Ben Shapiro Reviews “Squid Game”

[@jetpro1597]

I’d like to hear Ben’s viewpoint on capitalism vs marxism on the latest film, Godzilla vs Kong.

[@pablonava7536]

I like Bens takes, but your satirical comment made me laugh audibly

[@trav8392]

unintentionally funny comment bcs the writer of some of the more popular classic japanese monster movies including king kong escapes, takeshi kimura, was a JCP member who included explicitly communist and anti imperialist messages in his screenwrites

[@RebelWithoutABoss]

Mechagodzilla was run by an evil corporation, so likely Mech Godzilla would be capitalism.

[@hamzamahmood9565]

I wouldn't be surprised if he thought Kong represented Black Lives Matter lmao

[@ClearAtaraxia]

LOL i laughed so hard

[@rhodesb9741]

The lack of squids in Squid Game is very disturbing to me lol. Update: The way I see it, I made this comment as a joke.

[@leelindawork9004]

My favorite comment so far, lol!

[@gox123]

Sir! you win the Internet with this comment.

[@TLoveJesus]

🤣🤣🤣

[@MrSladej]

There was no trains in TrainSpotting either.

[@rhodesb9741]

@@MrSladej really?

[@leonjacklyn5033]

I want to take this moment to remind everyone that Sang-Woo went to University of Seoul! He was a child prodigy! Top of his class!!!

[@kitchengun4273]

😂😂😂

[@lesedi428]

😂😂😂

[@SaraH-jn5db]

Wait really? Where in the show does it say that?

[@walldojrbon1235]

@@SaraH-jn5db his mum says that

[@michaelalexander1052]

@@SaraH-jn5db it’s talked about in the show a lot

[@daseinz]

When he wins the slapping game, he immediately tries to slap him back rather than ask for money. He forgets in the moment that he was getting paid now, he just wanted to hit back. That's what made him a worthy contender.

[@emiliofermi9994]

I wonder if Ben actually watched Parasite. The poor main characters of the movie were not nice at all and the rich were not evil. Rather, the protagonists, who were the poorest, cheated and murdered the rich, and the wealthy were just victims. This movie shows how poor people kill each other, not at all anti-capitalism..!

[@joshjoshjoshjoshjoshjoshj]

that first game was a foreshadow of his entire time in the squid game

[@wanded]

@@emiliofermi9994 but that wouldn't happen if you redistribute wealth, that's their point

[@AvlyaMinecraft]

Two words I never thought i’d hear together, “Ben Shapiro” and “Squid Game.” Edit: oh wait that’s three words

[@vanessaomo3087]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKnEqI2Plr2EkNk joe to the hospital straight

[@vanessaomo3087]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKnEqI2Plr2EkNk joe to the hospital straight

[@AvlyaMinecraft]

@Abby from wii sports ah damnit i did it again

[@marycincinnati1604]

*“Ben Shapiro” and “facts”.

[@atruedragonlover7398]

Thought the same thing when I saw the notification lol

[@majormind1584]

I dont think this show was THAT politically focused, as many others are mentioning I think it boils down to human nature. Loved the show I thought it was compelling and offered good layers to different characters on top of the violence, which helped it maintain a good direction and pace. Good watch and reccomend

[@mattfalls2328]

I agree, I put it more in the lord of the flies / human nature category than the “scathing criticism of society” category lol. The political commentary is so over blown

[@valentinek.t3327]

Ueah I adored movie. The people that say its political dont know the culture over there. If you are well versed its just a movie and you look at the heartwarming stuff

[@marvolovodka4911]

Dude the creator said it was bout capitalism

[@tanelviil9149]

I dont see anything special or unique in this show... why are people making such a fuss about it???Why the hype??? I don't get it... it's a good watch but not like it's a masterpiece, the show is full with plot holes if you start to analyse it. So i dont get the hype. Maybe it's something unique for NORMIES, but me , who has grown up loving horror movies and thrillers, and i like horror games... i really don't see anything so over the top in this show.

[@l.y.3340]

@@marvolovodka4911 Did he? can u give me the link

[@obi6822]

According to the series, the protagonist's mother had no access to medical treatment for her leg not because the state did not provide insurance, but because her son cancelled the insurance program to use the money for gambling. So it is not simply a shallow critique of the social injustices of capitalism.

[@philsowers]

The mother's diabetes would have been covered regardless because if you don't pay for private insurance they can fall back on government provided medical coverage and gambling addiction & remediation services. She wasn't wearing her plot armor. ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKWWemiFiZypmc0

[@joshcornell4110]

The writer of the show explicitly said it's about capitalism.

[@katik4208]

It still is. It's not possible to cancel health insurance at all in other countries.

[@lukepalmieri9346]

Idiot even if you don't agree its obviously an allegory for capitalism that the entire subtext of the show, gambling is a form of escape for gihun which is compared to the VIPs betting on players, not to mention his character is portrayed as dealing with the alienation of capitalistic competition throughout the show the game IS supposed to be capitalism and its not subtle, everything from voting to "competion" and fairness in the market being rigged

[@philsowers]

@@justinlim1580 Doesn't have... plot armor? If you're referring to insurance, SK definitely has national health insurance which covers everyone regardless of employment as well as private insurance companies. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKWWemiFiZypmc0

[@jackhandma1011]

Imagine being one of Ben's friends and you're watching a movie at the cinema.

[@robo3007]

Imagine being one of Ben's friends

[@ivanvelez2007]

@@robo3007 imagine being robin powell and comment ben videos

[@emiliofermi9994]

I wonder if Ben actually watched Parasite. The poor main characters of the movie were not nice at all and the rich were not evil. Rather, the protagonists, who were the poorest, cheated and murdered the rich, and the wealthy were just victims. This movie shows how poor people kill each other, not at all anti-capitalism...

[@Sam_T2000]

@@emiliofermi9994 - the rich were portrayed as cartoonishly evil… except for the old man, who seemed like a bit of an out-of-touch psychopath, or at least just out-of-touch and weird, and it’s implied maybe he could’ve been cartoonishly evil, prior to his own experience in the Game.

[@digipunk618]

@@emiliofermi9994 I forgot about parasite! Still need to watch that one.

[@mandarci89]

I did not get the whole anti-capitalist message at all. To me it was more about the dangers of gambling, and you make your bed where you lay.

[@jankasen7039]

I noticed the anti-capitalist message but I didn't really care because it was such a good show.

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

Watch the Paul Joseph Watson latest video. Is the best I have seen about the show.

[@rodrigovalle6466]

Yeah I got more that point that a critique of capitalism but it was still kinda left leaning, but it was a really good show notheless

[@kiri7678]

Ben really over-blows the message tbh. At certain incidents he makes comments that are really a stretch, and some things he states seem very petty. Yes the show comments on class and societal structure, but it never directly mentions capitalism or gives an argument beyond it just being a looming theme in the background. The individual characters and their motivations are FAR more focused upon than the societal commentary, along with the games themselves. Honestly just felt like he was trying to milk a political argument where there wasn't really anything to talk about here.

[@GiuseppeM]

Exactly, this time he’s tripping

[@ellenvandevoorde8943]

I think it captures human suffering, and why people do what they do. I loved learning about each characters background, you really felt for them.

[@phanatic215]

Human suffering and predators. They purposely sought out these people with money problems, because they know they'll do anything to get out of debt.

[@ThatTempesTGuy]

It shows how money is the root of all evil and ehat lengths people will go to for greed... If you are a slave to money, free yourself as soon as you can

[@ThatTempesTGuy]

@@phanatic215 Wow you didn't even get the core message did you? Man the human race might be doomed lol

[@theyear750bc]

@@ThatTempesTGuy I think the emphasis is on excess money..

[@yoyoyoyo-qv5hu]

@@ThatTempesTGuy the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.

[@Web-Slinger42]

Ben: "There was even a doctor in the Squid Games...speaking of doctors my wife is a doctor"

[@hjpark6078]

Did ben say that? Lol 😂

[@AAJillSandwich]

@@hjpark6078 It's a meme.

[@kelvincasing5265]

I hope she knows how one properly removes an eyeball, the buyer wouldn't pay anything for the last batch.

[@mn-mh6uy]

Haha. The crazy thing is that it works well for his marketing. Which is why he keeps saying it. Quite smart actually.

[@Furykidxxx]

I knew someone would post this comment. xD

[@unphiltrd]

I suddenly understand exactly why Ben never made it in Hollywood. Completely missed the metaphor, and the point of the story.

[@joepeake8972]

He never made it in Hollywood because he's rubbish at creative stuff. Check out his novel True Allegiance, it's such a power fantasy (main character is Ben crossed with Jack Bauer only taller) and his sentences go on for half a paragraph. He's a debate nerd, not a philosopher or a creative.

[@ronaldtorres7226]

What are you talking about? He never tried to made it in Hollywood. He went to UCLA and then to Harvard law school.

[@mkm0575]

Excuse me sir, but you have missed the fact that the director said it was anti capitalist. I believe that means you missed the metaphor.

[@damiantirado9616]

@@ronaldtorres7226 he did try to make it to Hollywood and he failed.

[@guydutoit61]

@@mkm0575 keep clutching at straws pal

[@Dasbeerboots]

Ben not understanding Parasite is just the cherry on top lmao

[@davidowen74]

Even the director of Parasite admits the movie was about an evil poor family that was consumed by hatred, not a critique of capitalism. It wasn't a critique of the poor but a critique of parasitic evil people, which is what the family was.

[@Dasbeerboots]

@@davidowen74 yup

[@lmboca3458]

@@davidowen74 thats awesome bro

[@brendanjohnstone4493]

@@davidowen74 bruh u missed the point. Parasite is about how poor people end up fighting eachother for the scraps the rich give them instead of directing their attention at the rich who are the actual reason for them being poor.

[@ram-vh7sn]

@@brendanjohnstone4493 couldn't have said it better myself!

[@pidgeypotpie165]

Here's where I'm going to disagree with you: The players were not characterized as being victims of "the system". They were characterized as being victims of their own extremely poor choices. I don’t think the message here is socialism. I think the creators were exploring human nature in a much broader sense than politics.

[@Spider-Too-Too]

only the north korean girl is the true victim.

[@ameilioracryptos5298]

Both

[@Techgod7848]

I understand where Ben is coming from but its your argument I stand with

[@jamesniagu274]

It entertainment no politics needed

[@armondtanz]

Yea. A lot of it leans on stanley kubrick. He always had characters that would be in the darkest corners and write around them. I see more of this as human emotion or drive. Even in a communism regime there are those who exploit and abuse there powers. I didnt see or feel what ben was talking about. I just felt it was about how humans can be driven by greed. What they could do to get ahead, better themselves....

