“Squid Recreation” season 2 spoilers comply with.
One of many issues that makes the hit Netflix sequence “Squid Recreation” so compelling is the big selection of people who determined to join the video games. It is a sensible option to present that the actual villain — rampant late-stage capitalism — impacts nearly everybody who is not filthy wealthy. As far-fetched as it might appear, many people are only one unhealthy resolution, accident, or sickness away from perhaps seeing one thing like “Squid Recreation” as the one manner out. It is scary stuff, and having characters that symbolize all totally different walks of life actually drives the purpose residence as a result of the viewers can relate. It additionally helps us empathize with characters who’re experiencing one thing distinctive to us; I grew to have a lot of love for season 1’s Player 067, Kang Sae-byeok (HoYeon Jung), and it is onerous to think about the primary season with out her.
The third episode of season 2 has introduced in one other character who will hit residence for some audiences whereas introducing a overseas idea to others: Participant 120, Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon), a transgender girl. Some (ignorant, bigoted) followers who miss the purpose of “Squid Recreation” totally would possibly see this as making an attempt to power optimistic portrayals of transgender individuals down their throats, just like the latest backlash with “Star Wars” fans over a trans clone trooper, however trans individuals exist and should be depicted on display simply as a lot as any of the remainder of us. There may be one challenge, nonetheless: Park is a cisgender man enjoying a transgender girl. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at this character who’s nearly assured to be controversial each within the present’s native South Korea in addition to right here in the USA.
Hyun-ju is a transgender girl in search of a recent begin
In a promotional video for the second season, Park described Hyun-ju as a “former particular forces soldier and a transgender girl” who “joins the sport as a result of she’s quick on cash for her gender-affirming surgical procedure.” She was kicked out of the navy when she started transitioning, and sadly, her household and buddies fully shunned her. Whereas some LGBTQ identities are protected courses in South Korea and there was a monumental Supreme Court docket case that dominated in favor of permitting a transgender girl with younger youngsters to be allowed to alter her gender legally in 2022, transgender individuals nonetheless face intense discrimination. So it is smart to some extent that Hyun-ju would face the horrors of Squid Recreation as a way to begin a brand new life as a result of the life she had in South Korea was no life in any respect.
Park goes on to explain Hyun-ju very positively, highlighting her tenacity:
“Though she faces prejudice and difficult conditions, she reveals unbelievable power, decisiveness, and pure management. By means of her resilience, she breaks down stereotypes and shines as an inspiring character.”
Initially, some gamers, like Participant 149, Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), are confused about enjoying alongside a transgender girl, however finally come to comprehend she is rather like any one among them. It is nice that Geum-ja finally turns into buddies with Hyun-ju and that Hyun-ju will get to be considerably heroic, however it’s nonetheless irritating that she’s being portrayed by a cisgender man. Netflix has performed some nice issues to assist the transgender neighborhood this yr, like streaming the very important, must-see documentary “Will and Harper,” and even the wildly frustrating “Emilia Pérez” no less than stars trans performer Karla Sofía Gascón within the lead. So why could not they forged a trans actor for “Squid Recreation” season 2? Properly, in keeping with the present’s creator, there is a particular purpose.
Why Hyun-ju is not portrayed by a trans actor
In keeping with “Squid Recreation” creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, discovering a Korean trans actor for the function proved troublesome, if not inconceivable. Talking with TV Guide, Hwang stated it was “close to inconceivable to seek out somebody who we might forged authentically,” including:
“At first we had been doing our analysis, and I used to be considering of doing an genuine casting of a trans actor. Once we researched in Korea, there are near no actors which can be brazenly trans, not to mention brazenly homosexual, as a result of sadly within the Korean society presently the LGBTQ neighborhood is quite nonetheless marginalized and extra uncared for, which is heartbreaking.”
Within the wildly important documentary “Disclosure,” actress, author, and producer Jen Richards explains why it is important to have trans girls in trans roles:
“In my thoughts, a part of the explanation that males find yourself killing trans girls out of concern that different males will suppose that they’re homosexual for having been with trans girls, is that their buddies, the lads whose judgment they concern, solely know trans girls from media and the people who find themselves enjoying trans girls are the lads that they know. This does not occur when a trans girl performs a trans girl; Laverne Cox is simply as stunning and glamorous off-screen as she is onscreen. Once you see these girls off-screen nonetheless as girls, it fully deflates the concept they’re in some way males in disguise.”
Richards is totally appropriate, however the materials security of a trans actress in South Korea additionally must be considered as that is nonetheless a South Korean manufacturing regardless of its worldwide recognition. It is also an indication that there is nonetheless a lot extra that may be performed to have higher, extra genuine illustration. We want trans tales on our screens now greater than ever. If you wish to see one thing on Netflix about an actual trans girl that can make you giggle and cry, simply go watch “Will and Harper.” Everyone needs to.
