Summary
The Netflix seriesSquid Gametook the world by storm when it premiered in 2021 and became a global phenomenon. Apart from being a great example of epic storytelling, the series provided viewers with a terrifying look at today’s desperation and capitalism. The show primarily focused on a man named Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) living a life full of debt, wrong decisions, and failed relationships. So, when he gets the chance to change everything and earn a massive amount of money by entering a competition, he doesn’t let it go. However, things take a turn when Gi-hun and other players realize that disqualification or elimination from this game means “death.” But why do these games take place? And who is twisted enough to organize such a competition? The answer to that burning question is: The VIPs.
Now, VIPs is a very vague term to answer that question, but it is actually the correct one. In Season 1 of the Netflix series, viewers are introduced to a mysterious group of people wearing masks and enjoying the games. Soon, it was confirmed that these VIPs were behind these games and got together to pump in the money for the competition to run smoothly. While Season 1 showed a glimpse of who the VIPs were, Season 3 of Squid Game is ready to bring them back into the mix, and the audience will once again get to look at how these twisted minds possibly run everything. As of now, we haven’t learned anything about who these people are and their real identity. With the creator ofSquid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, already confirming the spin-offs, the origins of the VIPs might be a good area to explore. Let’s take a look at how the VIPs could be the subject of this universe’s most anticipated project.
Who Are the VIPs in Squid Game?
When Season 1 of Squid Game began, viewers got to know how the players were recruited, who recruited them, and the competition. Every player was given a green colored tracksuit to wear, which featured their respective numbers. For example, Gi-hun was Player 456, and the organizers or the guards called him by that number. As the season progressed, more and more characters were introduced, including The Frontman, to make things interesting and enthralling. The VIPs were introduced in the latter part of the first season and arrived at the mysterious island where the games were taking place, merely to be entertained by the suffering of others.
They wear lavish attire and complete the look by wearing masks featuring different animals. Their identities were never revealed, but what we do know is that they are extremely rich, powerful, and have a lot of connections. Moreover, their existence proves that they come from a very different part of the world and don’t care about the lives that are lost during the games. Without any doubt,the VIPs are one of the most unsettling elementsof the show, and way different than the Frontman, who is emotionally conflicted. The VIPs seem to believe that the players in the competition represent the lowest sphere of humanity and deserve no remorse. But how did they get there? What made them the way they are? And how did the games begin?
Why does a spin-off on the VIPs make sense?
Apart from players like Gi-hun and others,Squid Gameis filled with characters who have mysterious backstories, and the VIPs are one of them. A spin-off based on these characters will not only give a different perspective to viewers, but it will also provide fans a deeper look into the franchise’s mythology. WhileSeason 2 of the Netflix seriesprimarily focused on the players and the games, the third and final edition might explain more about the VIPs. But it might not be enough to know who they really are and how they were recruited. So, a spin-off might be able to explore them and their existence in great detail. Honestly, fans know almost nothing about the VIPs, how they met, or how the games became institutionalized. This unexplored backstory might become a strong foundation for world-building. Additionally, a prequel based on the VIPs might tell viewers about the first-ever Squid Games and showcase how the powerful people from around the world turned this cruelty into a form of entertainment.
Meanwhile, the spin-off could also explore the origins of the VIPs, which would be significant for adding layers to what are currently one-dimensional antagonists. What made them form this kind of evil organization? Why did they decide to fund such cruel games and enjoy deaths? Or did they begin the games with something more sinister in their minds? In Season 2, we saw how certain players were kept alive and taken for medical assistance. Are they selling human organs on the black market and earning a hefty amount of money? Is that one of the main reasons why these wealthy people are organizing such games? A well-written prequel could expose some VIPs and their sociopathic behaviors.
However, one of the strongest themestheSquid Gamespin-off could exploreis how the VIPs joined these games. Not every VIP would join these atrocious games willingly, and some might have opposed the idea of organizing such a competition. Meanwhile, some of them might have been silent investors. The spin-off based on the VIPs could feature how the elites broke every moral boundary and found pleasure in cruelty. Maybe some were forced to enjoy such brutality, but eventually, they gave in and started to enjoy it for real. Consequently, it could also reveal what these VIPs were doing before they became a part of this. For example, one of them might be a big businessman, while the other can be a tech billionaire who believes that people like him only deserve to live on the planet. This could be a pivotal aspect and give different perspectives on privilege, class, and moral decay.
It could also show the power struggles between these elites and what happens when one VIP decides to pull out of the games and sabotage everything, or expand the games on a global level. These plotlines or themes could be the reason for high-voltage drama and amazing character development. Fans ofSquid Gamelove the gore and brutality it brings with rich storytelling, but those are not the only reasons why they watch the series. They also come for the emotions, the satire, and the multi-layered narrative. Focusing on the VIPs will give a perspective on themes such as inequality, corruption, and other moral reasons that plague society nowadays. A prequel that focuses on the VIPs has the potential to offer more than just thrills; it can provide answers to important questions, such as: how did the world allow such games to even exist? And can these games happen in reality? These are some of the questions a VIP spin-off could answer, and Netflix should definitely think about exploring the twisted minds behind the games.
Squid GameSeason 3 will premiere exclusively on Netflix on June 27.