[@farrex0]

There is a HUGE, a very huge difference between criticizing and being anti. What Squid Game is, is a critique of capitalism, it is not an anti- capitalism show but a crituique. If you critique, it is because you want it to change, if you are anti it means you want to tear it down and or replace it with something else. I have no idea where you got the idea that this show endorses communism, it is simply a critique of the system. They never show any alternative, it is just a reflection of the ugly side of capitalism, but it also shows the good. Several people that had nothing and rose to the top, Oh Il-nam, the frontman, Sang-Woo. And they show Gi-Hun who is terribly in debt and doesn't have money, not because the system failed him, but because he has a gambling addiction. You might say you disagree with the critique, and I do as well to an extent, but it seems like you have no idea what critique is. Because it never puts communism in a good light, in fact, it critiques it as well. You have a group of people that have been let down by capitalism so they join a game in hope of a better life, a game where everything is like Communism. Everyone wears the same outfits, they get the same food, sleep on the same place. The system tells them what to do, and provides them with everything, while having a tight control over them. The game is way closer to communism than capitalism. You could say it is symbolism, of those that are against capitalism, so they push for Communism just to realize it is just as bad or even worse than capitalism. Even the soldiers and workers of the communist system, do not have it better, it is only those at the top that truly can enjoy it, just like in communism. So it actually critiques both systems. Ben's interpretation, is like telling your landlord(Ben), "hey the shower broke and it is spilling water everywhere" Landlord: "Oh so you are anti house? would you rather just live in the street or on a refuge?" You: "No, I just want the shower to get fixed" Landlord: "Oh you are indeed an anti house person, critiquing the house, yet living in one, you are hypocrite" You: "no, I just want the damn shower to be fixed or it will ruin everything else in the house, because it is flooding" Landlord: "I can't believe you are that anti house, you people are delusional" You: "Living in a house is fine, I would rather live in the house, than on the street... it is just the shower what is broken" Landlord: "So you want to live in the street because you hate the house".

[@hamzasyed8404]

Thank you my friend 🙏🙏

[@TenaciousSLG]

Excellent comment. Your comment is 100 times better than this review.

[@CaptainTitforce]

So what you're saying is...

[@StarshineStranger]

Fantastic comment, friend. I wish I could upvote this 20 times. As you said, and what many people fail to realize, there's a very big difference between criticizing something and actively disparaging it. Just because Squid Game critiques some aspects of capitalism as it currently exists in South Korea does not mean that it is saying that capitalism *as a concept* or as an economic system is bad. I mean, Saebyeok and her family risked everything to escape from the North to come to the South, and she's risking everything *again* for the chance to find her mother and bring her to the South despite the hardship and discrimination she and her brother face. Even with all its problems, the capitalistic South is still infinitely preferable to the communist North.

[@cwyq51]

Yesssss. Thank you.

[@MidnightSimmer]

How short does ben have to be for the ENTIRE show to just fly over his head like this

[@hamzamahmood9565]

His wife can explain it to him. She's taller. And also a doctor btw

[@zombae1005]

LMAOO

[@bobmarvin7341]

he is 5"9'

[@MidnightSimmer]

@@bobmarvin7341 5'9" and the point STILL went over his head how sad :(

[@ehhman3875]

@@MidnightSimmer Not 5'9 lol, the guy lies about his height. He's in fact no more than 5'6, really shows his insecurity so high that he would add a whole three inches to his height, which is absurd and totally unbelievable,

[@GameDogLeader21]

I get Ben see's it from a political perspective, and that does exist in the show, but I think the much bigger part of the show is they all are broken in some way, addiction, trauma, disorder, sociopathy. Not because they can't succeed in capitalism. Even the host of the show, was 'broken' from feeling empty even though he had everything he could want.

[@noneya246]

+1

[@MyLuggage12345]

Agreed - I had heard about the capitalism critique before starting it, and I felt like the show was far more critical of peoples' personal vices.

[@shinske3564]

Ty!

[@kirstyi7860]

This is really about the elites having fun. After you own everything and everyone you see, you get bored. After you've done every horrific thing you can to the most innocents among us (check out the nursery wall paper as they get jiggy with it). Now they're watching you, watching people die and cheering. What makes you different than them?

[@franciscobuenrostro3891]

I enjoyed the show. I didn’t see an anti capitalism message. It’s mostly about the dangers of gambling and debt. In capitalism you have the choice not to get into trouble because of those two things

[@thesingh588]

yes thank you

[@beatnews275]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKxd3-Ka6xriZo Breaking...Trump hit Media again

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

It could’ve been set in China and nothing would change except they would use the low credit score to make squid game more justify to exist. By promising a higher social credit score, would one Chinese person be able to become CCP elite esque citizen. Having the connections to said party.

[@Cheeks730]

yeah same, i feel like ben always looks at everything with a political view. i didn't feel like it was saying anything like that, great show

[@maddieocarroll6268]

yeah ben just likes to make everything about capitalism lol

[@guerrillagorilla6537]

Ben, it sounds like you kinda missed the point of Parasite. There’s a tendency to think of the poor as noble, and the wealthy as corrupt. But that’s not real life, and Parasite did a pretty ace job exploring those nuances. They weren’t attempting to make the family sympathetic, if anything they were the antagonists.

[@kellyw8017]

They were the antagonists but were portrayed as victims. I liked Squid Games as I thought it was fairly even handed except that almost all of the golden masked watchers were portrayed as Americans. Ugly soles exist all over the world. How about adding an ISIS terrorist to the mix, for instance. In contrast, Parasite was hideous propaganda.

[@guerrillagorilla6537]

@@kellyw8017 what specifically was hideously propagandistic about it?

[@kellyw8017]

@@guerrillagorilla6537 No matter how nice the well off family was, they were still portrayed negatively, largely by showing how the husband noticed a bad smell, which was supposed to represent that he was judgmental.

[@LD71685]

Think Ben’s just commenting on the director’s “intention”.

[@jzip7639]

@@LD71685 Wow..

[@mechanicalmind2256]

Ben wholeheartedly explaining how great capitalism is and then abruptly interrupting himself to promote his sponsor - is, in fact, how great capitalism is.

[@jenscheibner792]

Socialism where everyone is equally poor.... Goal of Socialism is Communism. Communism has killed over 100+ million and counting... Good Times

[@mechanicalmind2256]

@@jenscheibner792 I don't remember saying anything about socialism though...

[@kitten-whisperer]

@@mechanicalmind2256 that's the thing, you don't have to. You could have said "I like Ben's shirt" and these people will inevitably make their way to "socialism=bad". It's just how their minds work

[@maryeverett6314]

@@jenscheibner792 where did you get that number from?

[@user-yz9jy8cc4h]

@@maryeverett6314 It is estimated that at least 20 million in the Soviet Union, 65 million in China, 1 million in Vietnam, more than 2 million in North Korea, 2 million in Cambodia, 1 million in Eastern Europe, and 1.5 million during the communist era in Afghanistan. Africa 1.7 million people were killed by government agents...... These are just some of the crimes of the communist dictatorships، Really surprised you know nothing!!!!!!!!!

[@revelation8199]

I honestly wasn’t even paying attention to any political metaphors in the show. I thought it was a well put together show and I enjoyed it.

[@khenxo7595]

Exactly not everything should be about politics

[@AP12820]

As a Korean American, I can say that a lot of Korean movies/shows have some sort of political/social issue connotations. Usually around the inequality between the haves and the have nots. It was in Squid Game, it was in Parasite as well. Regardless the Squid Game was well made.

[@AlwaysBeSmart674]

considering Ben makes a living at lookin at everything for its political angle it makes sense that's all he notices

[@Αφροδιτη-ψ9ο]

@@khenxo7595 Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said that it is about capitalism so....

[@kevinlan750]

Same right up until the line about "everyone is equal here".

[@zephyr-mq3cv]

I think Squid Game is more of critique on debt than anything else.

[@DrCalviny]

Debt slavery yeah

[@poisonduckee]

The vast majority of America's economy revolves around debt. This wasn't the case when our grandparents were growing up. It's only gotten worse over time. There's nothing to suggest that in 50 years we won't live in SGs capitalist dystopia.

[@joaofernandes9852]

It's actually a critique on human nature but ok

[@matanberg2763]

I wonder why people go into debt?

[@우와우-x9e]

I think it criticize society that causes debt because they cannot escape polarization.

[@rickmorty7965]

I liked squid game. Honestly I didn’t get anti capitalist vibes or pro communist vibes. If anything, it focuses on the individual human’s will to survive at all cost and against all odds. I think they handled that aspect very well.

[@randomdude189]

It was boring and lazy. I wanted more games and less boring bs. The acting was so bad and just shooting everyone was super lazy

[@printedmarble6985]

@@randomdude189 I think by acting you mean the dub actors because the actual actors I thought were good

[@슬라바우크라이나헤로]

@@randomdude189 bruh u probably watched the dubbed version 🗿

[@justinpark2946]

@@randomdude189 the acting was bad??? Mate you must be high. The only bad acting was from the VIPs and their sex jokes. Also how exactly was the shooting lazy? What were they supposed to do? Throw them into a volcano?

[@beatnews275]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKxd3-Ka6xriZo Breaking...Trump hit Media again

[@mupoxa]

Yep. Communism = bad. Capitalism = good. By the way, buy this mattress

[@jackbrown3985]

so true lol

[@torkildlippert7638]

Communism=less freedom but more control. Capitalism=more freedom but less control. Neither is perfect in my eyes🤷‍♂️

[@metroidfoosion73]

@@torkildlippert7638 Communism=Less potential freedom, but less potential servitude as well. Capitalism=Extremely high freedom for the rich, moderate freedom for middle class, and basically no freedom for everyone else

[@SciMan314]

@@metroidfoosion73 Communism: Higher chance of a corrupt individual taking power and harming all, Stalin for example. Capitalism: Anyone can become rich.

[@metroidfoosion73]

@@SciMan314 Pretty subjective examples. In capitalism, the extremely wealthy lobby for the politicians in power and protect their interests. In both cases, the people in power are corrupt. I was comparing the good and the bad from both forms of govt, you’re just trying to make some falsely equivalent anti communist statement because you’re ‘Murican

[@bigimportantman1544]

The show isn’t anti-capitalism. It’s a criticism on human nature. All these people are easily manipulated into participating in the game… but they blame everyone but themselves for the inevitable outcome.

[@Polletross]

This is also a great take on the show.

[@freindmaker4473]

“I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life. But I wanted it to use the kind of characters we’ve all met in real life,” Hwang said.

[@bigimportantman1544]

@@freindmaker4473 Interesting. If that was his intent he ironically failed. The show just shows that people are willing to kill each other when you put them in a desperate situation and deprive them of the ability earn what they want through less violent means.

[@freindmaker4473]

@@bigimportantman1544 yeah, characters thrown into desperate situations caused by the failure of capitalism.

[@humblebee4611]

That’s idiotic. You can’t blame everyone else for your own mistakes

[@Jesusprayerwarrio283]

As a conservative, I can watch all forms of media and essentially enjoy it without letting my mind get way too political on its themes. I watch anime, tv series of various kinds and cartoons… but Ben is one of those guys that will critique pretty much anything he watches. Had a friend like that… then one time asked me why no one wanted to hang out with him. Ben is sort of that kill joy…

[@5050TM]

The video is a critique. That's what he's here to do. He liked the show, so why assume he sat there nitpicking in real time.

