A riveting and well-researched book that looks at the influence of the K-Wave and what these popular tv shows, movies, and K-Pop starts say, and mirror, about Korean culture. Although this book will join the archives of books on Korean popular culture, this one will stand out for its singular focus on Squid Games, exploring why the series was a hit, how it swept through the world, and behind the scenes info that any fan would enjoy.

I would highly recommend this book as an intro to the Squid Game show or just a reference reader for those already familiar with said show.

I'm probably that odd reader of this book who has NOT watched Squid Game. However, I am interested in Korea, Korean culture, and knowing why Korea produces what it does. So from my perspective the extensive introductory material may have been most interesting. I did expect to read a little more about other aspects of Korean culture, but instead the book really is about the Squid Game itself. For those readers interested in knowing the background and all the juicy details of this show, this is an excellent book that will hold the attention of such readers. And for readers like myself, it has just made me even more interested to see what else will come out of Korea.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I think a lot of Squid Game viewers will love it.

A super quick dive into the phenomenon of Netflix’s Korean series ‘Squid Game’. I really liked the show, I like Korean television, and really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the production and the whys and how’s of its popularity. This is well written and researched and a must read for any fan of ‘Squid Game’ and pop culture in general!

Thank you to NetGalley and Globe Pequot for the eRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Surviving Squid Game chronicles the success of Netflix's Squid Game, offering a wide perspective on all the factors -- culture, the pandemic, etc. -- that contributed to Squid Game's success.

Overall I thought this was a quick and interesting read, especially if you're a fan of Squid Game. The author not only delves into how and why it skyrocketed in popularity, but also takes time to analyze the show itself and certain themes/choices that made it effective.

My one qualm is that I do think the description of this book sells its premise incorrectly. It seemed like this would be a book about South Korea, with Squid Game simply offering a relatable "in" to the topic. Instead, this book is entirely about Squid Game, with only some minor discussions of South Korean culture and its involvement in the global media landscape. While I was still able to thoroughly enjoy this book, it was a bit of a disappointment to realize that the execution of the book was so different from its premise.

This is largely an academic text that gives us a view into the artistic influences that come together in the smash hit that Squid Games was. It's a quick read that left me more knowledgeable but at times felt heavy on references that might be unfamiliar to the casual reader (and thus largely meaningless.)

Things I appreciated about this book:
- The author is clearly knowledgeable and was able to contextualize Squid Games.
- It as useful to learn about the differences between how Western streaming series operate (as a content creation business) vs. how TV is traditionally made in South Korea.
- The analysis of how societal features (inequality, collectivism, etc.) are represented in the show was solid. I liked that I the analysis didn't just stick to the players but also to the game runners.
- I particularly enjoyed the analysis of the visuals and how they contribute to the mood (the bright colors of the games vs drab dormitory), the Escher-like staircase, etc. It was super interesting. The bit about he different masks that the game guards wear was new to me.
- Overall, I was left wanting to re-watch the show -- this book will help me appreciated in a fuller light.

Where the book fell short for me:
- There are a lot of references to prior TV and movie work that I am not familiar with so it felt like a long list of things that didn't have much meaning and it did not enhance the book (or my understanding of the show). I do think that these bits will be more interesting to someone who is in the business or maybe pursuing film studies.
- There's not a ton about "the global streaming wars" despite it being a prominent part of the title; I think this phrase is trendy so I kind understand why it snuck in there :)

One of my favorite new hobbies/interests I developed during lockdown is avidly watching K-Dramas. I generally focus on romantic comedies (Goblin and Crash Landing on You are among my personal favorites) or romantic dramas with fantastical elements (Mystic Pop Up Bar or Hotel de Luna), with the occasional elevated monster/political thriller. Since I was gaining familiarity with the form, I paid special attention when Squid Game became an unprecedented phenomenon, not just for K-Drama on Netflix, but for the platform's content as a whole. I must confess: I was slow to view Squid Game, despite my heightened awareness of its success. While I enjoy elevated Korean thrillers like Parasite or Kingdom, I have a hard time with extremely stressful premises, especially those that feature gore or body horror. It took me over a month to finish the first episode (Gong Yoo is just so menacing!), but once I completed the first episode, I devoured the rest of the series in a few days.

I love multi-faceted media criticism, so I especially enjoyed Surviving Squid Game. I found the early chapters contextualizing the development and rise of Korean dramas and situating Squid Game within Netflix's history especially illuminating. The second chapter describes the development process, including interview segments with the creative team. I especially enjoyed insight on the creation of the show's music and costume design. The author deftly balances the many contextual angles when describing the alchemy that led to this particular phenomenon. I also loved the final chapter, which offers a close reading of the show's visual design. I watched the show nearly a year ago, but I was still thinking about how the stylized world informed the themes. The author's analysis illuminated my half-formed impressions and offered angles I hadn't considered. This was a really insightful read. It might be time for me to revisit Squid Game, now that I have a richer understanding of it.

If you're a fan of Squid Game and are interested in exploring the symbolism throughout the series, then this book is perfect for you, as it's a well-researched deep dive into the production and impact of the series. I was hoping that the author would use Squid Game to discuss larger trends in the Korean TV industry, as well as the increased global interest in Korean content, but that part of the story was lacking. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.