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TV: Netflix Squid Game

Shareefruck

Shareefruck

Registered User
Apr 2, 2005
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Vancouver, BC
Interesting. I don't dislike the show outright, I just felt that the trope-iness, payoffs, and I guess engagement techniques (?) detracted from the things I liked about it.

In particular, I feel like the show kind of plummets in quality from episode 7 onwards (I didn't really like episode 5 very much either, mainly because there was so much focus on the two least interesting subplots). 2 and 6 were my favorites.
 
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Osprey

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Feb 18, 2005
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Shareefruck said:
Interesting. I don't dislike the show outright, I just felt that the trope-iness, payoffs, and I guess engagement techniques (?) detracted from the things I liked about it.

In particular, I feel like the show kind of plummets in quality from episode 7 onwards (I didn't really like episode 5 very much either, mainly because there was so much focus on the two least interesting subplots). 2 and 6 were my favorites.
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I have no idea if Alice will similarly run into issues later in the season, since I'm only 3 episodes in, but I would say that it's avoided those things that you didn't like about Squid Game so far. It's certainly derivative of other battle royale stories, especially Japan's own Battle Royal movie and The Hunger Games, but I wouldn't say that it has the "trope-iness" of Squid Game or the engagement techniques. If you liked episodes 2 and 6 of Squid Game, you may like Alice.
 
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bobholly39

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Mar 10, 2013
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Shareefruck said:
Consider my curiosity is piqued. I don't have an issue with the premise, I've just never seen it executed that well.

Is Alice in Borderland just comparatively better, or is it something that you guys would actively recommend as legitimately good?
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Alicer in Borderland is a lot more mysterious/suspenseful in my opinion.

Big spoiler alert (not really) for Squid Game - it's a bunch of humans in masks who shoot people if they lose the game. We know right from the start "how" things happen. Still a great show, lots of suspense as to "why" or "who wins" or "what happens", but "how it happens" is pretty simple. Do it - or we shoot you.

In Alice - the "how" is a big mystery on top of everything else. You don't know exactly what is going on. I liked them both, but I preferred Alice because there's more of a mystery. I prefer the characters in Alice too, more developed I think.

If you enjoyed Squid Game, I definitely recommend it. Same genre
 
Kurtz

Kurtz

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Jul 17, 2005
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Just finished Alice in Borderland. Cool. Definitely recommend it to those who liked the Squid game, especially now that you're desensitized towards all the ultraviolence...

The central premises of the two shows are quite similar - our protagonist(s) try to survive a series of deadly games, but the two shows do offer you very different treats. Squid is more powerful emotionally, and the set designs and music score is a lot more compelling and memorable.

Alice, whose protagonists are younger (and have much, much better hair) offers more interesting games, many unique and cool characters, arguably better acting, and at its core there's a delicious mystery that is not present in Squid. It does not pack as much social commentary (that I noticed, at least) but the relationships between characters are just as compelling.
 
LarKing

LarKing

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Sep 2, 2012
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Finished this last night and what a ride. The camerawork in this show was just amazing. Definitely great suspense. Didn’t care much for the cop storyline but it was a necessary one. I feel like this show should’ve ended after 1 season but I’ll give season 2 the benefit of the doubt for now.
 
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Perennial

Perennial

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Jun 27, 2020
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Just about the watch the final episode of Alice In Borderland, but I thought I'd stop by here to chime in with a prediction that I'm assuming most viewers saw coming as well...

The witch is the dead girl, Momoka
 
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Perennial

Perennial

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Jun 27, 2020
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Just nearing the end of the final episode in Alice In Borderland, but I thought I'd chime in with another prediction... well, maybe less of a prediction, and more of a hunch

Back in the first episode the main character's brother had set up an interview for him with his company

I think that company may be behind the games
 
tarheelhockey

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
85,257
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Bojangles Parking Lot
Just got a chance to finally watch this.

Positives: Clever premise, a twist on the tradition that runs from "The Most Dangerous Game" to "The Purge". At first it seemed a little contrived, but mid-season it really picks up and you can see where the construct of the games is starting to draw on their real-life personalities. Even with a clear main character, nobody is ever presented as being too heroic... if anything, the main character is actually a bit of a piece of shit. That gives the show a Game of Thrones like quality of always having you on your toes waiting to find out who bites it next.

Negatives: Mainly that it's freaking stressful. It's not exactly something you kick back and watch to relax, is it? Also, I think I'd have liked it better without a Season 2 in the future. IMO, Season One is a story better told with a definitive beginning and end.
 
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