[@Jesusprayerwarrio283]

@@5050TM because he literally did nitpick at most stuff in this show. While I respect anyone’s opinions, his opinion on the political ideology of the show is actually incorrect. The show premise was more so mocking South Koreans debt problems. He looks at most things with a very very narrow worldview without a full understanding of other countries policies and culture.

[@5050TM]

@@Jesusprayerwarrio283 The Director has said it is about the flaws of capitalism and the VIPs are similar to Trump. In his words. I loved the show, but I found these things obvious as well. I didn't mention this while watching with others, I was being entertained and let it pass, but afterword I did think of it. That's why it's a good show. It leaves you with things to think about that mirror society, whether you agree or disagree with their take.

[@TheFreelancer87]

Nothing wrong about giving your opinion

[@Jesusprayerwarrio283]

@@5050TM okay I can sort of agree with that take. I see what you mean

[@GiveMeAnOKUsername]

The levels of debt the contestants had were not realistically payoff-able by getting a job.

[@the_merc9918]

Almost like our current economical system :)

[@arcanejoker777]

@The_Merc 99 right.. because a lender will give you money you can’t afford to repay lmao so stupid

[@voli293]

@@arcanejoker777 Literally shown in the show how it came to be and how it cam happen

[@Noid1220]

yep. you definitely live safely in a 1st world country. That's alright, at least you're shielded from the harsh reality that a lot of people experience outside your country.

[@SSingh-nr8qz]

This is actually accurate in Asian countries. Credit is cheap, but usually handed out by some of the most dangerous slimy people you can imagine. Sure you can try getting a job, but if you don't pay your loan shark fast enough, you will be killed before your next pay check.

[@CrazyJae]

"I can see you make a habit of missing the point" ~Rick Grimes

[@hectorgomez8290]

did Ben miss the point?

[@sherwinobenza4531]

@@hectorgomez8290 no, crazyjae is just stupid

[@grossartus]

@@hectorgomez8290 i think he did lose the point with that Capitalism/Communism analogy

[@guydutoit61]

@@hectorgomez8290 he didn’t just miss the point, he tried to make something of it.

[@scarletphoenix2927]

The issue with benny boy is that his entire grift is based in the culture war so everything he talks about has to ultimately come back to this left/right capitalist/communist ect debate. His popularity is going off the edge of a cliff when the world calms down a bit.

[@samuelserway9175]

Ben reminds me of the average Redditor who thinks they have everything figured out and that nothing is open to interpretation. In what world would a sane person think the message of the film is about capitalism vs marxism? The broad picture from the beginning was trying to show that money is not everything and showing why because the man who won just lived his same life in the end regardless. Morality vs greed was shown multiple times, yet this just has to be spun politically somehow. Love it

[@reusjen]

I see, you figured it out..

[@SSingh-nr8qz]

Agreed. There are different layers to this movie that aren't that deep. It is all about choice and what people would do if the playing field was really equal but morality was not a restriction. That's why the early episodes where they had the choice to return to the game was so important. They were not hostages. They choose to be there. There choose how to play. They choose how to justify their actions. The VIPs watched like indifferent Gods. The Front man saw it from both sides and only cares about fairness. This is all about looking at things in a singular focus from certain perspectives.

[@frankalaniz8252]

"This was spun politically somehow" The creator of the show, Hwang Dong-hyuk' literally wrote it as a critique of capitalism. You can google this. Hell, he goes as far as saying that DJT resembles one of the VIPs.

[@RavenC1357]

@@frankalaniz8252 Yes, I've seen that too, but consider that criticizing the type of government directly to the north of you with missiles pointed at you may not be the best idea. So maybe there's metaphors in there against communism too but he can't say it out loud. Because I see both. The communism of the games isn't better than the outside world in the end.

[@JoeARedHawk275]

@@RavenC1357 Communism is when the workers control the means of production, and none of the players controlled the game. I saw it more as a parallel to a corporate society where the workers are just a statistic (their number) and making a mistake can get you fired (eliminated). I see where you’re coming from with the idea that everyone is equal in the game, but if it really was a critique of communism, then the players themselves would be running the game and not the elites who run it, as in our *current* capitalist system Edit: Also the fact that the creator of this show said that it was a critique on capitalism, well specifically the Korean society and capitalism

[@alexs1972]

*Squid Game shows disgusting portrayal of Americans* Me: oh come on. We're not like that at all *American in the show "My favorite number is 69"* Me: "... God damn that's accurate."

[@mariamalova1012]

It just shows that there are americans like that. Don't generalize. None of us think like that

[@mariamalova1012]

@Bitty ohhh i agree, but they way Ben said it is like we think majority is like that. I still think that though it is rampant on main stream, more than majority of americans are not like that.

[@koshikraj]

I don't believe it had an anti-capitalism message. It had more of an anti-greed content. I think the agenda was more personal than political.

[@realestatejada]

I agree

[@Stigma-ba115]

The show creator himself said it was a modern tale of capitalism

[@Spider-Too-Too]

the only anti-capitalism message i see is the game itself. some social elite got bored so they abuse the people for fun.

[@roughhabit9085]

There was absolutely an underlying theme that promoted the fallacy that poor people are poor because of the rich , but I didn’t let it bother me .

[@snuffeldjuret]

same here. Anti-greed not anti-capitalism. Humanity would thrive in any system if all people were good.

[@ashtray1647]

People forget that a criticism of capitalsim isnt automatically an arugment for communism.

[@robertlopez918]

South Koreans aren't anti-capitalist, hell they literally have a North Korean defector looking for a better life from communism, however, a friend of mine has explain the wealth inequality it extremely large in Korea. Larger than here in America and that Parasite isn't far off from deprecating what it is like. I think that's what these Korean filmmakers are trying to bring attention to/address but I'm just a Hollywood non-elite so I'm probably wrong lol. Still love the content and hope to see more from Ben

[@alanchampagne6069]

Yeah, after studying Korean for some time I get kind of confused when people who don't really know much about their culture critique Parasite and Squid Game. It just doesn't make as much sense to me in Western culture but those pieces make a world of sense in Korea.

[@SJ-wd3xc]

hello I'm South Korean, like to mention that no S.Korea rich and the poor gap aren't that much. those people who live like the film parasite and the squid game are really minorities under 10~20percent(or less) . we have strong education system(cause that is the only source we can keep the country wealthy) so it pretty fair someone to study their way up to overcome poverty. and yes we are very very capitalist nation.

[@joshcornell4110]

With unrestricted capitalism and a lack of sufficient social safety nets in place wealth inequality is inevitable

[@Magicjohnson47]

The whole point of that was to say “See, communism is no worse.”

[@FayeIL]

Ah yes, Parasite, the show that was a scathing indictment of the country's wealthiest people, brought to you by a subsidiary company of Samsung, the nation's largest and wealthiest chabeol group.

[@signaltrauma7540]

I am Korean and I think this is a very narrow interpretation of Squid Game. Also, our society is not that bad lol. Economically, the rich poor gap is way intense in the western countries than Korea. Foreginers keep saying that squid game is the metaphor of the dystopian capitalism of SK is such a bullshit. It isn't about anti-capitalism and communism.

[@StrikerEureka13]

Literally the creator himself said it was about capitalism

[@rutchjohnson]

Honestly, as a super pro capitalist person, I didn’t get any overall hamstrung anti-capitalist vibes at all. That’s actually what I found refreshing. (I mean, have you seen the political crap from The Babysitters Club s2?) I found the show super fascinating because of the idea of what humans are capable of when stripped down to nothing and death looming around the corner. It’s a social experiment I find to be truly entertaining. :)

[@BDeLuca4444]

I mean if that was the message, it does a poor job in conveying it. I agree with you, the human nature makes it an excellent show,

[@elizabethlee2136]

@@BDeLuca4444 Yes but I think its a better critique of the vices of capitalism. But it does actively portray the vices that the South Korean people face in North Korea. We gotta stop pretending that it is completely normal and sane for hundreds and thousands of people to suffer under debt. Shaming people don't work. I think its that any system that refuses to change the attitudes of people will lead us down the wrong path. But Capitalism... is not there yet. Because it can't defeat the rigors of fate. As long as Capitalism is based on a nihilistic random world where people have ridiculous advantages for no reason... its always going to fail. Sang Woo is the most loyal devoted and meritocratic figure in the whole game and he kills himself... because he won't win. Every system needs to make things better. Not keep things as the are. As long as people like Sang Woo say they are poor pathetic victims that for some reason need more money, and people actually think that being bored and rich is just as hard as having nothing, the system will fail. Because LUCK WINS. And it doesn't even mean anything. Heck even Luck got Ilnam in the end... he dies of brain cancer after killing hundreds of people every year because he;s bored.

[@raymondwatt9773]

For that matter I didnt get any of those vibes from Parasite. Great storytelling will make you not care about politics.

[@zaprowsdower2879]

I agree. It's more about human behavior than about politics. In my opinion.

[@BasedSif]

This was basically my perception too lol.

[@jaharodriguez8862]

I think it’s more about the greed of people. Not capitalism

[@sppj3140]

I agree

[@JiggyIggy]

This type of video from Ben is a surprise for sure, but a welcome one.

[@HunterStiles651]

You might even say it's a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

[@williamzhu9160]

@@HunterStiles651 sir palpatine? in the name of the galactic senate of the republic, you are under arrest, chancellor.

[@loek7531]

He made a Star Wars movie ranking video

[@beatnews275]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKxd3-Ka6xriZo Breaking...Trump hit Media again

[@alexlazzerly3677]

His commentary and opinion of the show however is very unsurprising,

[@juju-vl7oj]

I'm not great at deciphering political messages in movies or any art , but the shows message definitely felt more complex than just bad rich, good poor. I think it was more about human nature. Capitalism is fine but greed is still something that is real and money isn't inherently bad but people can lose themselves in pursuit of it, so I don't think that's a bad message.

[@JadeRunner]

There are worse things than greed and N Korea is a perfect example of that. If S Koreans hate Capitalism so much I don't understand why they don't just move north. 🤷‍♂️

[@rebeccaanderson5626]

@@JadeRunner Lmao wtf '' If S Koreans hate Capitalism so much..'' This has nothing to do with Capitalism at all. Lol You'll in USA are really brainwashed ..they say that if you try to find racism in anything you will end up succeeding and that's basically what's happening with you guys except this time it is communism

[@Apoch86]

check out Paul Joseph Watson's views on this show. I think you're right it's deeper than just economic disparity and anti-capitalist mentality.

[@hunterlurvey698]

B-b-b-but you can't critique capitalism!!!!!

[@hunterlurvey698]

@KayCay good does not mean perfect, and certainly does not mean exempt from criticism.

[@MsPiinkFllamingo]

At least Ben Shapiro can have some fun and discuss things other than just politics. His opinions are often hilariously on point.

[@el_reydeltamps]

He started talking about politics in the video lol.

[@macias7125]

@Conservative Loli Waifu (Bitcoin Enthusiast) ummmmmmm no we don't

[@el_reydeltamps]

@Conservative Loli Waifu (Bitcoin Enthusiast) what?

