The Best of Two Extremes

Netflix followers may have noticed a couple of Korean offerings that have sprung up lately. You’ve got the dark, sadistic Squid Game, and you’ve got the light, syrupy Hometown Cha Cha Cha.

When I first saw the name, I wasn’t inclined to watch anything called “Squid Game,” so I skipped over it every time it was pushed at me. Then, in a single day, I heard two different people talking about how awesome it was, so I decided to give it a shot. I’ll avoid the spoilers as much as possible. I think most people know already, or can tell from the trailers and ads up front, that the series involves several hundred down-on-their-luck people competing in a series of children’s games for an insane amount of prize money. The only catch is that “elimination” literally means to be eliminated – and quite gruesomely and graphically so.

I did watch the whole thing, and while it sometimes had its moments, my final take on it is that I just can’t recommend it in the slightest. The premise got old after a few episodes, and the violence seemed exceptionally sadistic and gratuitous at points. It left me both unsettled and unsatisfied, and I don’t think it added anything to my sense of thoughtfulness (i.e. while a series might have people ruminating on the state of the world today, this just didn’t get me there at all). All I can get now is the wonder at why such a piece of work would be so appealing to so many.

By complete contrast, Hometown Cha Cha Cha is the quintessential K-drama. On steroids. Even when there’s a “crisis” (in as much as a K-drama can have a crisis), it’s a feel-good crisis. Every situation comes with its tailor-made happy ending, and the hero always gets the girl. And oh, the dimples…

I honestly can’t get enough of it, and to tell you the truth, after finishing Squid Game, I could’ve used a good episode or two just to wash the disgust and disappointment out of my system. I can’t recommend it enough, but be ready for pure sugar. It really is the best of two extremes.