Real-life Squid Game brings the nastiness back to reality TV
A new reality television series, Squid Game: The Challenge, has sparked controversy for its dark and exploitative nature. The show, which is a defictionalisation of the acclaimed South Korean series, Squid Game, has drawn participants from around the world to compete in deadly games for a chance to win a massive cash prize.
Netflix, the streaming platform that released the show, has insisted on having an overrepresentation of American contestants, adding to the spectacle. With 456 players initially vying for a $4.56 million prize, Squid Game: The Challenge has become the largest gameshow in TV history.
However, the series takes nastiness to a new level, as contestants are fitted with dye packs that explode when they lose a game. Though the liquid is black and not red to minimize gore, the contestants often dramatize their elimination, falling to the ground as if shot. These dramatic theatrics contribute to the show’s dehumanizing atmosphere and highlight the uncritical nature of the entertainment it presents.
The original Squid Game series critiqued capitalism and explored how a rigged system exploits the desperate. However, Squid Game: The Challenge strips away this irony, focusing purely on delivering intense and brutal entertainment. Contestants are depersonalized in the show, referred to by their numbers rather than their names, reinforcing the dehumanizing effect.
The series also manipulates viewers by featuring pre- and post-game interviews with contestants. Many players share their stories of financial struggle, creating an emotional connection between the audience and individuals hoping for a life-changing cash prize. This tactic is reminiscent of traditional reality TV, which often relies on manipulating narratives and forming alliances among contestants.
The show’s challenges are carefully designed to expose the worst aspects of human nature, creating a somber reflection of philosopher Thomas Hobbes’ belief that humanity is engaged in a war of all against all. The production team’s intention to bring out these dark instincts further reinforces the exploitative nature of reality television.
While Squid Game: The Challenge is not the first reality show to exhibit such harshness, it undoubtedly raises concerns about the genre. Recent years have seen pushback against the manipulation and exploitation prevalent in reality television. Shows like The Hunger Games and UnREAL have criticized the sadism of reality TV, and reality stars have begun advocating for fair treatment and improved ethics within the industry.
Despite these efforts, series such as The Bachelor and Below Deck have faced high-profile scandals surrounding their treatment of contestants. Netflix’s previous hit, Love is Blind, also faced criticism for its manipulative treatment of participants. Today, many reality shows strive for a more humane approach, focusing on sincerity and forming genuine connections rather than promoting drama.
Squid Game: The Challenge stands in stark contrast to this trend, reducing contestants to caricatures with exaggerated traits and subjecting them to physical and emotional torment. Some contestants have spoken anonymously about their experiences on the show, describing it as cruel and mean-spirited. Allegations of freezing temperatures during the physically demanding challenges have also surfaced.
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk acknowledged the capitalistic nature of the industry and the need to make money but the show’s premise leaves a bleak impression. While the series may appeal to viewers’ fascination with the macabre, it raises important questions about the ethics and limits of reality television.
As audiences continue to demand new and captivating content, it is crucial to strike a balance between entertainment value and ethical treatment of participants. The future of reality television lies in finding ways to create compelling programming without resorting to the exploitation and manipulation that has tarnished the genre in the past.
