‘Squid Game’ Disgusting Sex Scene Was Inspired By Reality TV, Creator Says
That Squid Game's infamous intimate scene wasn't uncomfortable by accident. It was actually inspired by reality TV and has a deeper meaning. Here’s what we know.
The final season of Squid Game is just around the corner, set to premiere on Netflix on June 27, 2025. As we count down the days, it's worth revisiting the phenomenon that is Season 1.
Among the many boundary-pushing moments in the first season, Episode 4 stands out for featuring one of the most uncomfortable sex scenes in TV history.
The Disturbing Strategy Behind Han Mi-nyeo and Jang Deok-su's Relationship
The hookup between Han Mi-nyeo and Jang Deok-su is as far from a love story as you can get. It's a straight-up survival strategy with a side of manipulation. Deok-su, the gangster with zero moral compass, uses Mi-nyeo.
Moreover: what makes this interaction even more disturbing is what follows. Deok-su's cold-blooded manipulation becomes evident when he casually discards Mi-nyeo once she's served her purpose, abandoning her to improve his own chances of survival.
Reality TV Influenced ‘Squid Game’ Sex Season Back in Season 1
Turns out: that cringe-worthy hookup between Mi-nyeo and Deok-su wasn't just shock value. It was actually inspired by a reality TV show. In an interview with The Guardian, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk broke it down:
"It was about people’s psychology in extreme situations. They are sexually attracted to people they believe are stronger and the best at hunting, when they wouldn’t have been before. [My purpose was] to show that, regardless of gender, women and men tend to perform desperate actions in extreme situations."
And while no specific reality TV show was named, the source stated that it's a show “in which contestants are stranded on a desert island.”
‘Squid Game’ Is a Commentary on Our Reality TV-Obsession
The show has always been a not-so-subtle commentary on our obsession with entertainment. And the fact that we are always craving for more.
What’s important: this isn't the first time Hwang has drawn parallels between Squid Game and our real-world obsession with competition shows. The entire premise of the series is basically desperate people competing for cash.
When you think about it, shows like Survivor have been pushing similar buttons for decades (just with fewer deadly consequences). Contestants form alliances, betray each other, and yes, even have showmances, all while millions watch from home.