“Squid Recreation” season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
“Squid Recreation” season 2 spoilers comply with.
One of many issues that makes the hit Netflix sequence “Squid Recreation” so compelling is the big selection of people who determined to join the video games. It is a sensible option to present that the actual villain — rampant late-stage capitalism — impacts nearly everybody who is not filthy wealthy. As far-fetched as it might appear, many people are only one unhealthy resolution, accident, or sickness away from perhaps seeing one thing like “Squid Recreation” as the one manner out. It is scary stuff, and having characters that symbolize all totally different walks of life actually drives the purpose residence as a result of the viewers can relate. It additionally helps us empathize with characters who’re experiencing one thing distinctive to us; I grew to have a lot of love for season 1’s Player 067, Kang Sae-byeok (HoYeon Jung), and it is onerous to think about the primary season with out her.
The third episode of season 2 has introduced in one other character who will hit residence for some audiences whereas introducing a overseas idea to others: Participant 120, Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon), a transgender girl. Some (ignorant, bigoted) followers who miss the purpose of “Squid Recreation” totally would possibly see this as making an attempt to power optimistic portrayals of transgender individuals down their throats, just like the latest backlash with “Star Wars” fans over a trans clone trooper, however trans individuals exist and should be depicted on display simply as a lot as any of the remainder of us. There may be one challenge, nonetheless: Park is a cisgender man enjoying a transgender girl. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at this character who’s nearly assured to be controversial each within the present’s native South Korea in addition to right here in the USA.
Hyun-ju is a transgender girl in search of a recent begin
In a promotional video for the second season, Park described Hyun-ju as a “former particular forces soldier and a transgender girl” who “joins the sport as a result of she’s quick on cash for her gender-affirming surgical procedure.” She was kicked out of the navy when she started transitioning, and sadly, her household and buddies fully shunned her. Whereas some LGBTQ identities are protected courses in South Korea and there was a monumental Supreme Court docket case that dominated in favor of permitting a transgender girl with younger youngsters to be allowed to alter her gender legally in 2022, transgender individuals nonetheless face intense discrimination. So it is smart to some extent that Hyun-ju would face the horrors of Squid Recreation as a way to begin a brand new life as a result of the life she had in South Korea was no life in any respect.
Park goes on to explain Hyun-ju very positively, highlighting her tenacity:
“Though she faces prejudice and difficult conditions, she reveals unbelievable power, decisiveness, and pure management. By means of her resilience, she breaks down stereotypes and shines as an inspiring character.”
Initially, some gamers, like Participant 149, Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), are confused about enjoying alongside a transgender girl, however finally come to comprehend she is rather like any one among them. It is nice that Geum-ja finally turns into buddies with Hyun-ju and that Hyun-ju will get to be considerably heroic, however it’s nonetheless irritating that she’s being portrayed by a cisgender man. Netflix has performed some nice issues to assist the transgender neighborhood this yr, like streaming the very important, must-see documentary “Will and Harper,” and even the wildly frustrating “Emilia Pérez” no less than stars trans performer Karla Sofía Gascón within the lead. So why could not they forged a trans actor for “Squid Recreation” season 2? Properly, in keeping with the present’s creator, there is a particular purpose.
Why Hyun-ju is not portrayed by a trans actor
In keeping with “Squid Recreation” creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, discovering a Korean trans actor for the function proved troublesome, if not inconceivable. Talking with TV Guide, Hwang stated it was “close to inconceivable to seek out somebody who we might forged authentically,” including:
“At first we had been doing our analysis, and I used to be considering of doing an genuine casting of a trans actor. Once we researched in Korea, there are near no actors which can be brazenly trans, not to mention brazenly homosexual, as a result of sadly within the Korean society presently the LGBTQ neighborhood is quite nonetheless marginalized and extra uncared for, which is heartbreaking.”
Within the wildly important documentary “Disclosure,” actress, author, and producer Jen Richards explains why it is important to have trans girls in trans roles:
“In my thoughts, a part of the explanation that males find yourself killing trans girls out of concern that different males will suppose that they’re homosexual for having been with trans girls, is that their buddies, the lads whose judgment they concern, solely know trans girls from media and the people who find themselves enjoying trans girls are the lads that they know. This does not occur when a trans girl performs a trans girl; Laverne Cox is simply as stunning and glamorous off-screen as she is onscreen. Once you see these girls off-screen nonetheless as girls, it fully deflates the concept they’re in some way males in disguise.”
Richards is totally appropriate, however the materials security of a trans actress in South Korea additionally must be considered as that is nonetheless a South Korean manufacturing regardless of its worldwide recognition. It is also an indication that there is nonetheless a lot extra that may be performed to have higher, extra genuine illustration. We want trans tales on our screens now greater than ever. If you wish to see one thing on Netflix about an actual trans girl that can make you giggle and cry, simply go watch “Will and Harper.” Everyone needs to.
“Squid Recreation” season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
