After the release of the thriller Squid Game in 2021, Netflix decided to take the show one step further and make it a reality. For those who are unfamiliar with the show, it is about a group of 456 people, who are all financially in debt, that decide to compete in children’s games for a cash prize of around $38 million; however, if you lose a game, then the consequence is your life. When it comes to the Squid Game: The Challenge, you don’t have to watch the first show and its gruesomeness to get the gist of how the game is supposed to go. In fact, I never watched the first show, and when watching the reality tv one, not once was I confused about what was going on. Like the original Squid Games, 456 players do compete for a cash prize of $4.56 million, but they just go home when eliminated instead of dying. This being said, the reality tv show definitely lived up to the hype of the first one even without all the blood involved.

Right off the bat, the first episode shows some of the main characters. Player 432, Bryton Constantin, Player 301 & 302, Leanne and Trey Plutnicki, and Player 243, Stephen Lomas. The show does show other players, but they mainly focused on the storyline for these select few in the beginning episodes. Player 432 is the “bully” of the group many people don’t like him or his friends because they believe they are a bunch of “frat boys” who work out all day and bring others  down. When it comes to players 301 & 302, they are known as the mother and son duo who are determined to be at the very end together. As for player 243, he starts to become friends with people here and there who become known as the “mullet gang,” in reference to their hair. However, as the game progresses, the shift in how much screen time these characters get changes.

In the reality tv show, players start off playing the infamous “Red Light, Green Light,” game. In this game, players have to avoid moving when this doll rotates their head towards them. If they are caught by the doll, then they are eliminated and packet of black ink goes off. Once the game is finished, players then return to their dorm rooms where they are met with numerous bunk beds and a digital screen that indicates how many players remain. From there, a piggy bank reveals itself from the ceiling where the players watch the cash being dropped in. For every player that is eliminated, the more amount of money will drop into the bank.

As the episodes go by, the challenges start getting harder, and they become more different than the actual show which keeps viewers entertained. Although this is a reality tv show, it isn’t easy to predict what happens next. Every episode is jaw dropping and the production and editing adds tension to the storyline. Overall, I really enjoyed this show, and I give a 10/10 because it was very engaging and left me wanting more.