‘Squid Game’ Creator Was Not Inspired By ‘The Challenge’ Reality Show

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As a movie enthusiast who’s seen more than my fair share of Korean dramas and survival games, I must confess that Squid Game has managed to carve out a unique niche for itself in the annals of television history. And when it comes to the mother-son duo in season two, Geum-ja and Yong-sik, their storyline is a masterclass in emotional turmoil and heart-wrenching drama.

In the series titled “Squid Game: The Challenge“, the audience found themselves drawn to the bond shared by Player 302, LeAnn Wilcox Plutnicki, and her son, Player 301, Trey Plutnicki. Given this heartwarming portrayal of a mother-son duo, it’s only natural to ponder if they served as the basis for the fictional mother-son pair in season two of the Netflix series’ “Squid Game” duo.

As a passionate cinephile, I must say that the seemingly intricate connections in “Squid Game” were more of a happy coincidence than intentional plot points. In an exclusive chat with Entertainment Weekly, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk cleared up any confusion surrounding this idea, attributing it to the timing of his writing process. Furthermore, he highlighted two characters from season one as the catalyst for a more emotional journey in season two – Geum-ja, also known as Player 149 (portrayed by Kang Ae-sim), and her son Yong-sik, or Player 007 (Yang Dong-geun).

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What Inspired The Mother/Son Storyline in ‘Squid Game’ Season Two?

As stated by Hwang, there’s no intentional similarity between Geum-ja and her son Yong-sik’s involvement in season two and the reality show. He wrote the script before the show “The Challenge” was released, making it impossible for the storyline to have been influenced by it, not even from a chronological perspective.

In the next season, the producer and director highlighted a relationship between characters from the first season that they intended to deepen further: the married couple who shared a pastime of playing marbles. As Hwang clarified, “In season 1, you may recall a couple who were married and enjoyed playing marbles together; this husband later survived but ultimately chose to take his own life. I believe that the Host [portrayed by O Yeong-su] and the Front Man [depicted by Lee Byung-hun] would manipulate relationships within the game, intentionally bringing close individuals together to witness their reactions under intense situations.

He went on to add:

This round, I intended to introduce a duo who are particularly close. I envisioned the scenario where they struggle to survive and adapt to each challenge, which I believe would add an engaging element of curiosity.

People who have watched season two so far are probably in agreement: the introduction of Geum-ja and Yong-sik has undoubtedly intensified the suspense surrounding that dramatic finale. Furthermore, considering that Geum-ja was prepared to give up her life for her son (something he showed no inclination towards during the Mingle game), their joint survival at the end seems like an improbable happy ending for a series that rarely focuses on such outcomes. Don’t we recall when Seong Gi-hun (portrayed by Lee Jung-jae) chose not to reunite with his daughter at the end of season one, opting instead to reenter the game? That would have been a conventional happy ending.

Perhaps season three could bring us the satisfying resolution we long for, but it may also signal the demise and restructuring of capitalism and oligopolies within our society – a development that is intriguing to consider, indeed. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

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2024-12-28 06:01