Confession…I watched Squid Games. Why you ask?

Joe and I turned on Netflix one evening to find a movie or show to watch. Below the banner there is a section to click on shows to continue watching. We noticed that episode 1 of Squid Games had been watched.

We were vaguely aware of Squid Games since our kids asked to watch it. Without knowing anything except what we had heard on some social channels, we told them no. This was based on hearsay that it was violent and not appropriate for kids.

So we were perplexed that someone (meaning one of the kids and not me or Joe) had gone against our wishes and had watched it. When asked, both kids said no. We didn’t press too hard but both vehemently denied they were the one that had watched the show.

Joe and I discussed it and decided to watch one episode to see if in fact it was as violent and horrible as we had heard.

The first part of the show wasn’t bad. The storylines were very interesting and although set in South Korea, you could relate to the issues that each of the characters were facing. You could feel sorry for some of the people and others you wanted to dislike them for their callousness toward others.

It wasn’t until the end when they were playing the first “game” that we were shocked by the violence. “Players” being shot if they didn’t obey the rules of the game. When they realized what was happening, chaos breaks out and more are shot/killed. In my head I’m thinking “This is crazy! How could these people get themselves into this situation? What are they going to do now?”

What I realized after watching the show is it really was not different than what I had seen in The Hunger Games and other shows or movies that I had passed off as having a good moral to the story. Human beings chosen to compete to the death with other human beings for our entertainment. We may say that the message behind the movie or show isn’t bad. In Hunger Games it was the underdog against the ruling class and eventually they win. But the struggle to get there, including the violence and dismissal of human life is not something that we should just pass off.

We all believe that what we read, what we see and who we associate with all influence what we think and what comes out of our mouth. We can try to deceive ourselves and say “Oh, that’s just a movie or a show. That won’t matter in my day-to-day life.” But how can we keep watching and listening to these kinds of shows and not get desensitized?

“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 TPT

My question to you is, what are you watching and saying? Who are you hanging out with? Do their actions or words shock you?

Time for a little introspection.