s/o: Why is a ridiculously, graphically violent show like Squid Game so universally loved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So it's that the 'pro' column -- excellent writing and cinematography -- outweighs the 'con' column? I do understand that, using my own example of the Sopranos. Or The Wire.

But I think Squid is in its own category here and my more finely pointed question is: How can so. many. people. stand to watch constant, realistic violence?

I'm not asking "But is the writing good and relatable?" I'm asking, "What goes through your pre-frontal cortex as you observe a man get shot in the face? and another man, and another, ooh and this time his arm got hacked off with a close up view!"

I was drawn into the story. The deaths occur rapidly and it is shocking at first. I was like ooh sh1t!, but I wanted to see happened. I admit to forwarding some, because I usually can't stand violence. It's strange to write, but the violence was part of the story and necessary, because only one person could win the game. After the first game, it became easier to watch. I am not traumatized from the show. I wouldn't want anyone under 16 to watch it, and I definitely won't let my 11 and 13 year olds watch it.

[Anonymous]

Americans loooove pulp and have an addiction to bloodlust.

I mean how many years did we watch zombie heads exploding and Glenn being beat horrifically to death with a bat on Walking Dead.

Sopranos, Westworld, The Wire, Squid Games....I mean you can go on and on and on of extremely violent movies and shows that Americans crave. John Wick is just the same move over and over of him executing hundreds of people in various death ballets, yet it is a smash hit.

America has always been a culture saturated in violence, coarseness, and primitive urges. No wonder the country is so crass.

[Anonymous]

Put up with the brutality due to the compelling story and exceptional character work on the part of the actors. Shame American tv is offers such blah storytelling comparatively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not watching it. I like comedies and heartwarming shows. There’s enough negativity in the world and I don’t need it to invade my precious free time.

+1. It's not universally loved. I'm not watching it and don't even want to see previews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me, a 50 yo white woman, it is the moral and ethical issues which are explored. I also love Korean shows and movies in general. I enjoyed the character development and the relationships among the players. In a random group of strangers, we can all find someone to connect with. Sometimes that person will turn on you, sometimes that person will help you.
Td/lr it is thought provoking and visually stunning.

Same here. I find violence off-putting — both emotionally unpleasant and a little boring — but this is my 3rd violent K-dramas. (The other two were Kingdom and Sweet Home.) By putting the characters terrible, life-or-death circumstances, the shows are able to explore nuances of hope, despair, religion, duty, personality, class, etc in ways that less dire circumstances might not be able to bring out. Also, as PP mentioned, they tend to be gorgeous to look at and have plots that make you wonder what will happen next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i think people really identify with the desperation of the players. Life has been such a struggle, especially during this weird covid time.

This.

The show is not about gratuitous violence like GOT or most American films. The deadly consequences are simply a mechanism to demonstrate the hopelessness and desperation some feel. The movie is deep. If you just see violence, then you aren’t very bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a wild concept, but hear me out - it's almost like we can separate reality and fiction! :mindblown:

Except this probably isn’t it. This scratches the same bizarre itch humans had back when we would watch people get tortured and executed in gruesome ways by the state. This is a complicated question and I doubt too many people will be able to delve into it in any meaningful ways here.

[jsteele]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1003714.page