Squid Game
I binge-watched the entire Squid Game TV series within two days. As per the records, it has been one of the biggest hits on Netflix ever. Squid Game became the top of the list in more than 90 countries, including the USA and Australia. If we look back and analyse the reasons which made Squid Game a hit, include some attractive facts. One of the biggest reasons is it just keeps us curious all the time. Secondly, the flow of events in the show makes an excellent narrative. Finally, compared to most TV series we have watched, Squid Game falls into an unexplainable category that demonstrates human instincts.
Okay, I have to stop you right there if you haven’t watched the show, as it contains spoilers from here onwards. And also, you wouldn’t probably understand some facts I mention because it recalls some scenes. So better to stop here.
Let’s have a look at the math behind the Squid Game. Just think about a situation where you will play a game not knowing that there is a 99.78% that you would die. Even after knowing that you could die, 187 players would still like to sacrifice their lives to take the prize money. In the beginning, there were 456 players; they didn’t have a clear idea that they would die if they got eliminated. Only 201 players survived the first round. After the vote, the majority, 101 players, decided not to play. So everyone had to leave the game. But as per the invitation from the officials, 93% of players, 187 players out of 201 players, reentered the game. Only 14 people decided not to return. I think that’s pure insanity. In other words, their real-life would be a living hell to make that decision to put their lives on the line.
If we conduct a simple probabilistic analysis on each game, there are fewer probabilities to win some games. There is a high chance you could survive the first game if you don’t panic yourself. Again it’s improbable to not get panicked in such a situation. In the second game, probability depends on the honeycomb shape you choose. Suppose you decide to pick the triangle over other shapes, a high chance to survive. If it’s a circle or star, the probability would be moderate. If it’s the umbrella, the winning probability is low. The third game, tug of war, is based on two primary facts: the team’s strength and technique. There is a 50% chance to win in the fourth game unless you get betrayed. You already know what happens. In the fifth game, glass bridge, probability depends on the number they choose. If you are the first person to participate, there is only a 0.0015% chance of getting to the other side of the bridge. Following players get a higher probability, based on the success of the previous player.
Finally, It reminds me of one of the scenes from the marbles game; one middle-aged guy competed with his wife, she died, he hung himself. Why the hell you would participate in a death game as a couple even after knowing you could die. What are the odds to survive both of them? At least one of them? We saw what could happen. I don’t know whether it’s pure insanity or stupidity. After all, I am happy that it’s just a TV series. However, the storyline presents human instincts and surviving patterns throughout these six rounds. After all, it reminds us we are animals; it all comes down to surviving. Furthermore, it proves that you need strength, strategy, luck and the right people around you to win the game. Isn’t it the same for life?
