The ‘Squid Game’ Reality Show Is as Dystopian as It Sounds — and Impossible to Stop Watching: TV Review

variety.com:

Alison Herman TV Critic From the moment Reed Hastings tuned into an earnings call wearing a green-and-white tracksuit, it was clear Netflix may have learned the wrong lessons from the success of “Squid Game.” In 2021, the South Korean drama — created, written and directed by auteur Hwang Dong-hyuk — became a surprise global sensation with a grim and violent allegory of capitalism exploiting the desperate many for the enjoyment of a wealthy few.

Hastings, a rich and powerful tech founder, was closer to one of the titular game’s masked spectators than a contestant risking their life for a chance at the prize, though he didn’t seem to see the irony.

This week, the contradictions only heighten with “Squid Game: The Challenge,” a competition series that brings Hwang’s vision to life, minus the mass murder and most of the social commentary.

The show is Netflix’s latest answer to an enduring problem. Without legacy franchises of its own, the relatively young company has to work overtime to turn its homegrown hits into durable wells of IP. “Squid Game” itself will get a Season 2 at some point next year, also helmed by Hwang, but brand-building has no time for quality control. “The Challenge” itself is just one part of a multi-pronged attempt to capitalize on the “Squid Game” phenomenon; next month, L.A.-area fans can enroll in “Squid Game: The Trials,” where they can pay for the privilege of pretending to debase themselves for a slim chance at erasing their debts.