Is Squid Game the Next Victim of Go Woke, Go Broke?

Squid Game, the South Korean dystopian thriller series released in 2021, was a global hit because of its unique concept and intense storytelling that captivated viewers around the world. It became the first Korean drama to top Netflix’s weekly most-watched TV charts worldwide, reaching number one in 94 countries, including the U.S. and U.K. In just 28 days, it racked up over 1.56 billion viewing hours, making it the most-watched show of its time.

Netflix’s internal reports revealed that Squid Game was incredibly profitable. It generated $900 million while costing only $21.4 million to produce. Critics and audiences alike praised the show, earning it a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.2/10 on Google. Unsurprisingly, its success led creator Hwang Dong-hyuk to develop a highly anticipated second season.

However, season two, released late last year, has failed to live up to the original’s standards, with too many sub-plots that drag out the show. After three years of waiting, many fans feel the creators ruined what made the show special – its originality, brutality and gripping tension. Instead, the new season leans heavily into unnecessary woke elements, attempting to deliver messages of inclusivity, such as casting a male actor (who identifies as ‘cisgender’) to portray Hyun-ju, a transgender ‘woman’.

The creator explained that including a trans character was a bold effort to raise awareness about the challenges and prejudices faced by gender minorities in South Korea. Clearly, Hyun-ju serves as a mouthpiece for Hwang’s feelings about the LGBTQ+ community, aiming to push for its greater acceptance and visibility in society.

Unfortunately, Hyun-ju’s character feels forced into the spotlight. He gets almost as much screen time as the protagonist and his interactions with other characters slow the pace of the show. Many of these conversations seem designed to deliver didactic social messages. For example, an older character initially criticises him, only to later apologise and launch into a monologue about tolerance and regret.

Hyun-ju’s backstory is explored in endless depth, revealing that his reason for joining the deadly competition at the centre of the drama is to pay for a sex change operation. One scene even depicts his discomfort with his own body, asking others to look away because he still has a penis. This moment feels like a clear attempt to advocate such surgeries, despite the real-life risks associated with procedures like penectomy, which can lead to serious complications like cancer and infections.

Unsurprisingly, backlash has followed. Season two’s ratings have dropped significantly from the first season. On Rotten Tomatoes, its score slipped from 95% to 86%, and audience approval plummeted from 84% to 62%. Even though the debut shattered records, fans complained about the wasted potential, the weak side plots and a shift away from the original’s nail-biting tension. There’s far less game-time now, stripping away the edge-of-your-seat appeal that made millions binge-watch.

It’s likely that the ratings decline is linked to the show’s woke turn and heavy-handed didacticism, with one Reddit user lamenting: “The magic is gone – there’s too much preaching and not enough tension.” For comparison, look at the recent success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a non-woke film that skyrocketed to the top of global box office charts.

Squid Game’s decision to embrace radical progressive ideology seems to have backfired – once again proving that when a show goes woke, it goes broke.

Jack Watson is a 16 year-old schoolboy in Year 11. You can read his Substack about following Hull City FC here. Follow him on X here.