SIMP FACTS:
- THE TITLE ‘SQUID GAME’ CLEARLY HOLDS DEEPER MEANING.
- THE SQUID SYMBOL ITSELF COULD BE DEEPLY SYMBOLIC.
- WE EXPECT A LOT TO BE REVEALED IN SEASON 2.
It doesn’t take long to learn the basics of why it’s called ‘Squid Game‘, but what about the deeper meaning and reason behind the title?
The very first scene in the Korean-language Netflix series teaches us the name is a reference to “Squid“, a traditional children’s schoolyard played in Korea where the playing field is thought to resemble the body a squid.
The game is in essence, a more physical, team-based, variation of tag, where attackers try to dodge, muscle, or outsmart the defenders in order to reach the victory zone.
That’s the simple origin of the name “Squid Game”, but it does little to explain why it’s the title of the show. To do that, however, will require some spoilers.
The deeper meaning behind the title (spoilers below)
The show ‘Squid Game’ follows 456 competitors through a series of six deadly challenges, all of which are based on popular Korean schoolyard children’s games. The first game played is ‘Red Light, Green Light’, and the final one is ‘Squid Game’.
But what’s so special about this particular game that make it both the name of the show and the final game in the competition?
We think a lot of this will be explored in the show’s inevitable season two, but for now, here is our interpretation on some of the symbolism and meaning behind the “Squid Game” name.
“Squid Game was the kids game with the fewest restrictions”
One bit of information comes from the season’s final episode, “One Lucky Day”, when the black-masked ‘Front Man’ is explaining the rules of Squid Game to the VIPs in attendance.
“Among all the games kids played back then, it was the most physical and violent.” he explains. “There are no restrictions.”
This sentiment perfectly echos the overarching philosophy of the entire competition, where as long as you follow a small set of specific rules, you have the freedom to do whatever you want — and are often rewarded for doing so.
It makes sense why it might be the preferred game of whoever’s behind the competition.
The hosts of the competition value fairness
At the end of season one, it seems we still don’t know a whole lot about the circle–triangle–square people that run the games.
One thing we learn midway through the season, however, is how much the black-masked ‘Front Man’ values fairness and integrity — so much so that he executes a handful of guards who he deems to have violated the competition’s fairness.
Of all the children’s games included in the show, Squid Game seems to be the most fair and skill-testing. Again, making perfect sense why it would be the preferred game of its organizer.
The childhood and past of the competition’s creator
Getting a bit into speculation territory, we assume the person behind this competition has some sort of personal attachment to Squid Game.
It’s unclear who the kids seen playing it in the pilot episode’s opening scene are, and while it might be beloved protaganist Seong, it could also be one of the the deadly competition’s creators.
The “Squid Archives”
Finally, we know for certain ‘Squid’ is more symbolic than all the other games thanks to the (badass) police officer who discovers the “Squid Archives” room, which contains all the information on competitions from previous years and its contestants.
‘Squid’ playing field symbolism
There’s also the fact that all the competition’s branding, and all its guards, feature the same circle, triangle, and square shapes that form the playing field used to play ‘Squid’, and all the guards follow a leadership hierarchy determined by the shape on their mask.
Seeing as how the guards themselves live much like the prisoners do, it may be that they themselves are being forced to advance through a game of their own.
By the end of season one we’ve uncovered secrets like the identity of the black-masked man and the competition’s host, yet our understanding of their backstories and the deeper Squid Game universe is still minimal.
We suspect season two is where we’ll really learn more about the circle–triangle–square people and the ‘Squid’ origins.
Netflix has yet to officially announce a second season, but given the show’s massive success, and that the end of season one clearly sets up a new storyline, we’d be willing to pull a Seong and bet our life-savings on it happening.