Capitalism Killed Squid Game

In one of the initial episodes of Squid Game 2, our working-class protagonist Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) is called to a dance club on Halloween night. As he navigates through partygoers dressed as seductive nurses, cops, and skeletons, he eventually identifies the masked individual he’s been chasing. This mysterious figure is adorned in the bright pink tracksuit of a Squid Game guard – a costume choice that might be a subtle reference by creator Hwang Dong-hyuk to the widespread use of Squid Game costumes during Halloween 2021, when Netflix’s Korean sensation premiered and swiftly became their most-watched series ever. Whether or not this was Hwang’s intention, the obvious link that viewers will draw between this scene and the rapid commercialization of the show underscores how significantly its meaning has transformed.