The popular Netflix series ‘Squid Game’ has recently taken the world by storm. Due to its popularity, I dove in to see if it is as showstopping as it is put out to be.

Overall, it deserves its success. This binge-worthy series is well put together and will always keep you at the edge of your seat.

The show begins by introducing the main character, Seong Gi-Hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), an in-debt and helpless divorcee who lives with his mother in Ssangmun-dong, South Korea. He makes bets, borrows money, avoids lenders, and is a terrible father to his daughter.

However, when Gi-Hun and 455 others, all in similar situations, are given the opportunity to make a large sum of money by winning children’s games, it’s a no-brainer. But that all changes when the program begins to reveal it’s true colors. A simple children’s game becomes something much more sinister as the participants realize that they are playing for their lives.

The plot twists, betrayals, and series of deaths will keep you on a constant edge. You almost feel as though you are participating with the players as you share the anticipation of each game. The idea of self-preservation and how people act upon that instinct is very prevalent as many characters show us that the people we think we know aren’t always who they seem to be.

On top of that, the show places more diversity into the watchlist of American viewers. Personally, I have watched multiple East-Asian dramas in the past, such as Sweet Home and Alice in Borderland. However, many other Americans had not been exposed to this genre of television. The growing popularity of this show truly opens the door to series that people tend to overlook because of their origin.

Before diving headfirst into this show, there are some aspects that shouldn’t be overlooked. Topics that could be triggering to certain audiences include death, blood/gore, suicide, violence, sex, nudity, and smoking. This show definitely targets a much more mature audience and I would not recommend this to younger viewers.