[@mrlolmaster1019]

i cant believe ben shapiro mentioned my favourite movie, battle royale

[@dr.wolfstar1765]

They really aren't. He just doesn't understand entertainment media and sounds braindead everytime he tries

[@rlambo4817]

Dude I love how Ben Shapiro needs to give beginners libertarian capitalism lessons because Squid Game rubbed him the wrong way. Pretty entertaining

[@betacuck3145]

What's more entertaining is the amount of low information lefties, not being aware of the fact that it was the creator of Squid Game who initially claimed the show was a critique of Capitalism. The responses from Conservatives, refuting that claim is just that, a response, not an attack.

[@fannin8583]

@@betacuck3145 That’s not an argument. One can provide a Marxist critique of the show and obviously equate it to the problems of money as a contributing factor in corruption, whether personal or societal, and state that is an obvious criticism of late stage capitalism. Ben’s argument is essentially that There is atrocities committed by individuals for greed ergo it must be communist in nature. Or alternatively using some of his own points the situation of those living in poverty can’t possibly be worse because the country they live in is generally better.

[@malluk3065]

@@fannin8583 Ben's argument is that the characters position is more so a result of bad decisions rather than capitalism. Also when the comparison is between north and south Korea I think it's fair for Ben to take issue with the idea that life isn't much better on the other side.

[@Lilhajxjk274]

He needs socialism lessons because he can't prove it's band and his arguments go againts capitalism

[@lightup6751]

@@malluk3065 the protagonist was fired from his company after 10 years for no good reason and then downward spiraled without money for a degree. the north korean girl escaped NK looking for a way to bring her mother to SK. these people didnt make bad decisions, they were dealt a shitty deck. and with all due respect being poor is almost never a result of bad choices but what you born into

[@pdomo415]

when you confuse being desperate with communism.

[@sultanofsauce9816]

In all fairness the two are pretty heavily intertwined

[@pdomo415]

@@sultanofsauce9816 I only see that in specific history but not in theory but if you care to explain I'm all ears

[@rigobatiancila5824]

@@pdomo415 true communism or communism as Marx described it has never and will never occur so that’s a stupid question.

[@sultanofsauce9816]

@@pdomo415 the issue is, for Communism as stated by Marxist theory to work, you would have to eliminate the human factor. Human beings are innately greedy, materialistic creatures. That’s not even starting to discuss the human capacity for laziness. In every documented instance, after all people are given what they need to live, the majority will cease working because they’re being provided for already. Look at Jamestown before Marxist theory was even present. The entire colony would work and put all their resources into a communal bank for all to use. Eventually the majority of the colony realized that they didn’t have to work to be well-fed, so eventually those that continued to work, stopped, under the mindset that they would stop producing goods. This colony was saved by the capitalist idea that those who do not work do not deserve to be sustained. Even current day US is an example. Because of COVID benefits/stimulus, even though most people are allowed back to work restriction-free, most able-bodied individuals refuse to, because their needs are already being met by those who actually come in and do the work. And that isn’t even beginning to cover the ruling class, which under every instance of communism that has presented itself, has made themselves incredibly wealthy while they give their citizens scrap. So, to sum it up, in order for theoretical communism to function, you would have to completely remove the human factor.

[@iamisaid2295]

haha, because desperation comes after communism?

[@thekkidd3d]

I disagree with the idea that it agrandizes communism and vilifies capitalism. It has some strong anti-china/communist themes as well. It often points out the flaws in Both systems. It also in the end shows that he was able to help others as a result of the perseverance and sacrifices he made...a very individual concept. (The marble game was a pretty telling and damning moment, redeeming in some ways as well....) In the end, you can look at the show in these simple ways and take whatever you want from it....however, I think this is pretty disingenuous. The show is much more layered and multifaceted than this.

[@Paul-ks7nx]

Agreed. It doesn’t assert that the only way to get ahead of your poor under capitalism is to play in this weird game and there’s no regular way out through hard work. These people weren’t just poor. They were in unfathomable amounts of debt which can very much be impossible to get out of. Especially when your millions of dollars in debt while being chased by the cops like sang woo. Not gonna get out of that by pulling yourself up by the bootstraps lol

[@ysomadbeats]

@@Paul-ks7nx Debt like most things is a tool, in the hands of the responsible it can make you a lot of money, in the hands of the irresponsible, it will bury you. Either way it’s a TV show, I’m not sure why politics have to play a part at all or even be a focus. It’s a fictional world, there’s no reason to read past that.

[@charleneroberts5940]

I got much more out of the show also. Much more.

[@beatnews275]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKxd3-Ka6xriZo Breaking...Trump hit Media againg

[@CodyCha]

The director did state that the show depicts issues of capitalism. However, that is the current society we live in. What alternative do you have? Make an anti-communism film? What Ben failed to recognize is that the game itself represented Communism. The game emphasized *equality* with a false promise of wealth. They locked you up at gunpoint. Killed you if you didn't follow their rules. Oh yes, communism has fat evil 1% elites too. The game is a direct contradiction of Democracy.

[@jacobshepherd2319]

If Ben had the cure for cancer, he'd tell you about the Helix Sleep Mattress before he told you about the cure.

[@Kilaueaorph4n]

Poor Ben has every right to make some money…or he might have to end up having to participate in the squid game himself 🦑🥴

[@JoeOrsak]

It's that good.

[@directreply350]

Hahaha

[@chodxnielmobile671]

@@Kilaueaorph4n ben shapiro is a multimillionaire, born from a family of holly wood elites. I think hes doing juuuust fine.

[@danielgriff2659]

plot twist: Helix Sleep Mattress cures cancer

[@basicsimp8798]

I love how Ben and other conservatives have to do a lot of mental gymnastics to make sure shows like Squid Game and Parasite are anything but a critique of Capitalism. Denial at its finest.

[@dudoji85]

"She’s nice because she’s rich. Hell, if I had all this money. I’d be nice, too!"

[@hectorgomez8290]

Yeah of course it is not..

[@johnadams3418]

"Ben and other conservatives HAVE TO DO a lot of mental gymnastics to make sure shows like Squid Game and Parasite are ANYTHING BUT a critique of Capitalism" With this sentence you are saying Ben is trying to say this show IS NOT a critique of capitalism which is clearly not the case. I'm confused by your point.

[@hellowow8662]

?? I am a Korean. This drama is not just a drama about human nature. This drama explicitly contains a political message. The drama director also said vip described Trump. The Korean film industry was actually dominated by leftists. So they just make it fun to instill their values in people.

[@betacuck3145]

The creator of the show said it was a critique of capitalism, which anybody with a brain and understanding of economics did not get the same impression of the creator. The capitalist/communist dynamic needs to be addressed, because the creator obviously doesn't know the difference between the two.

[@Scott-iw5ji]

I think Ben is over-analyzing here, because I didn’t see any real coherent anti-capitalism message. If there’s any moral message at all, it’s that individual humans are weak and flawed, but even under terrible circumstances where the odds are stacked against them, most of them are still capable of showing compassion, sacrifice, and understanding, even as they know they’re almost certainly going to be eliminated.

[@bobjones-eg2md]

If you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean it does not exist

[@MaskOfCinder]

@@bobjones-eg2md People want to see it because they love shows created by capitalism telling them how bad capitalism is. The show is mostly about what the OP said.

[@peko6270]

@@bobjones-eg2md But not only Scott but also other comments are saying they did not see anti-capitalism message in the show. :) majority people think like this way :)

[@Gameplayernumber1]

Very much agree with your take. Never saw any real anti-capitalist messages in Parasite either, though it was a great movie showing how greed corrupts people

[@garyrolen8764]

I agree. I think you have to use an active imagination to draw any conclusions beyond what you lay out.

[@rishabrazdan8346]

"So, basically, there's no Squid involved. You've been living a lie."

[@vincentsimone4572]

No cause the game they play for the final round is called the squid game and is shaped like a squid 🤦‍♂️ and the main character was very good at the game as a child

[@A-Dubs398]

@@vincentsimone4572 he was obviously joking, lol.

[@johnnk3256]

Baldrick: So the poor old ostrich died for nothing...🤣🤣🤣

[@georgewashingmachine1916]

@@vincentsimone4572 he was making a joke

[@danikirk5774]

@@vincentsimone4572 I'm still extremely confused with how the game design looks anything like an actual Squid.... like, I've seen squid, they look nothing like the game is drawn

[@Kuonji]

It's not as simplistic as "The show is a critique of capitalism". There are a lot more topics addressed.

[@onlydaprecum]

I thought it was a suspense thriller. Like that would be the genre, but nowadays people assign the least significant part of the show to describe it. When did like anticapitalist and multicultural become a genre?

[@marvolovodka4911]

With capitalism being the direct thing the director stated it was about

[@marvolovodka4911]

@@onlydaprecum Its called an underlying message. Ever passed 4th grade?

[@r.achel044]

especially the comet pizza art on the walls of the elite VIP rooms👀

[@samuelsmith5400]

This is bens review not an in-depth breakdown of the show he’s just gonna cover what his perspective of the show is

[@ambralemon]

Ah yes, main character is poor because of gambling, he surely does not gamble because he's poor and is desperately trying to pay off debt, and he's not poor because he lost his job. Yes. Very deep, Ben, the eye of a true impartial observer.

[@danielmcbride6413]

I mean we see that he’s a gambling addict whose marriage ended because of gambling. Yes, he did lose his job in what was ultimately a massacre committed by a company(another Marxist idea) but if not for his obsessive gambling habits, he would not be deeply in debt and he would likely have gotten a job.

[@ambralemon]

@@danielmcbride6413 The point is that he did try again, he opened 2 startups which both failed. I know it's an exaggerated hyperbolic capitalist world the one Squid Game is set in, but downplaying it willingly by skipping details shows how scared Ben is of actually making a point.

[@bascal133]

The show's creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has been very clear about the meaning of Squid Game, telling Variety: "I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about MODERN CAPITALIST SOCIETY, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life."

[@sownheard]

Money is the new god 🙏 sell out

[@bascal133]

@Jeshua Satterlee I thought so too, but we got people out here like Benny Shapiro and Tim Pool saying it is communist. lmaooooo so maybe he should have literally had a voice over saying "capitalism bad" to make it more clear? lmaoo

[@Tinky11221]

@Jeshua Satterlee Are you being sarcastic? People from USA sometimes prefer to die over being saddled with health bills and they are incentivized to enlist in war in order to lessen their student loans.

[@hectorgomez8290]

@@bascal133 Communism it's not the contrary of capitalism? what are you talking about?

[@bascal133]

@@hectorgomez8290 show me where I said that.

[@MichaelAres]

Honestly I wasn’t really getting an anti-capitalist vibe from the show, just more of the horrors of the human condition and what lengths we can go to for betrayal and survival.

[@YumFit1]

IKR, they just wanted to tell a story. Americans are so used to hollywood being a propaganda machine that they can't just believe that it's just a creative fiction without some agenda. It's in korean, they didn't even know the show would blow up this much

[@mynameisviktorreznov]

Exactly lol. People are trying to inject their politics into a show for no reason. Just sit back switch your brain off and eat some popcorn

[@alexlazzerly3677]

Ben Shapiro finding anti-capitalist messages in Squid Game is the least surprising thing you could have told me.

