Do you want to watch 456 players compete in twisted children’s games in order to win money? Then, you could watch South Korean mega-hit Squid Game and enjoy its scorching commentary on capitalism and classism. Or you could watch Netflix entirely miss the point of its biggest series, and tune in for the upcoming reality competition spinoff: Squid Game: The Challenge.
The streaming service announced that it would be turning its most-watched series of all time into a reality TV competition. 456 players (the biggest reality competition cast ever) will compete in Squid Game-inspired challenges for a $4.56 million prize (the largest lump sum cash prize ever), thereby making this the largest reality competition ever.
However, none of those reality-competition records can cover up how ridiculous this concept is. Imagine watching the Squid Game heroes risking their lives to claw their way out of poverty, then going, “Hey, you know those murderous dystopian death traps that were a cautionary tale and something we should never, ever replicate? What if we went and replicated them in order to make more money?”
Netflix is quick to stress that the stakes for Squid Game: The Challenge are not life-and-death, like on Squid Game. In a press release, the streaming studio states, “The stakes are high, but in this game, the worst fate is going home empty-handed.”
It’s unclear what role Squid Game creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has in Squid Game: The Challenge. Netflix VP of unscripted and documentary series, Brandon Riegg told THR, “We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment.”
Meanwhile, Netflix has recently undergone rounds of major layoffs, gutting its animation studio and promotional blog Tudum. The announcement that Netflix is now throwing cash at content like this, instead of supporting employees or the many scripted shows they shut down, is a horrendous look — especially when you remember that Squid Game pits people in debt against each other for the enjoyment of rich elites.
Come on, Netflix, read the room!
It’s not like we’re starved for Squid Game content. The show has already been renewed for a second season. YouTuber Mr. Beast has already made Squid Game in real life, and Saturday Night Live gave it a country jam last year. But content is content, baby, and it’s time to squeeze every last penny out of the piggy bank that is Squid Game.
