'Squid Game' the Talk of Town? How to Pretend You've Seen It So You Don't Get FOMO

Warning: With spoilers!
Peer pressure is real, folks. And with "Squid Game" officially becoming Netflix's biggest series launch ever with 111 million views, we can safely say that we'll be hearing a lot more about the series in the next couple of months.
If you still haven't seen "Squid Game" or haven't finished it, at least, then you're probably wincing right now. Feeling like you're missing out, already? It's okay, not everyone has the time and emotional reserves to commit to a series, even if it happens to be the biggest show to come out of Netflix, ever.
Don't worry, though, because we’ve got a hack for you. Here's a guide on how to pretend you've seen "Squid Game," so you don't get FOMO around your family and friends.
The Gist
"Squid Game" centers on desperately broke individuals who compete in children's games in pursuit of a prize: 45 billion won. They literally fight to the death to win as those who lose a game are killed.
No Actual Squids?!
There are no actual squids or cephalopods in the series! The squid in “Squid Game” is a children’s game that main characters Gi-hun and Sang-woo played together as kids. Players are placed in two groups, the offence and defence. The offence team must hop on one foot outside the lines of the chalk-drawn squid and try to get past the squid’s waist and tap its head, while the defence team tries to stop them by pushing them outside the squid’s boundary.
Character Introduction

Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae)
Gi-hun is one of the main characters in “Squid Game,” a cash-strapped man living with his mother after his wife, who has custody of his daughter, left him. He joins the games in order to make money for his mother’s diabetes treatment.
Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-Yeon)
Sae-byeok is a nifty pick pocketer from North Korea who joins the games to pay for her mother’s safety in defecting the north for the south. With only her younger brother with her in South Korea, Sae-byeok is a young woman determined to give her family a better life.
Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon)
In search of his missing older brother In-ho, Jun-ho, a police officer, infiltrates the games, which he believes is connected to his brother’s disappearance.
Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo)
Sang-woo is Gi-hun’s childhood friend and is considered the pride of their neighbourhood for his prodigious success. Gi-hun runs into him in the games and discovers that the debt-buried Sang-woo isn’t as noble and “perfect” as he thought.
Oh Il-nam (O Yeong-su)
Il-nam is an old man identified as player number one. Riddled with a brain tumor, he joins the games as his last go at adventure.
Jang Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae)
Deok-su, a gangster who once tried to steal a huge amount of money from his bosses, joins the games and easily becomes one of its deadliest and most feared. His fate is tied with another character, Mi-nyeo.
Abdul Ali (Anupam Tripathi)
Ali, easily the kindest person in the games, is a Pakistani migrant worker who eventually teams up with Gi-hun, Il-nam, and Sang-woo. His pure goodness, however, will be the one to betray him in the end.
Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryoung)
Mi-nyeo is a woman who turns out to be one of the most devious and unreliable characters in the series, hopping from one team to another depending on which will benefit her the most, even if this means sleeping with the enemy — Deok-su.
Episode Highlights
“Squid Game” has nine episodes in total. Some of the notable episodes are Episode 6, otherwise known as the tearjerker episode, and Episode 9, the mixed-feelings episode.
Episode 6 – The Tearjerker Episode
If you’re asked about episode 6, turn to these vague, but passable responses instead:
EP 6 multiple choice response
a. “I bawled my eyes out over Episode 6!”
b. “That marbles game was so cruel and heartbreaking.”
c. “If you’ve never ugly cried and want to, watch Episode 6. That is all.”
Episode 9 – The ‘Mixed Feelings’ Episode
For some, Episode 9 leaves much to be desired. It’s at once frustrating and bleak, but also hints at a possibility of a second season. Again, here are some passable responses if ever you’re asked about what you thought of the finale:
EP 9 multiple choice response
a. “All I’m going to say is I hate the red hair.”
b. “The last fight scene was incredible, but still wish ____ won the prize.” (Pick a character except Gi-hun, Jun-ho, and Il-nam).
c. “Everything’s so depressing.”
Other Facts You Can Throw Around
a. Did you know Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director, came up with "Squid Game's" plot in 2008? It took 12 years for his work to finally be green-lit (ha-ha).
b. After "Squid Game's" release, Heo Sung-tae, who played gangster Deok-su, became a millionaire after all — well, a millionaire in Instagram followers.
c. Jung Ho-Yeon, known to millions as Sae-byeok, is actually a high fashion model and "Squid Game" just happens to be her acting debut.
Meme 101
Here’s a guide on the popular memes about “Squid Game,” so you can confidently “ha-ha” react on that meme your friend posted without being in the dark!
Meme Context: In the first game, Gi-hun loses his balance in Red Light, Green Light, and would’ve been killed off if Ali didn’t save him.
Meme Context: In this scene, Gi-hun genuinely smiles for his picture before the first game, completely unaware of the horror that awaits them.
Meme Context: Mi-nyeo, in an attempt to persuade other teams to take her in, brags about her abilities (or lack thereof) in a comical way.
Meme Context: This calling card is what the recruiter (Gong Yoo) gives potential players to call should they decide to officially enter the games. Apparently, it’s a real number in South Korea!
Meme Context: We warned you about spoilers, didn’t we? Rest in peace to these real kings and queens.
Meme Context: Old man Il-nam? Don’t be fooled by the grandpa vibes he emanates. He’s more sinister than you think, perhaps even the most sinister of them all: he’s one of the founders of the games.
Just Watch It
If you’ve made it this far and found your curiosity kindled, then it’s time to watch “Squid Game.” You won’t regret it!
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