[@awiNde009]

Your description is more suitable to the original Japanese movie Battle Royal. Squid Game as a TV show put some background stories to fill the episodes. The business conglomerates have much more influence in Japan/Korea than US, different Capitalism and different Democracy.

[@YumFit1]

@@logsoccer03 Yeah, but he didn''t say anything like communism or some another system is better. it's just a guy doing his thing, there's no political stance here. he didn't even expect that it will get popular outside korea

[@laurakim898]

In Parasite the “poor people” weren’t really depicted as innately more noble than the rich. They used all sorts of dishonest tactics in order to climb the ladder. I think Squid Game is less of a capitalist critique and more of a social critique to expose the corruption in Korean society/values. There is a lot of nepotism and exploitation of political connections that exacerbate class conflicts and contribute to extreme social and political hierarchies in S Korea.

[@kirstyi7860]

This is really about the elites having fun. After you own everything and everyone you see, you get bored. After you've done every horrific thing you can to the most innocents among us (check out the nursery wall paper as they get jiggy with it). Now they're watching you, watching people die and cheering. What makes you different than them?

[@Foygjkg]

How is kimchi

[@brett19890]

Spot on! your analysis of corruption in South Korea is rampant. Even the former president was guilty of that and served prison term. Let's not pretend everything is perfect. Both sides have their imperfections.

[@brett19890]

@@Foygjkg I dated a korean chick and was introduced to their BBQ and kimchi, was awesome! Try it sometime.

[@kirstyi7860]

@@brett19890 Both sides are filled with human being. It's people that are imperfect, it's people that believe they're some false god whose doctrine determines they're naturally good when a quick glance at history would tell them otherwise. A woman got raped on a train that made over 30 stops and all people did was film it on their phones and that's in America, home of the free land of the brave. Like every single empire that has ever fallen, it will fall from within and it will fall bc of amorality.

[@mathh5996]

ive watched the whole show, i dont feel like it critisizes capitalism itself as a system but rather the greed and dystopian depressing societies that we are living in today, corporatism, debt and the lack of empathy of humans towards each other and this show is describing todays reality many would participate in those games than living depressed and broke because the world can be very harsh

[@the21stsergeant]

"I don't like this show because it insults capitalism, wahhhh". Enjoy your work, Ben.. but damn if you don't have some ridiculous takes sometimes.

[@tell-me-a-story-]

That's not it. Look, he was kinder to the show than I would be (They overdo the gore thing a lot and it serves no pourpous to be gory.) One day, you gotta face that nobody has to like the same shows as you and if somone does not like it does not mean they are crying about it.

[@mypartyisprivate8693]

He doesn't give it a perfect 10/10 and you're hurt lol

[@Ossian-dr1vr]

@@tell-me-a-story- when was it overly gorey? I dont remember any moments when is was unneccecarily gorey for no reason.

[@spencerharmon4669]

Gross. Why do you like him? Ben Shapiro, this is true, is a complete moron. I'm hear to laugh about how there's no way he understood this show. Quite satisfied to see his ignorance on full display.

[@darkhorse381]

Ben sees two pieces of Korean media that point out the flaws of hyper-capitalism and claims "This is what the Korean film industry is exporting" as if it is some coordinated insidious plot to foil his beloved capitalism, not just the opinions of two directors that oppose his own. Btw, Parasite and Squid Game may critique capitalism but they aren't necessarily pro-communism. They point out the problem but don't tell you the solution. The solution may be neither capitalism nor communism. We may need something in between like the Scandinavian model

[@ThisKevinButton]

Yeah, sorry Ben. Wasn't an anti-capitalist movie. Missed the entire point of the film. It's about how we have all, rich or poor, have lost our basic humanity. SPOILERS At the end, the old man is proven wrong when he loses because someone comes and helps the cold drunk on the street. Gi-un sacrifices his life of luxury and comfort at the end by doing the morally humane right thing and decides to take down the Squid Game. He regains his humanity.

[@Allen.Fepuleai]

You’re way too invested into a dumb show

[@shanadimitrov4041]

He gives up going to be a father to chase after a stupid squid game that people in desperate conditions volunteered to be a part of - basic humanity is being a parent. It’s not the squid games fault he had a gambling problem.

[@niyantsroom6561]

@@Allen.Fepuleai ok snowflake

[@bobjones-eg2md]

Why isnt it anti-capitalism? It can be both. Tell us why instead of speaking another point

[@Melvin-er7rv]

Seriously? You wanna go against The BEN SHAPIRO? Think again..... According to me it's well thought by him and the director too since he planned this story years before

[@jtib5968]

I don't know how you're getting the "Capitalism is bad" message when one of the subplots is literally one character trying to get her family out of North Korea. In essence it seems to be saying that things are hard in SK but there is still hope.

[@Daniel-hs9bj]

All of the people are playing the game because they failed capitalism. Being a critique of capitalism doesn't equal pro communism.

[@jordanintheknow]

It’s not about capitalism is bad. We see 100 some odd people down on their luck and are desperate for money. Ben is being kinda ridiculous on that point these people are in debt millions of won. Obviously these cases are extreme circumstances.

[@jtib5968]

@@Daniel-hs9bj If people are depicted as poor in a capitalist society we are meant to take that to mean "capitalism is bad?" That makes no sense. The only connection Ben can really make is to say that Capitalism and greed are the same thing and that's equating Capitalism with its ugliest attribute. I think greed IS the great shortcoming of Capitalism, and I would hold that against it if it wasn't ALSO the great shortcoming of Socialism.

[@KakashiHatake-vv4cw]

seesh watch the video again he talked about it - 3:57

[@jtib5968]

@@KakashiHatake-vv4cw I know. I'm just pointing out how strange it is that he's making the points that he is in light of what he knows.

[@MichaelAnthony333]

i loved the show. i watched it in English the first time, and heading through my second time, i have been watching it in original Korean-which seems to make it even more interesting. you actually get the feel of the characters, and it’s not a bit cheesy, like the English dubbed version was (imo). also, the English subtitles in the original Korean version are different from the English dubbed subtitles (and seemingly slightly more accurate). if you plan on watching it a second time, i would recommend the original Korean

[@emiliofermi9994]

I wonder if Ben actually watched Parasite. The poor main characters of the movie were not nice at all and the rich were not evil. Rather, the protagonists, who were the poorest, cheated and murdered the rich, and the wealthy were just victims. This movie shows how poor people kill each other, not at all anti-capitalism..

[@yeticusrex1661]

"If you don't like games, then you ain't a squid." - Xho Xiden

[@manhuntruler2]

Hold up 😂

[@frankvandermerwe1487]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@imnotsure3451]

😂this is too good

[@kommisar.]

test

[@JediHan]

Jo-Il Den

[@zachmason868]

The VIP aspect of Squid Game was probably the worst thing about the show.

[@MrEvanNoyes]

I there had to be a point to the whole thing. And it makes sense.

[@thomas5]

Definitely, and I hate the people that say "the point is that they are like that", like no you are just trying to justify horrific acting.

[@braydonmotivation141]

@@thomas5 no, it's not that. They're just rich douchebags. Its not about the acting

[@skyhe5516]

@@logsoccer03 you thought they knew they would even get the approval from Netflix to have second season ? No one expected it to blow up

[@sleepcy-yt]

@@thomas5 could be horrific acting, could also be the scripts they were given and/or their roles as delusional snobs.

[@jeremyjohnson7537]

I hate how ben made this a capitalist vs communist thing The show just depicted the real miserable lives of people, got nothing to do with capitalism or communism Ben's mind is warped into seeing politics everywhere lol

[@ahmetaldanmaz1617]

Not really. The Director and Critics Praise Squid Game for Being Anti-Capitalist. You can look it up

[@VinnieSajan]

Bruh, the left has done it as well. And dude it's show about rich people exploiting poor people. Everyone was gonna make an attempt at calling it a critique of whatever system.

[@katana7278]

To be fair he is a political pundit, it’s his job. Also many lefties have been praising the show due to its anti-capitalist undertones.

[@my2l]

@@ahmetaldanmaz1617 the director never explicitly said it’s anti capitalist, he said it’s a depiction of the South Korean capitalist society and exposing a lot of the societal problems they have, plus there were plenty of anti communist messages in the show too.

[@airsoft1238]

This is hysterical, Ben’s reading waaaaaaay too much into this lol it’s just the gritty tone

[@PandamanGP]

I mean the producer of the movie himself said it was a critique of capitalism

[@hellowow8662]

?? I am a Korean. This drama is not just a drama about human nature. This drama explicitly contains a political message. The drama director also said vip described Trump. The Korean film industry was actually dominated by leftists. So they just make it fun to instill their values in people.

[@betacuck3145]

Dude, the creator of Squid Game started this debate, by initially claiming the show was a critique of Capitalism.

[@heronoverdose]

What a pathetic take

[@ryanliu117]

🤡

[@sim205]

i would say its a cross between: hunger games, parasite, saw

[@johnhein2539]

Kaiji anyone?

[@omaralkayal7598]

The director took inspiration from Battle Royal

[@francoisg.9112]

@@johnhein2539 Oh man, thanks. Watching squid game I ve been trying to remember this anime to rewatch it.

[@johnhein2539]

@@francoisg.9112 It's awesome. My favorite arc is the debtor's prison dice arc. Half of it is about him controlling his own willpower and it's really engaging. Plus it's an insanely satisfying tactic to win. Squid games had less complicated games, but Kaijis wins were more satisfying. Especially when he loses and loses in nightmare ways occasionally

[@Wantar]

Rat Race american comedy from 200x. Same thing. Bored millionaires invent a game for several losers to play while betting on them. Not similar, same, minus bloodbath and korean visual presentation.

[@cdjwmusic]

I dissagree on this one, Squid Game doesn't try to send an anti-capitalist message, it tries to show how extreme greed and lack of morality can destroy individuals and society. Notice how the main character's problems come from gambling addiction (even to the point of stealing her mother's insurance money for it), his friend's problem comes from betting his mother's money on futures, and other characters have problems that originate from their criminal activities. The series doesn't blame any of those problems on capitalism. Hell, even Sae Byeok's problems come from escaping a terrible communist dictatorship; this plus the fact that the game itself has a very communistic approach, would show the opposite: a criticism of communism.

[@Frame_Late]

Fair idea. Death of the Author exists, and Ben makes some good points.

[@mowserscatingtin9853]

But its capitalism that MAKES these people bad, its how you have to be greedy to survive in a capitalist society

[@Frame_Late]

@@mowserscatingtin9853 you don't have to be inherently greedy to survive in a capitalist society. Just competitive.

[@nicwelch]

@@mowserscatingtin9853 Socialism is inherently greedy. You take the fruits of someone else’s labor through force.

