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It’s been a year since the South Korean drama Squid Game premiered and the hit Netflix series continues to create history. Earlier this year, the show also bagged awards at the Screen Actors Guild and the Critics’ Choice Award. Today, they took home prestigious Emmys.
Squid Game wins big at the Emmys
Player 456 gets the gold! Lee Jung-jae wins a first career #Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for @SquidGame (@Netflix)! 🦑 #Emmys #Emmys2022 pic.twitter.com/qlkK3ae2gO
— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 13, 2022
Lee Jung Jae who portrayed Seong Gi-hun (Number 456) became the first Asian actor to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He bested Succession‘s Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong, Better Call Saul‘s Bob Odenkirk, and Severance‘s Adam Scott.
Lee thanked Netflix and the Academy for the award. He also expressed gratitude for director Hwang-Dong Hyuk: “Thank you to director Hwang for making realistic problems we all face come to life so creatively on the screen with a great script and amazing visuals.”
It’s a wrap! Hwang Dong-hyuk wins the #Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for @SquidGame (@Netflix)! 💥 #Emmys #Emmys2022 pic.twitter.com/6uVjUMCwIi
— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 13, 2022
Squid Game director Hwang Dong Hyuk won Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. Other series nominated in the category included Ozark, Succession, Severance, and Yellowjackets. Like Lee, Hwang is the first Asian and South Korean to win the award and his series is also the first non-English language drama to win in the category.
“People keep telling me that I made history, but I don’t think I made history by myself because it was you who opened up the doors for Squid Game, inviting us here tonight at the Emmys,” said Hwang in his speech. “I have to say we all made history together. I truly hope that Squid Game won’t be the last non-English series to be here at the Emmys, and I also hope this won’t be my last Emmy either. I’ll be back with Season 2.”
The show also bagged Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for the following: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode, and Outstanding Stunt Performance.
Stunning everyone on the beige carpet
#SquidGame stars Park Hae-soo and O Yeong-su pose on the red carpet https://t.co/nxFB6EYb0A pic.twitter.com/1PpR60q74G
— Variety (@Variety) September 12, 2022
Squid Game stars Lee Jung Jae, Jung Ho Yeon, Park Hae Soo, Oh Young Soo, and director Hwang Dong Hyuk were present at the event. On social media, thousands of the show’s fans cheered them on.
#SquidGame star HoYeon Jung looks so glamorous at the #Emmys. https://t.co/vtSDybvmsc pic.twitter.com/2N14BgP181
— Variety (@Variety) September 12, 2022
Squid Game star — and first-time Emmy nominee! — Jung Ho-yeon has arrived looking like 45.6 billion won!
(📷: Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/Z3h7s4Zzxn
— Netflix (@netflix) September 12, 2022
Squid Game‘s impact
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After its premiere last September 17, 2021, Netflix called Squid Game its “biggest show ever” and the numbers are proof. The show amassed 1.6 billion hours of watch time in its first 28 days. To put that in perspective, Netflix’s then-No. 2, Bridgerton Season 1, only clocked in 625.49 million hours viewed in the same time frame.
You could say Squid Game piqued the interest of millions everywhere. The dystopian K-drama is about a cruel game that pits 456 cash-strapped citizens against each other while playing deadly children’s games. The winner takes home KRW 4.5-B (roughly PHP 1.8-M).
Squid Game Season 2 soon
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ICYDK, Netflix green-lit the series for a second season. Writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed the news last June when we wrote a letter for the fans. He expressed how overwhelmed he felt that a show that took 12 years to develop smashed records left and right in only 12 days. The announcement also included a sneak peek of the plot.
“The Front Man returns. Season 2 is coming,” it read. “The man in the suit with ddakji might be back. You’ll also be introduced to Young-Hee’s boyfriend, Cheol-su. Join us once more for a whole new round.”
The premiere date is still up in the air as Season 2 is still in its early stages. But one thing’s for sure, after a smashing Season 1 and a historic win at the Emmys, everyone waiting eagerly for the next chapter.
Watch Squid Game Season 1 on Netflix.
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