Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
was a fairly universal reply.
But then the show premiered, and as a TV experiment, it was fascinatingly edited and cleverly conceived.
Did that execution excuse the premise?
Which is pretty much how I expected to feel going into the finale last night, by the way.
Thats new for the streamer, right?
What did you think of that decision?
hour when people are used to turning onSurvivororTop Chef.
(Nearly all those competitor arcs were upsetting!)
Yourecapped the season, Nick.
- What did you think going in, and did that change while you were watching?
Recappedandreviewed, because Im freaky like that.
I had just about the same reaction as everyone else when I first heard about the show:Ughhh.
And to a large extent,Squid Game: The Challengewas very much that.
And, hey,Squid Game: The Challengeis really compelling in its design.
and the K-dramas grimly stark aesthetic context that produces something remarkably vivid.
It tickles that part of my brain thats drawn to an open wound.
But I take it that Im in the minority, responding so positively to that.
How did you feel aboutThe Challenge?
R.H.:Well, youve heard my agonized complaining about this for months now.
and expect success, nor could athletic people be the only threats.
Did you peg her as a winner from the beginning?
:I love dorm-room theorizing.
Thats why I do this job!
The show makes me feel disgusting.
For the most part, I think itwantsme to feel disgusting.
And I, a freak, nominally respect that.
Reality television is often gross, no matter how it tries to dress itself up.
I love it all the same.
The last episode itself was a dud.
R.H.:I agree about the Mai edit.
You mentioned in your recap that the over-and-over nature of that game sapped the finale of its internal tension.
Looking ahead to season two, I do wonder: How do they keep this going?
I think the latter would be more interesting to watch, but then, would it beSquid Game?
Is there a world in whichThe Challengeshould have been only a one-season show?
What do you think, Nick?
Given the reality shows success, this was inevitable.
Will future seasons be effective?
My first instinct is to doubt it.
But then we would return to the essential question you raise: Would it beSquid Game?
Boy, it cant come soon enough.