[@Phalanx-of-Synchron]

I aswell disagree with Ben's take on squid game and most everyone else's, they view everything narrowly; capitalism, communism, I'd more so say it's greed, lack of morality and a reflection of everyone's values having a chip in its armour, on an individual and societal level we need better ideals

[@Analysaddict]

I don’t agree at all, Ben. The show had a critique on how human beings react in extreme situations. To me, it was not about capitalism at all, but rather about how people can change. Besides I didn’t find it “extremely gory” as you mentioned. Sure, it was gross here and there but it was adding something to the story. So there was basically no Gore effect just to make the show “attractive”. Not every show on Netflix is political..

[@dustinsindledecker154]

My god you guys are not watching the same show, or you just don't want to believe that it criticizes capitalism, I hate Ben but at least he sees it why can't you.

[@cosmicdust5572]

totally agree

[@straightjacket308]

I'd say the end of the series definitely shows that it more portrays the desperation but also general evil of the human condition.

[@agentsloan4277]

The creator of the show said the show is inspired by Donald Trump, and the issues with capitalism

[@Jason-ot3vi]

@@dustinsindledecker154 if thats All u thought about im sry for u and u really need a Hobby to distract urself from ur own thoughts dude. No hate

[@ozone8897]

How does he manage to make *EVERYTHING* political

[@cloud2578]

Idk this show seems to be political

[@heronoverdose]

Because It's his job and it's what the audience wants.

[@ozone8897]

@@cloud2578 Yeah but he just reviewed squid game. Not political. And yet he managed to make it political.

[@cloud2578]

@@ozone8897 His entire career is politics

[@ozone8897]

@@cloud2578 Then he should stick to politics not squid game

[@mariojorge157]

I partially disagree. The game can be seen as a representation of a socialist society, where the state controls people through force, imposing strict rules of conduct, where the slightest deviation condemns its citizen to death. This socialist society is controlled by a small number of people, who are completely free to do as they please, while its citizens live in fierce oppression. In fact, I believe that this film was designed to fit the socialist and capitalist visions, each of which will have a different perception of the story's plot. (Sorry for any spelling error - Brazil)

[@20thcentury_toy]

Mano o criador falou que é crítica ao capitalismo kkk, claro que avaliando o show por si só pode se ter várias interpretações, mas a original é clara, mais um caso da obra podendo discordar do próprio autor tipo o Alan Moore com watchman

[@MrKirbanator]

Yea that's the funny thing, the creator said it's a critic of capitalism but he created a socialist society.

[@wolfcreek8484]

Brasil alalalala

[@yoboiboy4182]

Lmao I’m not even a socialist but it’s hilarious seeing ppl talk without knowing anything about it. None of what you just stated is a tenant of socialism.

[@GodwynDi]

@@yoboiboy4182 Sure, but explain why every socialist state ends up the exact same way.

[@PaulLeach123]

As a WGA screenwriter, I don’t think Squid Game was pro-communist, I think the terrible lives were there to justify the choices of people being willing to risk their lives for money - using their own free will to choose to do so. To make this believable, you have to show that life outside is worse than life in the game - it’s a story telling device to provide justification. On another note, glad you’re in the media biz, Ben. Use one of my feature or series scripts as a future project! (They’re all marketable genres with thematic morality)

[@rodrigovalle6466]

I think we started to compare it to capitalism bc some senzasionalist left leading news said that this was a huge take on capilatism when it really isnt, yes it has some critique of capitalism but it was not the central part, it was more of a take of humans in their lower point

[@billkar6479]

@@rodrigovalle6466 it’s kinda supposed to reflect, and mock in a way, ultra-capitalist South Korea where it’s household debt is higher than it’s gdp. It’s supposed to resonate with the SKorean youth in a deeper level.

[@jasonhenry8067]

I agreed with you until the scene he mentioned with the North Korean escapee came on. That was so on the nose it changed my outlook of the show.

[@cameron7441]

I def agree

[@Quarthon]

@@rodrigovalle6466 The creator of the show said its about the dangers of capitalism. So there's that.

[@futurereflections4097]

Ben so capitalist he can’t even enjoy a show where rich powerful people are the villains and poor people are the victims lol. I like Ben in general but his staunch republicanism is unbearable at times

[@mike-mz6yz]

are rich powerful people really the villains here though? I didnt see it as such. I saw the main villain as the stock broker friend. I mean the rich people are not good people but neither are the contestants. For them to be villains they would have to be forcing the people to compete or at least but applying pressure on their lives to insure they decide to compete.

[@MAACotton]

All these 'culture' reviews are to be ignored entirely

[@dericmederos1514]

I genuinely wonder if he is just saying this because his fan base wants to hear "Its about communism being bad." Its one reason why i don't like political youtubers because you know exactly what you're gonna get "The (insert party) once again are ruining the country while the (insert party) are trying to save it."

[@alanbrad4564]

@@dericmederos1514 I know. It's so played out, yet people fall for it again and again and again...

[@04dram04]

The writer of the show literally said its about capitalism. So Ben is 100% correct here

[@dp503]

The main character was not a “bad guy” for gambling. He just hadn’t grown up. He was a wishful thinking. By the end of squid game, he had grown up for sure and was much wiser

[@KevinSmile]

Watching crowds of people die tends to do that to ya

[@qwerty112311]

Everyone acts like he is a good guy, but he sentenced the old guy to death by taking advantage of what he believed to be dementia. He is not a good guy.

[@KevinSmile]

@@qwerty112311 Don't act like you wouldn't do the same thing in that situation.

[@dp503]

@@qwerty112311 It was kill or get killed. A metaphor for certain instances in an imperfect society

[@strawberrypeppermint4185]

@@qwerty112311 becuase its about human nature 90% of people would do that.

[@HumanHamCube]

Squid Game: despite having ultimate equality, the people with best skills still end up out performing. . .

[@Roch10Family]

How does squid game provide equity?

[@phantomprism7659]

@@Roch10Family they claim they give every player an equal chance

[@dianalaura2276]

There are two definitions. In economics it’s equality of opportunity.

[@Nemicron001]

Just like real life

[@Nemicron001]

@@dianalaura2276 women are treated equally as well. So don’t get your nose bent out of shape

[@e.t.4824]

I just can't get over the fact that his voice hasn't changed.

[@debblez]

he’s a grown man his voice isnt gonna change

[@drewroebuck6979]

Play at .75 speed he actually sounds normal

[@chumbue6537]

@@debblez Oh, sounded like a 12 year old. Sorry

[@hotfoxk.9889]

@@drewroebuck6979 Maybe that's part of his appeal. Maybe he wouldn't have so many followers if he had normal voice and talked in normal speed.

[@Anniekitty1016]

Low hanging fruit to critique something someone can't change

[@MBrulla]

Not all the VIPs were American. One was seemingly Russian, one was from some Asian country, two seemed to be clearly American, but not all were. I think much of this critique is self fulfilling prophecy. If you want to see political ideology you can find it anywhere, and in Squid Game you can see both pro and anti-communist/capitalist examples. Personally, I believe the show was about choice and how the quest for more can leave you with less or, in some cases, nothing at all.

[@tigervalley62]

I heard that one was supposed to be Australian apparently...

[@MrJoshplatinum]

You're expecting Ben to be able to think beyond what sells to people who click videos and consume his content.

[@Mangolite]

This is how ignorant most reviewers are to call anyone speaking English as Americans collectively.

[@mitchellolson5684]

Almost everyone there felt forced to be there. They weren’t necessarily greedy or envious, they just had certain death in the real world. This creation of a small, fake world with emphasis on equality was definitely a metaphor for communism. It wasn’t pro communism though, maybe more of basic class struggle concept. The VIPs could pay off all their debts, but choose their own sick pleasure is the pitfalls of capitalism argument.

[@mauistrife2567]

It was actually really inclusive,theres the american,the australian,the chinese(i think) only one left was a mexican one

[@ryanabsher7784]

I honestly never thought about politics during this show😂 I was just having fun watching it

[@pedrotenoriomendes]

I think it was a critique of human nature, not of capitalism. No one that entered the game made good ( or even reasonable) choices in life, including the choice to play.

[@astoldbytheolyn4382]

Gosh, I found 4 levels of meaning. See my review ❤️ up here on KZbin.

[@EdriczZ_]

The director literally said it was anti-capitalist

[@niamhmcparland3293]

no... it is a critique of capitalism

[@bighands69]

While it did critique human nature it was still having a go at the market economy.

[@kathycoleman4648]

@@EdriczZ_ This is true. However, as with any piece of art it has the meaning that the person viewing it ascribes to it. What the creator wanted to be taken from it is only as relevant as they were successful in getting people to reach that conclusion within the piece itself.

[@ghostf6321]

I didn't really get the anti capitalist aspect everyone keeps talking about. The best part of the show imo was the characters and their development, it was even made apparently clear all the players were there due to their own fault. I just don't see a "anti capitalist or pro communist message" maybe a comment on money and human nature but not really anything political. I think Ben is just inserting something that isn't really there.

[@Foygjkg]

The movie was actually pro capitalism and shows us what we have to avoid and to be mindful of to survive it.

[@my2l]

Yea, the show actually mentioned how horrible North Korea and communism is when the girl said how she saw bodies piling up and her dad getting shot.

[@lyingcat9022]

I have to agree for the most part:) It might nod towards the whole “Evil Rich White Man” trope. But so has almost every thriller/action movie and show ever made.

[@Foygjkg]

@@my2l you are right. Ben is super closed minded in terms of capitalism and socialism and he only wants to see what he wants to see.

[@anonuser7157]

No, he is taking the creators word for that, as he is the one who made the claim.

[@bingley_music]

I love how Ben is so honest and not afraid to speak truth. He should do more reviews like this!

[@ryand730]

Michael Knowles or Matt Walsh should review the new Netflix show Midnight Mass.

[@magababy4291]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKnEqI2Plr2EkNk Breaking news😂🤣🤣

[@amrechird5069]

Ayy yo its me lol yea ben should review more stuff

[@TheArsenalMan125]

i like ben but he really missed the point of the show and the messages

[@chefcurry787]

AGREED, do more Ben💯💯

[@fishfinger552]

I love how Ben Shapiro (and other conservatives) have said for ages that people who don’t share their views aren’t creative and are obsessed with ideology and identity. Yet he fails to analyse the imaginative, human aspects of this story and focuses on the politics of it. Hypocrite. He’s just fallen down the alt-right rabbit hole.

[@heronoverdose]

Alt right how?

[@swampaids]

'alt right' maybe people will take you seriously if you stop throwing around buzz words

[@darshanahewage8018]

Capitalism isn't alt right. Alt right believes capitalism to be a fraud of the international jewry, so no, he isn't a alt rightist but a arrogant classical judeo Christian conservative.

[@tekardashian]

I really liked the show. Ppl sometimes let politics ruin an experience, but in this case I don't think it should, it's got amazing photography and story, 100% recommend

[@FromThe3021]

Thank You Mrs.Boulhosa. Although in a derogatory tone, Ben suggests watching the show first, so hopefully that helps direct some to do so & make judgement aligned with your honest review.

