writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk managed to create an atmosphere that pulls the viewer into the chaos of what’s happening, forcing you not only to sympathize with the characters but also to constantly ask yourself how you would behave in the place of this or that player. The series raises vital and universal themes: mutual aid and indifference, betrayal, trust, and compassion. Even in everyday society, we inevitably encounter many of the same issues that the creators explore through the lens of this story. Some players, when faced with the situation, try to act according to their conscience, while others are ready to unleash all their inner demons. The viewer clearly sees how dangerous the process of dehumanization can be. At times, people may no longer recognize themselves when faced with death. Some come to believe that survival requires stepping over everyone and everything — including their own principles. Otherwise, you simply die. Others accept that they are not capable of such actions. But in this situation, that acceptance is effectively a death sentence. The same applies to real life. The world around us is changing rapidly. Fear, groundless hatred, and lies can make people cruel, awakening feelings they never knew they had and pushing them toward lines of thought they never imagined themselves capable of. The series shows convincingly that this is entirely possible — and that is terrifying. "Squid Game" has become something of a phenomenon. The project gained popularity far beyond its home country. It offers a powerful look at what people can become and what society can turn into when real human lives are at stake. And yet, even in the most dangerous conditions, a person can still remain human. 8 out of 10