If you’ve been on social media at all the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably seen memes about Netflix’s new Korean thriller drama — “Squid Game.” The series came out Sept. 17 and consists of nine episodes, each running between 30-60 minutes.

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“Squid Game” has taken over pop culture, going No. 1 in 90 countries, according to Forbes Magazine. Even though unsettling dystopian shows aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, there’s something about this captivating series that’s kept 132 million viewers glued to their screens.

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The South Korean show is about a group of financially desperate adults playing a series of six childhood playground games for a chance to win ₩45.6 billion — $38.3 million. However, the players soon learn that “elimination” means death.

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At first, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. The Korean-speaking actors had a cheesy American English voice-over that didn’t quite match up with their lips in the dubbed version. I recommend watching the subtitled version of the series rather than the dubbed. The dialogue seemed unrealistic and I felt like some content was getting lost in translation. The show started out pretty slow, I wasn’t completely committed to the storyline until the third or fourth episode when I became emotionally invested in some of the characters. You find out more about the character’s backstories in each episode.

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The protagonist of “Squid Game,” Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), is a middle-aged man who lives with his mother and is trying to regain custody of his daughter, Ge-yeong. In the series there seems to be a lot of financial struggle in Korea, causing Gi-hun to survive through stealing and acquiring loans from dangerous men. Gi-hun, trying to care for his sick mother, desperately finds himself accepting an opportunity to play childlike games for a large sum of money.

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After arriving at the designated pickup spot, Gi-hun is drugged and forcefully taken to an island where he wakes up wearing an unfamiliar green uniform. Masked guards in pink jumpsuits direct all of the players to their first game: “Red Light, Green Light.”

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The players soon realize if they lose the game they are shot and killed. After just the first game their numbers dwindle from 456 to 201 players. Only those who survive the six sadistic games can walk away with the money.

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I was not prepared to be so emotionally invested in these characters. The writer and director of “Squid Game” Hwang Dong-hyuk knew exactly how to create a unique blend of developing personalities that clash but also work together harmoniously. Each character plays an important role and contributes to the monumental conclusion. In a way, the story seems similar to “The Hunger Games” as each character has to deal with losing and grieving their allies, causing the stakes to steadily increase each episode.

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A character I became really fond of is player 067, Kang Sae-byeok (HoYeon Jung). She is in her twenties and is from North Korea. She’s been through extremely hard situations because of the dictatorship in the North – her dad died trying to swim to South Korea, and her mom was sent back to the North when immigration officers found her hiding in China. Her brother has been in an orphanage and she needs to win the money to get him out.

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“Squid Game” had several hidden themes. The show really critiqued the global effects of capitalism by bringing attention to the household debt crisis in South Korea. "Squid Game" examines how capitalistic systems can diminish the value of human life and only benefit the rich.

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The enemies aren’t the crooked players; the people who’ve created and watched the games year after year are. There is much more to this story than just the gory horror of the games. The ending was depressing yet quite glorious, leaving room for a highly anticipated possible second season but also leaving viewers longing for closure.

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Andrew Pollihan, a senior entertainment management major at Missouri State University, was pleasantly surprised by this series. “I really enjoyed ‘Squid Game,’” he said, “The voice-overs were definitely a little strange at first, but I got used to it after the first episode or two. The show was non-stop excitement and even pulled at my heartstrings a few times.”

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Junior Rachel Wherle, psychology major, also enjoyed the series. “Personally, I loved ‘Squid Game’ for many different reasons. It was unlike any show I’ve ever seen and the whole story behind it was super unique... I heard something about Netflix thinking about producing an American version of the show and honestly, I think that would ruin it. It was interesting seeing a culture I’m not as familiar with. I have definitely recommended this show a few times already and will continue to do so.”

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The success of “Squid Game” will likely bring more attention to foreign shows and films which makes me excited about the future of Netflix. No matter what genre of show you usually go for, “Squid Game” will have you binge-watching until 4 a.m.