[@uno9915]

I dont think policitics ruined the show for shapiro, he just stated what he thought about what squid game's purpose was about. he got it kind of twisted but he was just trying to talk about what was behind even going to the games

[@UNKNOWN-qr7uo]

@@uno9915 In the first place I don’t why someone who is an KZbin political News channel is making Movie and TV show reviews if their just going to base their opinions/thought on politics Literally he made an whole another rating on this show based on politics.I think he compensating on something

[@lucienoon7262]

there's the rich, the poor, the middle class, the working class, the upper middle class, on & on in Korea, the show happens to depict the polar opposite, if there's a show about middle class & upper middle class, i wonder if ben would read so much into the political aspect of the show...poor and the rich make up 'a portion' of Korean society so oversimplifying i'd stay away from-

[@artyfarts8006]

I think the main character isn’t a bad kinda guy. He’s good at heart, he makes bad choices and isn’t responsible though. He clearly loves his daughter as he punched his ex’s husband when he offered money for him to not see her again, he really wants to have a good relationship with her. Plus he was very loyal to his group and got angry when his friend killed the girl. He was one of the only kind people to the old man too.

[@wujekstalin1]

He is weak and a hypocrite. He thinks he is better than everyone but he volunteered like everyone else for money. But he lacks the balls to go all the way like his friend. In last scene he is betting with the old man instead help the guy on the street, he became the VIP at this point.

[@kommisar.]

In all reality, he was actually a piece of shit. There's a reason he was divorced, in debt and had limited access to his daughter. Yes, they showed his kindness in the games, but this is a TV show, and people who are in situations like him are NOT as kind as him. You can take it with a grain of salt via suspension of disbelief, but if any of those people were real life they would not have been as virtuous as the characters were.

[@جابرالسهرودي]

@@kommisar. + He stole his mums money and gambled with it

[@mythocrat]

How come he loves his daughter? Last time he saw his daughter, he didn't even look at her face, and didn't hug her, ran away.

[@y007p3]

Great people can be deeply flawed

[@92Elfenlied]

Oh man, this Elmo shortcut cracked me up more than it should do.

[@yogawithizzymendoza8602]

Same! I was going to write the same thing🤣

[@magababy4291]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKnEqI2Plr2EkNk Breaking newso

[@magababy4291]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKnEqI2Plr2EkNk Breaking news😂😂

[@tomvonneefe4269]

Ben you forgot to mention that on episode 6 with the marbles that everyone picked their best friend and then after the fact realized that they had to play for each other's life. It only made sense for the husband and wife to be on the same team but then it was horrifically messed up when they found out they were each other's opponents instead.

[@emiliofermi9994]

I wonder if Ben actually watched Parasite. The poor main characters of the movie were not nice at all and the rich were not evil. Rather, the protagonists, who were the poorest, cheated and murdered the rich, and the wealthy were just victims. This movie shows how poor people kill each other, not at all anti-capitalism..

[@Sam_T2000]

@@emiliofermi9994- _Parasite_ was good up until the final scene, when the son romantically dreams of one day earning enough money to buy the house and free his father from the basement… but his father had just murdered a man. his father got what he deserved.

[@isaacchen1893]

@@emiliofermi9994 you copied a comment and slobbered it all over, what are you doing with your life

[@caniborrowapencil5160]

It wasn’t really anti-capitalist though, it more highlighted the mistakes people took to end up in that position (I.e. gambling etc). The poor weren’t glorified because they were all represented as self-responsible to some degree, not because of the system. On the flip side it also showed how having too much money can degrade basic pleasures most people enjoy (hence the need for the VIPs to enjoy such ridiculous entertainment) which is also true. I think it was more focused on the individual flaws within people than capitalism or any other economic system.

[@kirstyi7860]

I agree completely. Paul Joseph Watson has an excellent YT video about this perspective.

[@YippeeMK]

Very well put, that's how i understood the show

[@Techgod7848]

Are there any anecdotes you can cite to support the claim that "having too much money can degrade basic pleasures most people enjoy" Does your argument include serial killers and dictators too? and pretty much anyone who derives pleasure in seeing people suffer. Except of course seeing people suffer is a basic pleasure anyone can enjoy

[@jamessmith4843]

The writer-director of the show has stated that it has a Capitalism theme... Maybe you people should do some research first before commenting or just open your eyes lmao, its clearly anti-capitalist.

[@prata6938]

the director admitted it tho apparently

[@Okay-j2o]

I’m pretty sure it was more about people in bad situations, not that capitalism is bad

[@legendofsonic1000]

how did they get into those situation, by debt which is capitalism. plus the main character has ptsd after protesting for better work conditions

[@samuelsmith5400]

The villains are capitalist billionaires it’s definitely a commentary on capitalism

[@femmefragile3717]

The Director created this as a scathing commentary on capitalism. You don’t have to interpret anything. He’s talked about it at length.

[@zootsoot2006]

@@samuelsmith5400 Doesn't make sense that the game itself represents capitalism when the outside world is capitalistic too. Makes more sense to see it as a commentary on the shift from liberal democratic capitalism (the outside world) to a new authoritarian capitalism the likes of which we see in China (the game), which is economically capitalist but politically communist. The organ harvesting aspect is a strong hint in this direction, so too the American (plus Chinese) billionaires who orchestrate and fund it all.

[@rigobatiancila5824]

The creator of the show literally said that it was a modern capitalism allegory.

[@Michael-ux4yd]

I'm sorry but this is a completely ridiculous take. You can criticise capitalism/ greed as a human flaw without advocating for communism. At no point does it glorify anything resembling this - the North Korean escapee is disillusioned with South Korea as a promised land, but remains determined to save the rest of her family from the North. The most straightforwardly sympathetic character is Sang-woo's mother - far from being in poverty she seems to be a moderately successful small business owner (I didn't see any suggestion that her property should be repossessed and redistributed?). The biggest flaws in each character come from excess, but this is not suggested to be inherent to capitalism, just an obvious observation that an obsession with the competition and materialism that it encourages can go too far and can be hollow. Hardly communist. Even the Old Man's proposition that only in the Squid Game are people given a truly fair shot viz. capitalist Seoul, which you take to be central to the show's message c. 5:44, is proved wrong on in the same scene. The woman on the street calls the police to help the homeless man from the cold, proving how warped his view on human nature is. I think you should distinguish between criticism and revolution.

[@CH-tv1cy]

Yeah Ben's literally full of it he wasn't paying attention.

[@saritatambayong4002]

Yes. I wouldn't categorised Sang Woo's mom as poor. She's (and Gi Hun's mom) a hard worker who got Cursed with stupid sons. Sang Woo's put all of his mom possesion up for collateral, though. So she's gonna loose everything.

[@sharathananth2058]

Also Ben Mfer doesn't know that unlike Usa the work culture in SK is totally messed up.

[@laqueenawilliams4762]

He probably didn’t even watch the show. Probably just saw clips.

[@kritikmoofeed1997]

Before you analyze Ben's review, maybe it's worth it to read what the show creator actually said: "Creator of the show, Hwang Dong-hyuk, is pretty open about his intentions, revealing that the show was written during a difficult time in his life, when he was financially struggling. He stated: “I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life.” From an article in Forbes Magazine.

[@jasperthomas2165]

“It is stupid there’s not one white character”

[@vmpp3765]

I honestly don't see it as an unfair or extreme portrayal of capitalism. In my opinion, it was more about life and the choices we make regardless of our situation. For example, the protagonist was a deadbeat dad who was dead weight on his mother and only knew how to waste money he didn't have. Then sang woo, he had a good shot at life and he did it by moving up the ladder if you think about it(thanks to capitalism). Now, he made a stupid mistake for being greedy and trying to get more by playing dirty. I think the games depict life when it comes to making tough decisions that could turn your whole life around. And when it comes to the girl from north Korea, i think in a sense she did regret leaving because her family was torn apart and she couldn't take care of her little brother. She was right to regret it because at the end she died alone.

[@tonycatman]

Same. I don't see that it is a criticism of capitalism. You could say that it is a criticism of the very worst bits of capitalism. Or of greed. Or poor life choices. Or gambling. Mostly, if there was a deeper theme, I saw it as a bunch of thought experiments around game theory. But mostly, it was a bit of fun.

[@sivad1025]

I agree especially about Sae Byoek. Ben totally misunderstood her. Her comment was clearly a reflection on how her better life came at the expense of her family.

[@my2l]

The inclusion of the nk girl is more to shed light on the mistreatment of defectors in South Korea, most of them have a distinct accent and are often discriminated against in sk society.

[@PhuongNguyen-ji8rj]

No. This show is not about anti-capitalism. This show is about family values, friendship, teamwork, and hope. This show reveals human nature when it comes to dangerous situations. This show never means to tell you to hate any specific nationalities or ethnicities. This show also teaches you about why we should not judge people because we do not know their stories. The tug-of-war episode is my favorite because it tells you that a team can still win despite of obvious disadvantages as long as you have unity and strategies. I learn so much about life after watching this show. Everyone has their own opinions but to me, if you pay more attention, you will learn a lot more great things.

[@wildbill9681]

The director himself has said the story is an allegory for modern day capitalism.

[@schoolboymakhaba7462]

You my friend are right

[@majoredecos]

@@wildbill9681 so you think capitalism is perfect?

[@tripledigit4835]

@@majoredecos bad Faith much. When did he ever say that?

[@bobjones-eg2md]

Why can’t it be both? It can be anti-capitalism and all the themes you said.

[@ibtgb2]

I didn’t see this as a pro communist movie, I get the argument of it being a critique of capitalism but not a endorsement of socialism.

[@aleksandar2046]

This 👆 I agree. I don't like how Ben dismisses any and all criticism of capitalism. We all know that crony capitalism is a thing and Ben himself has talked about it extensively. They are not criticising capitalism in general, but corruption within it. Why not just agree that it's important to call it out?

[@roughhabit9085]

Did you profit from your last transaction? Was it a win win for buyer and seller? So how can you extrapolate crony capitalism from that? No , it’s government interference in the free market that promotes corruption and perversion.

[@vuyosidinile8493]

I didn't even consider that it's a critique of capitalism. I just really enjoyed the show.

[@danluba]

I doubt it is. I think everyone involved in the culture war is in it so deep they can’t think in any other terms.

[@log5426]

Funny thing is that Korean leftists were actually criticizing it for being too critical of North Korea.

[@asuraXTC]

@@log5426 left and right politics are extremely different to that of American left or right politics

[@mowserscatingtin9853]

@@danluba it definitely is

[@benianthony6396]

Same here

[@sirchad7321]

I disagree with the point that the people in poverty are depicted as not having done anything wrong. Most of them are in poverty because of their gambling, spending habits and their refusal to land a job. They’re in debt on their own cause, and they’re willing to bet their lives just for some cash.

[@thatguy6214]

Yeah right I didnt get any anti capitalism vibes. I thought the main point was people will do anything when they fuck themselves beyond repair. And the only thing stopping them from taking a moral high ground is their personal charcter.

[@thatguy6214]

They made fun of the 1% elites too. But thats not anti capitalism. Thats making fun of multi billionaires and how a lot of them are extremely selfish.

[@someguyonyt2831]

Nothing to do with Anti Capitalism at all. Ben need to f*cking chill sometime, that's all i'm saying.

