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(09-08-2021, 07:16 AM)Greg Wrote: Um, maybe?
Just watched e1. It was typical loser gambler character building for the first half hour, but once the game started, it was wonderfully surreal. 9 eps, each about an hour. I'm in for another.
Note that it's more red jumpsuits ala Money Heist. And the modified fencing masks? Victory could make a killing selling it's cheapest mask, adding a bar and spray painting it with the circle, square, or triangle. Not sure what the difference is yet, but this might be a popular costume come Halloween. It's Netflix's #1 now.
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09-26-2021, 10:06 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-26-2021, 10:55 PM by Drunk Monk.)
E2 was kind of a waste. They all get out of ur game only to realize that they should get back into the game. I like the game part. It added some backstory but none are that stellar, plus an investigating cop who will surely come into play more later. This Ep is skippable methinks.
Note that this is also sanguineous. There are sudden bursts of sanguinosity.
(09-26-2021, 09:02 PM)Drunk Monk Wrote: And the modified fencing masks? Victory could make a killing selling it's cheapest mask, adding a bar and spray painting it with the circle, square, or triangle. Not sure what the difference is yet, but this might be a popular costume come Halloween. It's Netflix's #1 now.
The symbols are rank. I think it goes circle, triangle, square - square is the highest.
E3 was okay. I didn't relate to the game. The games are all kids' playground games. The first one was Red Light, Green Light, which was led by a surreal giant robot. The second one here was to remove a shape from a sugar crisp called a honeycomb, which I assume is some Korean thing.
It's losing speed. I liked the surreal giant robot. Hopefully the next game will be more fun.
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Well then. I was hoping it was a movie. I don't know if I'm up for nine hours of Battle Royale.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
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09-27-2021, 10:14 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-27-2021, 10:19 AM by Drunk Monk.)
Fair. At this point, I'm thinking it would've played out better as a movie. But we'll see. I do like the design of it. The first game was cool. At this point, I'd say if you want a taste, skip to the second half hour of ep 1. Perhaps I'll have more recs later. Or not.
It's different than Battle Royale. The lethal game show cliche falls into two categories - the Battle Royale/Hunger Games mode where contestants are pitted against each other and the Saw/Running Man mode where contestants have to team up to survive. This is the latter. I've always thought the lethal game cliche is absurd and hackneyed now. Where Squid Game succeeds so far is the look of it. The pastel Escher-esque staircase that the contestants have to enter the arena in is fun, as are some of the devices in the games like the giant robot.
The characters aren't that likable yet. There's one gal with a switchblade that's interesting, and an Indian immigrant who speaks Korean, plus an old guy with a brain tumor. The lead gambler loser is a loser. There's a gangster, a bitchy chick that smuggled in cigs in her prison purse, a failed stock analyst, and a bunch of others who are going to die. The undercover cop is interesting too. We'll see - there's room for this to get better ... or worse...
The red masked jumpsuit is a total poach from Money Heist. It's hooded and they were masks and wield machine guns. Even though the Squid Game jumpsuits are really a hoodie, broken by a belt with pants, the effect is the same. Fascinating to see the global impact of Money Heist.
I need a red jumpsuit.
Not sure where it's going but I'll probably it through to see if I can milk a Den piece out of it. So like usual, I'm thinking out loud here, using D00M as a sounding board to see how it all looks typed out on the web. I've got a lot on the plate right now so maybe not.
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Tempted. But with a title like that, I have to ask.
Any tentacles?
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Not yet but I'm hopeful.
The name comes from a complicate children's game which I assume the play in Korea. I dunno. Maybe they just made it up for this show.
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E4: A sanguineous stroboscopic riot. Some ugly sex. The team expands for better or worse. More intrigues. The first true cliffhanger Ep ending.
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09-27-2021, 10:42 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-27-2021, 11:19 PM by Drunk Monk.)
E5 The first main character death and one mystery solved. Getting brutal psychologically.
E6: Damn. This Ep was a gut punch. So much led to this one and it ran the gambit of emotions. The pinnacle so far. Brilliant writing.
If you just want a taste, watch the 2nd half of e1 and e6. That says it all... so far.
2/3rds done. I’ll probably take a break for the two upcoming screeners. Don't want to get too distracted before pumping out the reviews.
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E7: Now this show is fire. The VIPs arrive to bet on the final rounds. They all wear glitter ball animal masks, speak in stilted flat English and sit on couches with nekkid women in body paint. They body count rises to critical, whittling it down to the key main characters. Several of the major players are done, in dramatic fashion. The intruder makes some moves.
Two more eps to go. I’m riveted.
I’m going to add E4 to my cherry pick watch list - E1, E4, E6 & E7. I’m guessing E8&9 will make it too.
This is reaching the popularity of Money Heist & Lupin on Netflix now. Fascinating that it’s found an audience. I don’t find it as good as those, but I do see it’s charisma. Perhaps because I’m more tuned into K-film, it’s not as fresh for me. I can see where it might be for others.
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I thought it was the most popular show on Netflix.
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It’s #1 now but still has yet to place in the all time stats. It’s on that trajectory.
Money Heist will steal it back for its final season.
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It's almost like a contest!
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I’ve been pondering the parallels. Squid Game steals a lot from Money Heist, especially the red jumpsuits and masks. There’s this struggle to get the money. And both were come from nowhere hits - some random unpromoted series that Netflix acquired that just blew up.
Lupin is also Heist themed. But that was more promoted I think.
Maybe there’s a Den piece in there. I still gotta get a red jumpsuit.
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E8 that was cold. brutally cold. but inevitable
E9 Season Finale: The first part was predictable. There was one good last twist of the knife, and then more predictable stuff, including the set up for Season 2.
Ultimately, I did enjoy this. It had a slow start, although the first game was one of the best. The surreal settings kept it going, and I'm sticking to my previous D00M cherry picks. I'll likely tune in again for S2, which seems like a sure bet given its popularity. I didn't enjoy it as much as Money Heist or Lupin. But it had its moments.
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I'm putting my list together for the Queen is gone viewing.....
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