[@SH-yu9of]

all Koreans know the director is anti-capitalist. In Korea, if you watch any k-drama poor characters are depicted as innocent and kind, and rich people as corrupt and evil. the media and entertainment industries in Korea are invaded with far-leftists almost the same as US. so the idea of poor is innocent and rich are evil is very popular. And this director def wants to put that idea into his work as well.

[@bella_testastretta]

@@someguyonyt2831 he does but it's his job so that's that haha

[@brennawehrle6321]

Everyone in the comments saying this isn’t a critique of capitalism…. The writer has been SUPER open about that fact that this is 100% a critique of capitalism. The problem is that it’s not a very good one - it misses the nuance involved in capitalist social structures, so you end up with a ham-fisted critique where the actions of (almost) all the poor people are morally justified, and all the rich people are despicably evil. A good commentary would examine the moral nuances present in the choices the poor people are making, delve further into an exploration of what the game makers mean by “equality” (and whether it’s true equality), and would indite the audience in its portrayal of wealthy people watching the squid games for entertainment (which we are also doing). I think the reason a lot of people want to say it’s a good/nuanced critique is because it introduces a lot of these ideas - but the show doesn’t follow through on any of them. If you want to watch a good, nuanced social critique, I would actually recommend “Snowpiercer” (the movie, not the show), which is in English but was written and directed by the same guy who did “Parasite” (Bong Joon-ho). It definitely is critical of capitalism, but also criticizes some Marxist attitudes, and shows the problems with central planning systems. It also criticizes the binary oppressor-oppressed narrative that’s present in Marxism. The rebels against the corrupt system are just as indoctrinated into false premises as those who run the corrupt system; it highlights the importance of true education (not indoctrination) for breaking out of harmful cycles and false dichotomies; and it draws attention to the human tendency to define extremists/rebels/conformists within a narrow, and sometimes inaccurate worldview (again, something which can be fought with true education).

[@131untouchable]

Very well written

[@kevinintheusa8984]

Well done.

[@HereTakeAFlower]

If I remember well it's specifically a critique against loans, which right now in South Korea are all the rage and are becoming a nightmare for the average citizen.

[@nocx4592]

Well, you see, if they tried to pay attention to the actual nuances, people who aren't already pro-capitalism might actually think. And then the middle-ground viewers have the chance to actually finish the show with a higher opinion of capitalism, and they can't have that! The reason people think it's a critique of communism is probably due to the fact that they see something shown as wrong to be a part of communism, but leftists (including the writers) think it's something that occurs under capitalism.

[@chuckbowie5833]

Amen.

[@MartinFink-tb7uk]

I looked up the difference of marxism and capitalism and one think chat gpt said is that marxism is comusism

[@14baustin]

Ben, your analysis of the dystopian communist nature of this show is underdeveloped. It's about the breakdown of morals of the ultra rich and the ultra poor. It shows people whom equally have nothing will go to any length including murder to win in the game of life. It's an argument for a better functioning capitalistic society. Not a communist one. This wasn't a capitalist critique, it's a show of the failing of morality.

[@diogenes3300]

I think so, too. I also don't like that criticizing capitalism makes you an anti-capitalist and enemy to the capitalist system. Chill out. You are allowed to be a capitalist and have concerns about capitalism.

[@dennisp8520]

@@diogenes3300 Yea know system or idealogy is perfect and the "capitalism" we have today isn't really capitalism. There is not healthy competition in many aspects, especially when we start talking about the global stage where China artificially supports their companies to put domestic providers out of business. Plus, the laws on the books today don't provide citizens or consumers in general proper protection against many issues that are faced within the economy

[@AshleyKaulitz007]

The creators were actually aiming for a capitalist critique.

[@Bookworm11853]

Honestly, Squid Game seemed to me more like a real-life imaging of Hobbes’s state of nature than a show promoting politics/anti-capitalism

[@juliocandiaguilar]

But of course Ben has to make it more political than it seems lol

[@borkguy]

There’s also the fact that there are a lot of Americans who live extremely decadent lifestyles and blow unreal amounts of money on partying, drinking, gambling, huge amounts of money that could go to charity. So that part isn’t wrong…

[@MelinaR20]

@@juliocandiaguilar the maker actually said it was. He said it was about capitalism

[@scotch1993]

Lol you’re funny when you’re desperately trying to lie your way out

[@MelinaR20]

@@scotch1993 “I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society” that a direct quote from the writer

[@wp7187]

It wasn’t anti-capitalism at all, in my opinion. It certainly criticised elements of modern South Korean society through the lens of wealth, but its ire seemed more-so focused upon the soullessness of neo-liberalism and the emptiness of having money without a greater purpose, and the disasters which await if soulfulness is abandoned for the sake of being materially rich.

[@andrewferris1903]

Nailed it IMO, it's a scathing critique on Korean generational values, I think a lot of people disregarded the role of age in the show and the elderly as a symbol in and of itself.

[@crimsonspade4305]

Ssshhhh. You might wake Ben up

[@maheshpun4804]

The creator said it's anti-capitalism. This is why author and film makers love leaving it to viewers interpretation, because ppl will choose whatever they like anway. And the makers dont want risk offending the viewer telling them they're wrong.

[@crimsonspade4305]

@@maheshpun4804 the creator never mentioned anything about the movie being about anti capitalism. That's what reviewers and critics are trying to say. The only thing the creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said was he wasn't interested in starting on the sequel yet. That's it... he hasn't really given much any real thought other than just creating a horror suspense movie about people who have nothing being pit against others in the same predicament. He had no real hidden meaning to the movie. Some movies believe or not are truly made for entertainment contrary to what left and right wingers think

[@dustinsindledecker154]

Conservatives seem to misinterpret alot of movies just to fit their point of view.

[@Kiie-ep6df]

Children fall into cute characters and games, and adults discuss the economic system and reality behind them. That's why Squid Game is amazing. They harmoniously mixed numerous things in one show

[@whoshotjj]

Yeah no, I don’t think children watch squid game

[@arushiyadav4662]

@@whoshotjj I think he meant teenagers

[@strawberrypeppermint4185]

@@whoshotjj my friends 4-6 year olds did so did 9-10 year olds.

[@emiliofermi9994]

I wonder if Ben actually watched Parasite. The poor main characters of the movie were not nice at all and the rich were not evil. Rather, the protagonists, who were the poorest, cheated and murdered the rich, and the wealthy were just victims. This movie shows how poor people kill each other, not at all anti-capitalism..

[@Sam_T2000]

I just watched the show finally, recently… people seem to think it’s some complete masterpiece, with only the validity of the message up for debate… but I thought it was far from perfect. it’s better than most things on TV/streaming, but it still had its flaws and hackneyed tropes, etc.

[@someguy6135]

I wouldn’t say this was a anti capitalist show. All the characters in the show fucked themselves up for doing stupid stuff in there lives.

[@aritroray353]

I agree, to me it had more anti elitist themes and there could be an argument that it mocks the Marxist elites who pretend that they care for poor people.

[@someguy6135]

@Giovanni Martinez Expect for him. His boss fucked him up.

[@s0459054]

@Giovanni Martinez the defector too

[@dustinsindledecker154]

Well the elitists are the biggest capitalists out there so it criticises capitalism.

[@Sthuthukile]

I feel like he's viewing it through a Western lense, where every piece of media has a message or agenda. I felt like it showed society as it is, objectively. It's not anti or pro anything

[@richardfreeman2116]

There were more nuances to the show and characters than Ben acknowledges here. For example, the main character was not always a derelict gambler but was nurtured into this life after the factory he worked for shut down because they didn’t want to give quality living conditions to its employees. During that time he lost a friend in the strikes, he couldn’t find work afterwards and his wife left him. His only opportunities game in the form of games - gambling, which is why he joined the squid game in the first place.

[@emptyblank099a]

@@PennyWise-eu9nz The country is at the brink. More capitalism and rampant competition is a good idea to you?

[@sittingaloneinvip]

as per usual, ben understands nothing about nuance and doesn’t know how to critically think.

[@sittingaloneinvip]

@@emptyblank099a uhhh more capitalism would not help the society. there needs to be a more even distribution of wealth and LESS competition, increase standard of living and benefits. no more wealth continuing to hoard the wealth like they have been for generations and generations. source: I am korean and parents went to SKY universities

[@sittingaloneinvip]

@Amy Johansen sure Jan 🙄 never said i was pro communist but go off i guess

[@kommisar.]

@@sittingaloneinvip Since when has the coercive redistribution of wealth EVER lead to long-time prosperity for any country? Case after case have shown that economic freedom leads to the greatest long-term growth. If you're so in favor of the government stealing money from those who have more of it and giving it to those who have less of it without anything in return, then you should move up north.

[@krs4395]

This is what happens when you view everything through a political lens, you end up no better than a social justice warrior.

[@nathancardenas2719]

The "ant-sjw"-sjw if you will.

[@sunnyxd2449]

He probably does that just for Yt I don’t think he goes to the movies and looks at the politics

[@timdixo]

Disagree, when the movie industry produces films with a surreptitious ideological intent they deserve to be called out.

[@CaliforniatoWestAfrica]

No. you're absolutely oblivious. You dont see the water because you are a fish. we are on the outside observing you and the other clueless guppies. Hey Ben..another fake woke person trying to be smart. just fell right on her face. lmao!

[@CaliforniatoWestAfrica]

@@nathancardenas2719Like him or he is seeing the reality. Political correctness seeps into everything and ruins everything it touches. This is why they cut parts out of classic movies and remove books and you think that people are overreacting? is that it?

[@JOAKINGtube]

Damn Ben, the word capitalism came 0 times to my head while watching the series. I don't often check your content, but I thought you could watch something without your political gaggles, clearly I was wrong.

[@blank003]

The director said that it's a critic of capitalism.

[@aeedits8815]

Yeah but the series doesn’t see communism as the solution, thats the big difference…

[@JOAKINGtube]

@@blank003 fair enough, guess I payed more attention to some of the other themes in the series. Perhaps my judgement about Ben's perspective was too rushed.

[@hellowow8662]

I am a Korean. This drama is not just a drama about human nature. This drama explicitly contains a political message. The drama director also said vip described Trump. The Korean film industry was actually dominated by leftists. So they just make it fun to instill their values in people.

[@betacuck3145]

@@JOAKINGtube it's good that you admitted that you didn't know the reason why Squid Game has a capitalist/communist debate surrounding it, is because the creator himself claimed it was a critique on capitalism. Too many idi0ts in the comments attacking Ben, because they aren't aware of the fact the creator started this debacle.

[@789syrus789]

If this show was political driven it didn’t really do a good job justifying anti capitalism. I just looked at all the characters as shitty people.

[@mathurex211]

It justifies anti-capitalism as much as anti-communism by the nature of the game itself.

[@sabinoluevano7447]

becasue the show is really about game theory and human nature

[@mrabaloneful]

Ben got it wrong that these people were depicted as nice people. They were the losers of society in most cases

[@aivreescend7945]

@MasteroMatter That's what happen to Ali so i don't know what you're talking about. Gi Hun is Nice AND lucky.

[@SC4RY_G4RRY]

I didn’t see it that way either, and not all the vips were American